SueBooBoo

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I wish I had the sense to have noted the exact date however I think it was around the end of July that Marlene at Dr.Rehnke's office called me stating she had received the stress test results (required..part of my pre-op prep) from my Cardiologist. I planned to have this test done much earlier in the year but was plagued with Asthma which hospitalized me twice in a 3 month period(Nov '05 & Feb'06); between the asthma and the swelling of my legs (believed at that time to be attributed to various meds) it was just so hard to move and earlier in the year I didn't think I could handle the test. I didn't realize it would be as easy for me as it turned out to be. I had had this test done in '02 and it was awful! This time apparently they have changed the procedure some, I was in the doc's office not the hospital, and the professionals monitoring me where very encouraging, when I  mentioned I felt sick they told me, and I could see this as well, that my heat rate was doing fine and no undue stress to relax and breathe, so I made it thru with flying colors on July 3rd. I knew it would be at least another 2 weeks after to hear anything, in the 3rd week I called Dr.R's and was told they were missing the report; I contacted the Cardiologist's office and they sent it right away, soon after I got the call from Marlene who said she would ask the scheduler at the hospital for the next available date, estimated at about another 4 weeks. A couple of days later I received a call from the scheduler telling me my LAP BAND surgery date was 8.29.06, I was ecstatic!  I went to Dr.R's office to meet with the Nurse who went over the pre-op process with me and took my "before" pic. I came back a week later to purchase the Opti-Fast and began the 2 week fasting period. My weight at this time was 385 which was up 10 lbs from when I had my stress test on 7.03!  This stage of the "diet" didn't really phase me...I mean... I was really good and had no craving for real food. The 2nd week of Opti-Fast though I was very week and constantly nauseous, I needed something in my stomach, after calling a couple of times Dr.R's office said... well if I must put something in my tummy, make it protein..such as almonds, so I did. I had to take off that week from work which was unplanned, but I didn't have any energy or strength and had a massive headache I've since learned is due to the loss of carbs; after adding the nuts ...just a few..my stomach calmed done...fyi to anyone who experiences the awful nausea I did.  I was warned! though...do not eat food while on Opti-Fast or you will gain weight. I ate just enough of the nuts to calm me with no gain. The day finally arrived...it was time to begin my new life.  I awoke at 5:00 a.m., got ready to go, sent some emails to friends and called my family..then my brother picked me up and off we went to Palms of Pasadena Hospital in Pasadena Florida, a small town to the west to St.Petersburg. Dr.R's office is across the street. I went to the Admitting office, waited for about 20 minutes or so, went in and did my thing! I was directed to the pre op area down the hall, I didn't realize it was so far, by the time I got there my legs were like rubber and I was breathing very hard(not really that far for anyone else but in my condition it was). I was sent to a room to change into my hospital gown, soon after a wonderful nurse came and told me what she would be doing, about how long I would be waiting etc. I was extremely calm and I have to say suprised at myself for being so. I had surgery Jan '05 for a hernia repair and managed that very well but had been quite apprehensive before I went under. This surgery I had no qualms what so ever, so relaxed, almost took a nap in the 'holding" stage. I was finally told it was my time, and was wheeled down the hall to surgery. The anesthesiologist introduced her self and told me she had been there for the "gaggle" of other WLS patients from my company. Huh? I know of about 5 or 6 others..is that a gaggle? Anyway, she talked about what her participation would be...and then suddenly I got a lump in my throat and a slight bit of apprehension crept up, I could feel the goose bumps, as she said she was extremly concerned about me with my asthma and breathing condition et al ( oh sure...what a way to make a girl feel welcome  lol).  I told her she was making me a little nervous, she said not to worry she would be there for me. In the operating room as I was transferring from the gurney to the table she made me wait while she found some extra pillows and a crude form of a neck brace, then I layed my head back on to these until she felt I was in the right position, and voila, I could actually breath laying on my back!  What a wonderful person she is.  The next thing I remember she was injecting the med into my IV while talking to me. I said "..am I supposed to feel something happen here?"...and woke up in recovery. I couldn't seem to open my eyes, I kept fluttering them trying to keep them open as the anesthesiologist was saying to me " remember what I told you before surgery...deep breathes!"  I did, still had the mask over my face for a while, and felt huge pain in my lungs and upper left shoulder/chest area each time however knowing that this was so very important and with my breathing history I continued to breathe deep. I was in much pain right away so they gave me a dose of morphine.  