2 Weeks Away....

Jul 27, 2010

July 28, 2010 - Well, I am about 2 weeks away from my big day.  I'm trying to stay calm, and in the words of a good friend "surrender" to the decision I have made.  I am doing this because I believe it is the right decision, and my last hope, to regain my life, a life that has been driven by obesity and slow decay since I was in my teens.  I may not even know what a normal life feels like, without the burden of morbid obesity.  I am doing this specifically for my family, so that I can be there for them in the long term, and not live with the burden of knowing I could pass away at any time due to my weight.  I want to contribute to my family, my wife, my daughter.  In 2 weeks, I will be rolling the dice on my life, putting it into God's hands.  I pray that this decision does not take me away from my family from passing away.  Still, it is in God's hands, and I have many many people praying for me.  That is touching, and makes me feel like I am a person of some value to have my surgery and health on the minds of so many people.  Soon I will find out when my pre-op appointments are.
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Moving forward, ever forward...

Jul 13, 2010

July 13, 2010 - I have a nutritionist appointment tomorrow in Boston.  Since June 7th, I have lost 26 pounds of the required 30 for the surgery.  Things are looking brighter.  I'm still making plans for, well, then unthinkable.  But I think that is just prudent.  I have received many compliments on my hair color, which is my way of boosting my morale going into the surgery.  Next status update tomorrow. :)
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My surgery has been scheduled...

Jul 09, 2010

July 9, 2010 - Received a phone call from Tufts.  My surgery is scheduled for August 11th.  I am also on a stand-by list, so if a cancellation comes up, I'll be rescheduled into the new slot.

It's getting closer.  :)
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Process Continuing...

Jul 07, 2010

July 7, 2010 - Last Thursday I had my appointment with the nutritionist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.  I'm doing well losing weight for my revision surgery.  I have lost 20 pounds toward the 30 pounds total to lose before surgery.  My progress is going nicely, so Kerri my nutritionist put through the recommendation to get my surgery scheduled and process the insurance.

My surgeon that did my lap-band at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Dr. Gens, is planning to be an attending surgeon for my operation.  This will enable me to have my post-operative care handled in Portsmouth instead of Boston.  Though for the first 6 weeks I'll be under the direct care of Dr. Shikora at Tufts.

From what I understand, due to my 3 hour commute to work and back each day, I will likely be recovering for 6 weeks at home.  I will be in the hospital for approximately 3-4 days at Tufts.  Hey, give me a call, or visit, or send me gifts!  :)

Once the date and insurance are known, I'll post the dates here.  And if there are any Angels in the Boston area, I could use one!  More posts to come....
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Wheels in Motion, Surgery expected late July

Jun 08, 2010

June 8, 2010 - I met with Dr. Scott Shikora at Tufts Medical Center.  We went over all the details and complications, and also discussed that this surgery will be more complicated as a revision from Lap-Band to RNY due to many factors such as removal of the band and scar tissue, the condition of the pouch and surrounding area.  There are alot of unknowns going into this, until they physically get inside and see.  I'm hoping that Dr. Gens and Dr. Shikora will be able to coordinate their schedule to operate at the same time, that will be helpful for Dr. Gens to maintain my care at Portsmouth after the procedure.  I admit, I am a little frightened about my plumbing being rewired.  Also, I'd like very much to survive the operation and have it be successful.  I am not afraid of the work that will be necessary to change my lifestyle permanently afterwards.  I will face that head on.  I just want to be very asleep when the surgery occurs, and to have my post-operative pain managed effectively.  I am either a pain whimp, or a pain super-hero.  In either case though, I've learned to speak up when I need pain control, and not to suffer through it unnecessarily.  Stay tuned for specific dates, etc.  Peter
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Pursuing a Revision to RNY

May 19, 2010

May 19, 2010 - After about a year of thinking about it, I am finally going to pursue a revision to the RNY.  The Lap Band does not appear to have been a good choice on my part.  After many fills, even beyond the specifications of the manufacturer (though with the blessing of the manufacturer), food still just drops down right into my stomach and leaving me hungry and struggling.

My experience with the Lap Band is not negative though.  My highest weight was 524, of which I needed to lose 100+ pounds in order to have the surgery to begin with.  After a severe struggle to reach my surgical weight, after 3 years I'm still hovering around my surgical weight.  Without the Lap Band however, I am fairly certain I would be up in the 700 pound range.  So I am very thankful that my weight has maintained around the 405 to 430 range for 3 years.

But I am getting older, 43 now, and this weight needs to come off.  I want to get my life back.  I want to enjoy life again, and have the energy to take care of my wife and daughter.  I want to be healthy and live a long life.  While I do not have many of the typical problems associated with morbid obesity like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, those are waiting for me on the near horizon.  So I want to have this RNY revision while I am young and strong, and not push this out for years.

