swangirl

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Well, it's November 29, 2007. In two weeks I will hit my one year surgiversary. I'm down to 165lbs and a total loss of aobut 120 lbs.!!! I'm so happy and so healthy! I feel great. I have had no lasting ill effects from the surgery. I lost my hair up to the 9th month and it stopped like everyone said it would. I'm glad I had enough for three people because I really lost a lot of it. The hair dresser says I have new hair coming in. I had a vitamin B6 deficiency which was fixed by taking sublingual B6 which I continue to take. Apart from that, gas is the only adverse side effect I have had. I have a lot of skin also.
I no longer am a diabetic, or have high blood pressure, or sleep apnea, or acid reflux and I don't even have to wear glasses (except to read) because the diabetis was the problem with my eyes all along.

My family hasn't seen me since my surgery because they all live far away. For Christmas next month I'm going to go see all of them. My brothers, and kids, and grandkids. All except for one brother and one granddaughter. I can't wait to see their reaction! It's going to be great!!

I can do so much more now and I have energy forever!
It seems so weird to wrap my arms around my much smaller self. My shoulders feel so tiny to touch. I'm finding bones I didn't know I had...really...! Did you know you can count you ribs ABOVE your breasts? It's been so long ago that I was at this weight I didn't know that. My pelvic bones come up much farther than I knew too. At first when I got to where I could feel them, I kept telling my husband to feel my sides and see why I was so hard there! Ha! It was pelvic bone. WHO KNEW???

Here are my measurements, today skin and all:

Bust: 41.5
Waist: 38.5
Hips:    45

Wrist: L 7 R 7.5
Upper Arm: L 15 R 15
Lower Arm: L 10 R 10.5
Thighs:     L 25 R 24
Calves: L 16.5 R15
Ankles: L 10.5 R10

Novenber 26, 2006
Waiting for the last 3 weeksof hang time. Surgery will be Dec 15. I just made this list of goals for becoming a normal weight.

OBESE III
BMI 40 WEIGHT 282-220

OBESE II
BMI 35-39.9 WEIGHT 195-215

OBESE I WEIGHT 165-190
BMI 30-34.75

OVERWEIGHT
BMI 25-29.9 WEIGHT 137-160

NORMAL
BMI 18.5-24.9 WEIGHT 105-136

Hi everybody!! Thanks to everyone who is posting and calling and coming by and praying and keeping me in your thoughts! Just thanks to any and everyone who frequents this site because if you didn't it would not be here for me. I'm so blessed to have found this wonderful family!

Well, had a little scare in the hospital that was totally unrelated to WLS. I bled too much but that was due to the fact I have been on Coumadin for years and even though I stopped 7 days before surgery I was still too thin. They fixed that and sent me home. I was in the hospital from Friday to Monday. Including 2 days in ICU. Just a suggestion to preops (I'M A POST OP NOW!) Donate blood in your own name or if you know someone else who will donate for you, you can be covered for your blood. I work with a wonderful friend whe asked a few months ago if she could donate blood for me. I said of course she could. I can't donate for myself because of health reasons so I couldn't do it for my self. Low and behold I needed it. That would also be a wonderful way to support people on the boards. I believe if you donate for yourself you can ask to recieve your own blood as well which is something to think about.
I went into the hospital sick with the flu or cold or bad sinus infection. I have run a low grade temp most of the time since surgery but I feel that may be why. My blood pressure has been erractic which I also feel is not related to WLS, just to major surgery itself. Keeping a regular watch on that and intouch with my doctor's office.

Here is a stupid thing I did. I have this drain and I forgot for two days I am supposed to empty it and THEN SQUEEZE THE BULB TO PUT SUCTION BACK ON IT!!! Should I call the doc?
Here is my first WOW moment.....are you ready??????
I no longer have to take my diabetis medicine!!!! Glory to God!!
My sugar went from 140 ish 155 ish yesterday morning to 80 last night, and I had to start drinking drinks to bring me back up (Gatorade).
Do you realize how big of a deal that is????? I've been a diabetic for 20 years and steadily getting worse.

