Tina Solano
Six-month anniversary
Jun 04, 2008
Today is my six-month anniversary--unbelievable how quickly time flies. I had not set any weight loss goals for myself since the day of my surgery--I figured why set myself up for disappointment if I could not meet the goal? I found myself breaking my own rule, thinking it would be nice to hit the 100 pound mark as a way of celebrating the six month mark. I fell somewhat short of my goal--94 pounds lost as of this morning. That number is difficult for me to wrap my mind around--94 pounds is the combined weight of my five year old son and my four year old granddaughter. To think that I was carrying them around with me, everywhere I went is a mind-boggling concept. No wonder my knees and back hurt so bad--I can barely lift my son for more than a few minutes because he is so heavy.
My life is in a state of upheaval right now, I have filed for divorce, am in the midst of a bankruptcy, but in spite of all of this, my life is infinitely better today than it was six months ago. I would not change anything that I have experienced thus far. I am working hard to stay aware and in the moment, appreciating everything that I am experiencing, even the tough stuff! I believe that there is value in every life experience, even when we can't quite figure out what that might be at the time.
My life is in a state of upheaval right now, I have filed for divorce, am in the midst of a bankruptcy, but in spite of all of this, my life is infinitely better today than it was six months ago. I would not change anything that I have experienced thus far. I am working hard to stay aware and in the moment, appreciating everything that I am experiencing, even the tough stuff! I believe that there is value in every life experience, even when we can't quite figure out what that might be at the time.
Three months post-op
Mar 03, 2008
Tomorrow will be three months post-op for me. If anyone would have told me how great I would be feeling at this point, I would have had a hard time believing it. I am still going to the gym working out five mornings a week, before work. I had to miss a day last week because of school and couldn't believe the difference it made in my day.
At any rate, I have lost 64 pounds since surgery--I am now officially at a lower weight than I have been in nearly 18 years. It is very gratifying to see the scale consistently moving down rather than up!
I have spent today recovering from the effects of a hastily purchased yogurt smoothie that I mistakenly thought was made with splenda. Yep, you guessed it, it had mega-amounts of sugar in it. 33 grams to be exact. I had drank nearly the whole 6 ounces when something made me look at the label-I nearly fainted when I saw the sugar grams listed!! I have no excuse other than I was in a hurry at the store after the gym on my way to work. I battled low-level nausea and headache the rest of the day. That is more sugar than I have consumed in one sitting for many, many months now. My co-workers were all surprised that I didn't catch it, I am usually an avid label-reader. I will certainly be more vigilant in the future-the up-side is that I know first-hand the effects of too much sugar for me and it wasn't pretty! That's about it for now, I need to go and pack my bag for the gym tomorrow--5am comes pretty quick!
At any rate, I have lost 64 pounds since surgery--I am now officially at a lower weight than I have been in nearly 18 years. It is very gratifying to see the scale consistently moving down rather than up!
I have spent today recovering from the effects of a hastily purchased yogurt smoothie that I mistakenly thought was made with splenda. Yep, you guessed it, it had mega-amounts of sugar in it. 33 grams to be exact. I had drank nearly the whole 6 ounces when something made me look at the label-I nearly fainted when I saw the sugar grams listed!! I have no excuse other than I was in a hurry at the store after the gym on my way to work. I battled low-level nausea and headache the rest of the day. That is more sugar than I have consumed in one sitting for many, many months now. My co-workers were all surprised that I didn't catch it, I am usually an avid label-reader. I will certainly be more vigilant in the future-the up-side is that I know first-hand the effects of too much sugar for me and it wasn't pretty! That's about it for now, I need to go and pack my bag for the gym tomorrow--5am comes pretty quick!
I am now one of "them"...
Feb 18, 2008
I am embarrassed to say that I have become one of "them." You know, the people that are here every day while waiting for surgery, desperate for support, guidance, and any new information they can find. Then they have surgery and gradually come to the site less and less. When I was waiting for surgery, I vowed that I would not become one of "them," yet here I am, logging on for the first time in nearly nine weeks. I have wanted to log-on to update but kept waiting until I had enough time to properly update my profile. I could use the excuse of being busy with work, school, and other assorted obligations--I could tell you all that my marriage that was already precarious at best is breathing its last breath--all true, but still excuses, none-the-less. I am going to strive to update on a regular basis and give back some of what I was able to take from this page when I was so desperate...