That's my update for today.  I've been pursuing this with my family doctor, my cardiologist, and my surgeon Dr Gens at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.  It has taken me 1+ years to research and make this decision.  So I'm ready to go.  I'm waiting to hear back from my surgeon about a plan to have my revision surgery at Tufts in Mass, with Dr Gens assisting their bariatric surgeon.  My post operative care can then be continued at Portsmouth.

I'm anxious and nervous, and hope and pray that this process does not take long.  I'm ready for the surgery tomorrow if it were possible.  Once my weight has come down, I'm hoping that I will be able to eliminate most of my medications I take now (which should be a motivation for my insurance company).  I prefer not to take medications unless absolutely necessary.

Last year in February I had a tumor (benign) removed from my left thryoid.  Actually, my whole left thyroid was 1 big tumor the size of a Kiwi fruit or Clementine.  Post-operatively I was in alot of pain.  Normally as a macho kind-of guy, I would shrug off the pain medications.  But after that surgery, I decided I needed to be an advocate for myself, and insisted on getting the pain medications I needed to feel reasonably comfortable.  They put me on morphine and vicodin which helped.  I guess I'm getting more sensitive to pain as I get older.  Also, with my body mass, I need more pain medication to acheive the same relief as someone much smaller than I am.  Anyway, once I am post-op on the RNY, I really hope that the surgeon will take adequate steps in both the dosage and duration of my pain meds.  I just cannot tolerate pain anymore.

OK, I'm done now.  I'll keep you posted.  I should be hearing back from the surgeon any time now.
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Approaching my 2 year anniversary

Apr 16, 2009

April 16, 2008 - Well it appears I have neglected maintaining a presence here.  The truth is, life is too busy for me at the moment.  However, as my 2 year anniversary approaches, I thought it would be good to check in; if for no other reason then to assure everyone that I haven't walked through Heaven's gates yet. :)

Nearly 2 years after my Lap-Band installation, I am proud to report that I have lost 6 pounds. :)  Yes, that is not a typo, I have only lost 6 pounds relative to my surgery date.  As many of you know, initially I needed to lose about 106 pounds to even be eligible for the surgery.  After the surgery, I slowly gained probably around 40 pounds, but now I'm back down to 6 pounds below my surgery weight.

Am I discouraged?  Absolutely not.  Since my commitment to this program, I have lost 112 pounds during the past 2 years.  It doesn't matter how or why the weight loss occurred, it just did.  And this is a 5 year program I am working on, so I have well over 3 more years of weight-loss ahead of me.  So, no discouragement from me!

There were several contributing factors as to why I haven't lost more to date.  First, is that I had a larger band installed.  Afterall, I was once 524 pounds or more!   During this time, we steadily added fills to the band.  I tried very hard to find ways to convince me that something was working, but it really wasn't.  The problem was adjustment level.   The large band has more cc capacity, and steadily over the past 2 years Dr. Gens increased the fill.  If you ask Nancy and Dr. Gens about my fills, they were never fun or short or pleasant, and needed to be done guided by X-Ray.  We probably spent a total of 2-3 hours under X-Ray.  Some days were easier than others, but the amount of patience demonstrated by Nancy and Dr. Gens even during those long procedures was comforting.  In other words, despite the fact that their next patients were accumulating in the waiting room, not once did I feel pressured, rushed, or made to feel guilty because of the time it took.  They were not looking at their watches every couple minutes ready to race to their next appointment, they stayed and performed the work that needed done, and with a smile.

A few months ago, I received a fill and after that I really started to feel the band working.  My weight gain had slowed.  I received another fill, and my weight levelled off and remained relatively level.  I think we waited a little longer before the next fill because it was becoming apparent I was getting close to being adjusted properly.  My last fill did the trick, and tipped me into a nice, steady weight-loss that was consistent.  And for the first time, I knew I was adjusted properly.  I am not even interested in another fill at this point, as the Lap-Band system is performing its function as advertised.  For awhile, I became discouraged, and wondered whether or not I made the wrong decision on procedures, and should have gone with the full bypass.

But no more discouragement here.  My hunger feels normal for the first time in 25 years or so.  I no longer feel trapped or enslaved now towards food.  When I'm hungry, a small healthy snack or meal does the trick.  I often cannot finish my food, which is a good thing.  I'm also countering my eating disorder tendencies, and am not freaking out if I eat less than healthy foods.  I'm feeling better, and I'm looking forward to my transformation over the next 3 years.  112 down, approximately 200 left to go. :)

Other medical issues cropped up during this time.  First was a tumor that developed on the palm of my hand.  I had surgery to remove that, and it was benign.  The surgeon was initially concerned about my weight for the procedure, and for their operating tables, but in the end he said I was a smooth case. 

