tweazee
2004 Journey
July 2004 -- I am a single 39 year old female who has been diagnosed with HBP & depression since 2000, gout since 2002, and broke my right ankle April 2003 to which arthritis has set in.
July 2004 -- a friend of mine asked me to go to a support group meeting for GBS as she wanted someone to go with her as support (she was 425lbs & I was 325lbs at that time). I had never heard of this type of weight loss procedure before, and went with her. During the meeting I heard a lot of things that interested me, I asked questions, and got answers. Both of us continued going each month to learn more details and hear more testimonials.
As 2004 progress, we both decided we would go for the surgery in early 2005. We both worked for the same company, and needed to switch over to the insurance that our company carried that would pay for it. In Oct 2004 we signed up for insurance, and received a major UNPLESANT surprise -- our company decided to "write out" GBS starting 2005. Well what a wrinkle that put into our plans.
12/27/2004 - Had a complete hysterectomy due to being anemic from excessive bleeding, hemoglobin has dropped down to 10 (I used to be 7 in Nov 1999 before I had an ablation done). I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Sugar was over 300, and my bp was over 200 which caused me to have migraines during my hospital stay.
2005 Journey
Feb 2005 -- Attended diabetes education, and have lost 20 pounds. Returned to work.
April 2005 -- It has been over two years since I broke my ankle, and I am still not able to go downstairs normally -- I have to take them one at a time and always lead with my left foot, as my right ankle will not support me.
July 2005 -- We continued going to the monthly support until the leader of the support group was not be able to continue heading the meetings for personal reasons. My friend decided it was pointless to pursue GBS since our company's insurance wouldn’t pay for the surgery, and she refused to consider self-pay as she couldn’t afford it.
Aug 2005 -- My depression medicine was changed, and I gained 10 pounds. Requested that it be stopped and put on different meds. I have been able to maintain my weight since.
Oct 2005 -- I continued to think about the surgery, and started going to Dr Opie's (Olathe KS) support group. Another friend of mine had Dr Opie as her surgeon back in May 2004, and praised him highly. Since then several co-workers have also had Dr Opie for their surgeon, and told me what a great doctor he is.
Nov 2005 -- My depression medicine was changed again, and I gained 10 pounds. Requested that it be stopped and put back on the old meds. I have been able to maintain my weight since, but am back to the weight I was before my diabeties.
Nov 2005 -- I made up my mind to go ahead and pay for the GBS myself, thinking the cost of the surgery is like a buying a car -- only I am buying a new life! The pretest cost & half of Dr Opie's bill is being paid through my Medical Reimbursement account, and I have saved enough to cover the rest of Dr Opie's bill. My CU Bank has agreed to loan me the money for the hospital bill, as the hospital will not take payments since my insurance is not paying any of it --thus the car (umm...body) payments.
Dec 2005 -- My initial visit was originally scheduled for Dec 16th, but it now has been rescheduled for Jan 20th. BUMMER!
2006 Journey
01/20/2006 -- My INITAL visit with Dr Opie, included a short lecture with several other potential patients, and then we each had individual appointments. Dr Opie gave me a list steps & tests needed to be completed before I could have a final consult with him, and before setting up a surgery date. I immediately called and scheduled appointments in February for all of the pretest {Attend surgery support group, EGD, GB Sono, Pre-op Class, Psych Eval, EKG, blood work, and start a cardio exercise program}. My insurance paid for this appointment, except for $30 co-pay.
02/04/2006 -- Gall Bladder Sonogram -- everything was healthy with the GB, but they did find a small kidney stone in my kidney (I've already had one pass back in 2001--not pleasant). Dr said to drink lots of fluid! My insurance paid for this appointment, except for $15 co-pay.
02/07/2006 – Joined the YMCA and started water aerobics to lose weight, and help strengthen cardiovascular in preparation for surgery.
02/08/2006 -- EGD test -- They found the stomach lining to be swollen and irritated, so Dr Opie prescribed me "omeprayole" (a generic prilosec) to start taking. My insurance paid for this appointment, except for $30 co-pay.
