Vicki Wilson

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4/6/06
Hello! My name is Vicki and I am 34 years old. I am obese and am just starting my journey to WLS. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I think I can do well with this. I used to be very active and in great overall health. I would love to do some of the things I used to do when I was smaller and I really think if I could feel comfortable in a pool and on a tennis court again, there would be no stopping me! I hope to meet lots of wonderful people on this journey! I go for the very first group meeting at Sentara Norfolk General on Wednesday April 12th. I will certainly let you know what happens!

4/10/06
Well they had to cancel the information group since there was no Doctor available on 4/12/06 so I have been rescheduled to 4/26/06. This is disappointing already. I know it is a long process and I am so anxious to get started, oh well I will let you know what happens.

4/27/06
Last night was my information session. My husband who has his concerns about this surgery went with me and has promised to attend every educational class so we can make a well informed decision. He seems to be much more supportive after the session last night. I know he is nervous, this is major surgery. We learned alot. We had alot of questions but it seems that everyone else had the same ones, it was nice to feel like I was already in a support group. I called my insurance today and I meet all the criteria for the authorization. Now I am set to see my Surgeon on 5/16/06 for the first formal interview and so he can send in the pre-auth information for final approval. I have done a little research and it seems that my insurance approves most people with the first letter and in about 1 week! So with any luck I could be well on my way. I am hoping to have surgery before the end of summer! I will keep you posted.  :) 

5/11/06 Well my Dr. Consult is on Tuesday (5-16-06) and my pre & post surgery Diet & Exercise class has been scheduled for Monday 5-22-06. I am very excited. I want to have everything ready so as soon as my Pre-auth. comes back from Anthem BCBS I will be ready to schedule a date! Well 5 days and counting. Hopefully I will have a better time frame on what needs to get done and an idea of when surgery might be after my visit on Tuesday. Don't get mw wrong, I am very nervous about this whole thing but after all the research I have come to the conclusion that the benefits far outweigh the risks and in my mind the sooner I am on the way to a healthier life the better.

5/16/06 Formal Consult Complete! I had my consult, it went great except I found out I needed to have alot of things done before I can be scheduled for surgery. I was told by the nurse that I should expect it to take about 6-8 weeks to get all these appointments done, and then we could schedule my surgery (but I was probably looking at the end of August at the earlist for surgery.) The office set up my lab tests at the hospital for 2 weeks from now (5/31/06), then 1 week to get the results so I go back for my second consult on 6/6/06. Well I have to have a Psych Eval, Pap Smear, Support Group Meeting, Nutrients & Exercise Class, White Light Scan.

As soon as I got home I started making calls to set up my appointments. I already had my Nutr. & Exercise Class scheduled for 5/22/06, now I have my Pap scheduled for 5/18/06, Psych Eval 5/19/06, Support Group Meeting 5/25/06, Labs 5/31/06, White Light Scan 6/2/06 and my follow up appointment with Dr. Fontana on 6/6/06. So no 6-8 weeks for me I am determined to have everything completed (with enough time to have all the results at Dr. Fontana's office when I return for my second Consult.

5/20/06 I take 2 steps forward and then go 2 steps sideways. I had my Psych Eval on Friday and I passed (Yeah!) but when I went to my GYN on Thursday he decided that since I am going to be having "major surgery" he wants to do an Abdominal Ultrasound and a Mammogram (I am only 34 years old) and then I have to go back to discuss the results before he sends them over to my surgeons office. I know he is just being careful. It just feels like I am being put to the test.  I will continue to climb over anything they throw in front of me. So now this is my schedule from 5/16/06 - 6/06/06:

5/16/06 Formal Consult
5/18/06 Gyn (Pap)
5/19/06 Psych Eval
5/22/06 Nutr. & Exercise Class
5/23/06 Abdominal Ultrasound
5/25/06 Group Support Meeting
5/30/06 Labs at Hospital
5/31/06 Mammogram (morning)
5/31/06 GYN follow up for test results (afternoon)
6/02/06 White Light Scan
6/06/06 2nd Surgical Consult

I am really trying hard to have this surgery before the end of June when my Insurance Calendar Year along with my deductibles start all over, plus who knows what plan changes could be made! I will let you know how things go. 3 appointments down 8 to go!

5/23/06 - 2 more appointments out of the way (5 down 6 to go).  I had my nut. class and was very happy to find out that most of the items my husband and I already eat (tofu, morning star, boca) are the best things for me to eat later. I think that makes the transition a bit easier. I have noticed that I am very energetic lately. I do not know if it is nerves or just excitement but I am happier and more energized than ever! I think it is knowing that a year from now my life will be so different. I have been doing my exercises, getting up earlier and staying up much later. Everything seems like it is finally starting to move along. I should know more after the 6th (It's a good thing I am not a superstitious person since my appointment is on 6/6/6).

