Pkrplyr777
3 days to go till "v" day
Jul 28, 2011
Well, in three days I go under the knife. This is a journey for both myself and my husband. I don't think I would have done this if Bob didn't need it so badly. I weighed in at 233 at my highest. I guess I just thought I could get a handle on my weight gain if I just got some stress free time in my life where I could stop stressing and start concentrating on me.After reading up on surgeries for my husband it became apparent that I had all the same thoughts and symptoms of the average obese person." Funny how Obese" and "Average" can be put into the same sentence comfortably, right? Anyway, I just hadn't got to the part where I felt hopeless. You have to try something to get to the hopeless part.
I recently hit menopause and put on about 10 lbs in the blink of an eye. That kinda sent off some alarms. Then at a recent doctors visit, I was told that menopausal women had to do and hour of cardio a day for six days a week just to maintain their weight! Hello?! Who's got an hour a day? And I didn't want to maintain 230 lbs! I want to REDUCE! I would have to quit my job and live on love because obviously food and work were out.
Shortly after that Bob and I went on a trip to Napa, Ca. I'm a big wine fan and love the tastings. We met a guy who had the surgery done. We had hit it off during the wine train ride and bumped into him and his group again in China town. We all decided to go to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. When we noticed he wasn't eating nearly as much as the rest of us, comfortably so I might add, he shared his story with us. Bob was so interested that he decided he wanted this too.
I was thrilled! Bob had been adamant that all he had to do was go vegetarian and he would lose the weight....that has not happened. He weighed in at about 340 with a lot of associated medical issues. Lately he had back aches when walking short distances and distressing side affects from the meds he was on. I was worried.
We went to an informational session at a local hospital on the sleeve surgery. We filled out the forms, called our insurance carrier etc. We began to realize that while his surgery would probably be covered because of his BMI and medical conditions, sadly mine would not. Not a single medical condition...yet. We also realized that there would be several months of medical tests, most of which Bob has had done before but the insurance company would not accept them unless they were within the last 6 months. Bob travels quite a bit for work so it would be a challenge. I was doing some Internet research on-line when I ran across some websites for Mexico surgery. The cost out of pocket was do-able for us, the timing soooooo much easier, the doctors had great reviews. Hmmmmm...... a no brainer for us! So off to Tijuana we go!
It's kinda funny how after putting down the deposit and getting the flights we just jumped right into the pre-op diet. For a month we've been attacking the diet. We've done it together so it's been easier for both of us. Bob had to give up bread and I had to give up wine. We sympathize with each other and support each other.
We started out with just protein shakes, lean meats and salads and/or green beans or spinach for a week or two then moved into the "liquid" phase. At first we thought it was just protein shakes. Very daunting. Then after reading the instructions again we found that a salad or a bowl of low cal-low fat soup could be added. At this point Bob was down 30+ lbs and I was down 20 so it looks like we are doing ok. I def wanted to keep the weight coming off because of the whole "big, unhealthy liver in the way of the stomach during surgery" thing. Didn't sound like something I wanted to mess around with. So for the days leading up to the cut off, the 2 days before surgery that we have to be on liquids only, we will add some salad or soup.
Everything seems to be going well. All things for the OCD control freak are in order and all peoples know their roll.
AAAHHHHHH! That's about the time I realized that I would be going under the knife! OMG! Gotta keep my cool. I've had soooo many surgeries in my life. From a very major accident at age 17 to an emergency surgery for a tube pregnancy and the several minor surgeries in the following 30 years. I have issues. I know, very sad. But it's in the works so off I go.
I know the real issue with the surgery is the anesthesia. The surgery itself seems to be well done for some time. I just hate being under anesthesia. Sigh......
I'm also worried about Bob. He has never had surgery. Never been put under. He is also thick headed, but lovingly so. I hope he drinks the water he supposed to. He is scheduled to travel for work the third week out of surgery. I'll be a wreck till he gets home.
Well, for now I'll just try to keep us on track and healthy. I've taken the time to do measurements on my body and I'm going to do this for Bob too. Think I'll take some before pictures as well.
Guess I'll start packing.....See you all on the flip side of this thing.
Donna
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About Me
CT
Location
22.8
BMI
Surgery
08/01/2011
Surgery Date
Feb 02, 2005
Member Since