02/13/2006 -- Psych Eval -- Nothing new here, always new I was crazy and depressed! lol. Actually I have been on depression meds since early 2000. The Psych Dr wrote out a two page letter addressed to Dr Opie stating that I was well informed and knew what I was doing. I am going to continue seeing him to help talk about the surgery and my new life after the surgery. My insurance paid for this appointment, no co-pay.
Week of Feb 13th 2006 – Attended water aerobics twice this week.
Week of Feb 20th 2006 – Attended water aerobics once this week.
I have gained 10 pounds since my January visit with Dr. Opie.
02/20/2006 -- Pulmonary Eval -- Prior to appointment, I answered about 10 pages of questions describing my sleep habits, and how tired was I during the day, etc...
At the appointment I had to breathe through a tube, and then the Dr looked over results which were good. He then looked at the inside of my throat and said that it was small. (((***NOTE: Normally most patients get the finger meter to take home with them and put on while sleeping to track oxygen levels. ***))) I was not given this option; instead the Dr wanted me to have a sleep study done based on the size of my throat and some of the answers to my questions. My insurance paid for this appointment, except for $30 co-pay.
I had the Pulmonary Dr's scheduler go ahead and set up an appointment with the sleep lab. The scheduler told me that once I had the sleep study done, it would take 5-10 days for them to read the findings, then if it looked like I had sleep apnea, I would go for a 2nd study, and it would take 5-10 days for those results, then get fitted for a mask & machine, and then be on the machine for 2 weeks before Dr Opie would do the surgery.
The earliest sleep study available was March 31st---HOLD IT ONE MINUTE!!!! -- I did not want wait this long, as I was hoping to have my surgery in April 2006. At this rate I wouldn't have surgery until sometime in June/July -- UNACCEPTABLE.
I asked the scheduler if I could have the sleep study done anywhere my insurance would pay for, and they said it would have to be up to Dr Opie, but they didn’t see a problem with me going somewhere else. I then went over to Dr Opie's office and talked with the scheduler there, and they were fine with me going where ever I needed to, just as long as the sleep results were sent back to them.
I called my insurance company, and they told me several companies are authorized by them to do sleep studies, but my doctor would have to refer me to them. I called SOMNI-TECH and asked them if they had any openings--it didn’t care which facility in town--the sooner the better. They had one available for the next evening, so I called the pulmonary office, and had the scheduler fax all the paperwork to the sleep study center, and my appointment was set up.
Discovered that Dr Opie is only seeing GBS patients 1 day a month -- this includes both initial/final consults & follow up patients. I can't even get on the scheduled for a final consult until all of my tests are received, and then it depends when Dr Opie has an opening. This is causing me to have to wait until March to have my final consult, and possibly pushing my surgery date into May--which of course depends on how far Dr Opie's surgery schedule is booked by the time I have my final consultation. VERY AGGREVATING!!!!! I know we need to have patience, but mine is wearing thin at this point.
02/21/2006 -- I attended the 4 hour required Pre-Op Class at the hospital in the morning, and completed my Sleep study overnight at Somni-Tech. They put lots of wires with heavy glue in my hair, and monitored me for2 hours from 10p-12a. Then because I was having sleep apnea situations, they put me on a CPAP machine at Midnight-6am. They sent the results to the Pulmonary Dr.
I had to pay out-of-pocket $150.
Afternoon 02/23/2006 -- Had my regular Dr's Nurse run an EKG on me, and she said it looked normal. My insurance paid for this appointment, no co-pay.
Night of 02/23/2006 -- Attended the sleep study at Somni-Tech. My insurance paid for this appointment, except for $15 co-pay.
Week of Feb 27th 2006 - Attended water aerobics 4 times this week, but also did weight training on one of the days.
02/27/2006 -- The Pulmonary Dr's scheduler called me with the results of my sleep study, and it showed that I averaged about 37 episodes per hour (I didn’t stop breathing, but had shallow breathing and my oxygen level went down to 77%). The scheduler would contact my insurance company and send a prescription for a CPAP machine & mask for me to start using immediately.