5/28/06  I went to my first support group meeting on Thursday night. It was not at all what I expected. I did not know it was going to be an exercise class too! I would have dressed completely different. It was nice to see people in all different stages. The results were absolutely amazing! Any fears or doubts I may have had about this working have been completely erased!

Well hopefully this week will fly by since it is a holiday week. I have Bloodwork, EKG, etc.. on Tuesday, Mammogram on Wednesday morning, Follow Up Dr. Appointment (for Ab. scan results, mammogram results, and PAP results) on Wednesday afternoon, Scan on Friday and then back to Dr. Fontana next Tuesday to try to get insurance approval followed by a surgery date! I sent a picture to to be added to my site on 5/23 hopefully it will be on here soon. I really like this site. Even if no one ever reads this but me, it is a great way to keep track of the ups and downs of this journey and all the emotions that go with it.

5/31/06 Yeah! 3 more appointments out of the way! I go back in on Tuesday for the next big step, Insurance Pre-Auth and Surgery Date! I have to get my body scan done on Friday but that is just a formality. I am assuming my blood work from yesterday will be fine and I will be cleared for a date! I know it is a bit early but I am getting rid of all of my large winter clothes. I have seperated my clothes into boxes by size and have only kept the best of the best, I am so excited about buying new clothes. I will actually be able to wear clothes that are my age! Yeah! Well if not before I will give an update after my appointment on Tuesday. :) Happy Day!

6/1/06 - Yucky Day! I decided to call Dr. Fontana's Office to make sure they had recieved all the test results for my appointment on Tuesday so I could make some calls if they had not. Well, they had almost everything, even the stuff from yesterday at the Hospital! The only thing missing for them to send off my insurance auth request is the Psych Eval. Well since that is the first appointment I had and I was assured by the Psych. that I was approved and the office would have my letter in hand no later than 5/23/06 I am bit erked. I paid in full for my visit and since this group does alot of the evaluations for group I am having surgery with, they have a form letter that just needs my basic info and a yeah or nay on it. I have left a message at the office and am awaiting a return call.

6/2/06 - Much Better Day! I got a call from the Psych group, they sent the letter in the mail yesterday, after they got my message and were very apoligetic. They also said they were faxing it over right away so the office could have a copy to work from until the original showed up in the mail. I also got a call from Dr. Fontana's office that said I do not need to come in for the appoinment on the 6th since I had completed everything and there were no problems. My next appointment with Dr. Fontana will not be until I have a surgery date and will be my Pre-Op H&P appointment (about 2 weeks before surgery). Now they are waiting for the original of the Psych Eval and then they will try to get my insurance auth and a surgery date! Yeah, another big step in the right direction. I basically had my Tuesday appointment (Medical Consult and Clearence) on the phone 5 days early! :-)   How great is that! I have been told this process takes several months with no problems and can take over a year with issues. Well, the stars must be lined up just right or something, because so far I have had incredible timing! I could not have planned it any better thus far! I have been told my doctor is booking in July but who knows maybe there will be an opening in June! Wishful thinking. But I am keeping my fingers crossed! I will let you know when I get insurance approval!

6/7/06 Today is a WONDERFUL day! I got a call from Lola in Dr. Fontana's office and she told me that I was approved. She said they gave her the authorization right there on the phone. Now my chart is off to Patty for a date! I am so excited I can't stand it. Patty is out until Monday and I know she will have a lot of things to do when she gets back in the office but I do hope to hear from her very soon.  :)  I was told Dr. Fontana is now scheduling in August, I was hoping for July but I will certainly take what I can get. I think I will calm down once I have a date.

6/11/06 This has been a great couple of days. I really want to get my surgery date so I can make my summer plans. My husband has been so supportive these last couple of weeks. He has been to all the appointments and support meetings that deal with surgery.  He was nervous in the begining (and still is a little bit) but has now realized the effect this surgery can have on our lives. My husband is very athletic, he loves to hike, camp, backpack, etc... and always wants me to go. I do enjoy those things but am so selfconcious that I do not do a lot of those things anymore. He is starting to plan trips for vacations that in the past have just been ideas. He makes me walk everyday (and walks right along with me). While I have seen and read on this very website that this process can break a weak marriage, I think I am one of the luck ones, in that my marriage already seems to be even better and only getting stronger! Hope to be back on updating my site tomorrow with a surgery date.  :)

6/14/06 It has been a crazy couple of days. I talked to Patty at Dr. Fontana's office yesterday about a surgery date. She siad that since most of the doctors are taking turns going on vaction in August the first thing she had was going to be Friday August 28th. I thought wow what a difference a few days makes. Well she was waiting to hear from the hospital and said she would try to get something earlier but not to hold my breath. So when I saw her number come up on the caller ID today I figured at least I would have a date and would be able to make summer plans and things. Well, to my great suprise she did find an earlier date August 9th, while that is still later than I had hoped for, it is really only 8 weeks away. I think it will go by fast since I have to get my all day class on 7/19/06 and get my blood work that day, then I have my H & P on 7/21/06 then surgery :) 8/9/06.  I am so excited, Now I have a date to make sure I get the house completely cleaned, the kitchen cleaned out, I have a few weeks to get my vitamins and protein ordered and here. Wow, I feel so much better just knowing. The pressure has been lifted away! Well I will be in touch.

