Julie A.
Julie Ann's Blog Log
Sep 13, 2009
September 12, 2009 - I have a cousin that was asking me about WLS and decided I'd better post on my site before they kick me off for non-participation haha. Let's see ... what's been going on lately? After a bout with swine flu - turned double pneumonia, I am back to work after a month of being off. It was aweful. The pneumonia is what made it such a lengthy recovery, and I probably got that because I have asthma. No simple cold or flu for me ... let's go straight to the complication. Everything else is fine. My weight is maintained at 150-155. I did some physical therapy to help lengthen the muscles that were pulled too tight during tummy tuck. I was leaning forward when I walked but I am now walking straight again.
December 2, 2008 - My grandmother passed away She was 97 years old and a big part of my life. I would spend every morning or lunch with her. She lost her vision several years prior, but until recently she continued to live alone and care for herself. I will miss her greatly. The day she passed, I nearly cut my little finger off in a freakish accident (is there any other kind?) I was carring glassware to the kitchen sink and slipped in a puddle of water on the tile floor. I slid into the tile counter top and with the side of my hand I broke the ceramic tile and fell to the floor. When I came to, my finger was sliced through the ligaments and I had two shards of glass stuck in my arm. Next is some very important information that people should think about ... Get to the hospital BEFORE you pull the glass out of your artery. It could save your life. Unfortunately I did not know this and ... well ... let's just say that I left a terrible mess in the kitchen. I had surgery, physical therapy, and now I am currently typing with it.
April 1, 2008 - Shoot ... I just realized while typing in the date that it's April Fool's Day and I didn't play one joke on anyone. Crud! I missed my chance. All is well here. I thought I'd update while I was online checking into WLS related hair loss. My hair was fine before (fine as in fragile), and now I feel like I'm border-line wig-worthy haha. I've used the Nioxin product line and also taken Biotin supplements, but after over a year I see no difference. I would love to hear from anyone who has figured out how to reverse hair loss. Caio for now.
January 10, 2008 - Hello all my fellow and potential WLSers. Long time ... no type. It's been 18 months since my last update. I'm a bit embarassed about that because OH played such a huge role in my decision to have WLS and talking with others who were experiencing the same things I was going though was like talking to old friends who totally understood. I miss that. I thought I'd write a little about how WLS surgery has been for me. I am 5 years post-op and have maintained my weight at 155 lbs. for the past 4 years. I play with the same +/- 5 lbs. but I'm okay that. When my pants get tight and I can't breath, I know I've been making poor food choices and have to get back to the basics. If you've read my bio below, you'll know I've had some weird WLS and Abdominoplasty surgical complications. My surgeon knows me not by "Julie Ann", but by "the one in 11,000 people who develop a fistula after surgery" woman...haha. I know a lot of people look at this website for help ... I did. That's why whenever I am asked if I knew then the price I would have to pay to get where I am now, I always answer FOR ME ... Just Me Personally the answer is easy ... Absolutely Yes. I was dying of obesity. Not to be overly dramatic, but I actyally felt like I was dying inside. The thing is though, and I know you've all heard this before, but if you don't make the changes in yourself ... in your mind ... the weight is going to come back. I only personally know 6 people who've had WLS, and just two of us have maintained our weight, while the others have re-gained their's. WLS is like getting a skillsaw for your Birthday. It can be the greatest or worst tool you've ever received. For me ... it leterally saved my life.
October 07, 2007 - It was one month ago today that my dog Sadie passed away in a very freak accident. These past two years have been like a bad country-western song. I will miss her so much. I heard a saying recently that spoke volumes "Some people consider dogs to be man's best friend, but in actuality, we are theirs". I don't think I'll ever stop missing her.
March 01, 2006 - Sadly I post today that my parents passed away last month. I lost them three days apart. I will miss them terribly. Mom was the backbone of our family and dad was the muscle.
July 13, 2005 - I can't believe it's been over 6 months since my last post. A lot has happened in that time. I had the tummy tuck, and just like my WLS, there were come complications. My surgeon did not apply Benedine (surgical anticeptic) to my stomach before cutting me, and consequently I ended up back in the hospital with staph infection in my abdomin. Two more surgeries and ten days later, I was back home slowly recovering. I had four drain tubes in my stomach for four weeks, and am just now (6 months later) walking upright and back to work. I am down to 145 lbs. and finally getting my strength back. Would I do it again? I'm not sure. At least not at this point. I have a lot more confidence in how I look, so maybe after the nightmare wears off, I'll be pro-tummy tuck. Actually it wasn't the tummy tuck that was the problem ... it was doctor neglect. If I were the sueing type, I'd be a rich woman.
December 1, 2004 - I just received insurance approval for a tummy tuck and my surgery is scheduled for December 6th in Alameda. I'm really excited about getting rid of this gut around my middle. It holds me back in so many ways. I would be lying though if I didn't admit to being very nervous, mostly because of the complications I had with my wls. I just kept asking myself "if you had to decide whether you would have the wls again, given the complication, would you?" And the answer was YES. So I'm moving forward with the tummy tuck next week. I'll post more afterward.
October 7, 2004 - I've been doing some research on a lower body lift and have decided to move forward with it. I've got an appointment with a plastic surgeon next month to discuss it, as well as having my sinuses fixed. If any of you have had either of these procedures, I'd be interested to know how long it took to recover, how difficult it is to keep the weight off, and if you felt it was worth the process. Thanks, and I'll post more after my consultation.
September 29, 2004 - Who would have ever thought I'd be saying this, but ... I've been so busy skiing and boating that I haven't had time to update my site. I haven't lost any more weight, and keep bouncing back and forth between 165 lbs. and 163 lbs. It's my own fault though, as I find myself snacking sometimes. I made up my mind this week though to cut that crap out and get these last 20 lbs. off for good. Take care, and we'll chat (type) again soon.
August 30, 2004 - All is well in Liveable, Loveable Woodbridge. My life is oh so much better since wls, and I know it sounds corny, but I wake up every day looking forward to each day. I'm still about 15 - 20 lbs. from my goal weight, so I need to get back to the basics and work a little harder. My daughters and I have caught the wakeboarding bug, and I just couldn't seem to think of anything else, so we bought a new Ski Nautique boat two weeks ago. We have it docked out on the Delta and it only takes us about a half hour to get set up and on the water. Skiing during the week after work is really the best time. No other boats, and lots of smooth water. I must admit though, I have been injured a couple of times. Last week I face-slammed so hard I knocked myself unconscious for a few seconds. Nothing serious ... just a hell of a head and neck ache for a few days. I'll update again soon, and watch for my wakeboarding picture. I've submitted it for my profile.
July 2, 2004 - Happy Independence Day to all. Time has flown by so quickly. I did end up going to the doctor to have him check out the pain I'm having in my chest, and as it turns out it was in fact due to my wakeboarding accident. Apparently I fell so hard that I fractured the muscle tissue that covers the sternum. It's going to take about 8 weeks to heal, but I'm actually feeling a lot better already. This weekend we're going to Tahoe to stay in my Aunt and Uncle's home on the lake. We plan to take the boat out on the lake to watch the fireworks. Make it a safe weekend for you and your family.