I am just so greatful for this hope that I have, and can't wait to see what will be my next wow.

Merry Christmas to all and many many Happy NewYears!!!!

 

Sept. 5 2006
I called Dr. Hassan's office this morning and held my breath while on hold, and during the paper rustling when the nurse came back on line. "Mrs. Abernathy," she said in her thick east Indian accent, "your results are normal."
"They are normal? It, it was normal?" I weakly dared to inquire,as if just by asking I might scratch the cover off of a deeper more intimidating answer.
With as much understanding and tenderness as a loving mother might have she replied " Yes normal".
A tear caught in my hoarse voice. "Thank you."

Sept. 18,2006
I have learned that my new insurance covers WLS and looks like at a comparable rate to UHC. Yea!

 

What is Your Exercise Personality?

Your Personality Type: INSPIRATIONAL
You're the type who catalyzes other people into action. You know how to say all the right things, which is why people gravitate toward you, tell you their problems, and look to you for inspiration. You're creative and are concerned about achieving personal growth.

Your Exercise Rx:
Dual-purpose exercise. To you, working out is engaging only when it's about more than just your body. You are more apt to enjoy it if it's about being part of a community or about exploring your inner self. To enhance your spiritual side, try listening to music to set the mood for a peaceful workout.

Best Choices
Softball
Volleyball
Soccer
Dance classes
Water aerobics
Martial arts
Trail running
Swimming
Tai chi

Leisure Activities
Your first priority is to work regular exercise into your week. But also think about using your leisure time to burn off a few extra calories. Here are some extracurricular activities for your personality type:

nature walks
yoga

Obstacles
Different personalities don't just take to different activities; they have to contend with different obstacles too. Here's what you might find in your path, as well as ways to get around it:

Because you may often engage in activities that involve instructors or coaches, you run the risk of being turned off by corrections or criticism aimed at you--or anyone else in your group.

Solution: Remind yourself that the teacher or coach is only trying to help you; if that doesn't work, look for a class or team that focuses more on teamwork or a teacher or coach whose style you prefer.

 

SEPT. 29, 2006 I just finished my first week back at work after being off all summer and the first 6 weeks of school. I'm an interpreter for the deaf at an elementary school. This year I am working primarily with K-1st.
These kids have been with a teacher with little control over her classroom and a substitute interpreter who didn't have much control either. I am walking back on the job weak and tired and have to corrall these kids and change their mindset about behavior and learning without usurping th e teachers authority. Said all that to say this...I'm exhausted!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not sick though which is fantastic!
Took off half day yesterday to drive all the way across Houston from my eastern suburb to a western suburb ( about 50 mi, Houston is huge) to see my WLS surgeon. I had to cancel my date from March 1 2006 because I had this pressure in my throat when I walked. (turned out to be cancer and had to have my thyroid removed ) While I was in the process of handling this situation the school district I worked for dropped my insurance and became self insured. So before the surgeons office would resubmit me for my NEW INSURANCE to approve me I had to see my surgeon. Come to find out he thought I had canceld my WLS because I was afraid.?? I mentioned it to him before March 1 that I was pretty nervous, but he's the one that canceld my surgery because of the throat problem. I wonder if he thought I had made up the symptom of the pressure in my throat, because none of my doctors I had a clue what it was and all still say it was a weird symptom. Now here I sit 6 mo later with an 8 inch scar across my throat. I guess he believes me now. Ok so he asks me what I want to do now. I say have WLS! Oh no we con't do that this soon after cancer, he says. He also needs letters from my cancer/thyroid/ear,nose,and throat doctors saying I can have the surgery now.
"My endocrinologist told me to wait two weeks after I finished radiation and have it" I said. He just shook his head like that doctor was crazy. "Can't do it it is too soon" he continues to tell me.

