Monica M.
Hey everyone. Im here for the support. My aunt has had WLS-lap band and I saw before my eyes what it did for her. Im ready to do the same. I am still researching, and go to my first learning session next saturday. I already called the insurance company, so everything SHOULD go smoothe on that end. Im really worried about all the pre op tests more than anything. I hate needles and medication, but I will endure it as long as I can feel better. Im ready for this change. I have been big most of my life. I can lose weight with diets, but I gain it right back. Im 25, soon to be 26 and I want to spend the rest of my life happy and looking good. I also want to have children in a couple of years, and WLS would increase my chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy. I look forward to long road ahead and much encouragement. I will keep yall posted on my progress. Later Later.
12-13-06
I had my one-on-one with Dr. M and knew I wanted the surgery. He gave me a BIG binder with all the info for my tests. I gave the office my insurance info, so approval is in the process. I already have a surgery date. Jan 16th. I can't believe its happening so soon. Im really worried I won't get 20 pounds off that he is requesting. Im practically starving myself so I can shed it. My hubby doesnt think that is a good idea. He said I shouldn't kill myself to get a surgery, but at the same time, I could die any day. He also isnt really for me having it done in the first place. He has started to accept the fact that Im doing it, but I would feel better about it, if he really supported my decision. Well, enough for now. Will write more later.
12/15/06
: (
I just received a call this morning from the doc's office, that i am NOT a candidate for RNY because of my EGD Test Results, Im really bummed out. I wanted this surgery, i had just gotten to the point where I was accepting everything mentally. I opted to have the LapBand procedure, but just don't like the idea of having to be stuck with a needle every so often, and the frequent doc's visits. I also need to loose quite a bit, and I know with this procedure it is a slower process. Oh well, Im still in shock and disappointment.
12/28/06
Well, Im really bummed out again. Im really getting overwhelmed with everything. I went to my physch eval yesterday and the doc is a nut. I think he needs to see a shrink. Im having to follow up with him 3 more time just for him to write a report that says Im cleared for surgery. All I need is clearance, not a 20 page report. I can't even understand him. Im just frustrated with everything. At the same time, Im having second thoughts about the surgery. I shouldn't have read the posts on the non surgery weight loss forum. I know I need help. I think I just need to let this rest for now, and come back with a fresh and new mind next week. Let me just enjoy my 1 yr anniversary. Cheers to 2007!
1/2/07
Well alot has changed. I moved my surgery date back 2 weeks, my hubby felt everything was happening so quickly, and I also realized that I was not going to drop the weight in time. I also felt rushed and it was really starting to overwhelm me. This is going to be a drastic lifestyle change and I need to be mentally and physically ready for it. My mom told me yesterday that my aunt (who has previously had LapBand WLS) might be coming up to VA with her for my surgery. That just makes me smile, to see how supporting my family is of it. On that same note, my hubby is accepting it more and more every day. Im glad. I also got an appointment with a new physcho therapist. That nut I was seeing was more of a nut than I was. Let's see how the new appt goes next week. I also go for my central testing next week. Well, my hubby has gone to TX to see his son, so Im here enjoying the quiet. I also might have lost some weight because I must have gotten a stomach bug. I cant keep anything down, and I just ate some soup. Wish me luck and I go back to work tomorrow. Later Later.
1-12-07
I had all my needle poking tests yesterday (so glad that's over), and only have my physch and nutrition consult left on monday. Then its 2 weeks away until my Jan 29th surgery. Im excited and nervous at the same time. Im just hoping I can get all the protein in. Reminder-Im having LapBand. My arm still hurts from the ABGs. The docs/technicians yesterday said everything was normal. Im just anxiously waiting. I also have been drinking isopure protein drink and it kind of taste weird. does anyone know if we are still able to drink the AES protein shakes post op? I have been drinking them pre op, I actually love them. Well just updating you all on my progress. Im sure i will be posting the friday before surgery as my stomach starts turning.
1-16-07
Ok, a week away until my pre op appt with the surgeon. Just had my nuutrition one-on-one and the pysch eval with doc #2. They both went really well. I love INOVA Fair Oaks, its awesome, and knock on wood, everyone is super D-duuper nice. The hospital just gives me a good feeling. Im just waiting on my results, and hoping I can loose some more pounds.
1-22-07
I feel like gagging. Im drinking this nasty isopure protein drink. It honestly makes me want to puke. There is no way in hell I can drink this after my surgery. Yesterday was our first day of snow, can you believe that, the first snow day and its the end of January. How can they say its not Global Warming? Idiots. Well, I have my pre-op appt with the surgeon today and Im nervous he isnt going to go ahead with it. I just have this feeling. Maybe Im in denile because this is a scary thing for me. I was reading another post about the being depressed after surgery because of the emotional attachments to food. Being hispanic, and among other ethnicities, food is such a celebretory thing. We eat when we are happy, sad, joyful, stressed, depressed, expecting, married, excited, socializing. I know Im strong, and will overcome whatever comes my way, but its always easier said than done. Im hoping to look back on my posts when Im on the losing side and remind myself that this is a lifestyle change for the better.