June 18, 2004 - Hello everyone, and Happy Father's day to all you gentleMANly people with children. Like a lot of people, June is a super busy month for my family, and this weekend is no exception. My sister is hosting a birthday party at her river beach tomorrow, and on Sunday we're heading to Placerville to have lunch with Bob's kids. We don't get to see his daughter and son-in-law very much, so this will be a real treat. I've been having a lot of pain in my chest for the last week, and it's progressively getting worse. Not sure if I hurt it while wakeboarding or what. When I first noticed it, it hurt to lie on my chest in bed. Now it just hurts to breath, or if my husband gives me a hug. I just had a mamogram about a month ago which came back fine. I'll give it a couple more days and if it's not better it's off to the doctor for me. Have a great weekend everyone.
June 16, 2004 - My eye appointment with the Retinologist went pretty good. I still have a lot of swelling in the left eye from the laser surgery, but the doctor says that's normal and I need to allow a couple more months to see if there's any improvement in my vision. He says the only thing I can do to help myself is to keep my blood sugars under control. My HBA1C blood work shows I'm in the normal range, but I'm going to start monitoring my daily sugars to see if I fluctuate much from day to day. Bob and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary last night. He bought me a beautiful diamond necklace and got me two dozen roses. Isn't he sweet? We had dinner at Applebee's and I had a strip of babyback ribs, and a few bites of tortilla soup. Mmmm Mmmm Gooood.
June 10, 2004 - I've had the best time lately. My daughter's best friend just bought a new ski boat and they invited me out to try my hand at water skiing. I've slalom skiid since I was 7 years old, but haven't gone out in over 15 years. Let me just tell you how surprised I was to get up on the very first try. It was fantastic! Even over the roar of the boat's engine, I could hear my daughters hooping and hollering with excitement. Now that I know I can still ski, I've been trying to master wake-boarding. They say it's a lot easier to get up, but I haven't found that to be true. Maybe next weekend I can get my bootie out of the water. I I've still got very blurry vision and am really upset about it. I do a lot of proofing in my new job and it's proved to be a huge challenge for me. My Mother is legally blind from the effects of diabetes, and my Grandmother and uncle are both blind from Macular Degeneration of the Retina. I hope and pray I'm not following in their footsteps. My next appointment is Monday the 14th. I'll update more after that.
May 22, 2004 - Things are going great with the job and not so well with my health. At least the health of my eyes. I noticed a drastic change in my vision (blurred spots) so I called My Ophomologist. After a quick exam, he sent me to a Retinologist who ran the same tests and came to the same conclusions ... the blood vessels in my eyes are now bleeding ALOT! The leaking vessels are very close to the center of my vision now and required immediate laser surgery in my left eye. He "zapped" me 35 times, put a patch over my eye, and sent me on my way. I go back next month for a re-check and the same treatment to my right eye. According to this doctor, the chances that this surgery will "cure" my blurred vision are 10%, and the chances that it will prevent further damage are 95%. I sure hope I fall into the 10% odds. That would be one out of every 10 patients. When I had the fistula complication from wls (see below August 12, 2003) I was one person in 11,000 that had this complication. Maybe my uniqueness will work for me in this case. Unlike my Opthomologist, the Retinologist doesn't feel the bleeding vessels are associated with the drastic weight loss. He feels strongly it is just a residual effect from my diabetes being out of control for so long before my surgery. Before wls, no matter how many other health issues I had, the one thing I could always say was I had 20/20 vision. I hope when all the laser is done I can still utter those words.
May 01, 2004 - As I mentioned, I accepted a job offer at a local winery and I'm loving it. I come from a background in a structured corporate environment, handling millions of dollars in inventory control and purchasing, and sharing a window-less office with 6 other people. Don't get me wrong ... I loved that job and the people I worked with. But this new job is great too. Not only am I working with a supervisor from my last job, but I have an office with 4 windows and a door that opens up to a babbling brook. I can throw the door open and hear the birds chirping while looking out on the beautiful gardens outside. How great is that? The people I work with are fantastic and I feel very welcomed into their enviornment.
April 12, 2004 - I can't believe how time has flown. It's been a long time since my last update and so much has happened. First off, I've lost 100 pounds since my surgery 8 months ago. I feel better than I have in over 20 years. Loosing this weight has opened up so many opportunities for me. My husband and I just returned from a two week vacation in Maui, where I did cool stuff like bike down a 10,000' volcano, snorkel with sea turtles, and lay on the beach without camouflaging myself with cover-ups and towels. We did a lot of whale watching and I got some great pictures of breaching humpbacks and spinner dolphins. Although I go to Maui almost every year, I have never once thought about biking down the Haleakala volcano. First off you have to wear 4 layers of clothes, plus one of their jump suits because it's freezing at the top and warm at the bottom. There was no way I could have fit in the provided jump suits ... until now. Even with 4 layers of clothes, I still wore a size medium (must have been a men's medium). What a kick that was. I haven't been on a bike in 20+ years, and it's true ... once you know how, you never forget.
February 20, 2004 - My Ophthalmologist says the x-rays confirm there is bleeding in the vessels of my eyes, and he feels pretty strongly that it is caused from the drastic change in my blood sugar levels. He does not want to do any laser surgery (to stop the bleeding), as he hopes the leaking will subside in time, and so far there is little danger of damage to my vision. I have a follow-up appointment in 3 months. My bariatric surgeon says he has never had any reports from his patients about this complication.
February 16, 2004 - Medically I’m doing pretty well, and am still NOT having to take any of the 14 different medications I used to be on. I am a bit nervous about some test results coming in the next week though. I went for my annual eye exam and my Optometrist noticed that both of my eyes have leaking blood vessels. This happens a lot to diabetics who have high sugar levels, but the blood work that I have done for Dr. Coirin every 3 months is showing my diabetes is under control and my sugar levels are normal. So I went to a specialist, and he injected vegetable dye in my veins, and took about 50 pictures of my eyes to see how the vessels are leaking. We’re hopeful the vessels are only leaking because I had such a drastic drop in my sugar levels due to the bypass surgery, and when I stabilize, the blood will eventually be absorbed in to the eye. I hope that’s the case. I pray I don’t have to have laser surgery on my eyes like my mother did. Every time they zap you with laser, it puts a permanent blind spot in your eye. Mom has had so much surgery on her eyes due to diabetes that she’s almost blind. Other than THAT … all is going well here in Woodbridge. I've been fortunate enough to have a two year work sabbatical, but after 5 weeks of being contracted to work for the company I used to be employed by down in San Luis Obispo, I found I miss being out in the work force. I landed a great job working in the office of a local winery. I start working next Monday for two weeks, and then my husband and I are leaving on a pre-arranged 15 day vacation in Maui. Maui is one of my favorite vacation spots this time of year, obviously for the weather, but also for the whale watching. We can sit right on our patio at the condo and watch the whales play. My husband has lost about 30 lbs. on the Atkins Diet, and we are both anxious to being more active on our vacation. We usually do a lot of snorkeling, but perhaps we’ll do some hiking, biking, and scuba diving this time. I do have to find a new swim suit though, and this isn’t the best time of year to shop for one. I wonder what size I’ll were … Hmmm.