I didn't expect to have it tomorrow I want him to schedule me for Christmas break right away so I have first shot at getting in the schedule before it's filled up.
"How about Christmas break I asked?" "We'll think about it" he said, "Get me those letters and I want to see you in October and again in November."
So I'm thinking I got a good chance of a Christmas break surgery. I know the new insurance pays, they told me I will probably be approved in a month because they have 30 days to approve or deny. They felt sure I would be approved especially since I was pre-approved by my old health insurance
Then... I went to my first support group meeting last night since I was on that side of town. I am so impressed that this group is a group of my very own doctor's patients. It was very good to see healthy looking people who had already had the surgery.
One more Swangirl long post, I'm sorry
but ya'll are my buds and I know you dont mind really. HEY!!YA"LL WAKE UP!!

AUG 20, 2006

Tomorrow is the day I go back into the hospital for the radiation treatment. Swallow a pill that will put me in such high levels of radiation that I must be isolated in the hospital strictly for 3 or 4 days and isolated at home for two weeks after that. I won't even be able to face a child head on face to face for 2 weeks!

I'm ready to get it done and over with. Bring it on.

Aug 26.2006
I went into the hospital Aug 21 for radioactive iodine treatment.
I entered the hospital and walked down the long hall way all the way past the nurses station to the very last room on the left. I was shown into my room past the first heavy door which bore the radioactive hazard sign, behind which was a smaller room about the size of a good walk in closet. In this little room was a sink and some cabinets and a trash can. The next heavy door opened into a small private room which held the customary hospital bed, chair night stand and roll around tv tray table and tv. There was the custamary sink, and toilet with a shower and tub. What set this room apart from any other I had ever had was that everything was covered with plastic or paper, including the floor. The toilet seat had the blue pads taped all over it the edge of the tub all the light switches the door knobs the faucet handles the phone was in plastic wrap as well as the nurse call light. Everywhere they thought I might touch something was covered, even the thermostat.
I was told that I was to flush 5 times, and rinse the sink well after washing my hands, or brushing my teeth.
They wanted me to take 5 showers a day and brush my teeth as well as wash my hair, and to eat and drink as much as possible, all of this to help me get the radiation to a level at which I could be released.
I was happy to see that i had a window in the room to look out, but when I looked I was surrounded on the left and right and directly in front with skyscrapers. I couldn't see the sky. I could see the grass, but there was not a bush or a tree or a bird or a bee, so I shut the blinds and waited for the pill.
There was the ususal hustle and bustle of a new patient being admitted to the hospital. Liz from nuclear medicine was my new best friend, but she kept asking me is there anything you need to know or want ask me now because you will be very limited after you take this pill as to who you will see and for how long. Make SURE there is nothing in this room you will want to keep, because it won't be leaving here afterwards. They brought me my over size hospital gown and I removed my clothes, shoes and glasses and gave them to my husband to put back in my bag to take home.
They came in and said to us it's time to say good bye now they are bringing the pill down as we speak. We cried a little and held on a little long, then he was gone. Liz came in with a lead looking box, out of which she pulled another container, I'm not sure if she wore gloves but in my cartoon charicature memory it was like that pill was inside of a box inside of a box inside of a box inside....You get the idea. Then a clear medicine bottle like a prescription pill bottle, and there it was looking like a Tylenol capsule only smaller. I was thinking I'm just going to swallow this? Liz helped me lift the bottle to my lips, I didn't touch the pill and neither did she. I took a swig of water from my hospital water/pitcher/mug with the big thick bendable straw. For a second I tasted iodine. Then suddenly my nose on both nostrils ran water. I thought at first blood, but no, it was water. and it stopped as quickly as it came. Then about 5 minutes later a quick light hot flash and that was that. Liz was already my best friend from a distance.

and was released on the 23 in the afternoon. My thyroid level is so low that I feel like a dishrag and just bad in general. I will begin synthroid next Monday on Aug 28. On Aug 30 I will have a full body scan to see if they got everything. and to be sure it has not gone to my lungs or bone.

Aug. 31, 2006
My doctor has the results of the scan in his hands and I should hear the results tomorrow morning.