02/28/2006 -- Had my 2nd meeting with the Psych Dr. We talked in great detail about the surgery and what my emotions might be. My insurance paid for this appointment, no co-pay.
03/02/2006 -- Fitted with CPAP and mask, and started the CPAP machine Sunday evening. My insurance paid for this appointment, except for $15 co-pay.
Week of March 6th 2006 - Attended water aerobics 3 times this week.
Week of March 13th 2006 - Attended water aerobics once this week.
03/13/2006 -- Sore Throat started late afternoon, and continued for 3 days, then turned into both head cold & chest cold. I stopped using the CPAP when I couldn't breathe out of my nose.
Week of March 20th 2006 - Attended water aerobics twice this week.
03/20/2006 -- Blood work {CBC, CMP, T3, T4, TSH, A1C} taken for required pre-test, and I still have the head & chest colds. I have gained 15 pounds since my visit with Dr. Opie. My insurance paid for this appointment, no co-pay.
03/21/2006 -- Cold sore started forming on my upper lip. I don't want to contaminate my CPAP, so I still can't use it.
03/22/06/2006 -- Fever blister started forming just under my nose. Still can't use my CPAP.
Final Consultation!
03/24/2006 -- FINAL consultation with Dr Opie today!
I was set up with a surgery date of APRIL 17th 2006. Had to pre-pay $5,000 out-of-pocket at this time.
I left Dr Opie's office and called my CU bank to let them know when I needed the money, and was told that they would only loan me 20% of my income! What a crock! That is not what they told me back in January. So they said they would see if an exception could be made, and they would let me know next week. Guess I will be making the rounds at some banks online and around town, but I will wait until next week to see if my CU will loan it to me.
Week of March 27th 2006 - Attended water aerobics three times this week.
03/28/2006 -- My CU bank has declined me. I called Citi Financial, and they said they could only lone me 10k. I then called the Cornerstone Bank that supports the MISH patients, and they had me fill out an application and would process it.
03/29/2006 -- Had my 3rd meeting with the Psych Dr. We talked about how I was handling the financial aspect and how I was handling the upcoming surgery. I am not scared of the surgery at this point, but just anxious about getting through it (not feeling stress out at all about the actual surgery). My insurance paid for this appointment, except for 20% co-pay.
03/30/2006 -- CORNERSTONE Bank called me and said I was approved for the $15,000. HAPPY, HAPPY, DAY!!!! I can sign the papers April 12th and pick up the cashier's check made out to the hospital.
Week of April 3rd 2006 - Did not attend any water aerobics this week as I worked late every night.
04/04/2006 -- Had my 4th meeting with the Psych Dr. We talked about what the days following the surgery would be like, and he expressed wanting to see me the week following surgery even if he had to make a house call. We kind of ran out of things to talk about around the middle of the session, so I have cancelled next week session, and will contact him after surgery. My insurance paid for this appointment, except for 20% co-pay.
Week of April 10th 2006 - Attended water aerobics twice this week.
04/11/2006 -- Follow up appt with the Pulmonary Dr. He put me on an inhaler & antibiotics for 4 days since I was still coughing up some phlegm from my chest. My insurance paid for this appointment, except for $30 co-pay.
04/12/2006 -- Signed loan papers at CORNERSTONE Bank for surgery, and paid the hospital in advanced.
04/13/2006 -- Hospital registration called to day to set up pre-registration for my surgery on Monday. Kind of feel jittery today with anticipation.
04/14/2006 -- Emptied out my cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer of all foods that I would not be able to eat after the surgery. This left me 6 cups of applesauce, 2 cans of green beans, and some chicken breast in the freezer.
04/15/2006 -- This morning I started my liquid diet today of Carnation Instant Breakfast with skim milk for breakfast & lunch. I was doing good, not getting hungry until I took my aunt to the grocery store around 3:30pm. O'boy did the smells in the grocery store started to make me hungry. I had brought along one of my 2.9 oz Profect protein drinks in a cooler, but had left it outside in the car. It took us two hours to shop, and I soon as I got out to the car I started drinking the protein liquid drink. It did take away the hungers for a little bit. I took my Aunt home, then went home and heated up some liquid broth for dinner, and had a CIB milk drink. I tried not watching TV since all the ads were about food. Went to bed a 9pm as I was bored.