6/19/06 - OMG! I do not know how I am going to do for the next 7.5 weeks? I have already been cleaning out my closet. I figure if I have the surgery in the begining of August, by the time it starts really getting cooler in November I should be down a size or two, so I am getting rid of my winter clothes that fit me now. I have packed and repacked my hospital bag, gotten my vitamins and lots of protein. I have 2 "Good" pairs of walking shoes and my sippy cups and baby spoons. Oh yeah and tons of Water and Water Flavor Packs (Crystal Light, Great Value, Water Sensations, Market Pantry). I think I am ready. I guess I will start scrubbing my house from top to bottom so it will be clean for my post op. Anybody have any advice on how to make the time pass????

7/04/06 ***HAPPY 4TH!***  It's been almost 2 weeks since my last update. I am doing my best to stay busy, walk, work and eat right.  The past 3 weeks have been the longest 3 weeks of my life and as of tomorrow I will have anohter 5 weeks to go! I will be back to update soon. 

7/09/06  And the count down begins! 1 month to go, 31 days and counting. Not much happening with me this week. My husband's grandmother fell and fractured her 7th vertibra and we have been busy helping at her house. It has kept me busy (which is a good thing at this point). She is one tough cookie! 90 years old, still drives, still buys and sells property and has an Antique Business that sells at Antique Shows. She is very healthy and sharp as a tack! My husband has some very good DNA, I hope this surgery will help me to back into great shape so I can live a long healthy life with him. I will update again soon.

7/16/06  Another week has passed. 3 weeks and 3 days to go! This is the worst part. Waiting.  My last Dr. Appointment was well over a month ago, so it feels like I am doing nothing. This week should go by a bit faster sine I have my all day class at the Hospital plus bloodwork on Tuesday and my History & Physical on Friday. Then I will start with the 2 showers a day the following Tuesday. I know this is probably just nerves but I keep thinking...What if this does not work? What if I drink to much to fast and stretch out my pouch? Or eat to fast? Then I could be right back to where I am now in no time.  I guess it is the fear of failure. I am determined to make this work! I have been reading profiles like crazy and looking at before and after pictures. I really think this can work but I am having all kinds of doubts. Not enough to make me have second thoughts about the surgery, but still doubts! I hope that the class on Tuesday will help me deal with these fears.

7/18/2006 I went to my education class, pre-admission session, and got my last blood work (pre-surgery).  At the class today everyone else who was there has dates next week (except me 3 weeks out), When the RN asked how many people had their vitamins, I was the only one...How many people have gotten some protein for after surgery, again I was the only one....How many people have gotten there full liquid and/or soft foods, you guessed it, I again was the only one.  I felt like the teachers pet.  I was also a bit surprised at some of the questions being asked.  Everyone in that room had to go through everything I did and we should have all been on the same page, but we were not! I guess I feel good about the fact that I am ready. We also got to meet two post-op patients who were both very happy with their surgeries, up walking around, in no pain, and happy to share their experiences. I think being there and seeing the instraments, walking through the hospital, doing the pre-admin. and having blood work made it really sink in. I am having WLS! In 3 weeks. Now I think I am getting nervous. If these nerves keep up I guess I will be back right often to update. This journal has been my emotional control and like I have said many times already....Without this site I would be going crazy and driving my entire family crazy! Be back soon!

7/22/06 OK...18 days to go. I can only have food for 14 of those days, then the pre-surgery liquid diet begins. I saw Dr. Fontana yesterday for my bloodwork results, final consent forms, pre-surgery directions and post surgery prescriptions. I got the prescriptions filled and went to the store for a few last minute additions to my pantry (sugar-free Jell-O, more Crystal Light, etc...) I am really and truely ready. I have enough stuff to last for the first 2-3 months post op. I should have no problem sticking to the correct diet with all of the choices I have. Party Princess (another OH member - and part of the same local support group I go to) has been my hero. She is 7 weeks post op and doing wonderful. She is so sweet and always willing to listen and email support. She has some great stories too! I was really starting to freak out after my education class on Tuesday, but things seem to be calming down a bit now. At least I can sleep again, which helps me think logically, which has really relieved alot of the stress. My husband is getting excited too! He keeps fliping through magazines asking if I like this or that. He wants to go shopping at Victoria Secrets (I know where his mind is!). He is also excited because he feels like he has put on a few pounds and he knows that since we are changing alot about the food we eat and exercising again, he is going to take off a few pounds right along with me (he is not overweight at all, he is just at the high end of his normal range and ready to get back into shape). He has been so good through all of this. He has gone to every support group meeting, every education class, every exercise class, every doctor appointment, seminar and everything else. He has been very supportive and I think that has also been a big help to me. Well, I think that about covers it for today. I will be back soon.

