thin_by_thirty

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Leave it to me to get a g-tube infection!  Ugh!  There was pus coming out of the site where the g-tube connects to my stomach and it was red for a few days.  I called the doctor's office and left a message but after talking to my mom, grandma and I went to the local hospital to get it checked out.  After doing blood and a ct scan, they found that there is inflammation and an infection.  They gave me IV antibiotics and a prescription.

Today the nurse from University finally called me back and said that drainage from the site is normal and to clean the site twice a day with peroxide.  Ugh!  If they had told me before to clean it, perhaps it wouldn't have gotten infected in the first place. 

Oh well, at least now the infection is clearing up and I know not to worry about drainage.  I see the doctor on Wednesday for my first post-op appointment so hopefully nothing will happen before then.

Overall I am doing ok.  Still struggling emotionally and getting VERY tired of protein shakes but it could be worse.  :-)

It's been one week since surgery, and what a crazy week it has been...

Tuesday:  Today is surgery day.  We got to the hospital before 6:00.  I started getting really nervous in pre-op and the surgical nurse noticed right away.  Everything happened quickly and before I knew it I was in the OR with the nurse holding my hand and I was going to sleep.  I woke up in extreme pain.  I got up to my room and that was about the extent of my day.  I got pain meds at every opportunity and got up to walk once, only making it to the doorway and back to bed.

Wednesday:  I started today by going down for my swallow test.  I passed with no issue but sitting upright in a wheelchair and standing for the test was extremely painful!  In the afternoon I got to finally start sipping water and even gave some broth a shot.  Overall not a bad day, just a lot of pain.

Thursday: I started sipping protein shakes today.  I also had some jello and a delightful popsicle.  They let me out of the hospital at 4:45, just in time for rush hour traffic home.  Mom and I were quite the pair trying to get my meds down my g-tube, changing in to jammies, and figuring out where the heck I would sleep.  (I ended up sleeping on the couch.)

Friday: First full day at home.  Pretty much jut lounged around all day.

Saturday:  I spent most of today at home but did venture out to CVS to get a few things with mom.

Sunday:  My grandma came to my house to take me 1.5 hours away to her house since my mom had to go back to work.  That trip felt like 5 hours!  I was so sore and stiff when we got here!

Monday:  This was just a lazy day hanging around grandma's.  I tried to drink as much as humanly possible so it is no surprise that this was the only day I actually met my fluid goals.

Tuesday: Today was tough emotionally.  They said everyone goes through the regret phase, which is where I seem to be today.  I keep thinking maybe I should have tried Weight Watchers just one more time, but I know that I made the right choice.  Somehow what made it better was actually going to the grocery store of all places!  I just got some sugar free jello but it made me feel good to get out of this house for a while.  I seem to be doing better tonight.  (No pain meds all day!!!)

Well, it's done.  I feel like crap but that is to be expected!  I know it will get better and that this is the best decision of my life.

The biggest pain about the whole thing is the g-tube.  Because I am on so many meds they had to place a tube for me to get them.  That large incision hurts and the tube is long so I am afraid of getting bumped at all.  It is such a chore to take meds that I find myself dreading it.  It is a good 10-15 minute process twice a day.  After 3 weeks the tube will come out and I will probably wish I had it back when I have to take all those meds by mouth.

Recovery is going ok.  I got home Thursday night and have parked myself on the couch.  I am finally able to stand up, sit down, walk, use the toilet, and get dressed on my own!  Yay me!  LOL!

I know this sounds like a lot of whining, that's because it is!  I am grumpy and in pain but it WILL get better and I WILL be very happy I did this... just not yet.

I will be Thin by Thirty!

Tomorrow is the big day!  Nervous, excited, nauseous, and tired but oh-so-ready!!!

We are getting oh-so-close!  Just a few more days to go! 

We are 100% official now that I lost 9 pounds in 9 days and the psychologist never came back declining me.  Both the weight loss and the psych eval had me a little worried but now that we are so close, there is no stopping us now! 

I have to be at the hospital at 6 AM!  Yikes!  That means we have to leave the house at 5:15, which means I need to be up at 4:45!  UGH!!!  At least I can get in, get it done, and get to my room to relax. 

For those of you wondering... Surgery is on Tuesday and I will be released from the hospital on Thursday.  I am having the surgery at University Hospitals in Cleveland.  I will post my room number and phone number on Facebook as soon as possible (I will have my laptop with me). 

Thank you everyone for the love and support! 

I will be Thin by Thirty!

Megan

Everything is going well and we are exactly one week away from surgery day.  I started my new diet a week ago.  It has been hard but I survived Christmas and actually lost weight!  I have lost 8.1 pounds since Thurday!  Yay me!

Two weeks from yesterday is the big day and the pre-op appointments just keep on coming!

Yesterday I did all of my pre-op testing (bloodwork, chest x-ray, ekg) and met the anesthesiologist.  Next I got pre-registered.  In the afternoon I went to a pre-op readiness class.  I got a binder to read through and some additional questions answered.  After it was over I talked to the nurse that led the class and realized I was supposed to see the doc before surgery (which means I should have lost 10 pounds already...oops!) and the only open day was today.

This morning I had my EGD (upper endoscopy) then met with Dr. Khaitan this afternoon.  The EGD went fine, nothing to worry about.

After an evening worrying about whether or not Dr. Khaitan would let me have the surgery because I didn't lose enough weight, I finally met with her this afternoon.  I have lost 1.1 lbs since I last saw her so at least I lost and didn't gain.  She wants me to weigh-in the Friday before surgery and as long as I am still losing we will go ahead with the surgery.  She wants me to go to an all-liquid diet after Christmas to help with the weight loss.

So, for now I am done with the pre-op stuff and just need to focus on my diet and working out.

I will be Thin by Thirty!

I met with the dietician on Monday.  We mostly talked about the pre-op diet: 3 protein shakes and 1 meal per day starting on the 20th.  This is going to be hard, especially on Christmas, but since it is to help shrink the liver to make surgery safer, there is no choice.

Thursday I met with the psychologist.  It didn't go quite as well as I thought it would but I think we are still going to be ok.  I will find out on Monday if we can't go through with the surgery yet but I am hopeful that it will all go as planned.  The doc was great and said everything would work out but you just never know.  I am a worrier.

I have a busy two weeks ahead of me for sure! 

On Monday I meet with the nutritionist.  I have to start a new diet on the 20th and she is going to tell me exactly what it entails.

On Thursday I meet with the psychologist.  This is just a formality so no big deal.

On the 20th I have pre admission testing and my educational class.  In the morning I have to meet with the anesthesiologist, cardiologist...  In the afternoon I have to go to a class to get the answers to the many, many, many questions I have about what to do after surgery.

On the 21st I have my EGD (upper endoscopy).  Not really looking forward to it but I've had them before so whatever.

It is official!  I have a surgery date!  On January 3rd I will be having Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass!


I talked to Al from UH on Monday to make sure he had everything he needed and he said we were good to go and we were submitting that day.  On Friday I got the call that I have been waiting for...I have been approved by Aetna! 


As I said, surgery has been scheduled for 1/3/12.  I have lots to do before then: lose 12 pounds (I gained a few pounds over Thanksgiving), have an EGD (Upper Endoscopy), meet with their nutritionist, meet with a few other specialists like a cardiologist and anesthesiologist, get my FMLA approved for work, clean the house for visitors...  So much to do, so little time!


I am excited but also pretty nervous!  This is a huge life-changing event after all!  I'll keep you all updated as we go through all of the pre-op steps.  Thanks for following me on my journey!

I will be Thin by Thirty! 

Love, Megan