So now I will update you all on my progress. I am now about 11 weeks out from surgery and feel better than I can remember feeling in a very long time. If anyone would have told me how fast I would be feeling better, I would have never believed them. I am off all my BP meds, my knee pain is non-existent, and I have more energy than I thought possible. To date I have lost about 50 pounds. I am going to the gym every morning before work. I try to stay off the scale most days, getting on only about every 10-14 days--in the beginning I was weighing every day and quickly realized that I was making myself crazy by doing that! I have had no post-op complications and feel amazed when I think about the fact that my insides have been re-arranged yet I feel very normal at this point. Being conscious of food choices and amounts is still somewhat of a challenge, I have to remember to stay in the moment and not do anything absent-mindedly so that I do not have unpleasant consequences! Other than that, all is good. I am excited to get up in the morning now, most of the aches and pains that I had pre-op are long gone. I plan to update frequently from here on out--I don't want to be one of them no more!!! Thanks to all who have offered unwavering support, I can never express how valuable this site has been to me during this journey.
So now I will update you all on my progress. I am now about 11 weeks out from surgery and feel better than I can remember feeling in a very long time. If anyone would have told me how fast I would be feeling better, I would have never believed them. I am off all my BP meds, my knee pain is non-existent, and I have more energy than I thought possible. To date I have lost about 50 pounds. I am going to the gym every morning before work. I try to stay off the scale most days, getting on only about every 10-14 days--in the beginning I was weighing every day and quickly realized that I was making myself crazy by doing that! I have had no post-op complications and feel amazed when I think about the fact that my insides have been re-arranged yet I feel very normal at this point. Being conscious of food choices and amounts is still somewhat of a challenge, I have to remember to stay in the moment and not do anything absent-mindedly so that I do not have unpleasant consequences! Other than that, all is good. I am excited to get up in the morning now, most of the aches and pains that I had pre-op are long gone. I plan to update frequently from here on out--I don't want to be one of them no more!!! Thanks to all who have offered unwavering support, I can never express how valuable this site has been to me during this journey.
almost a week out...
Dec 10, 2007
Tomorrow will be one week since my surgery. I came home on Thursday, two days after surgery. Although the nursing staff at St. Josephs were awesome, I wanted out of there so I could come home and get some rest!
I arrived at the hospital two hours prior to my surgery time and discovered that Dr. Chae was running ahead of schedule and was ready for me. The nurses were running around trying to get me ready to go sooner than anyone anticipated. I went into surgery around 12:15pm, I have no idea how long I was in surgery or recovery--my first clear memories don't start until around 9pm that night. I have no idea how much pain meds they were giving me but it was enough to cloud my mind pretty darn good! I tried to talk Dr. Chae into letting me go home on Wednesday but no such luck, ditto for getting him to remove the drain before going home. I have had some pain, not as bad as I feared but am still not feeling as great as I had hoped to be at this point. I discovered that I had lost six pounds on the three day liquid diet prior to surgery but was then horrified to see that I had gained 12 pounds when I weighed myself on Thursday. I knew that it had to be from fluids and swelling so I did not panic too much. As of today, I am down eight pounds from my pre-surgery weight. I go see Dr. Chae this Wednesday to have the drain removed, I am hoping to be feeling much better once I am done with that.
I arrived at the hospital two hours prior to my surgery time and discovered that Dr. Chae was running ahead of schedule and was ready for me. The nurses were running around trying to get me ready to go sooner than anyone anticipated. I went into surgery around 12:15pm, I have no idea how long I was in surgery or recovery--my first clear memories don't start until around 9pm that night. I have no idea how much pain meds they were giving me but it was enough to cloud my mind pretty darn good! I tried to talk Dr. Chae into letting me go home on Wednesday but no such luck, ditto for getting him to remove the drain before going home. I have had some pain, not as bad as I feared but am still not feeling as great as I had hoped to be at this point. I discovered that I had lost six pounds on the three day liquid diet prior to surgery but was then horrified to see that I had gained 12 pounds when I weighed myself on Thursday. I knew that it had to be from fluids and swelling so I did not panic too much. As of today, I am down eight pounds from my pre-surgery weight. I go see Dr. Chae this Wednesday to have the drain removed, I am hoping to be feeling much better once I am done with that.
Pre-Op appointment
Nov 23, 2007
I went for my pre-op appointment on Wednesday, the 21st. Another check on height and weight, according to the newest numbers, I am now 5'6". When I started this process, I had always believed that I was 5'8" but now that i really think about it, not sure where that number came from. Then during official measurements, I was told that I was only 5'7", all the better to increase my BMI--but now they say I am 5'6", I want to be an incredible shrinking woman but this is ridiculous! Who knows which one is really right, who cares?
