shelbysmother
Just a Quick Post
Oct 06, 2008
I just realized that it has been two months since my surgery and I am half way to my goal of losing 137 lbs. It has gone by so quickly.
So far, I have been sticking to eating just protein for every meal and doing okay. Although, I am dying for just some fresh vegetables or even, cooked vegetables. In a couple of months I can start adding cooked veggies to my meals and I will be thrilled.
Exercising gets easier and easier as each day progresses. Before the surgery I was lucky to walk 25 feet without wheezing and hurting in the knees. Now, I am walking 1 1/2 miles and no wheezing, just a little pain from the arthritis in my knees. And, I am not walking slowly, but briskly. What a difference.
I do have problems with constipation (also do to the medication I am taking for my arthritis) and occasionally nausea. I can live with those symptoms.
I do not regret one bit doing this surgery. Okay, every once in awhile, I think I need the ol' standby foods that got me here, but I refocus my mind or do something to distract me and that helps. I don't know what will be happening a year from now, but I do know that right now I have never been happier.
So far, I have been sticking to eating just protein for every meal and doing okay. Although, I am dying for just some fresh vegetables or even, cooked vegetables. In a couple of months I can start adding cooked veggies to my meals and I will be thrilled.
Exercising gets easier and easier as each day progresses. Before the surgery I was lucky to walk 25 feet without wheezing and hurting in the knees. Now, I am walking 1 1/2 miles and no wheezing, just a little pain from the arthritis in my knees. And, I am not walking slowly, but briskly. What a difference.
I do have problems with constipation (also do to the medication I am taking for my arthritis) and occasionally nausea. I can live with those symptoms.
I do not regret one bit doing this surgery. Okay, every once in awhile, I think I need the ol' standby foods that got me here, but I refocus my mind or do something to distract me and that helps. I don't know what will be happening a year from now, but I do know that right now I have never been happier.
Over a Week Post-Op and Hanging In There
Aug 15, 2008
It has been over a week now since the surgery and I am definitely hanging in there. Each day brings something new and I love that. But, I wanted to chronicle my WLS for myself and for others who would like to know how it is. So here is my version:
My daughter drove down the day before so she could be there with my husband while I was in surgery. It was great for us to talk to her about everything and the thought of all of us together was very comforting and helped to calm those nervous jitters.
In the morning (Wednesday), we woke up at 4am to be in Corvallis by 5:30am. My surgery would be at 7:30 and you always need time for prep work. (And boy, did I need some prepping) When we arrived at the hospital, they brought all of us back to a room where I got to strip and put on this cool outfit called Bear Paws. I felt like a either Barney or Violet as the Blueberry in Willie Wonka. But it had a great device where I could cool or heat myself with it. Since I am at that stage in life where heat seems to dominate me, I chose maximum cooling. Then came the paperwork, putting in the IV and those leg contraptions (they expand, contract). I was ready – but, waiting. My husband was so wonderful – he was very encouraging and kept holding my hand. After 33 years of marriage, he still makes my stomach do butterflies. My daughter, true to form, kept me laughing.
Finally, the anesthesiologist inserted the "make her go to sleep fast" drug into my IV and as they were wheeling down the hall, I went out like a light. It seemed like seconds that I woke up, but it was really almost two hours. Dr. Read did a great job and had notified my family that it was textbook surgery. At first, I could feel some pain and then the nurses responded and it was much better. The only problem I had was the pain in my back and shoulders due to the CO2 they pump into your stomach to make it easier to work in. Pain medications do not seem to help that, so I tried to ignore it. Yea, right!
Soon they were wheeling me to my room where my husband and daughter were waiting. It was SOOOOO GOOOOOD to see them. Having a great support system is so much easier and my family rocks on that score. Then it was just a matter of in and out of sleep for the rest of the day. At one part, though, the pain from the gas localized in my right shoulder and that was extremely uncomfortable. I had great nurses who worked with me on that and the next day after getting up and walking; I didn't have the problem anymore. You also get ice chips which taste like heaven.
One thing I have to say is I kept thinking that I had to go sparingly on the pain medication – in the back of my mind I had told myself that I would become a drug addict if I used to much. Well, I was so wrong. The machine will only allow you so much and if you go over that, no pain meds. I know I had read this in the manual the Bariatric Program had given me, but all that info goes out of the brain after surgery. So, now I was using that little black button a little bit more. I was really glad my husband spent the night with me at the hospital and held my hand when I was feeling a little out of it – he is my rock.
