Shayna Rochel A.
I'm not so good about keeping my blog updated!
Apr 28, 2008
B"H doing well. @ 40lbs down so far. YAY!!
I wish it were more.
I've had a small ulcer which is healed now. And a stricture (tightening of the area between the esophogus and the stomach. I've had 2 endoscopies with dialation so far. One more scheduled for next Monday. It's not a big deal. Just inconvenient.
I just had my 3rd endoscopy today and I'm wiped out form the sedation meds they give me. It usually takes me a day or two to recouperate from it. I go again next Monday and IY"H that will be the last time. My Dr. who does the scopes (Dr. Lambroza) said that he likes people to be at 12mm. I was at 4mm when I first saw him. Way too tight. So the first time I saw him he dialated me to 8mm and this time to 10mm. Monday he'll get me to 12mm and I should be good to go. According to him it is unlikely that the stricture would recur.
I'm tired and need to get to bed as today starts back the real world....the non Pesachdik world.
Lots of love to everyone!!
Holy Cow!!
Feb 29, 2008
Baruch Hashem!!!!
I'm exhausted, overwhelmed, moody, weepy, angry, excited, happy. All the normal stuff for being post-op.....and not to mention off all my (psych) meds!
Too tired and busy to update much now. But IY"H will come back in the not too distant future to give an overview of my surgery etc.
But in the mean time - I'll happily announce to anyone who wants to listen.....
I've already lost 12 lbs!!!!!!
3rd time's a charm!
Jan 23, 2008
1st time - banded Feb. 2004
2nd time - band removed Dec. 2007
3rd time - drum roll please.....
RNY - scheduled for Feb. 14th, 2008
That's only 3 weeks away. Yay!!!!
I saw Dr. Pomp today and he felt that we could safely move on to the RNY. So I have lots to get ready for. I'm very happy I don't have to wait till after Pesach (long story). I'm also nervous. 
Totally normal, I know!
Looking forward to getting this journey under way.
I just pray to G-d that he keep me healthy for many years to come so I can see my little boy grow up. That is my biggest fear.
Ok, shluffy time for me. I'm exhausted.
AGAIN???? Realllly????
Dec 20, 2007
Apparently I had a lot of scar tissue and adhesions from my band moving around a lot after it slipped. So it took Dr. Pomp about 2 hours to get my band removed when usually a band removal should take about a half hour (according to Dr. Pomp). So when he finished clearing away all the scar tissue and adhesions (I need to find out what the difference between the two are) he did not want to subject me to yet another 2 hours to do the bypass. Not to mention doing a bypass on a very irritated and cranky tummy that was just scraped up and poked and prodded from the band removal. Dr. Pomp explained to me that unless it's medically necessary they (those with the scalpels - hopefully the ones with the medical degree allowing them to perform surgery) don't like to keep someone under general anesthesia for more than 2 hours. He said after 2 hours they start seeing more resperitory problems and a tougher revcovery.
So, although I'm bummed that I will have to go back for another round of oh so fun surgery, I totally am happy that my surgeon aires on the side of caution. I can't imagine that it would have been smart to do a RNY or any elective stomach surgery on a stomach that had already been damaged and irritated. So YAY for Dr. Pomp.
So, I'm home and just starting to feel more like myself in the last couple of days. My moods are all over the place - thank you; anesthesia, dilaudid, percocet, vicoidin, p.m.s., and a week without my anti-depressants. But physically I'm doing much better today and yesterday. I haven't needed vicodin in a couple of days and it seems like I'm down to needing the Tylenol only at the end of the day or at night for sleep. I still can't sleep on my sides. Booo Booo!!! I have to sleep with about a bajillion pillows propping me up all over the place. I can't wait to be able to curl up with my usual 3 pillows and lie on my side all cozy and drift off into la la land.
Speaking of la la land. I thought it was the vicodin giving me some seriously funky dreams, but I'm still having them even though I haven't taken the vicodin for at least 3 or 4 nights. Hmmm, who knows.
So that's the long of the short of it. I see my surgeon in another 2 weeks to follow up and I guess at that appointment I'll be given a new surgery date for the RNY.
Ohhhhhhh crap!!! I seriosuly hope I wont have to do too much pre-op stuff again!!!! I really don't want another endoscopy. It's not horrible - but man did I have a raw sore throat for a good week or more. Oh well. What are ya gonna do???
My meds are kicking in - yay for sleepy making anti-depressants - so I'm off to go shluffen.
Great Googley Moogley!!!!
Dec 08, 2007
Can you please tell me why my surgeons office told me I could have consome', broth AND boulion? For all intents & purposes are these NOT the same thing? When someone is basicly on a clear liquid fast do they really think the diferentiation will matter.
"Wow, I sure am hungry. This broth just isn't doing it for me. OH!!!! I KNOW!!! I'll have that consome' I brought home from the 'freaking hungry, fasting fat girl' store. Oh wow, I feel so much more satisfied now. I think I can stop pulling the heads off all the barbie dolls now. Skinny, blonde, never had to fast a day in her life, perky boobed, eating disorder causing b*tch."
Truth is, I'm really not bitter. I just think it's funny to have all three listed.
I'm excited to start my fast tomorrow. Of course I can say that now while there is a pan of brownies within arms reach. I don't expect to feel my best. I'll probably get cranky and tired. But c'est la vie, non? Nothing worthwhile comes without effort.
I saw my shrink Friday and he gave me a scrip for a few klonopin for Monday night and Tuesday before the surgery. I don't know if I will get totally wigged out or not. But this way if I do I will have them if I need them.
I'm really enjoying allowingmyself to think about what life might be like on the other side of the mountain - ahem - me being the mountain. I am so trapped right now. Someone who has never suffered from serious obesity just has not had the experience of being a prisoner like this.
Anyhow, I'm tired and don't feel like having to think too clearly and make intelligible comments.
If I don't get the chance to update before Tuesday. I'll be back to update about the whole surgery/hospital/MORPHINE
/recovery experience.
Dec. 11th is my date!
Nov 12, 2007
I'm scheduled for a revision - band to bypass Dec. 11th. I'm very excited and nervous. Nervous not about the surgery but about my ability to make the changes in my life that I need to make in order to make this a success! I'm working with the nutritionist from my surgeons office as well as my therapist and PCP. I'm praying to and begging G-d to give me the strength and clarity to do the things I need to do.
Right now I'm working on getting together all the things I will need post-op - protein powder, vitamins, foods, etc. As well as working at getting myself into the habit of taking my vitamins every day. I also really need to start working on staying hydrated! I have a big problem with that. I think I frequently allow myself to get dehydrated.
I'm REALLY REALLY good at beating myself up (I'm sure nobody relates 
) but not as good at doing the things that will help assure my success. Because if I do what I need to do to prepare for success - well then - I might just succeed!!! And of course that wouldn't be ok because I'm not supposed to succeed. I'm supposed to be a failure and wallow in self pity blah blah blah. But I don't want to do that ANYMORE!!! I so want to be free. Free in my body AND in my mind. So, I'm doing the things I need to do to succeed. And it's ok, I'm allowed to!
