Jenn R.
02-06-04 I have been thinking about gastric bypass for 2 years. It wasn't until last year that I decided to make my move. I told my husband and my family and got very poor feedback. No one was very enthusiastic. Over the last year I have researched this operation as much as possible. I have explained to my family about the health benefits for me. Over the last year, most everyone has become very supportive. My husband especially. I guess everyone has to go through stages when dealing with something like this. Last August I met w/ Dr. Kumar. I was really excited about having my surgery. I had United Health Care at the time. They approved me after one letter with no questions asked. As my surgery date grew closer, I FREAKED OUT! I called it all off. Now, as of the first of the year, I have BCBS Anthem. I changed my mind and I am really ready this time. I got a letter from BCBS that said that they wanted a psyche eval. and for me to visit a nutritionist. Friday I visited w/psych Dr. who thought that I will be a great candidate for this procedure. This coming week I will be meeting a nutritionist. I will post more then.
02-21-04 I have finished my psyche eval 2 weeks ago, and my nutritionist visit one week ago. Both went fine. I am still waiting for the paperwork to go to Dr. Kumar's office so it can be forwarded to my insurance. Still waiting...and waiting. 03-30-04 Still waiting for insurance approval. This really sucks. My friends keep asking me, "What's going on w/ your surgery?", and I have to explain why this is such a long decision from the insurance. Waiting, and still waiting.
04-20-04 Last night when I came home from work, there was an envelope waiting for me on the kitchen table. It was from my insurance (BCBS Anthem). I AM APPROVED!!! I got a little tear in my eye and also a nervous feeling in my stomach. My life will change for ever. I only trust a few people in my life with the knowledge of my surgery, so I cannot wait to tell them. I don't tell everyone, I fear the jokes and the critisism that can come along with my decision. The people who know, are the people that bring me comfort w/ my decision. I guess I am choosing my support team wisely. I will call my Dr.'s office in an hour to hopefully schedule my surgery. I can't believe that the time has come for this! WOW! My surgery will be 5-20-04. The days seem to be going a littler quicker for me. When I was waiting for my approval letter, every day seemed like forever. Now that I have my date, I feel more at ease and the days seem smooth. I must be going through some kind of a phase. I am scared, but content with my decision. I keep thinking about all of my new possibilities! 1. Walking up the stairs without my knees hurting, and being a little winded. 2. Getting up in the morning with energy instead of hoping for the day to be over so I can go back to sleep. 3. Going to waterparks!...and looking good too! 4. Having my husband/kids hug me and reach around me. 5. I'll get to tie my shoes without feeling fat getting in the way. 6. I can't wait to buy clothes in a misses size. 7. I can't wait to show my husband the beautiful new "me". Oh the list could go on... As of now, I feel comfortable. I sure am eating a lot of junk food though. Hmmm, must be trying to get that last fix.
04-29-04 I have begun my search for protien supplements. I went to GNC and was overwhelmed by all of the products. I also bought a robe for the hospital/home. I am just getting myself prepared little by little. Time is just flying. I can't believe it!
05-06-04 I feel great lately. I feel very content with my decision to have this surgery. My days are flying by. I keep cleaning my house making sure everything is tidy. I got a call today from the hospital to arrange some pre op. tests. Tomorrow will be a phone survey, and next Wed. will be labs, EKG, and chest x-ray. I am really counting down my days. I am trying to cut caffeine out of my diet. Horrible. Horrible. I am having several headaches per day. I am trying to take little sips of soda here and there to keep the headaches from getting too bad. Please pray for me and my family during this time.
05-08-04 Someone asked me yesterday if I was still going ahead with this stupid surgery. If she only knew what the benefits of this surgery are, she would keep her yap shut. She's the stupid one, not the surgery. She makes it very clear that she opposes what I am doing, and she tells me that if I can't lose weight now, how am I going to do it after the surgery? She doesn't even have a clue.
05-11-04 I have been trying to cut Diet Coke out of my diet for about a week and a half. I have been completely miserable. I was driving myself crazy. On Mother's Day, I gave in. I drank a big glass of Diet Coke, and felt absolutely wonderful. I have been having one per day since then and I seem to be feeling myself again. I also had my first taste of a protein drink tonight, just to see what all the fuss is about, and it tasted like CRAP! Ugghh. Awful. I am now researching other ways to get my protein in. I know that there is a variety to choose from, but I am not looking forward to my next taste test. Ugghh, that was absolutely disgusting. My EKG and chest Xray are tomorrow. Talk later!
