sandraw
Sept 12/05 - Awaiting Consultation date from Drs office.
Oct 25, 2006
I decided over the last month that I was tired of waiting for wls surgery in Canada (waiting 2 years so far) and after speaking with some extremely helpful people I decided to apply for out-of-country coverage in the USA. I faxed my application to OHIP today with a letter of support from my family physician to see Dr William O'Malley. Now it's just waiting .... I'm not very good at waiting.
Oct 28/05
Yippie!! I recieved my approval for my consultation with Dr O'Malley from OHIP today. I called his office and faxed over the letter from OHIP and I'm booked into his next seminar on Nov 17. I also booked my Nutrition and Psych appts for Jan 12 & Nov 28, hopefully I can get a cancellation and move my Jan nutrition appt up.
Nov 20/05
My seminar and consultation with Dr O'Malley went very well. I've done a lot of research into this surgery and being in the medical field I'm very aware of what the surgery involves and the risks associate with the surgery and I also know the risks if I don't do something about my weight. I'm so excited and feel like this process is finally going somewhere!!! Dr O'Malley agreed to perform the Duodenal Switch on me. There are so many positive reasons to the the DS and I'm so happy that he will be doing it. I can't even begin to list the reasons but they are all back up with research! So now I'm just trying to patiently wait for my upcoming Psych appointment and my abdominal ultrasound, then wait for my nutrition appointment.
Nov 28, 2005
I had my Psych Evaluation in Amherst today. I was nervous ahead of time but once I sat on his comfy couch it was a breeze and 20 minutes later I was done. He said I was cleared to go for surgery and he had no concerns - yeah! He said he will send of the report in 7 days.
Dec 14/05
I just finished my first nutritional appointment with Andrea. I have a meal plan to follow and I need to show that I can eat this meal plan and not gain any weight. I have a follow-up appointment Jan 27. Not drinking diet coke is going to be my biggest battle ... I'm crossing my fingers! I finally feel like things are getting closer to a surgery date and I know this nutrition thing is so important and I've got to nail it!
2006
Jan 24/06Phew!! My follow up nutrition appointment went very well!! I'm down 12lbs, who would have thought with Christmas and New Years!! So everything is all done and Dr O'Malley's office just has to send the papers to OHIP for final approval and then I'll be schedule for surgery! I can't believe how quickly this has all happened ... although some days it seems too slow! While I was waiting for my nutrition appointment on Tuesday I had a chance to talk with a sweet lady who had her surgery a year ago and had lost 160lbs. She gave me some words of encouragement and got me even more excited!! The next 3 weeks are going to crawl by until I hear back from OHIP ... so I'm going to try and get things in order and get some of my vitamins and protein powders now. I just want to say THANK YOU to my amazing friends who have supported me 100% with this decision; Sally, Lisa, Maryam, Erin, & Susan.
I just got off the phone with Dr O'Malley's office and my application was sent to OHIP for final approval on Fri Feb 3rd. So now I'm anxiously waiting for the okay, I think this is by far the hardest part to wait for. I can't wait to have my surgery and start my life again! There are so many things I'm looking forward to doing on the losing side, like crossing my legs, shopping in regular stores and running again!
Mar 15/06 - SURGERY DATE.
I'm so excited, I just got the phone call and my surgery date is schedule for Wed March 22. I dont' know what time yet - I'm waiting to hear back to see if I can get my pre-op testing done in Canada because the only date they have is 9am on Mon March 20 and unforunately I have to work and with nursing shifts aren't easy to get off. I can't believe I got my date!! OHIP has taken so long with my application, 6weeks ... I was starting to think it was never going to happen. Wow to think next week I'll be a new person and on my way to losing this extra weight. Everyone's stories about their weight loss has gotten me so excited and anxious to get started on my wonderful journey. This week has been a great week so far, accepted a new full time job, and now my surgery date! God is GOOD!
March 31,2006
Well I'm offical a LOSER!! I can't believe it's happened and I'm now on the losing side. I'm so happy. My surgical experience was quite interesting. The surgery went quick and smooth and they remoeved my gallbladder and my appendix. Unforunately the morphine made me extremely nausated and gave me some trouble with my breathing but after a day and a half and trying to convince the doctors to get me off - my evening nurse finally took me off and put me on Dilaudid. I quickly moved to PO pain pills which were great - no nausea and great pain relief. I had three drains and 32 staples (just under my breasts to my belly button). The nurses were great at Highland Hospital and took very good care of me. I then had to stay at an area hotel until my first post-op doctors appt (required by my surgeron) where I relaxed and did some shopping. I'm thankful to be home and down 17lbs. I'm starting to learn about my new body and starting to get more comfortable with this big incision.
June 2/06
I'm now a little over two months post-op and down 66lbs. I experienced my first plateau last month and just went back to basics and it finally broke. I'm excited to reach my first goal of 70lbs. Eating is getting better and easier each week - although my eyes are MUCH bigger than my stomach. I'm slowly introducing new foods into my diet one at a time and seeing how my stomach handles each new food. I'm back to work, and working a ton. I find I don't eat and drink very much while I'm at work - I really have to force myself to drink. Being a nurse, I'm running around and super busy all day and its hard to find the time to sip all day. Pre-op I use to get in a lot of water because I would take a big gulp when I had a minute. I'm getting a gym membership this month and equally excited about starting to workout again.
July 2006
Things are going wonderful, I"m down almost 100lbs and can't believe the changes. I'm going to the gym 4-6 times a week, I've got myself a personal trainer and a boxing trainer. This is the first summer I've really enjoyed myself and enjoyed being outside in a bathing suit. I'm eating pretty much everything, but staying far away from pasta, breads, flour, - basically carbs. I tend to have a terrible reaction with carbs and so I'm staying away. I'll update soon when I've reach my 100lbs weight loss.
Sept 13th, 2006
I'm almost 6 months post op and I feel fabulous! I'm down 120lbs and I see my goal in sight! I'd love to lose another 80lbs. My blood work is all great, just a little low in potassium but I've been eating bananas once a day so I hope it's going up. I went to my best friends wedding at the beginning of August and all the walking around and flying didn't bother me at all, I fit in the seats! I'm still going to the gym, 4 times a week and my trainers are awesome. I continually see the difference and it amazese me, I don't recognize myself in the mirror. Nor do I recognize myself in old pictures! I've tossed so many old things out, pictures, clothes, etc. Out with the old and in with the new. I've started running again and hopefully in the spring I'll complete my first race. All the struggles in the beginning/ inital post op are distant memories! I'm so glad I decided to have the surgery and more importantly the Duodenal switch! Thanks Susan for all the information! I'm looking forward to the rest of the month and losing some more weight!!