1-23-07
I cant believe this, this is a nightmare. Yesterday I had my pre-op appt with the surgeon, and he said everything is good to go. I got an answer as to why I cant have RNY (I have too many polyps). Yeah, so my surgeon, he is awesome, truly a gift from God. I was talking to my mom and telling her about it, and she said maybe this all happened for a reason, for you find that out. Im going to rewind, explain what happened. I have always had a fever, for well over 2 years now. Some doctors treat it differently, some will work me up, and have me get every blood work and test done under the sun, others will just say ok, some wont even prescribe me medicine because I have a fever of unknown origin. So one doc suggested I see a gastroenterologist to check if anything is going on gastric related that can cause my fever. I saw the GE and he wanted to do an endoscopy and take some biopsies. Well, needless to say I had to call back for the results, and was told that I had several polyps, (not sure how many were removed), and some were sent off to pathology, thank God they came back negative. That was it. Never heard anything else. At this point Im thinking everything is normal. So my WLS surgeon tells me I cant have RNY, I ask why and he explains to me that because Im so young RNY will seal off my stomach and they will not be able to monitor inside anymore. He asked if anyone in my family ever had stomach cancer. I dreaded hearing that question, because yes, my grandpa did, he died almost 4 years ago from it. He said a LapBand will still allow them to look inside my stomach because I need to be closely monitored. He was so mad that the GE did not have a follow up plan or future actions. He asked me, "Where did you find that guy"? I just laughed, because I actually found him in my insurance directory. That just shows you how seriously mad he was. I now realize Im making the right decision, and without a consultation for WLS I would never know that I have genetic polyps, that for once, my obesity did not cause. And that I need to be monitored for a lifetime. I will be looking into a new GE. So yes, my pre-op appt went absolutely well and my 6 pound weight loss was sufficient for my surgeon (I think he realized I had to deal with the holidays plus my 1 st year anniversary). Everything couldn't have been rosier until last night. I go to start my CPAP machine, and what happens, it goes crazy, and gives me an error code message. I call the company and they tell me it needs to be serviced. What am I to do? I have to take the machine with me to the hospital. I called the sleep lab and they have a CPAP clinic I can take the machine to and get replacement parts. Hopefully all goes well, and I have my machine. Im praying to God, this has to happen, Im so ready.
1-28-07
Tomorrow is the BIG day, I so can't wait. But Im starting to feel nervous in the pit of my stomach. My mom arrived this morning from Houston, so that makes me feel alot better. But still, Im just hoping I can be successful. I feel so much pressure because everyone is telling me that Im going to lose weight fast, but from what I have been reading, you don't lose weight rapidly with the lapband, Its gradual. Well, I have so much to do, pack my bag and read over my material again, make sure I have what Im going to take, and still have some time to rest my mind and soul. The next time I post, I will be on the losing side, and will no longer be the weight I am today. 284 pounds, see ya!
1-31-07
Well, I got home yesterday from the hospital. I arrived at INOVA-FOH hospital monday morning around 6 am, and everything happened so fast. Before you know it I was kissing my hubby and mom as I was rolled away to the OR. It took me quite a while to wake up from the anesthecia, but that is so normal for me. I have low tolerance. I also couldnt have the morphine because it made me extremely naeuseas. Skip ahead, I got home yesterday (tuesday jan 30th) and have still had some discomfort in my stomach, shoulder and neck. I feel like I need to burp but can't. I just had my first real liquid, which was yogurt, and it took me 30 minutes to consume 3 oz. WOW. I had my first reality check yesterday, when they brought my lunch in from the cafeteria, it was 2 oz of high protein broth (yuck), 1/4 cup of high protein gelatin and 2 ox cranberry juice. I can't believe I got full off the broth. But when they brought me in the exact same thing for dinner, I wanted to puke. Last night I tried to drink an 8 oz protein shake, but couldnt. I probably drank about half. I also was so releaved when I got my ice chips, my mouth was nasty and dry. I so couldnt wait to brush my teeth. Heck, I cant even wait until I can take a shower. Im so ready. Its funny the little things we take for granted. I really do need to rest, I have been at it since like 8. I dont want to push myself too much. Im keeping a journal so I will write everything down. According to the scale, im down like 10 pounds in 3 days. I know its all the fluids, but let me humor myself.
2-9-07
Geez, its been forever since I have posted here, well at least I have a backup, I have been keeping a journal as well. Lets see what has happened since I last wrote. I had my 1 week postop appt with Doc, surprised that when I got there I was told we do not see the doc at this appt. The nurse wanted to remove staples that I did not even have. I was weighed, and was down 9 pounds, wahoo. 275. I also took my measurements earlier in the week, since I forgot to do them before I went in for surgery. One thing I have noticed is that I feel happier. My husband and I had some good talks and they just gave me a new spin on life. Im too much of a drama queen and need to tone it down. Im trying to not let the little things get the best of me. Since I have not been able to turn to food, Im talking more, Im writing more. Im actually listening to myself instead of just finding comfort in food. I never thought I did that, until now. Its amazing what this WLS has brought me thus far. Im sad because my Mom leaves tomorrow, but it will be good to get back on a routine and not have to smell food that I can not eat. I also went to build-a-bear and made a bear to represent my WLS, her name is Hope and she is the champ bear, she has patches all over here, like my incisions. Also, $1 of the purchase goes towards helping Kids with illness. Well, let me get back to work, will write later. Oh, and the excruitiating pain in my left shoulder has subsided. I also learned that I can not eat Peanut butter, I felt something get stuck for the first time. Later.
