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I still can't believe I can say I'm "post-op", especially after being officially pre-op for about 3 years!!!!  Really, I still can't believe it!!  A week ago today, I was getting ready for surgery the next morning and taking in liquids only.  Kind of similar to my diet now, hmmmm....  I actually went to my job interview today, the one I as supposed to go 3 days post-op but rescheduled.  I don't why I even thought that going Friday would work out; I'm so glad I rescheduled it for today.  It took all my energy to get all dressed up, do my hair and makeup, all the while sipping my water and making sure I took enough pain medicine to handle the interview without being too loopy or groggy ; ) .  I think it went really well and I was honest with the interviewers about having WLS surgery last Tuesday and apologizing for me not being 100%.  Then I came home and got straight into my jammies, rested and had my protein shake....I'm done for the day... oh yeah, and I have another job interview Wednesday, 04/21, this time with a 1 hour test that I have to study for (medical stuff) - soooo, I think it's time for me to cut back on the pain meds so I can be more alert.  I've read stories here on OH from people who didn't even need their pain meds once they got home from the hospital, but I have needed it at least 3x a day.

Everything at the hospital went smoothly, no complaints from me.  I was nervous and excited all at the same time.  I was weighed before surgery and weighed 221 and 6 days later I am 214. Woohoo!!  Surgery at 8am, out of the OR by 10am and in my room by 11am.  I tried sleeping for a few hours, but after that, there was no resting with all the walking, the meds, the testing, the vital checks, etc.  I couldn't wait to get home to my own bed where I could get some sleep!  

The biggest problem was my blood sugar, which was super high, the first time I've ever tested high.  This was really an AHAH moment for me!!   I had been told a few years ago that I was borderline diabetic and I had already had hypoglycemia from when I was young.  I was never put on meds for the hypoglycemia, I was just old to always dilute my juice, don't eat too much sugar, and eat more often.  I think I put on a lot of weight from all of my hypo-attacks, where I would end up stuffing myself until I felt the attack go away - I just ate the wrong stuff, whatever I could get my hands on.  For some reason, this is something I never followed up on with the docs and the nutritionist, although I think I brought it up and was told that eating more protein and less carbs would help.  For months before surgery I was eating less and exercizing more and having hypo-attacks several times a week and never told my doctor, now I wish I had!  So basically, I could have been diabetic the last few months and not even known it.  I'm glad they caught it, and even more glad that I had the surgery!!  I see my PCP on Thursday, 4/22,  to follow-up with the Diabetes.

The nurses at Kaiser's Fremont Medical Center were all excellent, the entire staff was!!  I feel like sending them a huge gift basket and a card - maybe a card at least!  I would recommend them to anyone and I would and will recommend the VSG surgery I had to anyone who asks me or brings it up with me.  I've told my family and friends, but not a whole lot of people have heard of this surgery, so I'm always happy to explain the difference between all the choices.

Ok, I'm exhausted - done for now - gotta get off the computer and go lay down.