The next day I was able to get the catheter (something else that I found uncomfortable, but necessary) out and walk around the nurses' station. It was great getting out and I had support with my IV stand. My husband had to go home to feed all our animals and get a little shuteye since he helped me through the night. My angel, go_go_girl, came by with a beautiful orchid and book and it really made me feel wonderful to have that connection with someone else that had experience with this. The same was true when KristyH. and NWgirl123 stopped by; they are part of the Salem Support Group and have both had the surgery before me. All of you really helped me through this. Thanks!
I also had potassium deficiencies, so they hooked me up with bags of potassium with my saline solution and pumped it in.
On Friday, they removed the tube, IV and those leg compression thingies and I was ready to go home. I have never had surgery before, so this was a great experience for me. The nurses and aides all did a great job of keeping me comfortable, but making sure, I did what I needed to do to get better. A big star to Good Samaritan Hospital!
It has been up and down since then, but each day I get better and better. Finally, I could sit down at the computer and write it up. I so hope this helps others out there who are getting ready for the surgery. It was not as bad as I expected. It really helps to have a support system, whether it is a wonderful husband like mine or friends or even, OH members who are going thru or have been thru the process.
My daughter drove down the day before so she could be there with my husband while I was in surgery. It was great for us to talk to her about everything and the thought of all of us together was very comforting and helped to calm those nervous jitters.
In the morning (Wednesday), we woke up at 4am to be in Corvallis by 5:30am. My surgery would be at 7:30 and you always need time for prep work. (And boy, did I need some prepping) When we arrived at the hospital, they brought all of us back to a room where I got to strip and put on this cool outfit called Bear Paws. I felt like a either Barney or Violet as the Blueberry in Willie Wonka. But it had a great device where I could cool or heat myself with it. Since I am at that stage in life where heat seems to dominate me, I chose maximum cooling. Then came the paperwork, putting in the IV and those leg contraptions (they expand, contract). I was ready – but, waiting. My husband was so wonderful – he was very encouraging and kept holding my hand. After 33 years of marriage, he still makes my stomach do butterflies. My daughter, true to form, kept me laughing.
Finally, the anesthesiologist inserted the "make her go to sleep fast" drug into my IV and as they were wheeling down the hall, I went out like a light. It seemed like seconds that I woke up, but it was really almost two hours. Dr. Read did a great job and had notified my family that it was textbook surgery. At first, I could feel some pain and then the nurses responded and it was much better. The only problem I had was the pain in my back and shoulders due to the CO2 they pump into your stomach to make it easier to work in. Pain medications do not seem to help that, so I tried to ignore it. Yea, right!
Soon they were wheeling me to my room where my husband and daughter were waiting. It was SOOOOO GOOOOOD to see them. Having a great support system is so much easier and my family rocks on that score. Then it was just a matter of in and out of sleep for the rest of the day. At one part, though, the pain from the gas localized in my right shoulder and that was extremely uncomfortable. I had great nurses who worked with me on that and the next day after getting up and walking; I didn't have the problem anymore. You also get ice chips which taste like heaven.
One thing I have to say is I kept thinking that I had to go sparingly on the pain medication – in the back of my mind I had told myself that I would become a drug addict if I used to much. Well, I was so wrong. The machine will only allow you so much and if you go over that, no pain meds. I know I had read this in the manual the Bariatric Program had given me, but all that info goes out of the brain after surgery. So, now I was using that little black button a little bit more. I was really glad my husband spent the night with me at the hospital and held my hand when I was feeling a little out of it – he is my rock.
The next day I was able to get the catheter (something else that I found uncomfortable, but necessary) out and walk around the nurses' station. It was great getting out and I had support with my IV stand. My husband had to go home to feed all our animals and get a little shuteye since he helped me through the night. My angel, go_go_girl, came by with a beautiful orchid and book and it really made me feel wonderful to have that connection with someone else that had experience with this. The same was true when KristyH. and NWgirl123 stopped by; they are part of the Salem Support Group and have both had the surgery before me. All of you really helped me through this. Thanks!
I also had potassium deficiencies, so they hooked me up with bags of potassium with my saline solution and pumped it in.