January 8, 2004 - I have been on a cleaning spree and just donated 8 garbage bags full of clothes to a women's shelter in Lodi. The ladies were thrilled with the donations and I was pleased to be able to provide clothes they could use. Getting rid of them was like taking a step forward on my weight loss journey. Having the comfy clothes in my closet was like having a soft cushion to fall back on ... in case I fail at my weight loss goals. But once I got rid of them, it was like closing a chapter in my "Fat Book". I know I no longer need to hide within the baggy look. Anyway ... the reason I started purging the closets was because I was looking for my snow skiing suit. My sisters, daughters and I will be staying at a house on the lake in Tahoe for 4 days, and we plan to go skiing. I found the ski suit and was a bit concerned because it is a size 14 and I haven't been able to get into it for at least 12 years. I unzipped it and stepped inside, thinking the whole time there was NO WAY I could get into it. Imagine my surprise when the zipper slid easily up. It fits perfectly. Better than it did when I bought it. I have noticed that there's something really weird about how my thinking process has changed. When I was heavier, I used to think I looked thinner than I was, and was always taken back when I saw myself in a photo or a full length mirror. How is it possible that I could look that big when I think of myself as just being on the heavy side. But now that I'm thinner, it's just the opposite. I look at my jeans and think to myself "I'm never going to get those over my hips, and if I do, I certainly won't be able to zip them. And when I catch myself walking past a full length mirror I sometimes don't even recognize my own reflection.
January 7, 2004 - Today is my birthday, and I have to say that I can't remember the last birthday that I felt this good. Could be because I'm older than dirt and the old memory is starting to fail me. We celebrated by going to dinner at Wholly Ravoli in Galt. It's owned by the family of my daughter's boyfriend. The food is wonderful. I ordered the FREE sampler platter. In other words ... I ate a little bit off of everyone's plate. It's a great way to eat now. Not only is it inexpensive, it's not wasteful, and I get to try a large variety of foods. My family goes out to eat a lot and this is how I've been able to join them, without feeling deprived, or worrying about the amount of food I waste.
December 21, 2003 - It's been quite some time since I updated, and besides having the flu from hell, things couldn't be better. I just returned home from a 5 week stay at PismoBeach. I was contracted by the company I used to work for to train some of their new employees in the purchasing and material management departments. It was suprisingly fun getting pulled out of retirement to find that my brain still functions as well as it used to. It's been two years since I stopped working and I found that I kinda miss it. Things are also plunking along in the weight loss area. I weighed in at 179 lbs. this morning, so that makes my total weight loss 84 lbs. since surgery 5 months ago. I can squeeze into a size 14 jeans, but breathing is much easier in a 16. I'd like to loose another 40 lbs, and am determined do my best to resist the temptations of holiday food. Have a safe and joyous holiday season, and as Charles Dickens wrote ... "God Bless Us Everyone!"
November 2, 2003 - I'm heading to PismoBeach tomorrow morning for 3 weeks. I've been contracted by the company I used to work for to clear up some internal process problems, as well as train a couple of guys on how things are supposed to run. They offered me the job on a perminent basis, but I just can't move down there, and it's too far to commute (5 hour drive). Even though I'll miss Bob and Sadie terribly, I'm looking forward to working again ... even if only for a few weeks. And ... if you're going to go back to work, what better place than PismoBeach? Also ... I went shopping for jeans today and squeezed into an 18. I'm still hanging tight at 202 lbs. but hopefully this trip to the coast will knock a few pounds off.
October 27, 2003 - Bob and I had a great weekend. We sold our restored classic 1957 Ford pickup to a man named Chuck from Missouri. He flew out to San Francisco and we picked him up at the airport. We took him to an early lunch at El Torrito's where I ate about 1/3 of a chicken Quesadilla. I have found that if I stop eating before I get the full feeling, I'm much less likely to have nausea. After lunch Chuck jumped in the truck, heading home to the Mid-West and Bob and I drove up to pier #39. We shopped and watched the sea otters play at the end of the pier. I bought a couple of "large" size T-shirts, which was a treat since before surgery I was wearing a 2X. Walking and stairs are no longer a problem, and fatigue is almost a thing of the past. We went to Hard Rock Cafe and had dinner before heading home. Bob ordered chicken & ribs and I just ate a few bites of each. I had no problem with nausea. I love my new life, and Thank God every day for the gift of bypass surgery.
October 14, 2003 - Hello to all my WLS friends. Today is a good day. I finally broke my plateau (if you can call one week a plateau). I had hung out at 212 lbs. for 8 days. I know I’m not supposed to weigh myself every day, but I’m addicted to the scale. Anyway, I was still having problems with nausea, so at the doctor’s suggestion, I supplemented ½ of a protein shake for breakfast and ½ for lunch. I don’t know if it was too many calories, or what, but I decided to quit the shakes, eat just twice a day (I’m never really hungry for breakfast anyway), and really start forcing the water. When I stepped on the scale this morning I was at 207 lbs. That’s -56 lbs. in 10 weeks. Just 8 more pounds and I can say I weigh “one hundred and something”. Now that will be an exciting day. Also … I wanted to let you know that when I LOST 50 lbs … I FOUND the lap I lost years ago. I can now sit a plate on the flat of my knees and eat … without balancing it on my stomach or chest. It’s the LITTLE things that mean the most.
October 6, 2003 - Monterey and Carmel were wonderful. I took my sisters (Jeanie & Jackie), daughters (Jaime & Sara) and mother (Nancy). Mom doesn't get out much because of all her obesity related co-morbidities, so this was quite the adventure for her. We had lunch at Bubba Gumps on Saturday. I ordered the chicken tenders, ate two and had about 8 french fries. The waiter boxed up my leftover chicken and everything was going fine until I took a sip of water to cool off my hot lips (the chicken was very spicy), which was a mistake. It made me nauseated right away. We walked around and did some shopping and it wasn't long before the nausea was gone. On Sunday we went to Denny's for breakfast before heading to the beach. That went a bit better. Sara cut off a small piece of her cheese omelet, Jackie gave me a half of a piece of bacon, and mom provided a bite of her steak. We have now decided that when we go out to eat, I'll just order an empty plate and pass it around the table for everyone to give me a bite of what they're having. Kind of like how Helen Keller used to go around the table and eat off everyone's plate. I like that idea. I don't have to panic about ordering off a menu, and I can still eat with everyone else.
October 3, 2003 - We're off to Monterey for the weekend for an all girl's beach party. I shant be donning a bikini, but I must say ... I do look better in my size 20 swim suit, and shaving my legs takes a lot less time and effort.
October 2, 2003 - Two months post op and still kickin'. It's been a long haul with my "unique" fistula problem, but I have some great news that I'd like to share. I had my blood work and physical with my PCP last week, and I no longer need to take any of the 14 meds I was on prior to surgery. The diabetes, hypertension, High cholesterol, and GERDS have disappeared, along with 45 lbs. When I "weigh" the problems I had with surgery against the benefits I am now getting, hands down I would do it again in a heartbeat. Six weeks ago I thought this surgery was gonna kill me for sure. Now ... well now I know the truth. IT SAVED MY LIFE.
September 24, 2003 - I'm pretty excited that my scale shows I'm below the 220 mark. Not by much, but I weighed 219.5 lbs. this morning. That's about 10 lbs. less than when I got married 7 years ago. My daughter Jaime gave me some clothes that are a size 20, and THEY FIT! I used to wear a 26/28. I'm starting to let go of the baggy/comfortable look, and wear clothes that are a bit more form fitting. It makes me a little self-conscience though. I have an appointment with my PCP tomorrow and am looking forward to how my blood work turns out. I used to take 14 different meds for my co-morbidities and since wls I haven't taken any. Pretty cool huh?