Cher

So I finally got the call yesterday from the Kaiser Bariatric Program and my surgery date is finally scheduled for April 13th, 2010.  I have my pre-op appt. on April 2nd.  I am so excited!! I have been waiting for this for 2 years now, having changed my mind once and then deciding to go for it.  I know that there are many reasons for me being overweight, such as overeating, slow metabolism (possibly caused by medications), and genetics (I've recently been looking at old pictures of my relatives as I go through my mother's boxes of photos).  I did not grow up overweight, it is not something I struggled with as a child or teenager.  However, I was raised on junkfood and it was only time before it would finally catch up with me.  I always enjoyed swimming growing up which I know kept me thin, as well as the dance classes, cheerleading, even jogging for fun.  But there was a lot of emotional stuff going on at home and I found reasons to try and make myself "feel" better with food as I pushed people away. As I later learned that I was going through depression and anxiety (genetic again), it all started to make some sense; as nonsensical as it all was.  Fast forward to the present.  I have been overweight since having my fourth child 13 years ago and I have held on to the weight for the most part the entire time, only fluctuating 20-25 pounds here and there.  I have decided to have the VSG surgery (new for Kaiser) for many reasons.  The decision to have weight loss surgery initially was because I am plagued with back pain and arch pain in my left foot, which I have dealt with for many years.  I also have asthma. This makes is hard to lose weight with heavy exercising.  I watch The Biggest Loser show and envy the groups of people who come on the show and are able to work their asses off and lose tons of weight.  Could I handle the physical and mental pressure?  Probably not.  Do I wish I could?  Definitely!! Will I make the effort to exercise?  I can and I do; I ride my recumbant bike as often as I can and when I do, I bike around 15-20 miles.  I still have back pain, mostly sciatic pain which is literally a pain in the ass.  I also broke my tailbone from a fall many years ago which has caused me grief ever since.
     I am choosing to have VSG, vertical-sleeve gastrectomy, because it is newer and I feel much safer than the other surgery options available to me, the Roux-en-Y (gastric bypass) and the Lap Band.  Lots of reading and researching has lead me to this decision.  The VSG works because it is a "restrictive" surgery, whereas the gastric bypass works not only by restrictive measures, but "malabsorptive" measures as well.  Already having vitamin deficiency issues (Vit b12, Vit D), I would not want to make it even worse.  Do I think I would be able to lose 70-100 pounds without the surgery? Definitely not. Do I think I'll be successful with surgery?  Very much so, especially with all the knowledge I have attained and knowing what to do and what NOT to do, as I have read many people's journey summaries and can appreciate all the honest advice they have given.  For now, I will spend the next month preparing even further, to make sure that I am totally ready for what I am about to go through, at least as ready as I possibly can be :)

Cheryl

I had my chest x-ray done that Dr Hahn prescribed last week, so soon now I should find out if and when I will be able to have surgery scheduled for me.  I am still wanting to the get the sleeve done and spending more and more time reading up on it, trying to find the very latest news and info available.  Hoping to get a callback this week about a surgery date and getting so excited.......

 I went today for my final psych appt. which went well and when I weighed in, I was at 229 - the goal Dr. Hahn gave me for
pre-surgery.  I have also completed my necessary labs, so now I'm on the waitlist for surgery, which could be anywhere between a few weeks to a few months.  I have decided on the sleeve gastrectomy, and still plan on reading as much as I can on the subject.  I'm very excited and can't wait!!

 I've had my consultation with Dr. Hahn and the nutritionist and now have 3 pounds more to go.  I had to have a follow-up test and CT scan done, which I've completed.  So I thought, "oh, it will be so easy to lose 3 pounds, I can do it in a week".  So what happens??? On Thanksgiving, too???  I got up in the night to go the bathroom, and on my way out I slipped on some water on the floor outside the shower stall and fell in, taking all my weight on my hip and thigh.  I also got a concussion on my right temple.  So I have a black eye, migraine, and a football size hematoma on my hip and thigh that is all purple and swollen still.  oh, and I sprained by thumb. So my workout of tearing up my recumbant bike is impossible for now as I can barely walk.  I swear it's all about the exercise.  I don't lose any weight if I don't exercise.  So now I need to focus on calories, which I can do.  Dr Hahn. asked me if I was interested in the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, and I said yes, and he said think about it before we schedule the surgery.  I need to to make sure I read everything I can and compare it to gastric bypass.  

