RosieO

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In about another 8 days I will be 9 months out from surgery and thought I would check in (had my 9 month checkup with Dr early about a week ago) ...this weekend I got on the scal and reached a milestone on 100lb lost so far ...gotta tell you it felt great and I feel wonderful ...healthier and more active then I've been in a long long time. I will check in again when I have my 1 year surgery anniversary on Feb 20th! To all those considering make the decision you feel comfortable with but all I can say is it was the best decision I ever made and I went into it well informed with my eyes wide open so no suprises!

Yes it has been a long time since I have updated this site but I fell and broke my wrist in July and doing anything extra on the computer other than work was difficult. ....It has been 7 month since Surgery and everything is going better than I even expected, I have lost 92 lbs to date and feel great - would like to lose approx another 60 but will see as I go along over the several months if that is a good goal or not.  I have to go to a Sales Conference all next week in Nashville TN so had to go shopping for some clothes (normally work from home office so can get away with clothes being a little big. Much to my suprise though was when I tried on what I size I had thought I had dropped to ...they were too big so I ended up with 14's ...I can't remember the last time I fit into a 14....7 months ago I was wearing 26/28's!  I also went to a fundraiser last week and saw people that have not seen me since my surgery - felt great that they thought I looked 10 years younger and I told them with my enrgy level and things I can do now I feel 20 years younger! 

All I can say to anyone reading this that is contemplating the surgery - go to the support group meetings, be informed, have realistic expectations - this is not "magic" it involves work on your part but all well worth it - I would recommend the Surgery and Dr Randall  to anyone who is willing to listen!

Saw Dr Randall yesterday for my 3 month post-op follow-up and all is well. I have lost 47 lbs since surgery (58 total with the 11 I lost just before surgery) Only problems I told him about was gum sensitivity and bleeding (most likely not related to surgery but am going to regular vitamins instead of the chewables) also over-did it moving last week so a bit tender but did no major damage with all the lifting. Lastly still getting very nauseous when eating chicken ...have to try to make it a lot more moist! I also had bloodwork done on this visit so he can see if I need any supplements!

Today was my first official weigh-in since my surgery and I have lost 25 lbs - I am happy and Dr Randall is happy with how everything is going. I am getting better with eating balanced meals and getting all my protein in...ocassionally have to supplement it. My incision is healing well - I thankfully had no wound drainage etc. I am still working different foods into my diet and still having issue with chicken, turkey and eggs (not as bad as week 3 though.) Slowly things that initially did not taste the same post-op are starting to taste better - still have issue with plain water and Crystal lite - but will try again in another week. Right now most of my fluids is lemon water or Light (10 cal) lemonade, and for meats I am tolerating lean beef and pork very well. Next visit to Dr will be in 2 months! 

Rosie

I am doing very well based on others experiences I have read - my abdominal incision is healing very well - so far (knock on wood) no draining but it is very itchy! Doing my walking but am extremely tired ...just have to keep reminding myself that I am only almost 2 weeks post op for major abdominal surgery!  Playing around with foods - loved eggs before but now cannot tolerate - so trying to get my protien still by CIB and other sources. Am getting my fluids in though....what I'm craving are fruits! So far have tried peaches and tolerated well ...will go shopping tomorrow and try something else. Plan on increasing treadmill work to hopefully increase energy.

TUES 2/20
7:45am Pat and I started out to the hospital and forgetting that it was school vaction week the traffic was lighter than usual
so of course we arrived at the hospital early. We sat in the car fow awhile talking with Pat making jokes (he was trying to calm
my nerves...fat chance!)

8:45am We reported to the Surgical unit and were told to take a seat, less than 5 minutes later the nurse popped in and started
off making us feel comfortable right away! I must say she was one of the funniest and nicest nurses I've ever met which kept my
nerves to a minimum. First I was given two johnnies and hospital slippers to put on and a bag for the clothes and shoes I came
in with. Then I got onto a very comfortable strecher/bed  and was hooked up to vital taking machines (BP, O2 Sat, Heart rate etc)
I was then asked a few questions and then the fun began ...trying to get an IV in me. Had several people attempt and then one of
the anesthesiologist finally got one "partly" in (was told it was stable enough to put me under with and they would then put in
a Central Line as soon as I was under) During the IV attempts my Surgeon Dr Randall popped in a couple of times and I met the woman
who would do my anesthesia. Now with all that set they let Pat come into see me for a bit and then just before