September 17, 2003 - According to my scale, I am down 38 lbs. since my 1st surgery 6 weeks ago, but I don't go back to the doctor (official scale) until October 1st. I am no longer vomiting, and have less nausea. I'm anxious to get approval to start exercising so I can tighten up all this loose stuff hanging around my legs and arms.
September 12, 2003 - My sister Jackie invited me to go to breakfast. I was a little scared, being my first time to a restaurant, but what the heck. I ordered a one egg omelet and when they delivered it, it came with two biscuits and gravy. I just figured I'd have a bite or two and get the rest to go. Big mistake! I'm not sure if I ate too fast, or if the biscuits were too rich, but all of a sudden I knew I was going to vomit. The bathrooms in this little diner are outside and around the back. I started running and only got as far as the flower bed outside the door. After getting sick on the daisies, I went back inside to join my sister. When we left there was a gardener weeding the flower bed. I felt so terrible I advised him to watch out for my mess, adding a little humor by saying "please don't eat the daisies". Granted ... vomiting ain't what it used to be. It's more like baby spit up. Before surgery I used to projectile vomit. I once got sick on my sister's new shoes ... from across the room. I made Linda Blair in the Exorcist look like an amatuer. Ahhh well ... enough about yacking.
August 27, 2003 - At my post-op appointment today I have lost 32 lbs. which I'm really excited about. It's just been a long haul, and eating and drinking are still difficult, but I know that eventually I will be a huge advocate of this surgery. Whenever I eat I have nausea and often vomit, so Dr. Coirin wants me to supplement meals with protein shakes.
August 22, 2003 - I developed a bladder infection and had to have IV antibiotics. My IV was infiltrated and the swelling in my arm was very painful, with the skin stretching to the limit. I also had to have a series of tests done this morning. They wanted 4 CT scans, so my breakfast of champions was more Barium ... mmmm mmmm goood! Later in the day, Doc said the tests I had show there is still some back-flushing happening in my intestines, but he feels that when my muscles get stronger, it will stop. He feels strongly that the complications I'm having now are because I had two major surgeries within a 2 week period. He will release me from the hospital today but I have to eat very soft foods for a few weeks. When he told me he would release me today, his eyes just about popped out of his head when I ripped my hospital gown off ... and underneath I had on my clothes. I was going home come hell or high water. The doctor just laughed. I think he thought I was naked under the gown. All I knew was I was going home.
August 21, 2003 - I had hoped to go home today, but the doc wants more tests tomorrow. He is still seeing some problems in the CT scan I had yesterday. He wants to actually watch the barium go down my throat and into my stomach and intestines. He also wants to have Dr. Coates there as well. Neither has ever seen my particular problem.
August 20, 2003 - I am still in the hospital and getting a bit depressed. I was doing so well after the first surgery, and it's hard for me to be going through this setback. My sister Jeanie realized how down I was and she and my daughter Sara arranged a special surprise for me today. Sara co-conspired with the nursing staff and doctor for me to have a special visitor at the hospital. Bob came in to my room with a wheelchair and said he wanted to take me outside for some fresh air. That sounded so good to me. I was so sick of having the smell of the hospital in my nose. When he wheeled me out, the sun was shining and I could smell the flowers. It was wonderful. Then he turned the corner and much to my surprise ... lying there on the grass ... was my Sadie. Sara had brought my precious dog for a visit. Sadie was as happy to see me as I was to see her. Her foot was still bandaged, but she had no problem jumping up to saturate my face with kisses and give me hugs. I almost peed my pants, I was so happy I was blubbering like an idiot. She looked so good and even though I knew Bob was taking good care of her, I have been so worried about her. What a great day it was.
August 15, 2003 - My sister Jeanie called to say that she and her husband Dan were going to go by my house every day to spend some time with Sadie. Bob works about an hour away from home, so it wasn't possible for him to come home on his lunch hour to check on her. I'm so blessed to have such a caring family. I don't know what I'd do without their support and love.
August 13, 2003 - Second surgery was today. There's still no room in the bariatric wing, so I had to be upstairs. I was in a lot of pain, and hitting the PCA button quite frequently. Then at 2:00 am, I had an allergic reaction to the morphine. I felt like I was going to scratch the nose off my face and my eyes swelled almost closed. The night nurse said it was a classic reaction, but she didn't want to wake the doctor to see if she could give me Benedryl, and said I would have to ride it out. Excuse me, but that was just plain crap. The morphine finally started wearing off around 6:00 AM and I had just dozed off when the nurse from hell marched through my room with two other ladies, and parted the blinds in my window so she could show them her new car. Then they stood outside my room, cackling like a bunch of hens, laughing and talking loudly. Helllloooo! There are people here that don't feel well. Why is it that you can never get any rest in a hospital? They wake you up at 5:00 in the morning to weigh you, and then wake you at 6:00 to draw blood. God I wish they had room for me in the bariatric wing. My daughter Sara called to check on me at 9:00 AM, and I was crying. I think I was just at the end of my rope. They wouldn't give me anything for pain or the allergic reaction until they spoke with the doctor and he hadn't come in yet. Sara was very angry about the lack of treatment and compassion that I was getting from the nursing staff, and she became my advocate and champion. She called the director of the hospital and advised her that I had an untreated allergic reaction for the past 7 hours and told her about the loud nurse from hell. I didn't know she was going to call the director, so I called Dr. Coirin's office and advised them as well. Between Sara and Dr. Coirin's influence, the director was in my room apologizing within a half hour, and I was moved to the bariatric wing right away. The nurses and staff settled me in right away and I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
August 12, 2003 - I had my CT Scan today and Dr. Coirin says I have a Fistula. Somehow my new small pouch and large old stomach are touching, causing a "communication" between the two. Food and water are leaking from one to the other, which is causing all of the pain. The bad news ... the only way to fix the problem is to have more surgery. The good news (for other wls patients at least) is that this complication is so rare that it only happens once in every 11,000 surgeries. Tomorrow Dr. Coirin will go back in, tear down everything he did in the original gastric bypass, sort through and invert all of my intestines, repair what needs to be repaired, and then put everything back together again. Kind of like Humpty Dumpty. I am so bumbed out. I was doing so well ... if only I never had to eat.
August 11, 2003 - Dr. Coirin says I am dehydrated and is worried something else may be going on. He admitted me back into the hospital for a CT test to find out what might be causing the pain and to re-hydrate me. They plan to keep me for a minimum of 3 days. There is no room for me in the bariatric wing so I was taken to the 2nd floor. The nurse there tried to get me to drink cranberry juice because I was dehydrated. When I explained that I can't have sugar, she insisted it would be okay. Good thing I was on my toes. Dumping syndrome is not something I need.
August 10, 2003 - I haven't been able to eat any food, and water is even becoming difficult. I'll call the doctor tomorrow.
August 08, 2003 - I ate one bite of scrambled egg this morning, and it caused me to have a lot of pain. It feels like I swallowed a golf ball and the pain stayed with me for about 45 minutes. I called the doctor's office and Sonya said some pain is common, but things should be fine as long as I'm not running a fever. Later in the day, I tried another bite of egg. Same exact pain. I don't know what's going on here, but I'm kind of scared. At this point ... NOT eating seems like a pretty good option. Now it is even painful to drink the water. This just doesn't seem right.
