Twenty one years ago tonight I was in the hospital at Ft. Wainwright Army Base in Fairbanks, Alaska celebrating New Year's Eve with my husband and my beautiful baby boy Zachary. That was my first abdominal surgery through c-section, and my life was forever changed then by that precious bundle of joy. Tonight my second abdominal surgery and celebrating New Year's Eve at home, and praying this surgery will forever change my life also!
I kept this surgery quiet because I didn't want a lot of the negative 'doom and gloom' surgical talk before hand. I am sorry if that offended some, it was never my intention. I am not sorry I did what I had to do but sorry you were offended. I would do it over again the same way. Only a handful of trusted were let in on the information.
All my life I have worried about what my actions may cause to someone else and I will always be careful of others feelings but this surgery is being portrayed about something it is NOT! I have and will continue to do what I feel is in my best interest as well as my family. I didn't want my husband or my children to hear stories to scare them either.
This surgery is not about me being vain. This surgery is about getting my life back! I have heard enough questions about skin after weight loss. I don't know about that, I am not there yet, but i will deal with that issue THEN. This is not about making me 'look better' but to feel better and be more active. A healthier and longer life is what it is about. So, the surgery questions about skin removal after weight loss doesn't matter to me and it doesn't matter to my husband who has seen me at my best and at my worst. If HE wants me to have surgery later, his opinion is the only one that matters. And that is about that. My only desire is to be able to love my life in an active phase and to love standing up for the things I believe in.
I love talking to others that have been through this because all the facts brought together make it easier.
There were 2 doctors that pioneered stomach bypass in the 1960's and they selected a small group of women to participate in it. I am still trying to gather accurate information before posting too much but my maternal grandmother was one of the few survivors of the bypass in the 60's. She lost a lot of weight, so much and could not gain that it had to be reversed. When I gather all my accurate info, I will post more about it.
I look forward to 2011 and the blessings ahead. Be happy and love all you can because this is all there is here.
Friday, December 31, 2010
My WLS Journey-part 2
I am so ready to feel great all the time. I have such an overwhelming desire to do things and then my body, corrects me. My biggest struggle since having surgery on Monday is my blood pressure. I have taken Lisinipryl 5 mg. on and off for a few years just for borderline/stress related HBP. I am not used to this incredible headache that comes with high blood pressure, WOW, how do people function with it? We are working on getting it under control but why am I having it? Doctor says pain will cause your blood pressure to spike and since I have a high tolerance for pain, my body is trying to cover it. Wouldn't it have been nice if my body decided to cover things right before this point? :o) Once we get this High blood pressure under control, we should be good.
I am so very blessed and so grateful for my honey. He has been so wonderful through all this. Making sure the 'nice nurse' showed him how to do things properly. I could not ask for a better nurse at this time. I am very rarely ill or in need or someone to 'care' for me and it is so hard for me to be dependent on another. Literally, he has taken on this task and even is giving me daily blood thinner injections in my stomach that were not part of the deal. I had not heard of that before with WLS, but this team of doctors has found the best and quickest ways to keep WLS safe and comfortable so I am not gonna question. Well, I may question the injections for a month at Monday's appointment, just to be sure that is what they want. :o) He has been wonderful and I love him so much! I dislike the things that he has sacrificed this week for me, but you can't go changing a stubborn man's mind.
Keeping tack of everything that goes in my body, when and how much. Going to work on a table for him to make things easier. Sometimes doctors can be such doom and gloom and our discharge seemed like that. "I will release you only if...and if you don't drink enough you will pass out...and document, document, document". Why can't it be like the initial talk about how wonderful things will be when it is done and the positive changes? I guess they have to be hard to get the point across and to make ME understand.
Today I am 42 years and 51 days old, but my new physical life began 3 1/2 days ago. It is good that my spiritual life is older than my physical life. I give credit, all credit to God for anything good in my life. I have my spiritual struggles, especially prayer. I can pray without ceasing for those I love but struggle asking for me, but I am learning and I am praying and asking for strength, both physical and emotional.
Day 3 ended with me going to 'stretch out in bed' and not returning to my soup. Day 3 was a struggle physically, and I pray day 4 is brighter and productive. I got a card in the mail that was so surprising and unexpected from a friend of my mother in laws. It was the most precious card of encouragement and so treasured. I am so blessed by unexpected blessings!
I am so very blessed and so grateful for my honey. He has been so wonderful through all this. Making sure the 'nice nurse' showed him how to do things properly. I could not ask for a better nurse at this time. I am very rarely ill or in need or someone to 'care' for me and it is so hard for me to be dependent on another. Literally, he has taken on this task and even is giving me daily blood thinner injections in my stomach that were not part of the deal. I had not heard of that before with WLS, but this team of doctors has found the best and quickest ways to keep WLS safe and comfortable so I am not gonna question. Well, I may question the injections for a month at Monday's appointment, just to be sure that is what they want. :o) He has been wonderful and I love him so much! I dislike the things that he has sacrificed this week for me, but you can't go changing a stubborn man's mind.
Keeping tack of everything that goes in my body, when and how much. Going to work on a table for him to make things easier. Sometimes doctors can be such doom and gloom and our discharge seemed like that. "I will release you only if...and if you don't drink enough you will pass out...and document, document, document". Why can't it be like the initial talk about how wonderful things will be when it is done and the positive changes? I guess they have to be hard to get the point across and to make ME understand.
Today I am 42 years and 51 days old, but my new physical life began 3 1/2 days ago. It is good that my spiritual life is older than my physical life. I give credit, all credit to God for anything good in my life. I have my spiritual struggles, especially prayer. I can pray without ceasing for those I love but struggle asking for me, but I am learning and I am praying and asking for strength, both physical and emotional.
