Sandra S.
January 16, 2006:
I had done some research and was hoping to be referred to Dr. Valentine in Nampa but was referred to Dr. Korn in Boise. I have a notebook full of questions that I have been writing down and am ready for my consultation that is scheduled for 30 January 2006. I'm excited! My husband has agreed to come with me to my appointment. For him to take time out of his very busy day for this lets me know how much he cares. I haven't told anyone but my best friend about what my plans are. She was very concerned because she has never considered me "morbidly obese" and thought this surgery was only for people who needed to lose 200+ lbs. I explained to her, yes, but it's also for people who have co-morbidities and are at risk because of them. She did her own research in her support of my decision and has told me she will be there for me! What a friend she is! I love her to death and to top it off, she is 5'8" and probably weighs around 140 lbs soaking wet. She told me she has been concerned about my weight and is glad I'm taking action to do something about it. Have I said how much I love her yet? Ok, I said it again just in case I didn't. As far as my family and co-workers are concerned, I am going to wait until I get totally approved for surgery, if and when I do, before I tell them.
I love to chat for a little while on OH's chat page everynight. I have made good buddies with several and have learned a wealth of information! Thank you everyone! I feel very prepared for my consultation.
30 January 2006
Good NEWS! I met with my surgeon, Dr. Robert Korn and he was wonderful! I was totally at ease with him and since I had done so much research, knew exactly what he was talking about. My wonderful husband, Steve, went with me and voiced some of his own concerns and questions and Dr. Korn answered them honestly and put us both at ease. He said I was a perfect candidate and asked me if I wanted to procede with all the pre-op evaluations and tests. I gave him the thumbs up! He has all his patients go through a Psych eval, ultra sound of the gall bladder, and CT scan for my pelvic region. His reasoning being, when he does surgery, it's only for the Gastric Bypass, not for removal of gall bladder or any other thing he may find wrong. He only wants his patients under anethesia for a certain amount of time so as to avoid risks. He told me that if the US found gall stones, he'll order the gall bladder removal before I have the Gastric bypass. He also wants me to do a stress test because I told him that I've noticed a vast difference in my blood pressure between my two arms! VERY INTERESTING!! My Ultra sound and CT scan are already scheduled for this FRIDAY!!! I can't believe I've started this process already! He said he sees no reason for Tricare to turn me down as I meet all the criteria for having the Gastric Bypass for medical reasons.
I'll try like crazy to keep updating my journal, even if no one reads it. I need an outlet for this...I want to shout at the top of my lungs, "I'M GETTING A NEW LIFE!!!"
Thank you LORD for helping me see the way to Dr. Korn and also to this wonderful website and all of my new friends here at OH.
31 January, 2006
Woohoo, the nurse from the Psychologist performing my psych eval called today to schedule my appointment. The soonest I could get in is FEB 6!!! Next week! I have my US and CT scan on Friday and then on Monday, my psych eval! WOW! If things keep moving this fast, I'll have 2/3 of my evaluations done probably before my approval from Tricare comes through. I hope I don't jinx anything. Holy cow, this is moving fast! I'm glad, because if I had to wait for everything, it would just D-R-A-G on and I would be a BITCH to be around!! :-)
I'm having lunch tomorrow with Kim; a friend I met through OH. She's had WLS also and we're finally going to meet! I can't wait.
01 February 2006
My lunch with Kim was TERRIFIC! She looks great! We talked and got to know each other a little better and decided to make lunch a WEDNESDAY thing! I'm so looking forward to that. She let me pick her brain about the surgery and nutrition and lots more. I'm so fortunate to have met her through OH!
OH, and Geez LOUISE! The cardiologist's office called today to set up my appointment for the stress test and they wanted to do it for the same day as my psych eval...no can do. So they scheduled me in for 9 Feb! Ok, all my evaluations are scheduled within a week of each other. At this rate, I'll have my evaluations done before my approval comes through. That's ok. At least, if everything turns out alright and the psych eval comes out normal...:-) I'll be ready!!