Anyway, had my EKG done, nurse scared the heck out of me when she immediately left the room with the read-out, I laid there for at least a minute, sure she was going to fetch the doctor due to some abnormality in the results. She returned alone, turns out she just had to go get some other paperwork down the hall--funny what will run through your head with a little help from your imagination!
Got the day of instructions from the nurse plus some nasty, medical-grade soap to shower with prior to surgery. No lotion after the shower they say, I am really dreading the dry itchy skin I will be wearing to the hospital--such a little thing to worry about, I know but it feels like all control is being taken away from me. No jewelry, I wear my earrings and nose piercing 24/7, hate to have to take them out. No make-up day of, either. Another irritation, I NEVER leave the house without make-up, when you are unable to control the way your body looks, make-up, hair and nails become that much more important. I may just be a rebel and wear my make-up anyway, we'll see...
Final stop was at the lab for yet more blood-work. The tech was very sweet but I am now sporting a bruise the diameter of a tennis ball on my forearm, and it is sore. Not sure why I bruised so bad but I am convinced that with all the blood I have given the past few months, Kaiser is in cahoots with Dracula!
Now I am just waiting for the 4th to arrive. I am in overdrive at work and trying to finish school. After this Sunday, I will be on break from school until 12/17, what a relief! I have only this next week at work to finish all that I have to get done--good thing is that I have been so busy at work and school, not much time to worry about upcoming surgery. I am expecting to be overwhelmed the morning of surgery, I'm sure it will all be real to me then.
Anyway, had my EKG done, nurse scared the heck out of me when she immediately left the room with the read-out, I laid there for at least a minute, sure she was going to fetch the doctor due to some abnormality in the results. She returned alone, turns out she just had to go get some other paperwork down the hall--funny what will run through your head with a little help from your imagination!
Got the day of instructions from the nurse plus some nasty, medical-grade soap to shower with prior to surgery. No lotion after the shower they say, I am really dreading the dry itchy skin I will be wearing to the hospital--such a little thing to worry about, I know but it feels like all control is being taken away from me. No jewelry, I wear my earrings and nose piercing 24/7, hate to have to take them out. No make-up day of, either. Another irritation, I NEVER leave the house without make-up, when you are unable to control the way your body looks, make-up, hair and nails become that much more important. I may just be a rebel and wear my make-up anyway, we'll see...
Final stop was at the lab for yet more blood-work. The tech was very sweet but I am now sporting a bruise the diameter of a tennis ball on my forearm, and it is sore. Not sure why I bruised so bad but I am convinced that with all the blood I have given the past few months, Kaiser is in cahoots with Dracula!
Now I am just waiting for the 4th to arrive. I am in overdrive at work and trying to finish school. After this Sunday, I will be on break from school until 12/17, what a relief! I have only this next week at work to finish all that I have to get done--good thing is that I have been so busy at work and school, not much time to worry about upcoming surgery. I am expecting to be overwhelmed the morning of surgery, I'm sure it will all be real to me then.
I met my surgeon
Nov 15, 2007
I met with Dr. Chae on Wednesday, the 14th. I had visited his website and also read the reviews here on the surgery support page. Everyone that posted a review had nothing but positive things to say about him. I am happy to report that the reviews are accurate! The two words that kept coming up were, kind and sensitive. I found that both were true about Dr. Chae, he seems to be very caring and concerned about me as a patient. He spent a considerable amount of time explaining the actual surgery and discussing the possible risks and complications although he was very reassuring when he talked about his expertise in the field. I did not have many questions for Dr. Chae, I told him that I had been researching the operation for a long time and had a pretty good understanding of what was involved. All of the information and support from this site in particular has really prepared me for what to expect. I have been too busy to be too nervous but I am sure that is coming. I have been in overdrive at work, trying to get all of next month's work done in the next two weeks so I can leave with a clear conscience. I have a very supportive staff at work so it will be difficult to be gone from work, but I am sure I will manage!! 
I guess that is all for now-thanks to all of you for all the support you have given me in the past few days, it is an awesome thing!
I guess that is all for now-thanks to all of you for all the support you have given me in the past few days, it is an awesome thing! Surgery Date!!!!
Nov 09, 2007
Well, I have not updated for a long time, so here goes...
I completed the eight week Lifestyle Management Classes required by Kaiser the end of October. Although I was not thrilled about having to take the classes; it felt like just another chore to complete. I found that the classes were actually very helpful-lots of information given by the instructors and plenty of opportunity for soul-searching to determine how we got where we were in the first place. The goal of the classes is to help you recognize what your issues are so that you are not destined to repeat the behaviors that led to being overweight in the first place. Anyway, at the completion of the classes, we were told that surgeries were being scheduled for the end of December and into January '08. We were cautioned to not expect many surgeries to happen in December so I was mentally prepared for surgery in January and was really okay with that.