I was breathing deep in a concious effort to clear my lungs( bit of a cough developed too)it became very rythmic being doped and all. I must have fallen asleep as the next thing I recall I was in my own room, coughing, which I was told was good for me to do, cough it up they said. I requested a wee bit more of the pain med, this was the last time I needed or wanted it. I did feel some pain and certainly restriction as I tried to roll to my left side to sleep. My surgery was at 2:p.m., after I woke in the room I think it was around 4:30 and my mouth was so dry and swollen, and because of the tube down the throat, it was a little sore. I wasn't allowed to drink just yet so a container of ice chips was brought to me. My dad came right after that and visited for an hour or so, I couldn't speak very loudly though and my voice was really raspy. My brother stopped by later for a visit and a couple of friends called to wish me well. I slept a little bit, in stages, that night...not so much pain as the cough kept me from it. The stuff I coughed up was yuk! Plus I would get uncomfortable, my muscles always feel inflamed...and I really didn't want to be grogged down with any more pain med...advil usually takes care of the inflammation but I hadn't been able to take any for the past week. I must have fallen into a deep sleep in the wee hours because a nurse woke me up close to 7 telling me I needed to hurry, Dr. Rehnke would be in soon. I sponge bathed and waited. A half hour later they asked me why I was still sitting there? I did not know it but Dr. R has a small meeting room on the floor for the patients to gather in the next morning and he goes over the post op care and discharge orders. There was 5 of us..all women..that morning, we were given our little goodie bags with jello, crystal light, packets of broth and tea and pre natal vitamins and a prescription to refill them. I went back to my room, napped, called my dad that I was being released and he came to take me home later that day. I think it was about 2:p.m. when I made it in the door, put my things away, then fell back to sleep. I woke up and fixed my broth for supper and fell back to sleep soon after. The next day at home was better, still dealing with the yukky cough, forcing water, napping, waking to eat. I ventured out to walk I think on my 3rd day home, the energy level was terrible...still...but I did manage to walk a bit and went to the store as well. The next few days more of the same and the following Tuesday, the day after labor day, I was scheduled back to work. I had to call and tell my supervisor it would be an additional week, as I just did not have any energy, still had the cough, and wanted to drift off to sleep every so often, uncontrolably. A week after, I made it to work...for a few days...weakness and the change in the diet from clear liquids to full liquids made me feel ill. The addition of carbs in  my creamy soups was like a drug in my body, I just wanted to eat and having no energy, sleep. For the next week or two I made it in to work  here and there, finally I called my corp office and spoke to the benefit specialist who sent me the papers to fill out for FMLA; I wish I had done so before my surgery. I wasn't going to receive pay during this time but at least I could protect my job( the STD I applied for to cover the week of surgery and the week after was denied...elective surgery...odd as if this was true the Insurance would not have covered it...am in the appeal process now). I should have remembered to keep a daily journal but memory is not my strong suite at the moment...as if I didn''t have enough problems my memory is sluggish...I will think to do something and then totally forget to do it...or worse...fall asleep while waiting to do it as in the case of the walk in Sept where I was ready to go, sat down for a few minutes and awoke a few hourse later missing it entirely...sheesh!  I read that magnesium has a part in this, and that eating foods such as almonds can help. I already love almonds and eat a few every day so we'll see...hope they didn't mean a cup a day lol if so I'm out of luck. The last couple of months have been a roller coaster ride...more of the same...got 2 fills, the 1st one didn't appear to do much for me. I did try to think it did...gave it a chance..finally had to go back in for another. This one is tight, the first 7 days I had a lot of trouble eating, couldn't get anything down until the p.m., by then I would be sick to my stomach, having bad bouts of nausea. It took a while for my feeble brain to figure out, instead of trying to drink water in the morning, to sip over a period of an hour some Opti-Fast which would actually coat my tummy and therefore avoid the nausea. The few days after I figured this out I think perhaps due to mild depression, I pigged out. I was in pain but was out of control for a few days. I smacked myself, went back to Opti-Fast for 4 days, nothing else, then started to eat proper as was instructed for this band. I got a zoom full of energy and the next thing I knew in the days to follow, I had lost another few pounds. Luckily I never gained..thank you lord.  The last two weeks have been great! I wish I would get a handle on the amount I eat at once...if I do I think I will be ok!  I went to see Dr. R this past Monday, November 20th, and my total weight loss since the pre-op and the start of Opti-Fast, is 51 lbs.  I was not as pleases as I probably should have been, you know, we always want more..more..more..lol.  I really am happy for this amount and I can't wait until the next 51 lbs are lost. Today is Thanksgiving 2006 and I want to wish everyone a very happy day, God Bless my family and friends, you and your family and friends and all of our Armed Forces overseas and...THE USA.  Christmas is right around the corner and then the New Year.  If I don't get back to this before then....Holiday Greetings to all, wishing you a wonderful holiday season...and the best of a New Year!  A very special wish to Janet and her daughter, that they are able to make it home for the holidays and her daughter recovers fully. Bless You all!