03-February 2006
YIKES! I have gall stones and didn't even know it!! The US technician asked me what my symptoms were and I aske, "for what?" and she said, "for your gall stones..."! I told her I've never had symptoms that I know of, and what would that feel like?? She proceded to tell me that if I'd ever had an attack, I would think I were having a heart attack! I've never felt any such thing in my entire life! She told me I was lucky then, because I've probably never had a stone stuck in the duct. Darnit. Dr. Korn told me that if I had gall stones that he would order my gall bladder removed before I had the gastric bypass because when he opens me up, all he wants to concentrate on is my gastric bypass, nothing else. WELL, I don't want to be laid up TWICE. And if it's not giving me any problems, why take it out? Will it develop into something worse afer the bypass?? Hmmm, questions for my pals in the chat room!
07 February 2006
I had my psych eval yesterday and after going cross-eyed with over 600 bubble questions, I did very well. The psychiatrist saw no red flags and gave me the go-ahead. I also talked to my Doctor's nurse and told her that I had gallstones. She said the doc will take out my gall bladder in surgery before my gastric bypass. She said it's much easier that way because the gall bladder is in a totally different location and different incisions need to be made. She also told me that depending on my recovery from the gall bladder removal, the gastric bypass surgery can take place anywhere between 2-6 weeks after. I'm still psyched!! I can't believe I'm moving so fast on all these evaluations! My cardiology evaluation is on 9 Feb and I'm scheduled to see the nutritionist on 21 Feb. My next appointment with Dr. Korn is on the 27th of February; keep your fingers crossed that he will set my surgery dates then!!
9 February 2006
I met the cardiologist today. He said my blood pressure was good but since my cholesterol is high he wants to do a stress test to make sure there are no blockages. I sometimes have a tightening in my chest when I'm winded and that concerned him. He said if my stress tests were normal he would give me his go ahead for surgery. That appointment is scheduled for 17 February. I'll update more after that.
1 March, 2006
Well, my stress test was normal so the cardiologist gave me the go ahead for my surgery and I had my first consultation with my nutritionist. She was wonderful and it was quite the eye opener as to what I'm to expect. She flat out told me, if I can't commit to buying quality vits and min supplements for the rest of my life, then I need to rethink my options. She told me that she has had WLS patients in the past tell her they stopped taking their supplements because they're too expensive! Unbelievable! Why is we as a society will spend money for the fanciest, best material things but when it comes to our health, we put off for as long as we can? I will not be like that. Anyway, she explained the diet she wants me to go on before my WLS. BUT before that happens, my gall bladder has to come out! I spoke with Dr. Korn on Feb 27 and he explained to me that he does not want the WLS to go longer than 4 hours and so that is why he does the Gallbladder removal in a separate surgery. I can respect that since it's known that being under anesthesia too long may cause problems such as hair loss!! I don't want that to happen any more than it has to. My nutritionist also told me that the pre diet isn't so much to lose weight before surgery but to shrink my liver and to also build up my protein levels so that I DON'T have a hair loss problem. I love her.
My gall bladder surgery was ordered for March 8 at 4:00 pm! One week to go! Wish me luck and say a little prayer for me!
March 8, 2006
Gall Bladder removal today. I want to share a prayer that one of my former classmates posted for me on our high school website. It's beautiful!
PRAYER BEFORE AN OPERATION
Father, as I face this operation, I come to You with my fears and misgivings and ask you to put into my heart the needed courage to face the day with unwavering confidence in Your goodness and protection. May the knowledge that you do not slumber nor sleep while I am in a deep sleep, be an assurance that I need not worry nor be afraid. Calm my nerves, put my mind at ease, and in Your Mercy, forgive me all my sins.
Give to the surgeon a steady hand and to do all his task with ease and perfection. Give to my loved ones the reassuring faith that You are with us, the Keeper of my body and Lover of my soul! Calm all their anxieties during the coming hours of my operation.
Into your hands I entrust my well-being. All this I ask, Father, in the Name of Jesus and through the merits of His most precious Blood.
16 March 2006
Well, I've recovered nicely from the gall bladder removal I had 8 days ago and today I had my followup with Dr. Korn preceding my WLS on 28 March!!! The day after my gall bladder surgery, Dr. Korn's wonderful nurse, Evelia, called me up to tell me that my insurance approval had come through and I could choose a date between March 28 thru 4 April!!! I said, let's do it on 28 March!!! It's all set, all I have to do is my pre-surgery tests, (blood and chest x-ray) and show up at St. Lukes hospital at 0730 on that Tuesday morning! I couldn't have had it any easier. Every thing has come my way, just like I prayed it would! I prayed to Jesus and God, if this is going to happen, please open the path to lead me there and every step of the way has been an easy one. I know the hard part will come post surgical; that's when the real test will come to me. I'm ready; BRING IT ON!!!
