Pattys-3
Post-op doc. visit
Jan 18, 2010
I went and saw Dr. Chaisson and all seems fine. I am handicapped and cannot walk more than 15 feet at any one time. Doc is adamant that he wants me to use weights to build up arm strength so I can walk with my walker. He also wants me to save money for next two years to have plastic surgery for all the loose skin. I wish i weren't so teary, i cried for about a half hour. i knew about the surgery but i am so emotional that i cry a lot over nothing.
i have another way of hiding my leftover skin. i'm going to shove all excess skin to my ankles; am going to buy two dog collars and leashes and pretend i have two sharpei dogs. physically am a bit better and getting stronger every day.
P.S. forgot to tell you that i had lost 50lbs. as of the office visit on the 15th.
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i have another way of hiding my leftover skin. i'm going to shove all excess skin to my ankles; am going to buy two dog collars and leashes and pretend i have two sharpei dogs. physically am a bit better and getting stronger every day.
P.S. forgot to tell you that i had lost 50lbs. as of the office visit on the 15th.
vengeance is mine
Jan 13, 2010
It is 1/13/2010, Wednesday and I'm still lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut. HOWEVER, i did have a dream last night (anyone else struggling with insomnia?). I have a 4 wheeled scooter to use when I go out. It is red! It is also 12 years old. I dreampt i went into the neighborhood Peter Piper's Pizza, rammed the doors with the scooter, targeted a thin family with a peperoni pizza, rolled around the table and scooped up all the cheese and peperonis and holding up in my fist like a fat avenging angel gone wrong, yelled "Protein first!!!" God help me i have not been this centered, or obsessed with food since i was between the ages of 5 - 10 and couldn't wait for the Halloween candy. Hope you all are doing better!
pattys-3 blog
Jan 12, 2010
On January 6th I had a vertical sleeve gastroectomy at Northwest hospital in my hometown of Tucson, AZ. Dr. Patrick Chaisson was my surgeon and never have I encountered such dedication to perfection and to patient health. My uncle that lived with me and my husband and three girls for many years, died a year ago and told me he wanted me to have the surgery. After medical bills and funeral were paid for, i was left $10,000. The rest went on American Express. (ouch) I have been fighting for 5 years to get my husband's employer to add this to their insurance coverage, i guess you can figure out how spelendidly that went!
I reported to the hospital at 10 for a surgery time of 12. No food for two weeks previously, two protein drinks, 400 calorie meal at dinner, then clear liquids on 1/5. I had two very busy hours before surgery - then SHOW TIME. All modesty to the winds and God Bless all the OR staff that had to view me. I started the process at 454, was 432 on surgery day. I remember being in a hell of a lot of pain on the afternoon of surgery, morphine pumps are such lovely things!
I have to tell you that for 3 years previously I did not walk more that 30 feet with the aid of a walker due to baaaad knees. This last year i was only able to walk about 15 ft. and used a wheelchair to motor myself around.
I never ate a dozen doughnuts or a whole box of G.S. cookies. Not my style. Every person in my family for generations were fat. I have made it a rule to provide healthy, happy meals. Maybe portion may be my problem, not sure., wll investigate further.
On the day after surgery, since i could not walk, i had been doing a LOT of leg dangling and sucking air out of my spirometer (sp?). I do want to tell anyone that cares to read this that I AM ANGRY! I remember making a conscious effort to choose life at some point during the surgery. I don"t know if my anger stems from the fact that I have never eaten like a glutton yet i had to ravage my poor body for its inability to burn calories effectively. I don't know if I'm angry because the surgery left me feeling soooo bad. Not pain so much, pain has been a daily companion for 8 years. Maybe i'm pissed that Healthnet of AZ chose to pay way over $60,000 in Rx's each year and at least $35,000 to physicians and would not pay $18,025 for the surgery. I feel like there has been a conspiracy to hide the vileness of this procedure from future patients. Maybe we would yell for more research to provide healthy safer avenues for weight loss.
And finally, i might be angry because for 38 of 53 years on earth I have made a very conscious effort to stay away from chemical sweeteners (don"t trust them) and now i am pouring them down my gullet to stay alive. Isn't that ironic!
?
so my friends in tummies, i will continue to monitor my feelings, good and bad. Perhaps i will write them in, maybe not. i will attempt to fight my demons and to scream at the injustice of metabolism that brought me to this. If you pray send one to God with my name and if you need prayers for your surgery, i will comply because my family and friends set up a foundation of prayer for lagging spirit and expanding body. I am not saying that you shouldn't have the surgery, just think it through from every little nook and crater. Then start the thinking and praying again.
Oh God, maybe i'm mad that i played God in trying to reconstruct my body because in His perfection He got it wrong? ouch and the tears come.
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I reported to the hospital at 10 for a surgery time of 12. No food for two weeks previously, two protein drinks, 400 calorie meal at dinner, then clear liquids on 1/5. I had two very busy hours before surgery - then SHOW TIME. All modesty to the winds and God Bless all the OR staff that had to view me. I started the process at 454, was 432 on surgery day. I remember being in a hell of a lot of pain on the afternoon of surgery, morphine pumps are such lovely things!
I have to tell you that for 3 years previously I did not walk more that 30 feet with the aid of a walker due to baaaad knees. This last year i was only able to walk about 15 ft. and used a wheelchair to motor myself around.I never ate a dozen doughnuts or a whole box of G.S. cookies. Not my style. Every person in my family for generations were fat. I have made it a rule to provide healthy, happy meals. Maybe portion may be my problem, not sure., wll investigate further.
On the day after surgery, since i could not walk, i had been doing a LOT of leg dangling and sucking air out of my spirometer (sp?). I do want to tell anyone that cares to read this that I AM ANGRY! I remember making a conscious effort to choose life at some point during the surgery. I don"t know if my anger stems from the fact that I have never eaten like a glutton yet i had to ravage my poor body for its inability to burn calories effectively. I don't know if I'm angry because the surgery left me feeling soooo bad. Not pain so much, pain has been a daily companion for 8 years. Maybe i'm pissed that Healthnet of AZ chose to pay way over $60,000 in Rx's each year and at least $35,000 to physicians and would not pay $18,025 for the surgery. I feel like there has been a conspiracy to hide the vileness of this procedure from future patients. Maybe we would yell for more research to provide healthy safer avenues for weight loss.
And finally, i might be angry because for 38 of 53 years on earth I have made a very conscious effort to stay away from chemical sweeteners (don"t trust them) and now i am pouring them down my gullet to stay alive. Isn't that ironic!
?so my friends in tummies, i will continue to monitor my feelings, good and bad. Perhaps i will write them in, maybe not. i will attempt to fight my demons and to scream at the injustice of metabolism that brought me to this. If you pray send one to God with my name and if you need prayers for your surgery, i will comply because my family and friends set up a foundation of prayer for lagging spirit and expanding body. I am not saying that you shouldn't have the surgery, just think it through from every little nook and crater. Then start the thinking and praying again.
Oh God, maybe i'm mad that i played God in trying to reconstruct my body because in His perfection He got it wrong? ouch and the tears come.
