lynnirene
1 month out from surgery
May 05, 2007
Well, today is May 5th, just about 4 weeks since my surgery. So far, I have only lost about 25 lbs since my first visit at the Drs office. I am a little disappointed, but it's sure better than nothing, and it has not been an real easy trip to get here.
I am not feeling as well as I hoped I would. I pulled a muscle at my incision sight and it left me sitting in the recliner with an ice pack on all day for several days, and again with the pain pills and compression bandage around my middle day and night. I had just 'unwrapped" myself and stopped the pain meds a few days earlier and was feeling happy about my progress. I thought I was making some progress.
But add to that the feeling of the 'swirling head' all day and extreme fatigue. I have been down in the dumps a lot. Finally made an appointment with the DR and he said he wanted me to take iron, and did a blood test, thought I looked like my electrolights were low, whatever they are. But I havn't heard from him yet.
I searched the boards for some idea of why I was having these symptoms, and whittled it down to four; water, iron, potassium and sodium, a lack in either one. So, I did some experiementing and eliminated all but one, potassium. When I checked labels and my food list, I realized the RDA of potassium at 2,000 mg a day was nowhere to be found in my 'food' list. So, finally got the chewable iron tabs the Dr suggested, and increased my potassium quite a bit and it seems a little better. The 'swirly head' is much realieved and the fatigue is a little less. What next? I think it's only time. I have not yet run into any folks my age on any of the forums, I'm leaning on 62. It seems to me that folks my age will do 'everything' slower than people younger. So, I will be patient.
But every morning I wake up and just lay in bed wondering why I should get up. I can't do what I want, everything tires me out. But eventually I get up and start the routine and try to be patient one more day. Sooner or later the weight will drop off and from that alone I will have more energy and feel better.
Sorry to be a draggy poster here, but these things happen.
Good luck to all.............Lynn
I am not feeling as well as I hoped I would. I pulled a muscle at my incision sight and it left me sitting in the recliner with an ice pack on all day for several days, and again with the pain pills and compression bandage around my middle day and night. I had just 'unwrapped" myself and stopped the pain meds a few days earlier and was feeling happy about my progress. I thought I was making some progress.
But add to that the feeling of the 'swirling head' all day and extreme fatigue. I have been down in the dumps a lot. Finally made an appointment with the DR and he said he wanted me to take iron, and did a blood test, thought I looked like my electrolights were low, whatever they are. But I havn't heard from him yet.
I searched the boards for some idea of why I was having these symptoms, and whittled it down to four; water, iron, potassium and sodium, a lack in either one. So, I did some experiementing and eliminated all but one, potassium. When I checked labels and my food list, I realized the RDA of potassium at 2,000 mg a day was nowhere to be found in my 'food' list. So, finally got the chewable iron tabs the Dr suggested, and increased my potassium quite a bit and it seems a little better. The 'swirly head' is much realieved and the fatigue is a little less. What next? I think it's only time. I have not yet run into any folks my age on any of the forums, I'm leaning on 62. It seems to me that folks my age will do 'everything' slower than people younger. So, I will be patient.
But every morning I wake up and just lay in bed wondering why I should get up. I can't do what I want, everything tires me out. But eventually I get up and start the routine and try to be patient one more day. Sooner or later the weight will drop off and from that alone I will have more energy and feel better.
Sorry to be a draggy poster here, but these things happen.
Good luck to all.............Lynn
Progressing towards my hospital day
Feb 13, 2007
Well, today, the day before Valentines day, what I really want is a thin body and more energy, and maybe some sugar free chocolate?
My progress is moving along. Had my psych evaluation, got the echocardiogram for the heart. Next will be appointments for the gall bladder scan, and the stress test.
Went to my first consulation at Dr. Ludwigs office last week, lots of questions answered, and just kept feeling good about the whole thing. So far, I am having no misgivings at all. The only thing I worry about is my own ability to follow the directions I am given. But I think I will do okay with it, I am not afraid.