On Friday, they removed the tube, IV and those leg compression thingies and I was ready to go home. I have never had surgery before, so this was a great experience for me. The nurses and aides all did a great job of keeping me comfortable, but making sure, I did what I needed to do to get better. A big star to Good Samaritan Hospital!
It has been up and down since then, but each day I get better and better. Finally, I could sit down at the computer and write it up. I so hope this helps others out there who are getting ready for the surgery. It was not as bad as I expected. It really helps to have a support system, whether it is a wonderful husband like mine or friends or even, OH members who are going thru or have been thru the process.
I've got a date with DESTINY - Yahoo!
Jul 11, 2008
This past week, my husband and I finally met Dr. Read and we were very impressed with his ability to tailor the surgery to me. Putting a personal touch to it really reiterates how important WLS is to my heath and well-being. We both came away from the meeting feeling very reassured and comfortable with the whole process.
Afterward, I was told I was ready for surgery and given a date: August 6th. Yea!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally, a date. I wanted to scream with excitement. All the things I had to do to get ready, the mental process of waiting for things to happen - they were all worth it. Ya- hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My thoughts at the moment are - let's hit all my favorite restaurants and have all my favorite foods or slow down, Nellie, get a grip. Has everyone else had these same thoughts? Then I keep thinking - got to get my house in order, so I don't have to worry about anything when I get home to recover. But, I have such a great husband, he will help me out thru this, so why worry about the house. It must be a "woman-thang" to think about all this.
It is so hard to seat here and type all this down when I just want to whoop and holler thru the house.
Afterward, I was told I was ready for surgery and given a date: August 6th. Yea!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally, a date. I wanted to scream with excitement. All the things I had to do to get ready, the mental process of waiting for things to happen - they were all worth it. Ya- hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My thoughts at the moment are - let's hit all my favorite restaurants and have all my favorite foods or slow down, Nellie, get a grip. Has everyone else had these same thoughts? Then I keep thinking - got to get my house in order, so I don't have to worry about anything when I get home to recover. But, I have such a great husband, he will help me out thru this, so why worry about the house. It must be a "woman-thang" to think about all this.
It is so hard to seat here and type all this down when I just want to whoop and holler thru the house.
Who said "Patience is a Virtue"?
Jun 18, 2008
Well, that person never had to have WLS - that is for sure.
Last week my husband and I went to see the Patient Coordinator and the Nutritionist. I finally felt like "Yea, this is it". It was a great meeting, of course I felt that I already knew a lot of what they said. But, it doesn't hurt to hear it again. No matter how much you read, hearing it out loud reinforces it. The nutritionist was really good and gave me an outline of what I would be able to eat and how much. Right now, it is hard to imagine that I will only be able to eat very, very small amounts.
After those meetings I set up to see the surgeon, Dr. Read, for July 7th. Yea! Then when I went home, I called the psychologist they recommended to get an appointment - boy what a downer. The soonest appointment I could get was July 22nd. Ouch!!!!! But, they were able to put me on their waiting list - so now I am waiting, waiting, waiting...
This is where the patience gets hardest - so close, but so far away. Does it get easier? Even a zen approach isn't helping.
I have to admit, though, after the meetings with the coordinator and the nutritionist, I started thinking, "wow, this is it". Can I do this? Can I give up all the wonderful foods that have comforted me all these years? They were very sobering thoughts and I do not have the answers, only hope. Has anyone else felt these overpowering thoughts of "am I doing the right thing"?
Last week my husband and I went to see the Patient Coordinator and the Nutritionist. I finally felt like "Yea, this is it". It was a great meeting, of course I felt that I already knew a lot of what they said. But, it doesn't hurt to hear it again. No matter how much you read, hearing it out loud reinforces it. The nutritionist was really good and gave me an outline of what I would be able to eat and how much. Right now, it is hard to imagine that I will only be able to eat very, very small amounts.
After those meetings I set up to see the surgeon, Dr. Read, for July 7th. Yea! Then when I went home, I called the psychologist they recommended to get an appointment - boy what a downer. The soonest appointment I could get was July 22nd. Ouch!!!!! But, they were able to put me on their waiting list - so now I am waiting, waiting, waiting...
This is where the patience gets hardest - so close, but so far away. Does it get easier? Even a zen approach isn't helping.
