tinkerbell64
Followup with one of my Orthopaedic Surgeons
Sep 21, 2007
Well this is just a quick update. I had a followup with my back surgeon 2 days ago. I am still befuddled by this appointment. My last back surgery was just over 10 years ago (which was an unsuccessful fusion). So for 10 years he was of the opinion not to mess with it leave well enough alone. Well today all of a sudden he decides if we were going to try and fix my back now is the ideal time. It was almost as if when I was heavier it didn't matter how much pain I was in. Now that I am thinner he seemed to care more. Just my perception but weird. I am going to have a special CT SCAN and see how it looks, then I will go back to see him and see what is recommended. Holding steady at 144. Until next time.
13 Month Post Op Visit with Surgeon
Sep 08, 2007
Well I had my 13 month followup with Dr. Gallagher a few days ago. He seemed very pleased with my progress. I told him I had only lost about 5 lbs over the last couple months. He said it is fine, that my weightloss could pick up again and I might lose slowly for another 6 months or so, or I might be done losing and just try to maintain where I am at. According to their scale at their offices I weighed 139, which would be 121 lb weight loss. However every other scale I get on it says 143 - 144 so I will not take the 139 because I really believe their scale was wrong. Either way be it 139 or 144 I will take it, I feel so much better than I did this time last year. All of my labs looked really good he said. Dr. Gallagher wants me to come back in March and I will have my labs done before I go in. So all in all, doing pretty good. Trying to exercise a little more each day. Until next time.
06/01/2007 Followup With Dr. Gallagher
Jun 01, 2007
Had my 10 month followup with Dr. Gallagher. He says I look great and is very pleased with my progress. 113 pounds lost in 10 months, he couldn't believe is hasn't been a year yet. So I reached my goal in just under 10 months. I would like to lose another 10 lbs or so just so that I have a little wiggle room so I won't go back over 150 I hope. Dr. Gallagher also increased my B12 shots to every 3 weeks because the last few days before a shot is due I am just totally worn out for no reason. He said with everything I have been through this year my body might need the extra B12. I am having my next blood work in August and I go back to see him for my 1 year check up but it will be really 13 months. So a good followup. Hope everyone is well until next time....
05/20/2007 Wow Moments
May 20, 2007
I haven't posted much recently as I had knee replacement surgery just over a month ago. I have been pretty much cooped up in the house for the last several weeks going stir crazy. I had to share a couple wow moments I have had recently. The first one happened a couple weeks ago, I was finally able to put weight on my leg so I could get a fairly accurate weight and I am down to 152 lbs which means I now have a normal BMI. This was a huge accomplishment for me. That is about 108 lbs since August 2nd. I have my next followup with Dr. Gallagher on June 1st so we will see what he has to say but I am personally very satisfied and I don't care if I don't lose another pound.
Now for my wow moment yesterday. My sister and her husband and his mom and I all went shopping at a local outlet mall. It was my first big outing since my knee surgery and believe me we were out just about all day. I knew I wanted to buy some clothes because I don't have much of anything left that fits. Well I have gone from a snug 24 pants to an 8 - 10 (depending on the cut). As for shirts I used to wear an xl to 1x and am now in small -medium. The only unfortunate thing is that the girls are now a deflated 34 B down from a full 38 C. I was just so giddy and found it so hard to believe that I could get my big butt into a size 8.
Oh well I will stop for now just wanted to share my good news.
Now for my wow moment yesterday. My sister and her husband and his mom and I all went shopping at a local outlet mall. It was my first big outing since my knee surgery and believe me we were out just about all day. I knew I wanted to buy some clothes because I don't have much of anything left that fits. Well I have gone from a snug 24 pants to an 8 - 10 (depending on the cut). As for shirts I used to wear an xl to 1x and am now in small -medium. The only unfortunate thing is that the girls are now a deflated 34 B down from a full 38 C. I was just so giddy and found it so hard to believe that I could get my big butt into a size 8.
Oh well I will stop for now just wanted to share my good news.
4/21/2007 Home from Knee Replacement Surgery
Apr 21, 2007
Well I made it home from Tampa General Hospital yesterday afternoon. I had my right knee replacement Tuesday April 17th. Everything went well with the surgery. I will say it was painful (although the doctors did everything they possibly could to keep me comfortable so that I would move). They had two pain pumps going one going directly to my knee and one going into my IV. Besides that they were giving me two ES vicodin every 4-6 hours. To say the least I was out of it unless they would wake me up to ask questions or take vitals. The physical therapists came in twice a day to take me for walks, it was painful but I was pleased with how far I could walk. I am allowed to put 50% of my weight on it. The Physical therapists and the nurses will be coming out to the house several times a week for the next 6 weeks. My biggest hurdle with this surgery will be to lengthen out the muscles in the back of my knee. I haven't been able to straighten in almost a year. That is where most of the pain was. Hopefully like the gastric bypass every day will get better. Oh and by the way when I went for my preop appt on Friday my weight was 162, so that is a loss of 98lbs. Century Club here I come.
