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Wow, I promised myself that I would frequently check in here and update my blog. Really gotta work on that promise!

I'm five months out from surgery and I've lost almost seventy pounds. I think I would have lost more, but I developed a Baker's Cyst in my knee that has put a screechiing halt to my exercise routine. Other then that, I'm doing well. I've had NO problems related to my surgery and feel as though I'm back in a "normal" eating routine. I am eating small meals about five times a day and that seems to work best for me.

I'll get some new photos taken and post them soon!

I can't complain, or at least I shouldn't. The last time I weighed 225, I had just spent a year at Weight Watchers, and then spent the next year putting it all back on. At least this time I know it's gone for good! :)

Maybe it's because I was a "lightweight", or maybe it's because I'm unknowingly doing something "wrong", but I haven't experienced the rapid weight loss I expected.  I lost 18 pounds, starting the week before surgery (and including the liquid diet that week) till the two week post-op appointment. I left the surgeons office well on track. I thought I would lose about five pounds a week for at least the first month or two. The next week I lost NOTHING, ZERO, NADA. The week after that 2 lbs, then another two lbs, that a really good week with a four pound loss... then back to 2 lbs again. So, I'm thrilled that I'm losing the weight, it's just coming off a lot slower then I thought. I'm officially a little over two months out and I've lost a total of 37 pounds.

In my mind, I'm really working my butt off for the weight I'm losing. I do aerobic and weight lifting for 40 minutes on alternating days with a rest day on Sunday. I have to wonder how slow my weight loss would be if I wasn't exercising! :(

Anyway, I'm feeling GREAT and have had NO complications whatsoever, so I'd still definately recommend the surgery to someone struggling with their weight. I added some "before" and "current" photos of myself. Take a look and see how much I've changed!

I'm so happy to be home and to tell you all about my surgery!

I woke up with an NG tube and although it was uncomfortable, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. My throat was sore, but I really couldn't feel the tube in there and it didn't make me gag like I thought it would. I used little foam sponges on a stick, dipped in water to keep my mouth moist (you can't drink anything while the tube is in). My NG tube was removed on Saturday.

I had a epidural for pain initially, but because it caused insane itching, they switched me over to a Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) Pump with morphine. I only needed to use that a few times. The pain was honestly not as bad as I thought it would be. My incision is about 4 inches long and starts at my breastbone and goes towards my belly button. I used the pain pump if I needed to cough. That was a bit uncomfortable at first.

The BEST advice that anyone gave me is, get up and WALK. Yes, I know it hurts, but especially if you have gas pain, it's the only way. Taking more pain meds only slows things down and prolongs the agony.

I had two JP drains to begin with. One was removed before I left the hospital and it didn't hurt at all. The other I'm stuck with for another 10 days.

The nurses at HUP were WONDERFUL. I can't say enough about them. All the staff was great, in fact, and I would highly recommend them to anyone in the Philadelphia area.

I'll keep you updated on my progress!

Tomorrow is my big day! My family and I are leaving this afternoon for the city. We plan on spending the night so I can be at the hospital first thing in the morning. They expect me to be discharged on Tuesday so I'll check in then!

See you on the losing side!

I just talked to Sarah, Dr. Raper's assistant at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and my insurance has approved me for surgery! My pre-op appointment is this Friday along with my nutritional consult and then my surgery is next Friday, November 10th! Only 10 days away!!!

Well, the sleep apnea test is certainly one I hope I'll never have to repeat, but the good news is, I don't have sleep apnea!

I had my cardiac stress test and other then walking on the treadmill, it was a piece of cake. I did have to go back a few days later for additional films, but I was made aware of that at my first visit. Apparently being obese and ahem, having female anatomy, can cause shadows on the chest films they take. They just wanted to make sure that I'm 100% healthy enough for my surgery.

My psych consult was last Wednesday and that was fine as well. The doctor was kind and understanding, and I was told before I left that he felt I am a good candidate for surgery and that his letter to my surgeon would reflect that.

The way I understand it, the psych doctor sends his findings to the surgeons office. That takes about a week. Then my file will be submitted to insurance for approval. I do have Medicare, and meet all their criteria, so there should not be ANY reason for me to be denied. As for right now, I am still on schedule for a November 10th surgery! Only THREE weeks away! Wow!

I've lost a total of 16lbs and am glad that I've started healthy habits now, prior to my surgery. I was afraid of that "last supper syndrome", but so far, I've managed to stay away from it!

I went for my cardiac clearance and got a bit of a surprise. I expected a quick in and out visit. Instead the doctor ordered a stress test (actually two of them because he said that sometimes obesity causes a false postive). Based on the results of that I may or may not have to have a cardiac catherization! Wow! I've said from the beginning that one of the best things about having this surgery is all of the testing that is required. I'm having tests that I may not have had until I was much older (I'm only 36). But finding out that I have a problem earlier in the game can only help me in my quest to be healthy. Anyway, I have my stress test next week so I'll let you know how it goes!

I'm SOOO impatient! I tried calling the surgeon's office, but his assistant who schedules everything was out of the office for a few days. I figured I'd just call and make my own sleep apnea test appointment. Imagine my surprise when they told me I'd need THREE appointments two weeks apart and they couldn't schedule me for the first one until October 18th! Yikes! I need to have all these appointments completed before my pre-op appointment! And if I'm having surgery November 10th, my pre-op appointment will most likely be October 27th!

Well, I called around and found another location that performs the apnea testing. They require four appointments, but they were able to get all of them in before the 16th, so hopefully the surgeon will have the results by the 27th!

But now I'm going a bit stir crazy. It seems like you need to "hurry up and wait".  :)  My next appointment is on October 3rd and then I have a bunch right in a row. I hope that makes the time go a bit quicker. The good news is, I've lost NINE pounds! Whoo-hoo! I'm trying to eat better and lose a total of 20 lbs by my surgery! Wish me luck!

I'm so excited! Almost all of the pre-op studies I need to have done are
complete, of the rest all but one is scheduled!

I went to my local hospital on Thursday and had my labs drawn, my chest x-ray, upper GI and pulmonary function test. I'll see the cardiologist on the third of next month (I'm on a cancellation list until then because I'm so impatient! LOL) when I'll get my cardiac clearance and my EKG. I see my PCP next week for his official stamp of approval and my psych eval is October 11th back in Philadelphia. The only thing left is my sleep apnea test and Dr. Raper's office calls me to schedule that, so I can't do it on my own. I wish they'd hurry though!  :)  I just want it all nicely scheduled so I can relax!

I had my surgical consult today with Dr. Raper at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. I could not be more pleased. Everyone was kind and considerate. Our appointment lasted about 2 1/2 hours and we met with the nutritionist, Dr. Raper's assistant, and Dr. Raper. He was wonderful. He explained everything in detail. I had three pages of questions for him and he answered them all. I didn't feel rushed at all. I now have my "marching orders" for my pre-op testings AND a tenative surgery date of November 10th! Wow! This may be pushed back if I can't get all my pre-op testing finished in time, but I'm certainly going to try!