August 06, 2003 - Went to the post-op lecture at DoctorsHospital. Cheryl Budde taught the class and gave a lot of really great information about what to expect down the road. I have no problems driving or walking, and have no fatigue at all. The only problem I still have is pain when I drink. Tomorrow I'll be having my 1st food since surgery ... an egg.
August 02, 2003 - I came home from the hospital today, just 48 hours after surgery. Besides having a golf ball-like pain when I drink, I'm doing very well. I have little or no fatigue, so it's gonna be hard to force myself to take it easy. Sadie is doing very well and we had an emotional and joyful reunion. I know she's been confused about everything, and probably wondering why I wasn't with her at the vets. Thank God she pulled through her surgery okay. Now we can keep each other company while we recuperate.
August 01, 2003 - I came through the surgery very well. It only took Dr. Coirin 1 1/2 hours. The surgery was done lap and I had no adhesions from previous surgeries. Because I have bladder sensitivity, I requested the catheder be taken out in recovery, which they did. I was out of bed and walking within 1/2 hour of getting to my room, with little or no pain. The nurses and Dr. Coirin are amazed at how well I did. Note: Sadie's surgery went very well and she should only have a 5" scar on her foot. They her home with a cone on her head. Bob says if I pick at my incisions, I'm gonna have to wear a cone too.
July 31, 2003 - Just a quick post to let you know I'm on my way to the hospital now. My dog Sadie (Border Collie) got "nudged" by a truck yesterday. She pulled through the SHOCK and we got to bring her home. Bob agreed to take her in for surgery on her foot today, so we'll both be on the table at the same time. Bob wanted to take me to the hospital and be with me, but I know he understands that I would feel a lot better if he would take care of Sadie. I can't loose her. She's my baby. July 30, 2003 - Surgery is tomorrow and I'm doing the bowel prep today. Not a pleasant thing, but then diarrhea (I like to call it the Big D) never really is. July 15, 2003 - My sister Jackie called to see what she could do to assist me while I was recuperating. As I mentioned before, my mom requires a lot of care, and so does my grandma. They live just 4 doors apart, but are unable to take care of each other. Grandma is 92 years old and blind with a lot of health problems, and mom is 70 years old and on 23 different medications for various problems, primarily diabetes & congestive heart failure. I have been the primary caregiver for Grandma, and Jeanie takes care of Mom. Jackie & Jeff spread themselves out between the two. It's a team effort. Anyway ... Jackie offered to take care of Grandma while I was mending and you can't know what a relief that is for me. Grandma is a sweetheart, but she can be pretty demanding of your time. July 09, 2003 - Well ... I went shopping today for the vitamins I'll need to take. I found the chewable adult multi vitamin (Costco), the B12 under the tongue (Trader Joe's), but I can't find the liquid Calcium Citrate. I was told that Costco had it, but neither Tracy, Stockton, or Modesto carries it. So the search is on. I also went ahead and stocked my cabinets with broth and diet jell-o in preparation for my 1st week post-op. Mmmm Mmmm Good. July 08, 2003 - While I was at the hospital for the teaching seminar, I went ahead and pre-registered, had my EKG, let them snap a chest x-ray, and went belly-up for an ultra-sound. The only thing I have to do now is have the blood work done 3 days before surgery. July 08, 2003 - All of Dr. Coirin's patients are required to attend a 3 hour "teaching" seminar at the hospital. The information they provide is very valuable. Cheryl Budde RN teaches the class and when you leave, you will know everything there is to know about bariatric surgery, from pre-op to surgery to post-op. There is nothing left undiscussed. July 04, 2003 - My sister Jackie had a swimming party & BBQ for the 4th of July. My grandmother (90 years old, blind, & lives alone) has never learned how to swim and is afraid of the water. It was supposed to be 102 degrees today, so I took a swim suit over to grandma's house and was able to talk her into getting in the pool. Jackie's pool has a huge lounge area (about 5' x 12') near the shallow end. You can sit in a lawn chair under an umbrella and still be submerged up to the chest in water ... and that's just what we did with Grandma. Mom and I sat on each side of her and she really enjoyed it. Today is the first day I told my family about my upcoming surgery. My husband and daughters knew, but I didn't want to say anything until the approval process was done and I was scheduled. With the exception of my step-mother, everyone was supportive. I imagine she will be too as soon as she realizes that I won't do the same thing her sister-in-law did, and that was to stretch my stomach out. Apparently her sister-in-law is now having the fat gland removal surgery. Anyway ... I'm so happy to have the support from my family on this. They really love me. June 18, 2003 - Insurance approved the surgery. Surgery date scheduled for July 31st. Yippee! I'm on my way to a healthier lifestyle. June 11, 2003 - Surprise! I passed the psyc evaluation. Dr. Coirin's office submitted the paperwork to the insurance for approval. Let's keep our fingers and toes crossed. May 30, 2003 - Sonya called with the insurance approval for the psyc evaluation, and the 1st appointment with the psychologist is scheduled for next week. May 26, 2003 - Dr. Coirin seems to be a wonderful and caring surgeon. He is very patient and took the time to answer all of my questions. My husband Bob came with me and I'm so glad. His support and love mean the world to me. Although very busy ... Dr. Coirin's office staff is effecient and friendly. April 30, 2003 - Attended the Seminar at Doctors Hospital in Modesto. Very Informative! Turned in my packet of information, along with prepared documentation for my health history, medications, family history, diet history, and a personal statement. April 10, 2003 - It took 1 week to get the approval for the consultation appointment. Dr. Coirin's requires that you attend a seminar (2 hours) at Doctor's Hospital in Modesto BEFORE he sees you at the consultation appointment. The hospital sent me a packet of information to complete and return at the seminar.
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December 2, 2008 - My grandmother passed away She was 97 years old and a big part of my life. I would spend every morning or lunch with her. She lost her vision several years prior, but until recently she continued to live alone and care for herself. I will miss her greatly. The day she passed, I nearly cut my little finger off in a freakish accident (is there any other kind?) I was carring glassware to the kitchen sink and slipped in a puddle of water on the tile floor. I slid into the tile counter top and with the side of my hand I broke the ceramic tile and fell to the floor. When I came to, my finger was sliced through the ligaments and I had two shards of glass stuck in my arm. Next is some very important information that people should think about ... Get to the hospital BEFORE you pull the glass out of your artery. It could save your life. Unfortunately I did not know this and ... well ... let's just say that I left a terrible mess in the kitchen. I had surgery, physical therapy, and now I am currently typing with it.
April 1, 2008 - Shoot ... I just realized while typing in the date that it's April Fool's Day and I didn't play one joke on anyone. Crud! I missed my chance. All is well here. I thought I'd update while I was online checking into WLS related hair loss. My hair was fine before (fine as in fragile), and now I feel like I'm border-line wig-worthy haha. I've used the Nioxin product line and also taken Biotin supplements, but after over a year I see no difference. I would love to hear from anyone who has figured out how to reverse hair loss. Caio for now.