Till next time.
Till next time.
03/23/07 Preop Clearance with PCP
Mar 23, 2007
Had and appointment with my PCP for my preop clearance for my knee replacement. The good news was I am down another 2 lbs. I know they come off so slow these days but 2 is better than nothing or even gaining. The girls that work the check in desk at his office just kept telling me how good I look. I still don't see it all the time, the comments from people sometimes make me uncomfortable. Anyway he gave me all the paperwork to go have my labs and EKG and chest xray done in about 2 weeks. I just have to have all the results to the orthopedic office before April 12th. Until next time...
3/9/07 Followup with Dr. Gallagher
Mar 08, 2007
Well I had my 7 month followup with Dr. Gallagher today. Dr. Kuruba (fellow working with Dr. Murr and Dr. Gallagher) came in first and checked my incisions again said the scars are healing great and should fade over time. He was extremely pleased with my labs, I haven't been taking extra iron and I asked him about that and he said I didn't need it. He told me to just continue with the Vitamin B12, the vitamins and the calcium. Then Dr. Gallagher came in and he said I looked great. He asked how I was feeling and I told him great except my back and knee. He told me I could go ahead and have my knee replacement, said I should have no problems and my weight is low enough that the recovery should be easier. I thanked him and told him that they had changed my life. He said he only did the surgery and that I was the one doing the work and sticking to the program. He said you don't lose 90lbs in 7 months if you aren't following the program. He told me to keep up the good work and to let them know while I am in the hospital for my knee surgery and they would stop in and see me. Oh by the way my weight was 169 so I am down 91lbs. I am getting closer to that century mark. I have to go back and see them June 1st. Until next time.
03/07/2007 Followup with PCP
Mar 07, 2007
Well I had a followup with my pcp today. I had my labwork done last Friday. Good news every lab value was within normal limits, my liver enzymes are back to normal. I have lost a total of 90 lbs and I am down to 170. He thought I was doing great he said I should only lose another 10 lbs but I would like to lose 20 down to 150. The reason behind that is then I would have a normal bmi, to me that is important. He also said as far as he is concerned it is fine to go ahead and have the knee replacement. Basically he again told me I was a star patient and was doing a great job. I don't have to go back unless I get sick. My next labs will be in August. So overall great news.
2/28/07 Followup with Back Surgeon
Feb 28, 2007
Well had a followup with my back surgeon today. The x-rays from the fusion look about the same. He ordered my new back brace, gave me a script for flexeril and also gave me a script to see a new Dr. for pain management for my back. We have tried this before and we can't seem to get the insurance company to authorize this. He was very please with my weight loss and he said even though I have still been having a lot of back pain and muscle spasms he said that having the extra weight off will pay off in the long run. He was also pleased that I am going to have the knee replacement. He said where I limp so bad that it takes a toll on my back. So that is the news for today. Next week I see my primary to check my labs and then I see Dr. Gallagher next Friday I believe.
2/22/07 Appointment with Orthopedic Surgeon
Feb 26, 2007
Had an appointment with the new Orthopedic Surgeon to evaluate my right knee and whether there is anything else they can do other than a knee replacement. Well they did another set of x-rays and my right knee is basically trashed. So after I see Dr. Gallagher on 3/9/07 and if my blood work is ok and if he feels it is okay to proceed with the knee replacement they will go ahead and schedule it. So hopefully by April, I will have a new knee. I dread going through another surgery this soon, but I will be glad to be able to walk without pain again. It has been so long since I haven't had severe knee pain, I won't know how to act. Also a little mini wow moment, it was like the first time in my life that I have seen an orthopedic doctor and they didn't tell me to lose weight. As a matter of fact he was very pleased with the 80+ lb weight loss. I will update next week after my two Dr. appts. According to my scale and the scale at publix I am at 175 but I won't change my ticker until I have an official weight at the dr.s office. Until next time.
About Me
St. Petersburg, FL
Location
23.1
BMI
Surgery
08/02/2006
Surgery Date
May 13, 2005
Member Since