 

7/23/06  I forgot to mention yesterday that when I got my bloodwork results, Dr. Fontana said that the last 2 bloodtest showed high sugar and this last test came back as positive for insulin resistance. Basically I am now officially diabetic. He said if my surgery was not in 2.5 weeks I would be going on medication for the sugar, BUT, as it stands the surgery should correct this problem. I think that helped my nerves calm down too. Before I was considered healthy, but now this really is going to make a difference in my life! I have been eating alot of not so healthy things. I guess I am saying good-bye to things that I do not want to have nor will I be able to have after surgery. The odd thing is I have lost weight. I still consider the loss part of my WLS, it has come about since I started taking better vitamins and walking everyday. So anyway I am actually down 8 pounds 17days before surgery.

7/29/06  11 days and counting until surgery! 7 Days to say goodbye to certain foods. Time seems to be moving rather quickly all of the sudden. It was going so slow and now it seems like it will be here in no time. I am so happy today! I just emailed Party Princess and she has agreed to be my Angel! Thanks Christine, you are the best! So, it is Saturday and I am really getting excited. I am going to be on the Losers side in 11 short days. Well I keep saying I need to get my house clean but, now I really need to get my house clean. I do not want to get any infections or anything like that.  On a different subject, I could swear my dog knows something major is going on. She sees me throwing out clothes and organizes smaller size clothes in boxes, and then packing my hospital bag and she just comes up and sits with her head in my lap and looks at me with those big eyes, like she is worried. I know dogs can sense things but this is getting kind of weird. Well I have a busy work week ahead of me trying to prepare to be out of work for  a week or two so I do not know if I will have time to update before surgery. I will do my best and if anyone reads this before my surgery please think good thoughts on August 9th and if I can do the same for you please let me know!

8/4/06  Well tonight I say good-bye to solid food for a while. I start my pre-surgery Liquid diet in the morning. I am getting more nervous about that than the actual surgery. After surgery it will be easy not to eat much, but now? Well I guess I will get through it. It is going to be so worth it. I am at the top of the hill, I just need to coast for a few more days and then I will be on the losing side! I will let you know how I am feeling tomorrow night after a day of no food. Well off to bed for me. Good-Bye Ice Cream, Good-Bye Bread, Good-Bye Fried Foods and Added Sugars, I am sure there will be times when I miss you but, nothing can taste as good as being thin feels!

8/5/06 Well I am 3/4 of the way through Day1 of the Clear Liquid Sugar Free diet. Not too bad so far, I feel a little hyper. I did not sleep well last night. I kept thinking about today and worring about having the will power to not eat. I think I finally fell asleep around 2:30 AM and then got up when my husband got up for work at 5:30 AM.  Then I actually went in to work from 6:30 - 1:30, anything to stay away from the house and food. I have been cleaning like crazy and was thinking about trying to get to bed very early tonight. I wish I was one of those people who can sleep all the time, then I could just sleep for the next three days. Oh well, I guess I am going to go for now. I am trying really hard to do this but I am starting to get hungry. Back to update soon!

8/6/06 Wow, this Clear Liquid Sugar Free Diet is difficult! I got up this morning and as soon as I weighed in and saw I lost 5 lbs yesterday, I thought no problem I can do this! But by early afternoon I began feeling very hungry! I do not know how I am going to make it 2 more days! This is pretty pathetic but, hopefully the bowel prep tomorrow will upset my stomach just enough so that I will not be hungry! I think I can, I think I can. Boy oh boy I sure hope I can. Back later with more details.

8/7/06 Well today went much better. I had so many things to do at work and then the hospital called and said I needed to come in and have the RN consult and a pre-surgery Anestesia (sp?) consult (before 3:00 pm) so I had to finish all my work 2 1/2 hours early to get to the Hospital by 3:00, then I had to get home by 5:00 to do the first Bowel Prep. That stuff is supposed to taste like Ginger and Lemon, well all I could taste was salt! Anyway after 4 hours of running back and forth to the restroom I am good and tired! Hopefully I will actually get some sleep tonight. I have only been getting about 3 hours a night for the past week, I guess I am getting anxious.