05-16-04 Tomorrow is my last day at work. It is getting harder to say good bye to my very close friends at work. I will miss them a lot! Still doing one can of Diet Coke/day to keep the headaches away! Starting to pack my bag for the hospital! Getting closer to my big day!!! 05-19-04 Tomorrow is my big day! I have to be at the hospital at 5:30, and surgery is at 7:30. I met w/ Dr. Kumar yesterday. He is so calm and easy going. He will be taking my gallbladder out since I had "sludge" in it when I was pregnant w/ second child. So...How exciting this is. I feel very comfortable with everything. I know this is something I want very bad. I pray that I continue to be healthy through this process. God Bless. 'Till we meet again.
POST-OP
Post-op 05-23-04 I cannot believe that I had this done! I came home late last night...and oh it felt good to be home. I will post more when I feel like typing more.
05-24-04 O.K. Here's how everything went. I went for my surg. Thurs morn. (scared out of my mind). The anesthesiologist tried to put an artery line in to keep tract of my blood pressure, but it wouldn't go in right. That really hurt! After I was asleep, they put it in the other wrist. When I awoke, my husband told me that they took my appendix and gallbladder out too. The morphine pump was enough to make the pain manageable. They told me that I had to go to the bathroom before 4:30 pm or I would have a cath. put in. So...off I went to the bathroom. To my suprise, I had no cath. coming out after surg, no drains, tubes, art. line. How wonderful is this. Almost seemed too easy. I started taking walks by the next morning. My intake the first day was clear liquids. Second day started full liquids, which is where I am today. The nurse did not give me my b/p med the next morn. because my b/p was low. I still have not taken it as of today. Hurray! I have heard that you are not supposed to stop b/p med abruptly, but they were unable to give it to me because my b/p was only 104-70, or something like that, and they did not want it to get much lower. So, as of today, one med. gone. Please email me if you have any questions about my journey so far! I hope I stay healthy. I hope God keeps me on this earth for a very long time. I think my work here won't be done for 70 more years, or so. I have A LOT of work to do here!!!
05-25 Developing a lump today in my upper arm. I am going to my family Dr. since my Surgeon's office didn't feel that it was necessary to come in. I would feel better if someone confirmed what this thing is. Feeling pretty good today though! Slept exceptionally well, and I put makeup on today. Yeah, good day.
05-31 Happy Memorial Day! I really feel fine. I seem to tire easily, but other than that, I feel exquisite(I got that line from my 4 year old!). My lump on my arm went away. I developed constipation though. Really bad constipation. I even went to the hospital for it. Turns out that i just needed 2 suppositories, magnesium citrate, M.O.M., and stool softeners. Not to bad for a load of crap...if you know what I mean. LOL. I do believe that I have lost 10-11 lbs. I go to the Dr. tomorrow, and I am hoping he lets me have soft foods. I really have been snacking a little along the way. I eat crackers, I lick peanut butter, anything I can get down without much chewing. The crackers dissolve in my mouth. I feel real happy with what I have done. Sometimes my husband makes little comments here and there that irritate me, but I think he'll make different comments to me when I am a size 8. He's a sassy guy sometimes. My watch dangles a little from my wrist...now that's a cool feeling! God, keep us safe.
06-01 I visited Dr. Kumar today, and I am able to advance to puree. By weekend I can go to soft. I weighed in -11 lbs. I am very happy with that. I am pleased with the progress I am making. I am now able to begin driving. Halleluia for that! My dad is probably getting a little tired of taking me for my little trips here and there. I totally appreciate all of the extra work that my family has done for me these past two weeks. I am stronger every day, and life sure seems good. 06-20-04 Today is my one month anniversary! I am trying to eat little bits of all different types of foods. Most of them come right back out. Oh well...they tasted good! I believe that I am down 22-24 lbs.. I keep hovering around that area. I really feel lighter. I am very lucky to have this surgery, and such a good surgeon. Happy Fathers Day, Dad!!!