July 13,2006
I had to have oral surgery July 13 for a molar that was flaring up on me every week or two. I didn't want it acting up during the thyroid surgery. So they had to knock me out because I can't take the medication they give for tooth extraction.
This guy beat me up so badly. My face at the chin had a big black and blue bruise my upper lip was busted in two places, different places in my mouth were scraped up. Not to mention the swelling in my face which was expected. Both my wrists had huge bruises on them from where they started one IV and I guess it failed and they moved it to the other. The second wrist was bruised and red and swollen and actually hurt worse than the tooth extraction.
I can tell you how to get over oral surgery.....go have your thyroid removed.

July 22, 2006
I had my surgery July the 17, and it was found to be cancer. My doctor says there are four kinds of thyroid cancer and two are not treatable. I have one of those which is highly treatable. First they want me to be without any thyroid hormone for abot two months so that my body will be starved for the radioactive iodine pill I will swallow. It will be very effective and I have a 99.7% chance of total recovery. Then I will take a thyroid pill for the rest of my life. I will have to be in isolation for three days, because the doctor said I will be glowing.

July 28, 2006

I went back to my surgeon who removed my thyroid 11 days ago. He says my vocal chords have been traumatized and there is a chance I will never get my voice back to normal. I can talk but my voice sounds like a thirteen year old boys does when his voice is changing. So the doctor says the airway might have damaged my vocal chords permanently.
For most people that might be OK, not a bad trade off for no cancer.
But you see I have a call of God on my life to sing and praise him. I use to do it all the time.
I have had some bumps in my life that, to make a long story short, have gotten me out of the Christian lifestyle. Out of church and fellowship with other Christians. It has been a long time since I sang for him. The call and the gift was still there and I have always known I would someday be back there in fellowship with HIM and leading others into a deeper understanding and relationship of praise and worship with HIM.
Now it looks as though that gift might be stolen. I have prayed and promised God that if he delivers me from this attack of the enemy that I will go back to doing what he has called me to do . I will sing anywhere anytime no matter if I have just walked back into church in the last five minutes or been back there for twenty years. I will go back and ask to sing whereever I go. I will sing if I weigh 300 lbs or 112 lbs. I will sing if I'm scared or not. I will sing if I have the right clothes or not. I will sing if everyone else in the building is a singer and sings better than I do. I will sing if there are only two or three there that need to have a personal touch from the Lord. I will get busy going about the masters business. Just as soon as he lets me. I've wasted YEARS now, it's time.
I need some people that know how to pray to set themselves in agreement with me that I will be able to sing again.

June 20, 2006
The test I had done on my thyroid was a guided needle aspiration. They use
an ultasound to watch the needle go in so they don't stick something esle
important.
Like carotid arteries, voice box, wind pipe, jugular vein, etc.

Well I was off the blood thinner from Sunday to Thursday and they weren't
sure that was long enough but he decided to do it anyway.(not my doctor but
the doctor at the hospital) He acted a little nervous to me. They explained
to me that I had to be perfectly still, not speak, etc. and then explained
to me what could happen if I did. Then they began to explain to me what
would happen next etc. The ultrasound lady was getting me ready. Take off
the shirt put on the gown, lay on the table on the wedge so your head hangs
down and your throat sticks up. We're gonna put this paper thing on to keep
you clean. We're gonna wash you with the beta dine, Now we're gonna inject
you with lidacaine------
I said "no your not!" I'm allergic to anything with caine in it. They
started listing all the caines I said no way no how. They said" Well you
will have to do it without any thing then so there will be some pain." I
said "Wait a minute, Let's talk about this." YIKES I told them that what
caine does to me is makes me shake so hard all over that I'd fall off the
table. Well we for sure can't use that then.
The doctor really didn't want to do it.
He kept suggesting I wait, see my doctor again, and have a regular sugical type
biopsy. I said no I've put this off long enough and I have to know if I have
cancer.
I had taken my little anxiety pill that morning, This was about 3:30 in the
afternoon. I had brought them with me so I told them let me have that bottle
of pills out of my purse, I will take one of them, and you come back to me
in about 15 min,
Fifteen minutes later, they returned. They went in 4different times. I layed
there like a rock. I only whimpered once, and caught myself. I just folded
my hands over my chest and hung on. I didn't move or speak, but my eyebrows
were doing sign language.
I had my courage so cranked up, that when they finished I had some left
over! I was wishing I had that root canal scheduled! I swear I would have
gone right over and had it done! Seriously, I've never experienced that kind
of thing before.
There must be some kind of brain chemical produced in that situation, when
you are in sheer terror and you make yourself do it anyway.