8/8/06 Well now the hourly countdown has begun! It is 9:45 pm. Today I had no problems at all with being hungry. I had to do the second bowel prep at 9:00 am so that kept me busy for a few hours. Then I changed the sheets, got the dog ready for the sitter, vacuumed, did the dishes, printed out the phone numbers I need my husband to call after surgery, went through my hospital bag one last time, Gave my ID and my insurance card to my husband and took off ALL my jewerly. Oh, yeah and we made one last trip to the grocery store for things like Yogurt, Applesauce and Re-Fried Beans. I wanted to make sure the Applesauce was cold when I come home from the hospital, Saturday should be my first day with "Full Liquids", which include things like Cream of Wheat and Oatmeal. I can not believe I will have gone an entire week with no food! I am not hungry now but I am starting to feel strange. I find myself stareing into space whilw trying to watch TV, losing my balance when I first stand up and even having slightly blurred vision at times. My surgery is tomorrow at 12 noon, but I have to be at the hospital no later than 10:00 am. So with parking and the morning commute we will probably leave by about 9:00 - 9:15. So, if I look at it that way I have less than 12 hours.  Plus I need to go to the Post Office one last time for our internet business at 8:00, then run the dog to the sitter, then come home and take a nice long shower and dry my hair before we leave.  So I guess if I get up at 7:45, that will cut it so close that I will not have time to worry about anything! And if I figure my surgery day begins at 7:45 with no time to lose, then I only have to get through another 9 hours and 45 minutes! Now if I can only get some sleep tonight! I did actually sleep about 6 hours last night but I woke up several times during the night. Christine (my angel) will be updating the Virginia Forum when she gets home from New York tomorrow evening. I assume everything will go very well!  :)  At least there is no need to worry about it right? If nothing goes wrong then worring would have been a waste of time and if by chance something happens.....well worrying would not prevent it so, I am just not going to waste my time worrying! Well I am going to TRY to go to bed and get some sleep. Hope to back updating with wonderful news when I return home on Friday (August 11, 2006). Hey I am going to be a Big Loser tomorrow!

Okay so I have been playing on this site for a few hours this evening because I can not seem to slow down so now I only have about 8 hours to get to bed, sleep and then get up and at'em for my surgery day. Can you tell I am a bit anxous!!! Okay really off to bed this time no more emails, and forum discussions!

8/11/06 I made it. I am home from the hospital! 2 days post-op. So with my liquid pre surgery diest and the actual surgery I am down 18 pounds! 250/232/126 Not a bad begining at all!

8/21/06 Well I dropped 3 more pounds by the 16th but since then I have gained 2 back???? It seems to have started with the soft foods, I know my body is just adjusting but after 4 days of slowly gaining those 2 lbs I am going  back to a full liquid diet and see what happens. My surgeon is on Vacation so I have not had my first post-op visit yet, and I am just getting a little nervous about this.  I am sure it is nothing but after all the failed weight loss attemps and the big fear of this not working....well it is just making me uncomfortable. I am still very happy with 19 pounds 12 days out. I will keep you posted.

8/23/06 Okay I talked to Christine and she made me feel so much better! She also sent me the HTML to get the weight loss chart in my profile and  the links to spruce it up a bit! Also I am walking longer and faster and getting all my water in, I think I am back on track! Back to 229, yeah below to 230! It has been years since I have been under 230 (except that one moment last week) so I am very happy! Today I am 2 weeks post-op and down 21lbs! I can wear smaller clothes and I eat like a birdand am not hungry! I guess I got a little worked up over nothing, your body loses that first week to week and a half and then it trys to hold onto everything because you were losing so quickly, and it has to find that balance where you loss at a reasonable rate, so hopefully I will loss 2-3 pounds a week for a while. I am so excited I am going for another walk, I can't wait to go to the gym! 2 more weeks!

8/24/06 Well I went for my 1 week post-op (15 days out). For the first time in my life I like tha scale at the Doctors Office! It said I had lost a half a pund more than my scale! Yeah! I had a request to add a little info about my first two weeks post op. 250/229/126

The day of surgery things went by very quickly until my Doctor got held up at another Hospital. They have you come in 2 hours prior to surgery, so by the time you check in, get a wristband, get taken back to first stage of the pre-op to change clothes, was your stomach with the special soap for 15 solid minutes, go over what is going to happen, get you IV started, it is time to head to the 2nd stage of pre-op (which is basically a holding area for the actual operating room). So I checked in at 10:00 for a noon surgery but when I got in the 1 pre-op section I was told my surgery was not until 12:30, than a different nurse told me technically is was for 12:45, but in about 10 minutes I was moved to the 2nd pre-op area, after about 15 minutes over there, I was informed that my surgery had been moved back to at the earliest 1:30 because my doctor had been held up at another hostipal. So I was moved back to the 1st area of Pre-op. I tried to get some rest but was interupted several times by nurses checking blood pressure, changing my IV Bag, and again people going over what my understanding of the surgery was, then in no time I was back to the 2nd area (about 1:00 p.m.) I wacthed people come and go off to there surgeries while I laid there (that was the worst part of the whole day), finally at 2:40 Dr. Fontana came in to let me know he was ready and my surgery would be getting started right away. Then he went to talk to my husband, Someone finally came to get me about 3:15 and although I wanted to see the OR, they put the medicine in my IV and started rolling the bed and that is all I remember until I woke up!