Well...I got a call today from the surgery coordinator-she wanted to give me my surgery date. I flipped my planner forward to January, pen poised to write down the date when she said it. Then she said it--December 4th. I nearly fell over from shock, I kept saying, "Oh my God" to her. She asked if I was okay. I told her, I am in shock, I have been prepared to wait until January. The shock wore off quickly and I wrote down the date that will change my life.
I have spent the remainder of the day calling my friends and co-workers to tell them the news. My mind is working overtime right now with lists of things that I need to do prior to the surgery date. I also have tons of appointments to go to in preparation for the surgery--well, not tons but three in the next three weeks. And of course it is nearing the end of the year so I also have to do employee evaluations for my staff of 15 before I go out on leave. I really am not sure how I am going to get it all done--I will probably be working some long hours. But it is all worth it.
I have told my kids that their Christmas present this year will be a healthier, happier Mom--that is fine with the grown ones, I'm probably not going to get away with that for the little ones, I'm afraid!
I am so excited to be starting the new year with a brand-new fresh start, I can hardly believe it!! No anxiety right now but I'm sure that will come the day of surgery. My mantra for the past three months has been "This time next year, everything will be better"
When I thought I couldn't stand the pain in my knee another minute longer or my feet were so swollen I could barely get my shoes on, I would repeat that to myself. Now I am there, Wow. I am rambling at the moment so I will close for now. It all seems real to me now and at the same time it is sort of surreal. I now have the motivation to update more frequently, now that I actually have something worth reporting...
WOW!!!
I completed the eight week Lifestyle Management Classes required by Kaiser the end of October. Although I was not thrilled about having to take the classes; it felt like just another chore to complete. I found that the classes were actually very helpful-lots of information given by the instructors and plenty of opportunity for soul-searching to determine how we got where we were in the first place. The goal of the classes is to help you recognize what your issues are so that you are not destined to repeat the behaviors that led to being overweight in the first place. Anyway, at the completion of the classes, we were told that surgeries were being scheduled for the end of December and into January '08. We were cautioned to not expect many surgeries to happen in December so I was mentally prepared for surgery in January and was really okay with that.
Well...I got a call today from the surgery coordinator-she wanted to give me my surgery date. I flipped my planner forward to January, pen poised to write down the date when she said it. Then she said it--December 4th. I nearly fell over from shock, I kept saying, "Oh my God" to her. She asked if I was okay. I told her, I am in shock, I have been prepared to wait until January. The shock wore off quickly and I wrote down the date that will change my life.
I have spent the remainder of the day calling my friends and co-workers to tell them the news. My mind is working overtime right now with lists of things that I need to do prior to the surgery date. I also have tons of appointments to go to in preparation for the surgery--well, not tons but three in the next three weeks. And of course it is nearing the end of the year so I also have to do employee evaluations for my staff of 15 before I go out on leave. I really am not sure how I am going to get it all done--I will probably be working some long hours. But it is all worth it.
I have told my kids that their Christmas present this year will be a healthier, happier Mom--that is fine with the grown ones, I'm probably not going to get away with that for the little ones, I'm afraid!
I am so excited to be starting the new year with a brand-new fresh start, I can hardly believe it!! No anxiety right now but I'm sure that will come the day of surgery. My mantra for the past three months has been "This time next year, everything will be better"
When I thought I couldn't stand the pain in my knee another minute longer or my feet were so swollen I could barely get my shoes on, I would repeat that to myself. Now I am there, Wow. I am rambling at the moment so I will close for now. It all seems real to me now and at the same time it is sort of surreal. I now have the motivation to update more frequently, now that I actually have something worth reporting...
WOW!!!
I have my approval letter!!
Apr 10, 2007
I have waited to start posting until I had something big to report--well, I guess this qualifies. I received a letter from my insurance company--Kaiser-telling me that I have met all of their criteria for WLS and I have been put on the waiting list. They cautioned me that the wait could be as long as a year for the actual surgery and probably 9-10 months before I start the pre-op procedures. I am okay with the wait since my copay is going to be 30% of the total cost; somewhere between eight and ten thousand dollars. Now, how the heck am I going come up with that kind of money?? I am determined to do it, so I know I will find a way! I am so excited that I have gotten to this point--I'm afraid I am going to wake up and find out that it is all a dream!!