January 10, 2008 - Hello all my fellow and potential WLSers. Long time ... no type. It's been 18 months since my last update. I'm a bit embarassed about that because OH played such a huge role in my decision to have WLS and talking with others who were experiencing the same things I was going though was like talking to old friends who totally understood. I miss that. I thought I'd write a little about how WLS surgery has been for me. I am 5 years post-op and have maintained my weight at 155 lbs. for the past 4 years. I play with the same +/- 5 lbs. but I'm okay that. When my pants get tight and I can't breath, I know I've been making poor food choices and have to get back to the basics. If you've read my bio below, you'll know I've had some weird WLS and Abdominoplasty surgical complications. My surgeon knows me not by "Julie Ann", but by "the one in 11,000 people who develop a fistula after surgery" woman...haha. I know a lot of people look at this website for help ... I did. That's why whenever I am asked if I knew then the price I would have to pay to get where I am now, I always answer FOR ME ... Just Me Personally the answer is easy ... Absolutely Yes. I was dying of obesity. Not to be overly dramatic, but I actyally felt like I was dying inside. The thing is though, and I know you've all heard this before, but if you don't make the changes in yourself ... in your mind ... the weight is going to come back. I only personally know 6 people who've had WLS, and just two of us have maintained our weight, while the others have re-gained their's. WLS is like getting a skillsaw for your Birthday. It can be the greatest or worst tool you've ever received. For me ... it leterally saved my life.
October 07, 2007 - It was one month ago today that my dog Sadie passed away in a very freak accident. These past two years have been like a bad country-western song. I will miss her so much. I heard a saying recently that spoke volumes "Some people consider dogs to be man's best friend, but in actuality, we are theirs". I don't think I'll ever stop missing her.
March 01, 2006 - Sadly I post today that my parents passed away last month. I lost them three days apart. I will miss them terribly. Mom was the backbone of our family and dad was the muscle.
July 13, 2005 - I can't believe it's been over 6 months since my last post. A lot has happened in that time. I had the tummy tuck, and just like my WLS, there were come complications. My surgeon did not apply Benedine (surgical anticeptic) to my stomach before cutting me, and consequently I ended up back in the hospital with staph infection in my abdomin. Two more surgeries and ten days later, I was back home slowly recovering. I had four drain tubes in my stomach for four weeks, and am just now (6 months later) walking upright and back to work. I am down to 145 lbs. and finally getting my strength back. Would I do it again? I'm not sure. At least not at this point. I have a lot more confidence in how I look, so maybe after the nightmare wears off, I'll be pro-tummy tuck. Actually it wasn't the tummy tuck that was the problem ... it was doctor neglect. If I were the sueing type, I'd be a rich woman.
December 1, 2004 - I just received insurance approval for a tummy tuck and my surgery is scheduled for December 6th in Alameda. I'm really excited about getting rid of this gut around my middle. It holds me back in so many ways. I would be lying though if I didn't admit to being very nervous, mostly because of the complications I had with my wls. I just kept asking myself "if you had to decide whether you would have the wls again, given the complication, would you?" And the answer was YES. So I'm moving forward with the tummy tuck next week. I'll post more afterward.
October 7, 2004 - I've been doing some research on a lower body lift and have decided to move forward with it. I've got an appointment with a plastic surgeon next month to discuss it, as well as having my sinuses fixed. If any of you have had either of these procedures, I'd be interested to know how long it took to recover, how difficult it is to keep the weight off, and if you felt it was worth the process. Thanks, and I'll post more after my consultation.
September 29, 2004 - Who would have ever thought I'd be saying this, but ... I've been so busy skiing and boating that I haven't had time to update my site. I haven't lost any more weight, and keep bouncing back and forth between 165 lbs. and 163 lbs. It's my own fault though, as I find myself snacking sometimes. I made up my mind this week though to cut that crap out and get these last 20 lbs. off for good. Take care, and we'll chat (type) again soon.
August 30, 2004 - All is well in Liveable, Loveable Woodbridge. My life is oh so much better since wls, and I know it sounds corny, but I wake up every day looking forward to each day. I'm still about 15 - 20 lbs. from my goal weight, so I need to get back to the basics and work a little harder. My daughters and I have caught the wakeboarding bug, and I just couldn't seem to think of anything else, so we bought a new Ski Nautique boat two weeks ago. We have it docked out on the Delta and it only takes us about a half hour to get set up and on the water. Skiing during the week after work is really the best time. No other boats, and lots of smooth water. I must admit though, I have been injured a couple of times. Last week I face-slammed so hard I knocked myself unconscious for a few seconds. Nothing serious ... just a hell of a head and neck ache for a few days. I'll update again soon, and watch for my wakeboarding picture. I've submitted it for my profile.
July 2, 2004 - Happy Independence Day to all. Time has flown by so quickly. I did end up going to the doctor to have him check out the pain I'm having in my chest, and as it turns out it was in fact due to my wakeboarding accident. Apparently I fell so hard that I fractured the muscle tissue that covers the sternum. It's going to take about 8 weeks to heal, but I'm actually feeling a lot better already. This weekend we're going to Tahoe to stay in my Aunt and Uncle's home on the lake. We plan to take the boat out on the lake to watch the fireworks. Make it a safe weekend for you and your family.
June 18, 2004 - Hello everyone, and Happy Father's day to all you gentleMANly people with children. Like a lot of people, June is a super busy month for my family, and this weekend is no exception. My sister is hosting a birthday party at her river beach tomorrow, and on Sunday we're heading to Placerville to have lunch with Bob's kids. We don't get to see his daughter and son-in-law very much, so this will be a real treat. I've been having a lot of pain in my chest for the last week, and it's progressively getting worse. Not sure if I hurt it while wakeboarding or what. When I first noticed it, it hurt to lie on my chest in bed. Now it just hurts to breath, or if my husband gives me a hug. I just had a mamogram about a month ago which came back fine. I'll give it a couple more days and if it's not better it's off to the doctor for me. Have a great weekend everyone.
June 16, 2004 - My eye appointment with the Retinologist went pretty good. I still have a lot of swelling in the left eye from the laser surgery, but the doctor says that's normal and I need to allow a couple more months to see if there's any improvement in my vision. He says the only thing I can do to help myself is to keep my blood sugars under control. My HBA1C blood work shows I'm in the normal range, but I'm going to start monitoring my daily sugars to see if I fluctuate much from day to day. Bob and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary last night. He bought me a beautiful diamond necklace and got me two dozen roses. Isn't he sweet? We had dinner at Applebee's and I had a strip of babyback ribs, and a few bites of tortilla soup. Mmmm Mmmm Gooood.
June 10, 2004 - I've had the best time lately. My daughter's best friend just bought a new ski boat and they invited me out to try my hand at water skiing. I've slalom skiid since I was 7 years old, but haven't gone out in over 15 years. Let me just tell you how surprised I was to get up on the very first try. It was fantastic! Even over the roar of the boat's engine, I could hear my daughters hooping and hollering with excitement. Now that I know I can still ski, I've been trying to master wake-boarding. They say it's a lot easier to get up, but I haven't found that to be true. Maybe next weekend I can get my bootie out of the water. I I've still got very blurry vision and am really upset about it. I do a lot of proofing in my new job and it's proved to be a huge challenge for me. My Mother is legally blind from the effects of diabetes, and my Grandmother and uncle are both blind from Macular Degeneration of the Retina. I hope and pray I'm not following in their footsteps. My next appointment is Monday the 14th. I'll update more after that.