06-26-04 I have lost about 29 lbs. as of today. Clothes are finally fitting as they should. Now my boobs stick out further than my belly. I feel blessed to have this surgery. I feel so much lighter, healthier, and no more bp meds. I do find that my attitude is changing. I feel that everyone liked me because I was always so "sweet". But I think I compensated for my weight by going to the extreme of "niceness". I work in a retail business and I think the associates who look beautiful can sell the product easily. Those of us who are heavy and sloppy looking have to sell the product with knowledge, and being soooo nice. Does this make sense? Anyways, I notice that my over the top niceness is coming down to a reasonable level now that I feel more self confident with my looks. I am not taking crap from anyone either. Damn, I feel good!!! God bless us!
07-09-04 I have now lost 36 lbs. Unbelievable. My girlfriend and I were talking today about this loss. I have been carrying 4 10lb. bags of potatoes with me all day, every day. Now, I don't carry them with me any more...and I feel so good. I have so much more energy, I feel like smiling, and I am not afraid to say "hi" to someone I haven't seen in a while. I feel free. I have been truly blessed.
05-27-04 I am doing real good! Still plenty of foods going down good one day, and terrible the next. I am down 42 lbs. I just realized today that I am nearing the 1/2 century mark. I feel so much lighter on my feet. My knees don't ache as bad when I walk up the stairs. I feel great! 08-05-04 Two days ago, I laid out in the sun...in a bathing suit too!!! I felt so wonderful with the sun against my back. A few months ago, this was only a dream. I have lost appx 45 lbs. I am house sitting at my father-in-law's, and he doesn't have a scale. When I stop at home I weigh myself. This is turning out to be one great summer.
08-10-04 I have no update on my weight loss, just wanted to journal about my son. He was riding his bike today and somehow flipped over the bike and cracked his head open. We had talked about getting a helmet for him, just never did. I am so sad about this. Turns out that he had a minor concussion and 2 staples. I should have been a better parent and got him a bike helmet. I pray that he recovers fine. I will never recover from this. I feel so bad.
09-09-04 I am doing very good!!!My current weight is 172. I lost 60 lbs as of today. You can do the math. Everyone seems to want to know my beginning weight. I don't know why anyone would want to know, but whatever...I am thrilled with my weight now!!! I am going in on Thursday for an endoscopy/balloon dilation. I am hoping that these next couple of days fly by so I don't think too much about it. Actually, my days are going really fast now that both of my kids are in school. My youngest just started 4K. She loves it, and I love it even more! Anywho, just a quick post. Love life.
09-28-04 I am doing really good! I have been able to keep foods down for the past couple of weeks and it sure feels great. I find that I am able to make it through my 8-10 hour shifts at work a lot easier than I could a couple of months ago. Time sure is flying. Before I had my surgery, every day would drag...and the weeks would drag...etc. Now, time flies. I am busier than ever!!! I am so lucky to have this second chance. I now weigh appx. 168. Haven't seen that number for a long, long, time.
01-02-05 Thank God for letting me have this second chance. I am down 93 lbs to date and I am hoping for another 10. I do so much now. I keep busy until I go to bed!!! We moved just a couple weeks ago, and I was so full of energy. It was just wonderful. I had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. I am thankful. All things are possible if you believe.
04-03-05 I am doing really well with my fluid intake. I try to alway keep something with me at all times. I started drinking coffee. I am not sure if this is a good/bad thing. It helps me get my water in, but I think the Sweet n Low is giving me headaches. I'm not sure if that's what the cause is. I can eat anything, but in very small portions. Summer is coming, and I am very excited to buy a swimsuit! I am always cold, which is such a change from a year ago, I finally won't be dying during the summer months. I don't feel like "sweaty Betty" anymore. Just wanted to give a quick update. I hope God keeps me around for many, many years.
01-18-07 A few months ago I began to feel real dizzy, forgetful, tired, sick, etc. I went to the Dr. several times and she thought it was a case of very low blood pressure. After the 3rd time to the Dr., she did a blood test. To my suprise, she called me that night and told me that my blood counts were very low. I had a blood transfusion the next day. I really did not feel much different after. I was referred to an Oncology/blood Dr. who decided that I needed an iron infusion. Still feeling a bit tired. Probably all in my head.