Dgrunt
Over the hump!!
Mar 13, 2008
My stay was good with the execption of one nurse who couldn't remember her head from her ass! But all the other nurse's were GREAT.
So I'll run it down for all of you Kaiser Richmond folks. I was scheduled for surgery at 1230. I had to check in at 1100 am.
Note: bring a magazine to read while you get preped for surgery and wait to go in to the surgery room.
I was poked and preped and waited for an hour in the recovery room. Great nurses in the Recovery Room. Greg was cool as hell and made everyone that came throught feel as welcome as hell.
You will repeat your name and surgery about 10 different times to the same people. It's a precaution measure so they don't operate on the wrong person.
Anyways, 1 pm rolled around and I was walked into the surgery room. It was funny because my anesthesiologist told me that I did not look like someone that needed gastric bypass surgery. I told him that I had lost 50 lbs. already to prepare for the surgery. But yeah, I need it.
I walked into the surgery room and layed down on the table. I remember that I could not stop smiling because I was excited to finally get this done. And that's about that last thing I remember. I was out cold.
I woke up in recovery just as they were wheeling me out of recovery and remember them telling me that I did good. At least that was my first recollection. I was lucky enough to have roomed with the only other GBS patient from that day. He did alot better with the pain than I did. I had to fight off the nausea pretty good. It wasn't tell around 1pm the next day that I felt good to go. Up until then I didn't feel like doing shit!! I didn't even feel like watching tv. I just layed there and slept. And walked.
They brought broth for dinner the first night and that didn't go well. I just stayed with ice. The next day the broth went down ok and I was able to eat 1/4 of the jello. But I had a hard time with it because I felt so full and blowed already. Just part of the surgery and it to passed.
I am on day three and already feeling like a totally new person!! Now if I could only heal enough to hit the gym and exercise!! I'm ready to go!!
Well enough for now, I need to go walk. Oh yeah, WALK, WALK, WALK WALK, WALK AND WALK SOME MORE!!! That is NO lie, it really makes a difference!!
Enough for now, later.
Feb. Update
Feb 15, 2008
I will have my surgery on March 11, 2008!
The last two weeks have been pretty painful though. I had the flu and also strained my back. So it has been pretty rough!! I am finally feeling better. I back now just feels like I have a bad bruise, but I'm able to move pretty freely now. I still have a hard time lifting anything heavy though. Another week or two and I'll be 100%. Just in time for surgery!!!
I have my pre-op class on Feb 20th and then on to surgery!!!!
Any ways, I'll check back in later. Later.
Jan. 08 Update
Jan 22, 2008
It's been awhile and an update is over due.
I had my Dr. consult appt. on Dec. 10th. That went very well. Dr. Im told me I was a good canidiante for RNY surgery and that I have made my goal weight that he would set for me. My 10% goal lbs. would have been 272 and I was at 264, so Dr. Im set my goal at 265. Since I was there already I didn't really care, but it would have been nice to have a couple of pounds of breathing room on the set goal weight. Oh well. Dr. Im said since I was under my goal that he wanted to try to get me into the Psych appt as soon as possible. I was happy to hear that. If I would have had my Psych completed at that point, he was going to set me up with the case manager that afternoon. How sweet would that have been!! No such luck though.
I was set up to have my Psych on Jan 7th, but they were able to get me in on Jan 2nd. I was first offered Dec. 27th, but I couldn't have made that appt. So Dec 31 came and I received a message that my Jan 2nd appt was being cancelled! @#$%$#. 
And the next appt they could get me into for my psych was on Jan 15th. Oh well, that didn't work out as I would have hoped! (I had the appt at this point, so that is why I can sound so civil about it now. at the time I was NOT happy.)
I had my Psych on Jan 15th. It went well. She basically thought that I was doing well and knew what I was getting into and what I was doing. She had a couple of questions regarding the questionairre that I had filled out. They basically were misunderstanding/interpretation (sp?) of the question.
I got set up with a case manager appt at the end of my psych appt. Which is on Feb 4th. I should find out about getting a surgery date at that time!!
So weight wise, I have been doing pretty good. I am down to 256. I was pretty surprised.
I will post again after Feb. 4th. Take care all and stay the course!!!
Update....
Dec 05, 2007
December. X-mas. What a time of year!
I had my 5 hour orientation class at Richmond, CA on Tuesday, 12/4. I really walked out of the class in amazement. The class had around 30 people in it, and half had no idea was GB surgery was about or what it envolved. WTF, OVER!!! 
You are looking into a MAJOR body altering, life altering event and you don't do ANY homework on the subject before you sign up for the program?!?!?!?!? Blows my mind away. Unbelieveable!!
To me, most of what was discussed in the class was a review. I had already knew a lot of it. Some people were shocked to hear they would not be able to drink alcohol every again, or smoke or drink soda or eat corn or drink caffeine. Seriously, they were shocked! 
Only a little under half of the class had started an exercise program. How do these people think they are going to lose weight? The surgery its self is not going to work long term, you have to change!! That's why we are here, because what we have done in the past is what got us here in the first place!
If you are new to this whole process than yes I can understand where you might be shocked at this information. But, this is a point in the process where it has been 4 to 6 or more months from being referred by a PCP. At this point one should have done some sort of homework on this subject! Spoke to someone who has had the surgery, attended a support group or two or three, researched the proceedure online, read a book, or talked to a doctor. I do not understand how someone has gotten to this spot in the process and not understand very elementary rules or lifestyle changes that need to be made after (and before) the surgery!!
Any ways, I'm done venting. 
I have my surgeon consult appt. on Dec. 10 with Dr. Im and my Psych. on Jan. 7. So things are moving fast now. It would be nice to have a surgery date by Feb.! More to follow later....
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!
Oct 2007
Oct 23, 2007
A quick note
Aug 27, 2007
That will be something I will look forward too after WLS, taking lots of pictures with my kids doing all sorts of different activities!!!
A side note...
My buddy and partner at work is having his Lap RNY tomorrow, Tue 08-28-07. I want to wish him good fortune and congraduations on his NEW beginning!!!! We'll see you in a couple of days my friend!
First Post
Aug 24, 2007
I received my appointment card from Richmond two weeks later. I have my New Referral Class on Sept. 21, 2007. I cant wait for that to come around so I can get started on my 10% weight loss for surgery and get this new life well under way!