I have yet to tell a soul. I do have one friend, in another state, that I emailed. He's working with the VA Hospital toward a lap band proceedure. He was surprised I was going for the RNY, because I had told him before I would never accept it. Now I know better, understand the process pretty good. AND, I have met so many people who are doing well since their surgery. That was the clincher for me, seeing a large crowd of healthy and happy people after having their surgery. And of course, seeing how well the support is from the Docs office, really well treated their. How can I go wrong?
In a few months, I'll be spending a few nights in the hospital and REALLY on my way.................Lynn
My progress is moving along. Had my psych evaluation, got the echocardiogram for the heart. Next will be appointments for the gall bladder scan, and the stress test.
Went to my first consulation at Dr. Ludwigs office last week, lots of questions answered, and just kept feeling good about the whole thing. So far, I am having no misgivings at all. The only thing I worry about is my own ability to follow the directions I am given. But I think I will do okay with it, I am not afraid.
I have yet to tell a soul. I do have one friend, in another state, that I emailed. He's working with the VA Hospital toward a lap band proceedure. He was surprised I was going for the RNY, because I had told him before I would never accept it. Now I know better, understand the process pretty good. AND, I have met so many people who are doing well since their surgery. That was the clincher for me, seeing a large crowd of healthy and happy people after having their surgery. And of course, seeing how well the support is from the Docs office, really well treated their. How can I go wrong?
In a few months, I'll be spending a few nights in the hospital and REALLY on my way.................Lynn
2007 Jan 26- I'm on my way
Jan 26, 2007
Hello Everyone, and anyone who reads this, and is pondering whether or not to go for the surgey. I just want to introduce myself and give you and idea about what I am up to.
Earlier this year, my step brother passed away from a sudden heart attach, while walking into his place of employment, chatting with a co-worker, he dropped, and just had enough time to say 'tell my wife I love her'. Well, he was 9 years older than me. It woke me up.
How many years have I fiddled with one way or another to stop eating, get thinner, get healthier. Now I realize, there's nno time to mess around with it anymore.
So, my husband and I started talking about it, and I decided to see what I could discover about the surgery. I ended up here. Some years ago I realized I would go for the lap-band proceedure, but until now my insurance wouldn't go for it. Now that I have learned more about the choices and their results, I decided I wanted to make sure I was successfull, no going back. So I am going for the gastric bypass. And wouldn't you know it, NOW, my insurance will cover both the band and the bypass. But I am sticking with the bypass choice.
Thanks to a lot of net surfing, a lot of reading, praying, and actually being able to talk to people who are post op (thank you Jake Carr), I feel I can do this, and I look forward to some health, for the first time , in a long time. I am tired of being unwell.
I hope to get to know many of you. And I hope I can keep updating my blog, whether with good or bad news. I need to stay focused.
Talk to you all later............Lynn
Earlier this year, my step brother passed away from a sudden heart attach, while walking into his place of employment, chatting with a co-worker, he dropped, and just had enough time to say 'tell my wife I love her'. Well, he was 9 years older than me. It woke me up.
How many years have I fiddled with one way or another to stop eating, get thinner, get healthier. Now I realize, there's nno time to mess around with it anymore.
So, my husband and I started talking about it, and I decided to see what I could discover about the surgery. I ended up here. Some years ago I realized I would go for the lap-band proceedure, but until now my insurance wouldn't go for it. Now that I have learned more about the choices and their results, I decided I wanted to make sure I was successfull, no going back. So I am going for the gastric bypass. And wouldn't you know it, NOW, my insurance will cover both the band and the bypass. But I am sticking with the bypass choice.
Thanks to a lot of net surfing, a lot of reading, praying, and actually being able to talk to people who are post op (thank you Jake Carr), I feel I can do this, and I look forward to some health, for the first time , in a long time. I am tired of being unwell.
I hope to get to know many of you. And I hope I can keep updating my blog, whether with good or bad news. I need to stay focused.
Talk to you all later............Lynn