Next, I started having consistent and continual issues with atrial fibrillation and tachycardia.  I became fairly sick, difficult to get out of bed and even walk to the bathroom, not to mention missing alot of work.  I was referred to a cardiologist because things were not looking too good.  I also landed in the hospital a few times.  But some medication changes were made including the introduction of Bystolic, and the removal of Cartia.  Also my potassium and magnesium were out of whack.  With those change in medications, I improved almost immediately.  Since September 2008, the heart issues have faded to virtual non-existance.

During all the diagnostics of my heart, they found a tumor in my left thyroid, roughly the size and shape of a small kiwi fruit, growing under my collarbone.  I went to Boston and they removed the left thyroid and the isthmus.  Since my left thyroid was nearly 100% tumor, I'm not expecting to need thyroid medication, but I'll find that out on May 14, 2009.  This tumor was also benign.

And lastly I was having bleeding in my bowels, so I had a colonoscopy.  I was in great condition with the exception of a polyp near my cecum, which he removed, and he made a note of diverticulosus.  The polyp was considered pre-cancerous, and at age 42, had I waited until I was 50 for my first colonoscopy, the surgeon believes he would have found cancer there.  But once again, benign.

Well, I'm exhausted.  I hope you enjoyed the update.  Take care.

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First Fill....

Jul 27, 2007

July 27, 2007 - Yesterday I received my first fill.  It was 4cc, because I have the larger band installed.  The fill didn't go as smoothly as I thought.  Initially, the surgeon felt around but was unable to located the port definitively.  He then told me "don't laugh", because they pulled out a STUD FINDER.  I did chuckle a little, but I can see how that would be a cheap tool for helping to locate the port.  But they still could not find the port.  They brought in an ultrasound next, no port.  The surgeon then said he wasn't comfortable doing this without the assistance of X-Ray, so down to X-Ray we went.  It probably took another half hour down there, but eventually he located the port with a longer needle and performed the fill.  Everyone there of course applauded.

Today my belly is really sore, swollen, bruised and radiating heat.  Most of the procedure didn't hurt, but there were several instances I felt really sharp pain.  With all the needle usage yesterday, and my sensitivity for infection, I'm keeping an eye on the area.

I went to my stage 3 diet again which is basically protein drinks.  The milk bothers me so I pretty much use Lactaid.  Today my bowels went completely liquid again, and I had to use the bathroom many times today.  They also switched from brown to flourescent green today.  Just out of curiosity, I also checked my tongue and its turning green again.  I don't feel sick though, however I'm going to watch this closely.

I contacted the Bariatric Coordinator and the Nutritionist to make follow up appointments and to relay this additional information.  The Nutritionist said that if I'm able to move on to stage 4 and stop the protein drinks.  We'll see if my bowels clear up by Monday.

My main concern is this sequence is how my sickness started a couple weeks ago.  If I start to feel feverish again, and have a fluctuating temperature like a did a couple weeks ago, then I'm going to need to get seriously checked out to see what the cause of this is.

Other then that, I'm feeling great.  But even though I'm feeling great, my surgeon would rather me work half days until next Friday, just to make sure I'm getting enough rest.  I'm glad to have a surgical team who will keep you out of work if they think it is necessary.

Infections...

Jul 12, 2007

July 12, 2007 - On Saturday I started feeling really ill, and discovered one of my incisions had an infection.  On Monday I was running a low grade fever as well, and went into see the surgeon.  2 incisions were actually infected, they were cleaned out and I was put on antibiotics.  I was/am still feeling terrible.  I communicated all my symptoms and they believe they know what the problem is now, and its related to the antibiotics I received at the hospital.  I was put on Flagyl yesterday.  Hopefully I will start to feel better soon.

On the good news front, my scale reads 399 this morning.  Lookout 299, here I come!

Doing Well...

Jul 06, 2007

July 6, 2007 - I'm doing well post-operatively.  My 6 incisions are nearly healed, no problems with infections or anything.  The surgery went perfectly.  I'm also down another 10 pounds, bringing me down 116 since November 15th last year.  And the pounds will continue to drop also.

I cannot feel the band at all inside me.  I was wondering if I would actually "feel" something in there, but I don't.  That's good.  I can feel the port though, which is in the front of my chest underneath the sternum.  But that doesn't bother me at all.  I'd prefer it to be there, then on my side like they show in the diagrams.


About Me
Peterborough, NH
Location
37.3
BMI
Surgery
08/11/2010
Surgery Date
Oct 17, 2006
Member Since

Friends 49

Latest Blog 35
First Fill....
Infections...
Doing Well...

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