 Orientation was just a few days ago.  I weighed in at 234, and now, a few days later, have dropped four more pounds and am 230 pounds.  I called Kaiser today because I'm not really sure what my "official" original weight is that they have recorded for me, and I left a message to call me back.  They said if you are 6 pounds from goal weight to give them a call and then they can schedule the psych appt.  I still need to consult, which I went to over a year ago the first time around in the program.  I'm wondering if I reach my goal weight for surgery soon, how soon they will schedule me.  
    I am now officially addicted to exercise.  I wake up and need it like coffee.  They say when you do something a certain number of times it becomes a habit.  Well it has become a habit.  I plan my day around it.  I make sure it comes first.  I simply jump on my recumbant bike, do 20 miles, then floor exercises and stretching, and every other day, lift weights for upper body strength.  I also walk more, eat less, drink more water and it's getting easier everyday!  I attended a support group last Friday night that had a great speaker who dealt with body image issues  It made me spend a lot of time thinking about what I heard said.

Got to go now,

Cher

 I finally received my acceptance letter yesterday into the Bariatric Program and have my Orientation October 25th.  From the time my doctor submitted my referral (about 2-3 months ago), I have gone from 256 to 236.  I bought a recumbant bike off of Craigslist and ride it everyday for 60 minutes; usually 16 to 17 miles.  I also started lifting 3 lb. weights 3x a week, doing sit-ups, leg lifts, butt lifts, stretching.  I am trying to lose 10 lbs. in 3 weeks, and I WILL do it, as long as I keep exercising and eating healthy.

 So I gave up and dropped out of the program.  I was busy being a Full-Time student and mom and I think mostly, I just chickened out.  But I called my PCP last week and told him I wanted to be referred back into the Bariatric Program.  Over this last year, I have not dropped a pound, even though I ate much better and tool walks all over my campus.  I had foot surgery last summer for my Plantar Fasciitis, which worked, but now hurts again.  I've realized that diet and exercise alone aren't working, even when  I try really hard.  I think a lot of it is genetics and metabolism issues.  I would walk so much more if it wasn't for my asthma and sore feet (and shin splints).  I am now really excited about having the surgery and am kicking myself for not staying in the program, because I know I would have had the surgery by now.  I have done so much research, and I know from experience that obesity is not fun, nor is it comfortable, it is hard to get up from sitting, hard to walk, hard to breathe, have no energy; the list could go on.  I would trade these obesity related problems for the work it would take to have surgery and make some lifestyle changes to have the best outcome.  Because with surgery, I can look forward to doing the things I have been longing so much to do - go for long walks, whether at the local park, the amusement park to ride on the cool rides, play more with my kids, go swimming at the beach wearing an actual bathing suit, wear a tank top and shorts, wear a smaller size bra hopefully, buy shoes that aren't extra wide.  I am now awaiting approval back in to the program and even though it may take awhile, I am working on losing the 10% of my body weight that they will require (that means 25 lbs to lose, again!).

This week was my first week in the process of changing my life.  I met with the nutritionist, who is setting up a referral for my doctor to the Kaiser surgery center.  We talked about changes to be made in my eating habits and food choices, exercise, surgery.  I was told that Kaiser does both the Roux-en-y surgery as well as the Lap-Band procedure, and that the decision for either one would be made by the surgeon and discussed with me closer to surgery time.  I was told the whole process could take up to a YEAR before I would get the surgery, and that was if I was accepted into the program.  I go to an overview class in one month, a pre-requesite to starting the whole process, where they go over everything with me and a group of others, too.  I've decided to do as much research as possible until the meeting.  These are some of the steps I've taken; I joined the YMCA this week, and have gone once so far (30 minutes on the bike, will swim for 30 tomorrow and then alternate everyday), I bought the book "Syndrome X", by the author with the last name Reaven, who is a professor at Stanford University and discovered this syndrome, and from what I've read so far, he seems to make a lot of sense, and he explains how insulin resistance occurs and why.  Also, I went out, bought some workout clothes and just recently bought some good athletic shoes, Etonics.  I now am focusing on eating less sugar, I'm not really sure what I can eat and can't, so I have a lot more research to do.  Was told I needed to give up my coffee, and I LOVE my coffee, not sure why, but I'm sure in my research I will find out, ugh!  That's all for now.  My plans are to exercise at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days this coming week, and to start eating healthier and LESS.