04/16/2006 -- I got up this morning and weighed my self -- I had lost 10 pounds since I weighed myself Thursday. I drank a CIB with skim milk for breakfast & lunch.
Surgery Day has arrived!
04/17/2006 -- The morning of surgery has arrived! I picked up my Aunt and Uncle, drove to the hospital, where my uncle dropped us off at the registration desk, I checked in, the nurse started an IV, which kept stopping. The anesthesia Dr said that they would start a new one in surgery. Walked the hall for 5 minutes, and then was walked to the surgery room about 5 feet away. I climbed up on the table, then I was out like a light.
I only remember a few bits of waking up -- one was that I was in some pain, they gave me morphine (I think) and then had trouble breathing after that. They asked me a question, and I replied benedryl. I also remember leg exercises.
I later woke up in ICU, and my blood pressure was through the roof (195/110) sugar levels were in the high 190's. I was able to have ice chips to moisten my mouth, but did spit it out in a dish. The rest of the day and night they kept taking bp, and insulin levels. At one point they gave me some type of bp medicine, but I started having difficulty breathing and some tightening of the chest. I started crying, which made breathing even more difficult. I eventually asked for some benedryl, which they did gave to me, and I was able to breath easier. I didn’t sleep much that night.
04/18/2006 -- Next morning still in ICU, and I was able to get up and walk down to x-ray for the swallow test. About mid morning they moved me down to the 2nd floor.
Dr Opie came in later and told me that my new pouch had some swelling, and my swallow test was real slow in draining. He said this is not normal. My intake through the mouth was only 5 oz for Tuesday.
I think I have a HIGH TOLERANCE for PAIN. My pain felt like an intense stinging/burning sensation down the left side (like a bad sunburn), and some very sore muscle bruising just under the left breast. The stinging/burning mostly happened if my stomach was turned in the wrong direction while moving in and out of bed. The sore bruised muscle was constant, and especially if I had to cough or sneeze.
04/19/2006 -- I woke up in very high spirits. My intake through the mouth was 17 oz for Wednesday. Dr Opie is keeping me in the hospital for one more day to see how my new pouch will take liquids. Dr Opie mentioned sending me home feeding my old stomach for a week. I started on full liquids at dinnertime.
04/20/2006 -- I woke up in very high spirits. My intake through the mouth was 29 oz for Thursday. The nurse showed me how to feed my old stomach tube. I will have to feed it 5 times a days (8a, 11a, 2p, 5p 8p). I was released from the hospital, and went down to attend Dr Opie's monthly support group meeting. Left there and went to Osco to fill the 3 prescriptions that I had for pain medicine, pepcid ac, and the nausea medicine. Slept at my friend Tara's apartment-two doors down from my place.
04/21/2006 -- My aunt showed up at 6:30am and we walked down to my apartment, where she took care of me all day long--she cooked, cleaned, and brought me everything I asked for or needed. I had to do a clear liquid diet as that was all I had in the house. Tara got off work, and she drove my aunt to the store to get enough creamed soups to last for a week. Slept at my Tara's place during the night. Still feeding the old stomach.
04/22/2006 -- Woke up around 9:30a in good spirits, walked down to my apartment, and started my morning routine. Tara picked me up and we went shopping at Wal-mart to get some more gauze, and a few more items. I did ride one of the motorized carts around the store while we shopped for 2 hours. This did tire me out a bit.
Had Tara drive me to my friend Sue's house that night so she could show me how to clean the old stomach wound/tube (Sue had the GBS back in 2004). Still feeding the old stomach.
Slept at Tara's place during the night, but woke up at 3:00 with my left thigh muscle cramping due to it getting to cold. Tara keeps it around 70 degrees in her apartment. Rubbed the muscles, and covered up, but woke up again at 4:30. I did some leg stretches, and walked down to my place, and went back to sleep. I keep my place at around 80 degrees. Still feeding the old stomach.