I got to my room about 8:00 and I guess the drugs were working because I told the Nurse I needed to get up and walk. She thought I was crazy! I told her my Doctor told me I had to get up and walk after surgery. They made me stay in bed until 10:00 then let me get in a chair for a few minutes, then finally about 1:00 AM she let me get up and take my first walk around the floor. My husband took pictures and wow, I am glad I could not see myself! My face which is round enough on its own was about twice the size it usually is from all the IV liquids! That was long gone by the time I left hospital 2 days later!

Day 1 Post Op in the Hospital - Well I had my leak teat and all was good, so I got rid of the drain and rid of the cath. (thank goodness)! Well as happy as I was to get some liquids finally, I really did not want anything (I figured out later that day the Pain Pump was making me slightly nauseated (not bad just enough to make me not want warm Jell-O and cold broth). I drank water and ate ice chips, and even tried to get down some apple juice (mixed with water) but it was not sitting well with me. After I realized everytime a hit the Pain button I felt a little worse (I was using it more to try to get to sleep then for pain, althought I did have some pressure from air in my stomach - gas), I told the nurse and she took out the pump and got me some liquid pain medicine that really helped! I was able to get about an hour or two sleep at a time before the medicine wore off and before I was being woken up for blood pressure, urine out put, Temperature and IV check. Thank God I had an angel because she gave em some advise that really helped while I was in the Hospital, like take your pillow from home! Dr. Fontana did not make it by to check on me he was on call and had surgeries until almost 2:00 AM. But he did call to see how I was doing and and let me know he would be there first thing in the morning.

Day 2 Post-Op in Hospital - Dr. Fontana came by at about 6:30 AM and looked at everything, talked to me and gave me the go ahead for discharge. I had to wait for Jeanne to come by to do some paper work and I figured she would not be in until 8 or 9 "normal business hours" so I took some more Medicine as soon as I packed and off to sleep I went :) To my suprise Jeanne showed up before 7:00 and came in while my husband was taking our magazines to the waiting room for others, then since I was out she left. Luckily she came back about 20 mintues later, we went over the paperwork and then it was a matter of getting out the IV and I was home free, my husband took a load of stuff down to the car and as soon as he was gone the nurse came in and took out my IV.  Then she walked me down to exit, and I was headed home. I took a nap when I got home (the best sleep ever after a hospital bed), and went for a walk around the block early that evening, luckily the weather was nice for my whole first week post-op. I also got to start my "full liquids" so vanilla yogurt, strained creamy soups (lowfat and low sodium of course), wow what a treat!

Over the next few days I continued to make my liquid medicine because of the pressure from the gas, I would sit up in the morning after sleeping and it would take almost an hour and a half for the little bubbles to stop running from my lower abdomin to my upper abdomin.  Finally on the 5th day I called the Office (Monday morning) to see if that was normal, I got the voice mail and left a message. Then I called my angel Christine, she told me that the pain medication can cause some of the gas....well hello I wish somebody had said something about that a little earlier! She told me about Gas-X strips - like the listerine pocket strips that melt on your tounge, I went and got some of those and in about 2 hours all the gas was gone, and so was all the pressure and discomfort. Keep in mind it was not that bad at all! I did take several short walks each day this week and made sure to drink my protein and water. Anyway I had one time where I did get sick but it was not due to the surgery, I had a piece of dust of something in my throat and started coughing until I had a coughing fit and finally threw up a very small amount then I was fine.

By Wednesday (1 week post-op) I was up and about walking everyday, and a bit futher and since I was one week post op I started trying soft foods, Steamed Shrimp (Yummy!), Tuna Fish Salad (I was never a big tuna salad fan but wow was it good after 10 days of liquids). I measuer out exactly 2 oz and sat in front of the computer with it. It took my almost 1.5 hours to eat 2 ounces! That is like 2 or 3 big bites from pre-surgery.  The hardest thing is waiting the 30 minutes before drinking after eating. I tried getting all my protein in with food but also stopped losing weight as soon as I switched. Well after 6 days of not losing and fighting to get all the protein in and the liquid, I decided maybe I should go back a little and drink some protein and supplement it with the food. This worked much better and I started losing again.  I have found it quite easy to get my protein in! 1 Isopure Protein Drink, 1 Instant Breakfast, and 1 Boca Burger (that is 40, 12 and 12 so 64 grams of protein) plus I get 28 ounces of my required liquid in  :)  This also has allowed me to eat a few things that really do not have much protein but alot of flavor, like Lowfat Vanilla Yogurt or homemade bean salad, very filling and it is super low cal, super low sugar and about 2 grams of protein for 2 oz.

So I am now 15 days out and walking almost 2 miles every morning (this walk started out taking us almost 45 minutes now we walk it in 30 and getting a little faster everyday), plus a short walk in the evenings, I have been cleared to go back to the gym (nothing over 25 pounds). Now I just need to get myself over there. 250/229/126

8/25/06 I am not sure if I mentioned this before but my husband and I have decided to enter the Turkey Trout, it is a 5K race on Thanksgiving Day. A 5K is 3.2 miles and even if I walk the whole thing at my current rate I should be able to walk it in under an hour. I am hoping to actually be running by then but if not it is still very exciting to decide to do something like this! 6 months ago I would have told you that you were crazy to think I would even consider something like this. I really feel great about myself, my decision, and my future!