The results are inconclusive after all of that. They didn't get enough
cells.
So they just want to remove 1/2 my thyroid. I am getting a second opinion
Tuesday. So I am guessing I will get it out real soon.

June 28
I saw the doctor for my second opinion about having thyroid surgery yesterday. He says he expects it is benign. However, since they are not sure it is, it would have to be followed up for the next 20 years. That would mean more testing and I'm not doing that again.
I'd rather get it out and be done with it. He also said since I seem to be a worrier, for my peace of mind it would be best to take it out.
I have the surgery scheduled for July 17.
I think I will have to wait now and have the RNY surgery during the school year since I have exhausted my flex spending account for medical. I have to wait now til enrollment rolls around and enroll in that benefit again, so I will have the $700 out of pocket that my surgeon want up front. This is going to happen someday!! I'm shooting now for Christmas break.
The doctor I went to see for the second opinion is all for RNY. He is amazed by the results it gives for Diabetics. Just one more piece of concrete in my resolve to get this done.
Every Doctor I have mentioned this to are happy about it for all the different health benefits it will give me.

April 13, 2006
It is such a stark reality when one comes face to face with the fact that they are mortal...subject to death. The possibility is ever present in us all. At some point in our lives we all will eventually die. For some reason we go about our lives feeling that we alone in the world are excluded from this inevitability.
I was forced to come face to face with the truth today. I was diagnosed with a nodule in my thyroid gland. My surgeon is concerned that it maybe cancerous so we will schedule a ultrasound guided needle biopsy. I am on Coumadin for my Atrial Fibrillation and it will be neccesary to stop that for, I'm guessing here, five days. This puts me at high risk of blood clots and if one reaches my brain it is likely to cause a stroke. I will have to stop this for the test and the surgery. There are risks to the biopsy such as them sticking the needle into my carotid artery or other important body part. Please Lord help me not to be afraid.

Here is a copy of a reply I made to a post on April 23 concerning what to put on a medical alert bracelet after weight loss surgery:

Also preop. This is always a question for me. I am a diabetic, I take Coumadin, I have A-Fib (heart condition) I take blood pressure med. I have drug allergies to 4 different drugs and I will be adding No NG, and NO NSAIDS, I like must carry water as well. I don't need a bracelet I need a breastplate with a chain to hang around me neck. I also just learned that I can't take Iodine i.e. for test because of the Glucophage I take until I'm off it for two days before and the day of and two days after. I can't even figure out how to word that nicely.

People will say carry a wallet card ( it would be more like a book) but what if my wallet is burned up or what ever, My purse could be lost in an accident. Or if I were in an accident with several women in a car one of the other women could die while they were trying to make sense out of my restrictions!. ...Any way you get it. I have a necklace with several little tags on it. I just go to Wal Mart to the dog tag machine and print up what ever is on my mind and add to the dang thing when ever I think of something else!!!(getting kind of heavy)

Sheesh!! Thank God for anti anxiety pills

Linda~Swangirl

April 29,2006

No I have not had the biopsy done yet. My grandaughter is graduating on May 12 in Arkansas. That's about 650 mi from here and we will be driving. I don't want to be unable to attend that. It is such a big day for her and she needs all the support she can get.
I asked the doctor's office if I could wait until her graduation is over cause I probably will have to go into the hospital for surgery even if I don't have the cancer. The doctor said that my symptoms were bad enough to remove the thyroid just to alleviate them.