04/23/2006 -- A little tired this morning from yesterday. My whole body & mind was off the whole day, and I got a little weepy. The right side of my stomach near the JP tube started feeling the achy bruised muscle pain today. It got a little intense for a little while, and had to take 20cc of pain medicine. I had been taking only 10cc twice a day. Still feeding the old stomach.
04/24/2006 -- Still tired. The Nurse called and said that I don’t have to continue feeding my old stomach.
1 Wk Post-Op
04/25/2006 -- Dr Opie removed the JP tube. It did not hurt, but there was some pressure until it came out -- the length of the line was twice the length inside as it was showing outside -- wow that was lots of line inside me. Dr Opie sent me home with gauze over the hole and said to wash with soap & water.
Complications Arise!
I was doing fine Tuesday morning, and afternoon, but took a nap from 2:30p-4:30p and woke up with LOTS of PAIN on my right side (I had tenderness on the right side since Saturday). I took a walk in the apartment building hallway for 10 minutes, thinking that it would help loosen up the stiff muscles, but it didn't. I took some pain medicine to help out, but it only subsided a little.
I ate dinner, took my chewable vitamins, waited and had 12 oz of water between 6:00p-8:30p. All this time the pain grew more INTENSELY, but I was able to do my breathing exercises through it.
At 10:00p I panicked, called the on-call Dr crying, and left voice mail that I was in lots of pain, my temp was 100.8, and I was scared. I had a cold wet cloth against my face, but couldn't seem to get cooler. I could tell that my blood pressure up as I was starting to have a headache.
The on-call Dr called me and talked to me about having seen Dr Opie today, and he since he had not ordered lots of test during the appointment, this meant he knew I was doing fine. After she calmed me down and said that if my fever got higher than 101.5 to possibly take Tylenol. If my breathing was to get any worse, then go straight to the ER. She also wanted me to do a follow up call with Dr Opie Wednesday morning to see how I was doing.
I called my aunt at 11:00p and told her what I was going through and that I had called the on-call dr. Well my aunt said it was probably the broccoli & cheese creamed soup I had for lunch & dinner that was causing all the pain. Even though we had strained out all the broccoli from the soup, the broccoli nutrients are still in the soup, and may have caused me to have gas that is keeping me from drinking much. - I had never had any problems with broccoli gas before in old life. I remembered that I had not taken my 2nd pepcid AC for the day, and took one.
My aunt and I talked for about one hour - she calmed me down some more, and we discussed all the other creamed soups I had bought -- cream chicken, cream chicken & mushroom, broccoli & cheese, clam chowder, cream potato, golden mushroom. My aunt said that mushrooms are hard for her to digest. We decided that I needed to go back to just the cream of chicken and cream of potato as this is what I had in the hospital, and know that my new pouch has accepted this. The only thing I could do was try to keep burping and passing gas until it went away -- very painful, but I have learned my lesson.
04/26/2006 -- MIDNIGHT and my temp is 102 degrees. I took an aspirin, as I couldn’t find any tylenol. 1:00a temp has come down to 100.8 degrees. Still very gassy and can only swallow a few sips them burp up air.
7:00am -- my temp is 99.9 but I am very hot, and sweaty. My aunt gives me ice chips to suck on every 15-20 minutes.
8:30am -- I call Nurse Karen and left a voice mail with all that has happened over night. My temp is back up to 100.8. I did finally have a very solid BM, and the pain on the right side has subsided down to very little pain.
9:00am -- Nurse Karen called my back and told me to stop all intakes by mouth. Dr Opie wanted to see me at 1:30p but I would need to stop and have a CBC done before to check the white blood cell counts.
12:15pm -- We arrived at the Hospital registration, I walked to the blood lab, and just about fell over--I was so dizzy. Got a wheel chair, had the CBC drawn, and they wheeled me over to Dr Opie's office at 1:30p. Sat in the waiting room about 20 minutes and then asked if I could lay down somewhere, as I felt I was about to black out.