I have to admit, though, after the meetings with the coordinator and the nutritionist, I started thinking, "wow, this is it". Can I do this? Can I give up all the wonderful foods that have comforted me all these years? They were very sobering thoughts and I do not have the answers, only hope. Has anyone else felt these overpowering thoughts of "am I doing the right thing"?
I did it my WAY! - (no pun intended to Blue Eyes)
May 22, 2008
Finally, I finished all the pre-tests I needed to have done before I could hand in my application. What a relief! Luckily, there are no problems that I need to correct before hand. I feel that things are really looking up now.
On Tuesday, my husband and I went to the Informational Meeting given by Dr. Read at Good Samaritan Hospital. I had been going back and forth between OHSU and Good Samaritan for weeks now and needed to make a decision. We both really liked Dr. Read and after the meeting, turned in my application. What a GREAT feeling! The next day called my PCP and had their office fax my recent medical history to the Samaritan Bariatric Program. I can't believe I am giggling from the excitement. But, I need to get into waiting mode again.
I have lost 15 lbs. in preparation and I hope they will look at the weight I started at when I went to the doctors office the 1st time. I am watching how I chew my food (slowly and a lot) and drinking lots of water. Every once in awhile I have to have my favorite food - potatoes in any form. I feel the same way about potatoes that Bubba from "Forrest Gump" felt about shrimp. There's fried potatoes, au gratin, mashed, baked, etc. They are my weakness.
Well, I am looking forward much more to this journey.
On Tuesday, my husband and I went to the Informational Meeting given by Dr. Read at Good Samaritan Hospital. I had been going back and forth between OHSU and Good Samaritan for weeks now and needed to make a decision. We both really liked Dr. Read and after the meeting, turned in my application. What a GREAT feeling! The next day called my PCP and had their office fax my recent medical history to the Samaritan Bariatric Program. I can't believe I am giggling from the excitement. But, I need to get into waiting mode again.
I have lost 15 lbs. in preparation and I hope they will look at the weight I started at when I went to the doctors office the 1st time. I am watching how I chew my food (slowly and a lot) and drinking lots of water. Every once in awhile I have to have my favorite food - potatoes in any form. I feel the same way about potatoes that Bubba from "Forrest Gump" felt about shrimp. There's fried potatoes, au gratin, mashed, baked, etc. They are my weakness.
Well, I am looking forward much more to this journey.
The Waiting Game
Apr 28, 2008
Okay, I am in that stage that I am sure everyone has gone thru at one point and it is killing me.
I am in the process of trying to get all my tests done that I need to have before I submit my application. All I have left now is a pap smear and colonoscopy (my 1st). Hopefully, by the middle of May I can hand deliver my app and medical records to OHSU.
For me, going to a doctor has been torture. The last doctor I had was a young female who was very condescending and thought all my problems stemmed from my weight. When I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees, I went to an orthopedic surgeon (young male that was condescending) and was told to go to a pain mgmt. doctor. So I went - this doctor was really good and, together, we came up with a mild pain reliever that worked for me. I finally had to stop seeing the female primary care doctor when she gave me bad information and other reasons.
I finally found a great primary care physician after 2 1/2 years and he has been very supportive and is helping me get thru all the tests that I should have had before now.
So, to end this diatribe - I am in that phase of waiting, semi-patiently, sorta, kinda - oh well, I hate it.
I am in the process of trying to get all my tests done that I need to have before I submit my application. All I have left now is a pap smear and colonoscopy (my 1st). Hopefully, by the middle of May I can hand deliver my app and medical records to OHSU.
For me, going to a doctor has been torture. The last doctor I had was a young female who was very condescending and thought all my problems stemmed from my weight. When I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees, I went to an orthopedic surgeon (young male that was condescending) and was told to go to a pain mgmt. doctor. So I went - this doctor was really good and, together, we came up with a mild pain reliever that worked for me. I finally had to stop seeing the female primary care doctor when she gave me bad information and other reasons.
I finally found a great primary care physician after 2 1/2 years and he has been very supportive and is helping me get thru all the tests that I should have had before now.
So, to end this diatribe - I am in that phase of waiting, semi-patiently, sorta, kinda - oh well, I hate it.
About Me
Salem, OR
Location
24.8
BMI
Surgery
08/06/2008
Surgery Date
Mar 20, 2008
Member Since