Day 3 ended with me going to 'stretch out in bed' and not returning to my soup. Day 3 was a struggle physically, and I pray day 4 is brighter and productive. I got a card in the mail that was so surprising and unexpected from a friend of my mother in laws. It was the most precious card of encouragement and so treasured. I am so blessed by unexpected blessings!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
My Weight Loss Surgery Journey
Greetings & Salutations! I have always wanted to say that.
I plan to share my journey and hope to be able to help others to make informed choices.
My Weight Loss Surgery Journey began on Monday, December 27th, 2010.
As I sit in my recliner with my "VenaFlow System" on my calves to keep blood clots down, what better time to share? I have attempted to have weight loss surgery for at least 15 years and my insurance never deemed it "medically necessary". I lost 70 pounds on Weight Watchers in 2007, but there has been an underlying demon that has made things difficult to lose. I have Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome and have had it my entire married life, almost 23 years. There came a point that I wanted to stop fighting my body and start living. I have met with surgeons who said to have a hysterectomy and you are probably thinking that should fix it too, but it would only create other health problems. Dr. B has performed surgery for the treatment of PCOS and had great successes. I highly anticipate my life in the active lane again instead of the sidelines of life.
I will tell you that if you are serious about this, you have to get your rear in gear. I went in for my first consultation with Dr. B on November 2nd, 2010 determined and inspired by a friend at church that had gastric sleeve. Less than 2 months until the end of year and you know what that means, more deductibles, more out of pocket max., and the beginning of everything. I wanted to have WLS in 2010 and save our family the money, so, I got my rear in gear. If my insurance wanted 5 years of weight, they got 10 years. I doubled everything they wanted and asked what any insurance has came back wanting and got it also. Anything and everything they could come back for was there the first time. It was approved in less than a week and surgery scheduled for the last day of the year he was operating, December 27th!
I read my surgery book every night and got everything in advance as well as starting everything in advance. My protein, vitamins, supplements, etc. I was determined to be in the best shape possible for my surgery. The very hardest part of the whole pre-preparations was missing all of Christmas dinners this year!
I plan to share my journey and hope to be able to help others to make informed choices.
My Weight Loss Surgery Journey began on Monday, December 27th, 2010.
As I sit in my recliner with my "VenaFlow System" on my calves to keep blood clots down, what better time to share? I have attempted to have weight loss surgery for at least 15 years and my insurance never deemed it "medically necessary". I lost 70 pounds on Weight Watchers in 2007, but there has been an underlying demon that has made things difficult to lose. I have Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome and have had it my entire married life, almost 23 years. There came a point that I wanted to stop fighting my body and start living. I have met with surgeons who said to have a hysterectomy and you are probably thinking that should fix it too, but it would only create other health problems. Dr. B has performed surgery for the treatment of PCOS and had great successes. I highly anticipate my life in the active lane again instead of the sidelines of life.
I will tell you that if you are serious about this, you have to get your rear in gear. I went in for my first consultation with Dr. B on November 2nd, 2010 determined and inspired by a friend at church that had gastric sleeve. Less than 2 months until the end of year and you know what that means, more deductibles, more out of pocket max., and the beginning of everything. I wanted to have WLS in 2010 and save our family the money, so, I got my rear in gear. If my insurance wanted 5 years of weight, they got 10 years. I doubled everything they wanted and asked what any insurance has came back wanting and got it also. Anything and everything they could come back for was there the first time. It was approved in less than a week and surgery scheduled for the last day of the year he was operating, December 27th!
I read my surgery book every night and got everything in advance as well as starting everything in advance. My protein, vitamins, supplements, etc. I was determined to be in the best shape possible for my surgery. The very hardest part of the whole pre-preparations was missing all of Christmas dinners this year!
The surgery I had is: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy With Duodenal Switch. The reason for the switch was to counteract the PCOS. Usually a switch is performed with BMI over 60 or 500 pounds or greater weigh. I had neither but it has worked for 'tricking the body' to let go of the weight. I didn't want to go back for another surgery but wanted everything done once. Most surgeons like stage weight loss surgery, but myself and Dr. B are not a fan of multiple surgeries. Recovery is harder but is one time rather than twice.
My day started with me needing to be at the hospital at 11 AM. I arrived and check in at 10 AM, and began the process of waiting. My husband, son and parents were with me. I was called back to pre-op at noon and there I waited for 6 1/2 hours. My anxiety spiked and I was so ready to get done, and I even thought about getting dressed once too and going home! I was taken in for surgery at 6:30PM and they told my husband my surgery was complete and I was heading for recovery at 8:30PM. I know my in-laws were in recovery because I was told that but I don't remember anything. You have to understand that the morning of my surgery, my husband's paternal grandmother passed away at 10:38AM, so it has been very emotional on the family. Throughout the entire waiting to go into surgery, there were many that came and went into surgery with other surgeons. Realizing that I had been blessed abundantly by the presence of my husband, son and mom & dad. My mom and honey stayed with me the entire process of pre-op and my mom spent the first night. Granted, I have had 3 surgeries in my life and 2 were this year, but the processes of surgeries is very overwhelming.
I honestly could not tell you when I remember being back in the land of the living. They pushed fluids and walking, walking and fluids. Walking came easy for me, and really felt good to get out of the bed. I did ache and I was sore but aside from the enormous amount of air/gas that was in my abdomen, the pain seemed manageable. If only I could release some of it, but that did come after the ride home. Texas roads seem pretty good until you have 6 incisions and a ride home and they are TERRIBLE! :o)
I had injections in my abdomen every 8 hours of blood thinner, so I look like I have been in a battle! I will have daily injections in my abdomen for the next 30 days to keep blood clots down. But all in all, I know this too shall pass and I can begin my active life doing the things I want to do and living instead of watching.
To be continued....HBP headaches and honeys,
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