3:00p -- Still waiting for Dr Opie to show up as he was on a case outside the office.
4:00p -- Readmitted to the hospital due to high fever and elevated white counts. The nurse had told me to not take anything in by mouth from 9am, so by the time they put in an IV (8p), I was so dehydrated my veins kept blowing out. A CAT scan was ran on my abdomen, but they couldn't find any leaks in the old or new plumbing. They don't know what happened from the time I saw Dr Opie on Tuesday when he pulled the JP tube to the time my temp got up to 102 degrees.
I'd say that the broccoli/cheese soup gassed me up so bad that it started the dehydration. Also the pain caused my blood pressure to go up, thus my body temp to rise. Thus laying a bed of warmth for any and all bacteria/viruses to grow, causing my white blood cell count to rise. But since I am not a doctor, this is just my opinion.
Even though they did not find any leaks, they are going to treat me as if I did have a leak. Letting my body heal itself, taking nothing by mouth, and doing feedings in my old stomach every 3-4 hours.
04/27/2006 -- I saw Dr Opie at 8am, and at 2:00p a PIC line was put in my arm (an iv put in by the radiology team) that goes into by body about 15 inches to a bigger vein/artery by my neck. I have to go back daily to get antibiotics/liquid IV. The social worker or nutritionist was working to set this up and said she would talk to my nurse.
7:00 -- Left the hospital very frustrated. -- Dr Opie had left instructions for 125 mg of nutrient, every 3 hours -- but we had been doing 100mg every 4 hours in hospital.
The nutritionist did not contact my dr/nurse, and wrote her instructions at the very bottom of my chart, and the quantity of water to feed my tube it very large, where apparently Dr Davoren did not see it to question or comment on it.
Dr Davoren came in about 6:30, we talked for a few minutes, I asked about what could have caused this setback, and they are not sure. I asked if I was going home, and he said let me see, walked out, and never came back in.
The Nurse was not able to get a hold of Dr Davoren -- he disappeared so fast. SO I WENT HOME WITH NO CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO DO -- So I just followed Dr Opie's orders. This left me concerned that I would become dehydrated again, and still didn't know what time my PIC line outpatient visits occur?
04/28/2006 -- Called the Hospital Ambulatory Services department in the outpatient's office and set up 5 appointments for my daily antibiotic IV sessions. Called Dr Opie's office and confirmed that I was to follow his orders.
2 Wks Post-Op
05/02/2006 -- My first weigh in, and I lost 17 pounds since surgery. Received the last of 5 outpatient antibiotic IV sessions today. Met with Dr Opie. He has taken me off of the feeding tube and started me on clear liquid diet again.
Oops!
05/03/2006 3:00am -- While changing the dressing on my old stomach tube, I accidentally cut the bottom off. I called the on-call dr, and Dr Opie returned my page. He had me drain it, and push it in as far as it would go. We just have to hope that the drain is in the stomach and that it has not popped out. He wants to see me at 3:30pm today.
05/03/2006 15:30 -- Dr Opie was able to take the cut tube out and put in a new one back into the old stomach. He said I get the "Bone Head" Award for the week. He put me on full liquid diet and will see me in a week.
05/05/2006 -- Nurse Karen removed the PIC line from my arm.
3 Wks Post-Op
05/09/2006 -- My second weigh in, and I have lost 9 more pounds. Dr Opie removed the tube from my old stomach. He also said that I should start on pureed foods and by the end of 4 weeks should be able to eat 3 meals, no snacks and get in all my protein.
1st Month Anniversary
05/17/06 - One Month post-op and I now weigh 309 lbs with a total weight loss of 42 lbs!
05/30/06 -- Today was my first time back doing water aerobics since my surgery.
05/31/06 -- I bought and closed on a new house.
06/01/06 -- Lifted 2 heavy boxes yesterday, and I woke up this morning with my belly button leaking a very small trace of blood - not enough to get on my clothes or bedding.
06/02/06 -- I haven't done any more water aerobics or lift anything heavy, but I was still getting trace amounts of blood seeping out of BB. I did call Nurse Karen and let her know, but since I had an appt to see Dr Opie next Tuesday, I told her I would just monitor, and if it got worse I would call again.