8/26/06  I decided to make a small list of goals that would help keep me motivated. These are just little short term (hopefully easy to reach) milestones I am looking forward to:
GOALS:
1) Lose 10% of my initial body weight - so the first 25 pounds. (MET GOAL 8/30/06)
2) Move from the BMI Extremely Obese Catagory (40.0-50.0) to the Obese Catagory(30.0-39.9). (MET GOAL 9/16/06)
3) Fit comfortably into a size 18. (MET GOALaround 10/10/06)

I hope to meet these goals by the end of September. That gives me five weeks and I am really close to meeting the first one!  :)  250/227/126

8/30/06  Ok 3 weeks out today and I met my first goal! I am down 26 lbs so I have officially lost more than 10% of my initial Body weight!  :)  Know I have about 5 ponds to go to get down to the BMI Obese Catagory and I will have met 2 goals. I tried a few size 18 things on about a week ago and was no where near there yet so I am too nervous to try them again any time soon. Anyway my energy is up higher than before surgery, I am starting to see results and really feeling great! 250/224/126.

9/02/2006 Just a quick hello. Tropical Storm Edwardo came through my area Thursday evening and Friday plus the rain we have been having so, I have not been able to walk for 3 days! I feel a major difference in my energy and overall wellness plus I have not lost anything these last 3 days! So, I went down and renewed my membership which had expired to the Wellness center (similar to the YMCA). It was wall to wall kids playing in the pools and basketball but Tuesday morning they are all back in school, so I will be starting at the gym first thing Tuesday morning. Then Friday is my 1 Month Post Op and I am hoping to be allowed to get back into the pool. I was a competitive swimmer years ago and really want to get back in the water! 250/224/126

9/13/06 Okay it has been about a week and a half since my last update and I have been very lazy. I have not gotten back to the walking and exercise plan and it has made a hugh difference in the way I feel and the amount of weight I am losing. If you go to my weight loss table below you will see the first 3 weeks of walking everyday and light exercise I dropped much faster than week 4 and 5 when I have not done much. I ave felt so tired, I usually have no trouble getting my liquid and protein in but the last 3 or 4 days I have been so busy I forget to eat, I think that is why I am so tired. I have not gotten in what is needed! I know I need to get back on track, it is only the first 6 months where the loss is fairly easy, then 12 months of slow and steady weight loss if you keep on track, then you are on your own! So thinking that I am going to get the best results for my input for the next 5 months, I really want to take advantage of first 6-Month "Honeymoon" stage. Back sometime soon. 250/220/126.

9/16/06 Okay I have made sure to eat and drink properly for the last few days and I am back on track. I met my second goal today of dropping in to the Obese Catagory instead of the Extremely Obese Catargory. I am down to 218 and 39.8 BMI YEAH! Gotta go feel like I should go walking before it gets hot outside! See ya! 250/218/126.

9/20/06 Not alot going on these last few days. I am very busy at work so I have not had time to write much. I seem to lose more if I drink ALL of the recommended water (and even a little extra). So drink, drink, drink...get in your protein and take your vitamins, that is what I keep telling myself. I am finally really starting to see a difference. I have noticed little things all along but now I really feel like I am losing weight in the big picture, my back hurts less, I have more energy my neck, arms, legs and waist feel different (my hip area seems to be the one place it is coming off of the slowest but, it is starting to come off there). I am going through a few clothes every night - I had gotten rid of the ones that were too begin in the begining but now I am getting rid of the ones that fit at time of surgery and finding myself wearing things that I might have been able to get in before, but I did not wear them because they were just too tight and made me look awful.  I have always been the type to wear something too big before I would try to squeeze in to something too small. I am having fun going through boxes of clothes I have had put away for a long time hoping one day to be able to get into them again. I really have not tried a size 18 yet (my third Short Term Goal - hopefully I will meet that Goal by the end of September - like I had planned, so I have 11 days). Well Maybe I will try some things on this afternoon.  :) Ithink I can, I think I can, I think I can.  One last thing, I still have not gotten back to the gym I did walk the last 2 days but the weight is still coming off like crazy, I know I could do so much better and help my skin keep from sagging if I would get my butt into the gym, the muscle is what helps keep the skin from sagging!!! Anyway I will update soon! 250/215/126

9/27/06 Well it has been another week and another 4 lbs. I can not believe that in 7 weeks (49 days) I have lost 39lbs., that averages put to over 3/4 of a pound a day! Of course some days are better than others and I do go days where the scale does not move at all (or even goes up a small amout), but that is normal. I try not to worry about those things. I guess it is only normal to worry about some of those things with all the failed weight loss attempts in the past, when that scale does not move, I get that feeling of failure, or the feeling that I have lost all I am going to lose. I know in my head that is not true, but you can not help what you feel (even if it is just for a second or two). This is incredible. I feel great, I have tons of energy, I am wearing clothes I have not been able to wear in a long time, and my husband really seems to notice the difference! I can not wait to see myself at the 1st of the year! Be back to update soon. 250/211/126