My daughter,the mother of the girl graduating just found out I put this off for the graduation about five minutes ago. She flipped. Still......

I did some research on the subject and found that lots of people get these nodules and most are benign, and that it is a very treatable cancer if it isn't benign. Also cancer doesn't run in my family so I'm not as worried as I was at first.

Linda~Swangirl

 

3/05/06 My surgery has been post poned until further notice. I am still having the choking when I walk and Dr. Namaan wants to have that resolved before we proceed. I'm relieved and bummed out all at the same time.

Here is the reason I sign my name Linda/Bactrac/swangirl
Name/CB handle/me post op
I was born with the name Linda, or I was given it sometime shortly afterwards. When I was in the eighth grade I was in a class with 3 of us named Linda. My teacher wanted to call us each by our first and middle name but I didn't want that so I changed my name unofficially to Lynne. I carried that as my given name until I was a divorced mother of two. When I remarried it was to a man who knew my parents and they all called me Linda so he did too. My name was changed back unofficially to Linda. Another divorce and life change story later (trying to make a long story shorter here) I became a long haul truck driver and changed my name again. I was known for getting lost or turned around going the wrong way and my name became Bactrac. You see it seems like my major life changes have brought on a new identity. I loved my name Bactrac. It reminds me of a happy time in my life when I felt like I had the reigns in my hands and life was good. The name though has lost it's usefulness, or descriptiveness, since I am not known for going the wrong way anymore. Suddenly I will be going the rightway. I am embarking on a new journey in my life. A life changing journey that will reveal the true me. Not the new me but the me I have always been and the me that I will just now be discovering. I needed a name that describes who I am now. The swangirl. I will be dropping the long signature soon. When I have the new tool that will help me to reveal who I am. Just like the swan. Just like the butterfly. I will be....
Linda~swangirl...
Me revealed.

Feb 12 06
I'm in the "waiting for surgery" mode.
Not much to report. I am 600 mi away from my daughter and about 800 mi away from my son. Maybe 600 mi from my brothers and family. It doesn't look like anyone will be coming here for my surgery. I understand why, it's a long way and travel is expensive and then there is work.
My husbands family are wonderful and very supportive. His sister and Mother will probably come.

1/02/06
Hey! I just posted a reply on the message board and my face showed up there. I hate the picture. I just got a better one on my drivers licence I would rather have up on the boards. Oh well I wonder if I'm stuck with it? It is also reposted on my profile here. I had it here before but got to messing with it and lost it!
I guess it is a good before picture. I will have one made to put on for a full body picture before surgery so we can all watch me melt.
TOMORROW, I WILL CALL THE INSURANCE TO SEE IF THEY HAVE APPROVED ME!!!!

1/3/06
I just called UHC and they have not looked at it yet because of the holidays. The representative said to check back Friday and it would probably be approved. The lady said that they approve in 1/4 of the time that the second fastest insurance does.

1/9/2006
Well still no approval. I am calling everyday now to see. It could be any day now...Yikes!!!
Such a weird mixed emotion!!
I have gained 20 lbs since I started working on getting this surgery approved. Last supper syndrome. HEY!! If you are reading this don't put me down for that. I know I will be able to eat this stuff again some day but IF

1/26/06 Well after many phone calls to UHC I finally recieved a letter today that says I have been approved. My emotions canceled each other out. I can't jump for joy because I am so apprehensive. I have had to once again remember why I will have this surgery. I have given more thought to this than I have any other thing I have ever done in my life. I am not doing this on a whim. I have weighed the risks against the benefits and I think it is the right thing to have the surgery.

I need to get in touch with Dr Naaman for the appt.

I have a toothache and need to see the dreaded dentist (chattering teeth and shaking limbs)

I have got my cpap machine and getting adjusted to using it. Last night I had a stuffy nose and had to leave it off. I was very tired all day.

Jan. 30, 2006 I have a date!! March 1, 2006 I will soon see you on the losing side.