May 22, 2004 - Things are going great with the job and not so well with my health. At least the health of my eyes. I noticed a drastic change in my vision (blurred spots) so I called My Ophomologist. After a quick exam, he sent me to a Retinologist who ran the same tests and came to the same conclusions ... the blood vessels in my eyes are now bleeding ALOT! The leaking vessels are very close to the center of my vision now and required immediate laser surgery in my left eye. He "zapped" me 35 times, put a patch over my eye, and sent me on my way. I go back next month for a re-check and the same treatment to my right eye. According to this doctor, the chances that this surgery will "cure" my blurred vision are 10%, and the chances that it will prevent further damage are 95%. I sure hope I fall into the 10% odds. That would be one out of every 10 patients. When I had the fistula complication from wls (see below August 12, 2003) I was one person in 11,000 that had this complication. Maybe my uniqueness will work for me in this case. Unlike my Opthomologist, the Retinologist doesn't feel the bleeding vessels are associated with the drastic weight loss. He feels strongly it is just a residual effect from my diabetes being out of control for so long before my surgery. Before wls, no matter how many other health issues I had, the one thing I could always say was I had 20/20 vision. I hope when all the laser is done I can still utter those words.
May 01, 2004 - As I mentioned, I accepted a job offer at a local winery and I'm loving it. I come from a background in a structured corporate environment, handling millions of dollars in inventory control and purchasing, and sharing a window-less office with 6 other people. Don't get me wrong ... I loved that job and the people I worked with. But this new job is great too. Not only am I working with a supervisor from my last job, but I have an office with 4 windows and a door that opens up to a babbling brook. I can throw the door open and hear the birds chirping while looking out on the beautiful gardens outside. How great is that? The people I work with are fantastic and I feel very welcomed into their enviornment.
April 12, 2004 - I can't believe how time has flown. It's been a long time since my last update and so much has happened. First off, I've lost 100 pounds since my surgery 8 months ago. I feel better than I have in over 20 years. Loosing this weight has opened up so many opportunities for me. My husband and I just returned from a two week vacation in Maui, where I did cool stuff like bike down a 10,000' volcano, snorkel with sea turtles, and lay on the beach without camouflaging myself with cover-ups and towels. We did a lot of whale watching and I got some great pictures of breaching humpbacks and spinner dolphins. Although I go to Maui almost every year, I have never once thought about biking down the Haleakala volcano. First off you have to wear 4 layers of clothes, plus one of their jump suits because it's freezing at the top and warm at the bottom. There was no way I could have fit in the provided jump suits ... until now. Even with 4 layers of clothes, I still wore a size medium (must have been a men's medium). What a kick that was. I haven't been on a bike in 20+ years, and it's true ... once you know how, you never forget.
February 20, 2004 - My Ophthalmologist says the x-rays confirm there is bleeding in the vessels of my eyes, and he feels pretty strongly that it is caused from the drastic change in my blood sugar levels. He does not want to do any laser surgery (to stop the bleeding), as he hopes the leaking will subside in time, and so far there is little danger of damage to my vision. I have a follow-up appointment in 3 months. My bariatric surgeon says he has never had any reports from his patients about this complication.
February 16, 2004 - Medically I’m doing pretty well, and am still NOT having to take any of the 14 different medications I used to be on. I am a bit nervous about some test results coming in the next week though. I went for my annual eye exam and my Optometrist noticed that both of my eyes have leaking blood vessels. This happens a lot to diabetics who have high sugar levels, but the blood work that I have done for Dr. Coirin every 3 months is showing my diabetes is under control and my sugar levels are normal. So I went to a specialist, and he injected vegetable dye in my veins, and took about 50 pictures of my eyes to see how the vessels are leaking. We’re hopeful the vessels are only leaking because I had such a drastic drop in my sugar levels due to the bypass surgery, and when I stabilize, the blood will eventually be absorbed in to the eye. I hope that’s the case. I pray I don’t have to have laser surgery on my eyes like my mother did. Every time they zap you with laser, it puts a permanent blind spot in your eye. Mom has had so much surgery on her eyes due to diabetes that she’s almost blind. Other than THAT … all is going well here in Woodbridge. I've been fortunate enough to have a two year work sabbatical, but after 5 weeks of being contracted to work for the company I used to be employed by down in San Luis Obispo, I found I miss being out in the work force. I landed a great job working in the office of a local winery. I start working next Monday for two weeks, and then my husband and I are leaving on a pre-arranged 15 day vacation in Maui. Maui is one of my favorite vacation spots this time of year, obviously for the weather, but also for the whale watching. We can sit right on our patio at the condo and watch the whales play. My husband has lost about 30 lbs. on the Atkins Diet, and we are both anxious to being more active on our vacation. We usually do a lot of snorkeling, but perhaps we’ll do some hiking, biking, and scuba diving this time. I do have to find a new swim suit though, and this isn’t the best time of year to shop for one. I wonder what size I’ll were … Hmmm.
January 8, 2004 - I have been on a cleaning spree and just donated 8 garbage bags full of clothes to a women's shelter in Lodi. The ladies were thrilled with the donations and I was pleased to be able to provide clothes they could use. Getting rid of them was like taking a step forward on my weight loss journey. Having the comfy clothes in my closet was like having a soft cushion to fall back on ... in case I fail at my weight loss goals. But once I got rid of them, it was like closing a chapter in my "Fat Book". I know I no longer need to hide within the baggy look. Anyway ... the reason I started purging the closets was because I was looking for my snow skiing suit. My sisters, daughters and I will be staying at a house on the lake in Tahoe for 4 days, and we plan to go skiing. I found the ski suit and was a bit concerned because it is a size 14 and I haven't been able to get into it for at least 12 years. I unzipped it and stepped inside, thinking the whole time there was NO WAY I could get into it. Imagine my surprise when the zipper slid easily up. It fits perfectly. Better than it did when I bought it. I have noticed that there's something really weird about how my thinking process has changed. When I was heavier, I used to think I looked thinner than I was, and was always taken back when I saw myself in a photo or a full length mirror. How is it possible that I could look that big when I think of myself as just being on the heavy side. But now that I'm thinner, it's just the opposite. I look at my jeans and think to myself "I'm never going to get those over my hips, and if I do, I certainly won't be able to zip them. And when I catch myself walking past a full length mirror I sometimes don't even recognize my own reflection.
January 7, 2004 - Today is my birthday, and I have to say that I can't remember the last birthday that I felt this good. Could be because I'm older than dirt and the old memory is starting to fail me. We celebrated by going to dinner at Wholly Ravoli in Galt. It's owned by the family of my daughter's boyfriend. The food is wonderful. I ordered the FREE sampler platter. In other words ... I ate a little bit off of everyone's plate. It's a great way to eat now. Not only is it inexpensive, it's not wasteful, and I get to try a large variety of foods. My family goes out to eat a lot and this is how I've been able to join them, without feeling deprived, or worrying about the amount of food I waste.
