markv00

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Just a quick Hi to everyone.  It's been up and down since I last posted, but overall, good progress.

Hope you have a great weekend

mark

Today is the 3 week post op mark and almost all is well. The weight is just falling off and it feels good. I had to take an extra week off from work last week because I had a little trouble with the vitamins.

Now I'm almost up to full speed with my full vitamin dosage in addition to my regular meds.

Still have this very bad pain on my left side. But this is low, around the abdomen/pelvic area. Feels like a strain or something. But this started last Monday, it's just very frustrating.

I know the body is going through alot of changes, so I guess I have no choice but to ride it out, if it gets worse or lasts too long, I'll get some help.

Well, that' it for now. I'm heading to 265lbs. Good luck to all and look forward to hearing from you.

Mark

Yeah, I got to go home on Friday before noon.  Dr Pilcher was very pleased with my stats and my post op walking in the hospital.  Fluid intake has been good and bathroom trips have been very efficient.

I've already been able to reduce my blood pressure meds by 50%,  We'll see how that pans out over they next couple of weeks.  I've got follow ups on April 28th with Dr, Pilcher, and my psychiatrist, also have to follow up with my pcp to get my meds in line with my weight loss.

It's definetly gonna take more discipline at home to keep focused and on schedule.  The journey is now under way and try to keep you updated as much as possible.

If I can be of any help to anyone out there, whether it's a question about what to expect or maybe you have similair medical conditions as myself and are wondering what to do next, please contact me.  I can maybe give you insight about what I went through and what made me finally choose this path.

I know God has a plan for me and I trust in Him to guide me through this entire journey, both the highs and lows, and lead me to a place of happiness and better health.

I'm not a very good writer and I'm just a guy, so please forgive me if I don't post as regularly as I intend to right now.

Thanks for all your support and Good Luck
Mark V

Well, it's late Wednesday April 16, 2008 and all is going good.  Had my surgery on Tuesday.  I gotta tell you, the nerves really took hold as surgery time got closer.

All kinds of emotions were going through my head.   I wanted this so bad and here it was staring me in the face and I didn't know what to think.  Fortuneatley, my mother was there for reassurance, a kind word and a beautiful prayer to send me off.  My nurse, whose also a Christian, helped alot with his take on was about to happen and it did help.

Just a reminder for those that may not know me well, I have severe anxiety aand panic disorder as well as depression and an extreme case of sleep apnea.  That anxiety starts to take over and an already tense situation becomes 100 times more complicated.

Pretty much all day Tuesday after surgery and recovery I spent a few hours in my room just trying to get my bearings back.  My wife and mother were with me and shortly after my sister and nephew joined the party,

It was nice and conforting having familiar faces around to just talk to or just get silly and get your mind off the pain.

Yes folks there is pain, but the doctors and nurses here at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital here in San Antonio are the best.  They've got their stuff together which allows them to focus on the patients comfort as much as possible.

I know these are busy people, sometimes being pulled pin different directions at once, but they never once made me feel like I was getting in their nerves or just another pain in the butt patient.

In fact it was just the opposite, when I needed something, they were right there to take care of it.  And with smile on their face and a good attitude about educating me about the process.

I'm a little uncomfortable still with all the bloating from this gas they used to expand my stomach during surgery, so I'm trying hard to follow their advice and walk as much as possible the restimulate the bowel system which will help relieve the pressure over time.  Just gotta hang in there.

I'm so excited about this whole new chapter of my life and look forward to each day as a new and wonderful blessing from GOD.

Thanks to Dr. Pilcher and his surgicsl team, my life was in their hands with Gods guidance, and they were awesome.

And a BIG thank you to all the RN's and support staff at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital...Rachel, Rosie, Maria, Lucia, Nilo and to the rest of the team(sorry I'm really bad with names).  You guys are the best.

Talk to you soon

Well, it's finally here, surgery day.  Why am I writing this at such an odd hour?  I guess I'm just too wound up to sleep.  I've got to be at the hospital by 5am for an 8am kickoff, so I figured I'd jump on here at share some last minute thoughts.

I am very nervous about this and having anxiety/panic disorder doesn't really help, but I'm putting my trust in the Lord that everything will be just fine.  Not just the surgery, but everything that comes afterwards.

I wouldn't really say I'm second guessing this decision,  It's probably more fear of the unknown that has me up all night. I've kind of thought from the beginning, what happens after I lose all the weight I want, then I just want to be a "normal" male, eating like all the other guys do.

But then again, maybe that's why I'm here today.

The most important thing for me is to be healthy. Yes for my own well being, but most of all for my kids.  By leading a healthy lifestyle, I hope to be setting a much better example for them.  This will also give me a chance to have a tool in place that will allow me to enjoy life to its fullest and be around for a long time and watch my kids grow and be a part of their lives.

I'm also hoping  that this will cure me of most if not all of my medical and mental disorders.  I carry this little greean bag with everywhere I go, it has so many different meds in it just to get me through a day.  It's become kind of a symbol....And would love so much to remove this symbol from my life.  My kids are still pretty little and I sure don't want them to think back about me AND my little green bags of pills.

Anyway, I guess that's it for now.  Good luck and God Bless to everyone who is having surgery today and really to everyone who has had or is thinking about weight loss surgery.  Talk to you on the other side.

Special thanks to all my family for all their support including my Aunt in California who just reassured me about this being a good thing and to stay focused.  Thanks!

I've been up since 4am central after going to bed about 2am.  I'm not sure if it's just one of those nights I can't sleep or I'm just bursting at the seams about todays appointment.

Either way I am very sleepy and tired (remember I don't work, I'm seeking disability).  So I know todays going to be bad in terms of staying awake more than usual.

I think I'll pop a Provigil soon and then another later so I can fake it through the day.

I'm not nervous about the consultation because we already have all the insurance stuff worked out...100% coverage for any surgery they perform at New Dimensions WLS, even post op stuff.

I guess I just hope for a quick surgery date so I can get on with a new chapter of my life ASAP.  I've read all the things that should happen pre op, and believe me I've done them all, right down to chest xrays, 3D heart exams, psychologist evals, weight programs, thyroid tests and even started working with a personal trainer to get me ready for my post op routine.

So I just want to get it done.  Now which one, Gastric Bypass or the Sleeve, I'm not sure...Big Difference, but since the insurance is leaving it up to me and the Dr., now a decision has to be made.

That's all for now...Gotta go read up on the Sleeve procedure before I go later.

Thanks

I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas.  My pre surgery consultation is this Wed Nov 28, 2007.  I meet with a psychologist, dietician, personal trainer, the bariatric surgeon and have several tests done all in one day to certify me fit for the surgery.

I'm not to worried about it, I've seen all these kind of doctors before so I know where I stand. i had a full cardiac work up 3 months ago and all was perfect.

So I think I just enjoyed my last real thanksgiving meal, because this time next year, I'll be the new and improved Mark.