10:30a They gave me something IV to relax me (they had also ran through some antibiotics) amd that's all I remember except being
wheeled down the hall to the OR

I don't remember the exact time but next I knew I woke up in PACU (believe it was sometime after 1pm) and yes I was in a LOT of pain!
I was quickly given something IV and after a while Pat was allowed in for a quick visit and much to my suprise my best friend from NH,
Karen, was with him * Karen is a Nurse Practioner who had Lap RNY at a Boston hospital almost 2 yr ago and she has been very supportive.
Dr Randall had spoken to them both after the surgery and Pat kept my Mom informed (she gets so nervous it was best to have her
stay home and occupied..she was babysitting my 7 year old nephew)

After a couple of hours in PACU I was shown how to use the PCA and then brought to my hosptial room. I've got to say my first two days
(wed & thurs) were not bad at all - everyone was great (nurses, CNA's , PY , RT, Medical students, student nurse etc)
Dr Randall popped in an out a couple of times each day and (office coordinator)

Wed 2/21 Kate (Office coordinator) stopped in both Tuesday and Wednesday. During all this time I used my PCA morphine as needed and
also got liquid Roxicet every 6 hrs. I was up Wed walking with PT and took a shower and started on my liquid diet but still loved my
crushed ice best ( just could not keep ,my mouth from getting dry)

Thurs 2/22 still on IV morphine and IV fluids with Roxicet liq pain med but usually only use the PCA if going to get up, do breathing
exercises etc. Mid day the Morpine removed and started getting most meds by mouth. Something started making me nauseaous ...not sure what
though and started dry heaves etc. Was given Zofran for nausea IV push but it was pushed to quickly and I had a reaction to it. Started on
shots of dilaudid for pain and could not seem to take anything by mouth

Friday 2/23 Never felt worse in my life - so much nausea (Pat told me after the fact but said I looked my worse on Friday and it made
him nervous) ...2nd time I got the nausea med IV push the nurse pused it much more slowly and it worked well (for a while anyway). I was
at least able to get up and walk...but only thing I could handle still were ice chips. I was suppose to have been discharged on Fri but
decision made to keep me another night 

Sat 2/24 - feeling much better - abke to take pain med PO now without nausea - so discharged to home - felt great to get out but gotta
tell you felt every little pothole/bump in the road!

Had my surgery Tuesday 2/20 and did very well first couple of days ...but Thursday nught developed nausea and dry heaves etc ...was completely misarable - so they kept central line in and got most meds/fluids IV ...so instead of going home Friday ended up being discharged Saturday afternoon. Doing well at home so far but still needing pain meds every 6 hrs ...hoping to cut that down as week progresses. Saw Dr Randall today and everything OK there - wants me to know start on some potassium. As soon as I feel up to it I will write up my whole experience of hospital stay...all I can say right now is NO REGRETS

Rosie

Had my meeting with the Anesthesiologist and Dr Randall ...all system go a week from tomorrow! Got butterfly's but other than that all set and ready!  Only thing that may present an issue is the fact I have always been a difficult stick...seems to run in my family  no veins! So they may have to do a central line but told if possible to at least get one line in me they will do central line after I am out!

Rosie

Had my pre-op testing today and everyone at LMH were so nice. Met with pre-op nurse and went over everything and given lots of reading material as well as a very nice and informative Bariatric Surgery Patient Handbook!  Then went for Pulmonary Function testing which was a breeze and given spirometer to do breathing exercises before surgery. After that had many vials of blood drawn an EKG and Chest Xray ....biggest thing I found out today is I cannot wear makeup the morning of surgery ....I am going to feel naked ...I never leave the house without (and I only wear tinted moisturizor and eye make-up but she said no to all!!!! AHHHH) 

So only have meeting with Anesthesiologist and Dr Randall on the 12th and then I am ready to go on the 20th! 

Rosie

I feel like everything so far is going smoothly...got my pre-op testing date for 2/7 and meet with Anesthesiologist 2/12 and final appt with Dr Randall before surgery - also on 2/12. I also got my copy of the actual approval letter from Aetna today ...it's like I was handed a piece of gold!  TIme is going to go by so quickly the next few weeks and I feel I have so much to do. My nephew is getting married 2/10 and I am also trying to get my place pretty well packed for a move (back to Winthrop) ...just not sure if I will actually move late April or push it out to May ...but if I get all packing done ahead of time not a big issue (just the unpacking will be a pain) ...will just play by ear!