6 Wks Follow Up
06/06/06 -- I saw Dr Opie today, he said that my BB was not used during surgery, and he was surprised to hear I had some seepage. So he took a look at it, and said I had some kind of fungus growing and that was probably what I was seeing draining out. So I have to put Lotrium ointment on it (jock itch cream -- lol!), and to keep it dry. Dr Opie did tell me to minimize the heavy lifting since I am only 6 weeks out. Last night I packed 3 boxes, but put the empty box where it was to be after it was packed, and then loaded the books into it -- that way I didn’t do any heavy lifting.
I still don’t have any problems eating food - not sure that this is a good sign -- may cause me to eat too much.
I have only lost 10 lbs since the support group meeting -- not a good sign. I need to step up and do more walking and water aerobics. Just need to get back in the rhythm of going to the gym again.
I go back in 4 months to see Dr Opie. He did stress that this is the time to not eat if I am not hungry, and to take advantage of exercise to get a lot of weight off.
So starting tonight, I am going to my water aerobics Tues & Thurs, then go home and continue packing my house belongings.
Then on Mon & Wed - walk the treadmill for 30 minutes (1 mile) with weight training to follow. Let’s see if I can do this.
06/16/06 -- Well today was moving day at home and at work. I missed the support meeting last night, because I still had quite a bit to finish packing. It took the movers 5 hours to complete the home move.
2nd Month Anniversary
06/17/06 -- Two months post-op and I now weight 295 - with a total weight loss of 56 lbs.
06/24/06 -- I hurt my left side ribs (front to shoulder blade) moving the washer around while trying to hook up the water supply. Anytime my left breast moves, the pain intensifies. As long as I smash it to my chest, it doesn’t hurt too much.
06/25/06 -- Cleaned the Kitchen & appliances in the old apartment, and ribs started to hurt more intensely.
06/30/06 -- Saw one of the dr's at my primary dr office, he said I bruised the nerve in the ribs? I told him that I could not take any anti-inflammatory meds, so he prescribed me muscle relaxers to take twice a day for 10 days.
07/04/06 -- My Mom, Brother, sister, and nieces & nephews went to Oceans of Fun & Worlds of fun for entire day. Walking still aggravated my ribs if I walked to fast. Swimming didn’t bother it to much.
07/12/06 -- My rib has been feeling better lately, so I tried doing water aerobics today. About 20 minutes into the session, my ribs started hurting again, so I quit doing the jumping and moving around so much, and just did the arm movements. About 40 minutes into the session, I had to quit as it started getting unbearable. Guess I will have to wait a bit more before doing the water aerobics again.
07/13/06 -- Walked 1 mile in about 30 minutes on the gym's treadmill, and burned 200 calories.
Week of Jul 17th 2006 – Mon-Wed, each day I walked 1 mile in about 30 minutes, and burned 200 calories. Thursday, I walked the same distance, but only burned 175 calories.
3rd Month Anniversary
07/20/06 -- Three months post-op and I now weight 280 lbs, with a total weight loss of 71 lbs.
Week of Jul 24th 2006 -- Mon, Wed - both days I walked 1.4 miles in 35 minutes and burned 210 calories.
Week of Jul 31st 2006 -- Mon, Wed - both days I walked 1.5 miles in 35 minutes and burned 210 calories.
Week of Aug 7th 2006 -- Tues, Wed, and Thurs - each day I walked 1.5 miles in 35 minutes and burned 210 calories.
08/11/06 - Friday night I became sick with head cold. This is the first time since surgery that I have gotten a cold. Late Monday I stared getting a chest cold, and I am trying to keep it from getting to bad. Missed work Monday & Tuesday because the Sudafed & Mucinex makes me really drowsy & discombobulated. I was not able to exercise Monday or Tuesday due to being sick.
Week of Aug 14th 2006 -- Wed, Thurs - both days I walked 1.5 miles in 35 minutes and burned 210 calories.