10/05/06  Well I have been bad! I have still not made it to the gym. That is 4 wasted weeks of prime time weight losing ability I have thrown out the window! I am going to go. I have walked a few time this week and after being on a plateau for a week I am tarting to los again. I have been doing some calcualtions.... They say you will lose 50% of what you are going to lose in the first 6 months (the honeymoon phase), well I have lost 40 pounds in 2 months so to meet my doctors goal of losing 70% of my excess weight, I would have to lose 43.5 lobds in the foirst 6 months - that gives me 18 weeks to lose 3.5 pounds! OR if I want to stick with my goal of losing 124 lbs I need to lose 62 pounds in the first 6 months.  That gives me 18 weeks to lose 22 pounds, I think I can do it! That averages out to 1.2 pounds a week. So far I am 8 weeks out and 40 ponds whuch averages 5 ponds a weeks, not bad since I have been so slack about working out! It makes me feel like I have really wasted the last month and it is weight loss time I will not get back! I am going to start at the gym on Monday morning. I have my second White Light Scan in the morning, I am really excited to see the measurement differences since my pre-surgery scan.  Okay I know this posting is a bit rambling I am just really mad at myself for wasting what little time we are given to really drop the weight. Another thing I as doing really well until this past week on my Vitamins, Water and my Protein...the weeks I did well I always lost, this past week when I got a bit off track, I did not lose until the 7th day, I got back in track on the 6th day and just like the flip of a switch I lost a pound, just in time for my weekly update! Anyway for anyone who is thinking about having this, It has changed my life already! We are buying our first house, I have more energy and things I never cared about before are becoming more important in my life! I am already a stronger more outgoing person than I was pre-surgery! I can not say enough good things about this surgery. It is certainly not a magic pill, there is alot to plan for, your life will change forever, you will give up alot but you will get so much back in return. I guess for me it came down to waht I wanted more....the food and drinks....or a chance to have a family and live a long healtly life (oh yeah, and to get back into those sexy clothes again!). Anydays I feel like I want a cheeseburger frmo McDonalds, I ask myself is it worth it? Then I drink some water, and eat some Protein and I forget all about McDonalds! I am here for anyone who has any questions! Please remember when it comes to your life and your future, no question is silly or dumb, ask lots of questions, read profiles they make you think about things you had never even considered! Good Luck everyone, stay motivated! 250/210/126

10/12/06 Well another week has gone by. I am now down 43 lbs. (according to my scale) and according to the doctor's scale I am down 48 lbs. 250/207/126

10/18/06  I am really starting to notice a big difference in my face and the rest of my body. I somewhere in the past 2 weeks I met my 3rd original goal (to fit in an 18 comfortably), so now I need to set a few new goals! ANyway I am a bit bummed because I was at 202 yesterday and I am at 203 today but hey, I still lost 5 ponds this week, and I never could have done this before!
NEW GOALS:
4) to lose 1/2 of my weight to Dr's Goal (43 lbs) - MET GOAL 10/12/06
5) to get below the 200 lbs.
6) to lose 20 of my initial Body Weight (50 lbs) - MET GOAL 10/25/06
7) to lose 1/2 of my weight to My Goal (62 lbs)
Hopefully I can meet these in the next 7 weeks so basically by the begining of December. Have a great week - 250/202/126

11/01/06 Well we just got back from Las Vegas and I actually gained a pound. I was getting a bit upset but then realized after not working out or exercising for so long, and then suddenly dancing for hours and walking at least 10 miles a day up and down the strip, I did gain a good little bit of muscle (which is a good thing). I know I lost size because the clothes I was wearing last week no longer fit! My husband got me a keychain while we were there that says "I lost my A-- in Vegas", while we know they are really talking about money, I literally lost my ass in Vegas! Now I need other parts of my body to catch up. I tend to be losing in one area at a time, nothing too drastic but I notice the differences in my body shape week by week. Even though I suddenly fell like I have a spare tire around my hips, I would not change a single thing I did! My face looks different, I am getting more self confidence, I actually had men look at me in Vegas and not with a look of disgust! I love my new life and am actually looking forward to the future! Have a great week! 250/201/126

 

 

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Below is my Official goal, from my Surgeon (70% of my excess body weight) which puts me at 163 when all is said and done: updated 11/01/06
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http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/3;10731;0;0;0/c/-50/t/-87/k/3c96/weight.png">>

 

Below is my personal Goal. For my height my ideal weight (according to the BMI calculator) is 126lbs, so that is my personal goal: updated 11/01/06
[link=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]
[image noborder]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/3;10723;127;0;0/c/-50/t/-124/k/84f8/weight.png[/image]
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About Me

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