1 April, 2006
I'm on the losing side, now....literally!!! I lost 3 lbs today! Haha!! I got home from the hospital on Friday afternoon. Hospital stay was fairly uneventful after a very successful surgery! Except for the fact that my IV's kept going bad, (5 different IV's started in a 48 hour period) everything went great! My breathing has been free and clear, no coughing. I came home with a drain but only bothers me when I accidently pull on the bulb or let it dangle in the shower. I have a followup on Monday and again on Thursday when he should take the drain out. The only thing I was really dreading in the hospital was my CT scan for the leak check. But that wasn't bad at all!! I didn't have that performed until Thursday and was promptly served some jello, a popsicle and Crystal Light....yeaaaaa! oh and some chicken broth, and everything was portioned out in two oz cups. The nurses were great and very experienced in bariatric surgery care so I had no worries there. Friday, Dr. Korn came to see me and sat down for about 30 minutes going over my after care. He was soo excited for me which made me feel great! He's very caring for his patients. Then the hospital nutritionist came in and went over my full liquid diet and also the importance of B12 vits....ummm, and lets see....then my hubby and son came to pick me up and here I am!!!
Today, I followed my 1/2 cup every two hour diet, (that's what i call it anyway), which starts out at 7 am or whenever you get up. 1/2 cup cooked cereal thinned with skim milk, 10 am 1/2 C protein shake, noon 1/2 C blenderized soup with lean meat added, 2 pm 1/2 C protein shake, 4 pm 1/2 C protein shake, 6 pm, 1/2 C blenderized soup with added lean meat and fluids, fluids, fluids in between! I kept it up very easily and took a good walk also. I feel great. I got so excited when I saw the 3 lb drop this evening!
I must thank my bestest friend Andee, who posted on the site for me to let all my friends here on OH know that my surgery went well and that I would be home on yesterday. She bought me a beautiful recipe book called, Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery, written by Patt Levine and Michele Bontempo-Saray. The author was a chef who wrote the book after undergoing lap band surgery herself, in collaboration with her partner, her nutritionist and her doctor. Very well rounded information.
Thank You ANDEE....I LOVE YOU!!! And thank you to all my friends here who have given me such wonderful support!! I FEEL THE LOVE!!!
6 April 2006
YEAAAAAAA, that DRAIN is OUT!!! OMG it was the strangest feeling I have EVER FELT!!! I never want to have to do that again!! My surgeon, Dr. Korn just laughed at me because it weirded me out so much! EEEEEW. ANYWAY, enough of that, It's out and I'm feeling so good with energy and just a new sense of well being, like something good is coming around the corner just for me! AND IT IS!!! I'm so excited about my new life! This full liquid diet is not permanent and I keep telling myself that. I just want to CRUNCH into something so bad, but I pop a piece of SF gum in my mouth and that craving passes. I'm finding my comfort in other things, such as my husband who has been so wonderful and caring for me. I just love him so much. He's been there for me every step of the way and I thank him for that. Our 22nd anniversary is tomorrow. Incredible! We've been through so much in our lives and it feels like the time has just slipped by us. Anyways, I'm feeling happy and good and just glad to be alive!!
19 June, 2006
OMG, I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated my profile!
I'm down to 206, that means a loss of 40 lbs so far! I'm eating regular foods, but have not been very good about getting my protein shakes in. I've tired of them very easily and can't seem to find any that I like. I've tried several of the Nectar (caribbean cooler and crystal sky...eew) The Caribbean cooler was ok. Also, I have been going to curves and even tried out water aerobics. Curves seems the best work out for me at the moment. Anyway, I'm good at getting my vits in. I've found that I DON't Dump with sugar, but am keeping up with the SF stuff. I have an occasional hard candy here and there, but not ever like before WLS!
Generally I'm feeling great! I have my 3 month check up with my surgeon at the end of the month so I'll know more later.
More later!!
Sandy