4th Month Anniversary
08/17/06 -- Four months post-op and I now weight 272 lbs, with a total weight loss of 79 lbs.
09/08/06 -- I have been feeling really depressed for the past 2 weeks, I had to restart up my Welbutrin meds. I did not work out this week.
5th Month Anniversary
09/17/06 -- Five months post-op and I now weight 258 lbs, with a total weight loss of 93 lbs.
09/22/06 -- Had blood work drawn today in preparation for next months 6 month check up with Dr Opie. WOW! they about drain my veins dry-they pulled 7 vials of blood. Thankfully I didnt get dizzy from lack of blood.
6th Month Anniversary
Blood work came back really good.
2007 Journey
Feb-March 2007 -- I HAVE SO MUCH MORE ENERGY THAN I KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH. I have been keeping busy doing a CLEAN-SWEEP for one friend's house. I helped one of my blind friends pack up their apartment, moved them, and unpacked in their new home. .
1 Year Anniversary ! ! ! ! !04/27/07 - One year & 10 days post-op -- I saw Dr Opie today. I now weight 201 lbs, with a total weight loss of 150 lbs.
April-May 2007 -- One of my friends bought a new house, and I painted both bedrooms, the living room, and dining room. I helped her pack her old apartment, moved her, unpack the new house, install curtain rods, hang the curtains up, and various other items on the walls. Some friends and I attended the Martina McBride opening concert show in KC, and we had a blast. We have bought tickets to attend concerts once a month so far.
All this activity has helped me loose weight. Otherwise I probably would have been sitting at home on the couch trying to eat my way back to my original weight. I have been having lots of food cravings -- everytime I smell aromas, or watch tv with food commercials, I want to eat something. So I try not to watch tv or be at home.
05/05/07 10:30a -- I had to euthenize my female cat Bonnie, that I got when she was 8 weeks old back in 1992. She just turned 15, on April 1st. There was a golf ball size mass in her stomach, which turned out to be cancer. The cancer had already spread to her pancrease, small intestine, and the opening from the small intestine to large intestine was almost totally closed off.
I left work at 11:30a and took my male cat Smokey to the vet's office, so we could say our good byes. I held Bonnie in my arms and cuddled one last time, and her fur was still soft and silky--I had thought she would be stiff. I had forgotten that she would be leaking bodily fluids, and had to go home and change clothes before going back to work.
I am REALLY, REALLY SAD & DEPRESSED. It is taking me some time to get out of this mood, and I already miss her. Bonnie was my cuddle cat, we would always cuddle when we went to bed, and when I was sad. Smokey is missing her too!
2010 Journey - I started my weight gain at 15 months after surger.
I am now 50 months post surgery, and have re-gained 89 pounds as of Feb 22, 2010.
Starting Fat Tuesday week Feb 22, I started eating healty with 1200 calorie, 120g carb, 75g protein, 35g fat each day.
I did NOT think of it as a diet, but as a new way to eat. I did not LIE TO MYSELF or the food diary. Everything that went into my mouth was put in the diary spreadsheet.
The first week was hard and I ended the week with 6612 calories over my limit, 853 carbs over limit, 165 protein over limit, and 437 fat over limits.
The 2nd week was better, but still over my limits.
4257 calories over, 684g carbs over, 81g protein over, and 216g fats over.
The 3rd week was better, but still over my limits.
3928 calories over, 744g Carbs over, 54g Protein over, 282g fats over.
Week 4 was FANTASTIC
380 calories over, 260g carbs over, BUT 8g protein under, and 17g fats under
Week 5 was GREAT also, but not for carbs or protein.
1159 carlories UNDER, 125g carbs over, 53g protein under, 72g fat under.
As of MARCH 21, 2010 -- I have lost 14 pound in the last month! !
So I am taking it one day at a time.
I have been making sure that I plan my meals on the weekends. My friend is teaching me to cook health and have lots of veggies to snack on, instead of chips or candy.
I carry carrots and celery every where so that I can munch on those between meals. --- Each bag I carry has already been logged in for that days nutritional data, and is part of my limit.
---- to be continued ---