December 21, 2003 - It's been quite some time since I updated, and besides having the flu from hell, things couldn't be better. I just returned home from a 5 week stay at PismoBeach. I was contracted by the company I used to work for to train some of their new employees in the purchasing and material management departments. It was suprisingly fun getting pulled out of retirement to find that my brain still functions as well as it used to. It's been two years since I stopped working and I found that I kinda miss it. Things are also plunking along in the weight loss area. I weighed in at 179 lbs. this morning, so that makes my total weight loss 84 lbs. since surgery 5 months ago. I can squeeze into a size 14 jeans, but breathing is much easier in a 16. I'd like to loose another 40 lbs, and am determined do my best to resist the temptations of holiday food. Have a safe and joyous holiday season, and as Charles Dickens wrote ... "God Bless Us Everyone!"
November 2, 2003 - I'm heading to PismoBeach tomorrow morning for 3 weeks. I've been contracted by the company I used to work for to clear up some internal process problems, as well as train a couple of guys on how things are supposed to run. They offered me the job on a perminent basis, but I just can't move down there, and it's too far to commute (5 hour drive). Even though I'll miss Bob and Sadie terribly, I'm looking forward to working again ... even if only for a few weeks. And ... if you're going to go back to work, what better place than PismoBeach? Also ... I went shopping for jeans today and squeezed into an 18. I'm still hanging tight at 202 lbs. but hopefully this trip to the coast will knock a few pounds off.
October 27, 2003 - Bob and I had a great weekend. We sold our restored classic 1957 Ford pickup to a man named Chuck from Missouri. He flew out to San Francisco and we picked him up at the airport. We took him to an early lunch at El Torrito's where I ate about 1/3 of a chicken Quesadilla. I have found that if I stop eating before I get the full feeling, I'm much less likely to have nausea. After lunch Chuck jumped in the truck, heading home to the Mid-West and Bob and I drove up to pier #39. We shopped and watched the sea otters play at the end of the pier. I bought a couple of "large" size T-shirts, which was a treat since before surgery I was wearing a 2X. Walking and stairs are no longer a problem, and fatigue is almost a thing of the past. We went to Hard Rock Cafe and had dinner before heading home. Bob ordered chicken & ribs and I just ate a few bites of each. I had no problem with nausea. I love my new life, and Thank God every day for the gift of bypass surgery.
October 14, 2003 - Hello to all my WLS friends. Today is a good day. I finally broke my plateau (if you can call one week a plateau). I had hung out at 212 lbs. for 8 days. I know I’m not supposed to weigh myself every day, but I’m addicted to the scale. Anyway, I was still having problems with nausea, so at the doctor’s suggestion, I supplemented ½ of a protein shake for breakfast and ½ for lunch. I don’t know if it was too many calories, or what, but I decided to quit the shakes, eat just twice a day (I’m never really hungry for breakfast anyway), and really start forcing the water. When I stepped on the scale this morning I was at 207 lbs. That’s -56 lbs. in 10 weeks. Just 8 more pounds and I can say I weigh “one hundred and something”. Now that will be an exciting day. Also … I wanted to let you know that when I LOST 50 lbs … I FOUND the lap I lost years ago. I can now sit a plate on the flat of my knees and eat … without balancing it on my stomach or chest. It’s the LITTLE things that mean the most.
October 6, 2003 - Monterey and Carmel were wonderful. I took my sisters (Jeanie & Jackie), daughters (Jaime & Sara) and mother (Nancy). Mom doesn't get out much because of all her obesity related co-morbidities, so this was quite the adventure for her. We had lunch at Bubba Gumps on Saturday. I ordered the chicken tenders, ate two and had about 8 french fries. The waiter boxed up my leftover chicken and everything was going fine until I took a sip of water to cool off my hot lips (the chicken was very spicy), which was a mistake. It made me nauseated right away. We walked around and did some shopping and it wasn't long before the nausea was gone. On Sunday we went to Denny's for breakfast before heading to the beach. That went a bit better. Sara cut off a small piece of her cheese omelet, Jackie gave me a half of a piece of bacon, and mom provided a bite of her steak. We have now decided that when we go out to eat, I'll just order an empty plate and pass it around the table for everyone to give me a bite of what they're having. Kind of like how Helen Keller used to go around the table and eat off everyone's plate. I like that idea. I don't have to panic about ordering off a menu, and I can still eat with everyone else.
October 3, 2003 - We're off to Monterey for the weekend for an all girl's beach party. I shant be donning a bikini, but I must say ... I do look better in my size 20 swim suit, and shaving my legs takes a lot less time and effort.
October 2, 2003 - Two months post op and still kickin'. It's been a long haul with my "unique" fistula problem, but I have some great news that I'd like to share. I had my blood work and physical with my PCP last week, and I no longer need to take any of the 14 meds I was on prior to surgery. The diabetes, hypertension, High cholesterol, and GERDS have disappeared, along with 45 lbs. When I "weigh" the problems I had with surgery against the benefits I am now getting, hands down I would do it again in a heartbeat. Six weeks ago I thought this surgery was gonna kill me for sure. Now ... well now I know the truth. IT SAVED MY LIFE.
September 24, 2003 - I'm pretty excited that my scale shows I'm below the 220 mark. Not by much, but I weighed 219.5 lbs. this morning. That's about 10 lbs. less than when I got married 7 years ago. My daughter Jaime gave me some clothes that are a size 20, and THEY FIT! I used to wear a 26/28. I'm starting to let go of the baggy/comfortable look, and wear clothes that are a bit more form fitting. It makes me a little self-conscience though. I have an appointment with my PCP tomorrow and am looking forward to how my blood work turns out. I used to take 14 different meds for my co-morbidities and since wls I haven't taken any. Pretty cool huh?
September 17, 2003 - According to my scale, I am down 38 lbs. since my 1st surgery 6 weeks ago, but I don't go back to the doctor (official scale) until October 1st. I am no longer vomiting, and have less nausea. I'm anxious to get approval to start exercising so I can tighten up all this loose stuff hanging around my legs and arms.
September 12, 2003 - My sister Jackie invited me to go to breakfast. I was a little scared, being my first time to a restaurant, but what the heck. I ordered a one egg omelet and when they delivered it, it came with two biscuits and gravy. I just figured I'd have a bite or two and get the rest to go. Big mistake! I'm not sure if I ate too fast, or if the biscuits were too rich, but all of a sudden I knew I was going to vomit. The bathrooms in this little diner are outside and around the back. I started running and only got as far as the flower bed outside the door. After getting sick on the daisies, I went back inside to join my sister. When we left there was a gardener weeding the flower bed. I felt so terrible I advised him to watch out for my mess, adding a little humor by saying "please don't eat the daisies". Granted ... vomiting ain't what it used to be. It's more like baby spit up. Before surgery I used to projectile vomit. I once got sick on my sister's new shoes ... from across the room. I made Linda Blair in the Exorcist look like an amatuer. Ahhh well ... enough about yacking.
August 27, 2003 - At my post-op appointment today I have lost 32 lbs. which I'm really excited about. It's just been a long haul, and eating and drinking are still difficult, but I know that eventually I will be a huge advocate of this surgery. Whenever I eat I have nausea and often vomit, so Dr. Coirin wants me to supplement meals with protein shakes.
August 22, 2003 - I developed a bladder infection and had to have IV antibiotics. My IV was infiltrated and the swelling in my arm was very painful, with the skin stretching to the limit. I also had to have a series of tests done this morning. They wanted 4 CT scans, so my breakfast of champions was more Barium ... mmmm mmmm goood! Later in the day, Doc said the tests I had show there is still some back-flushing happening in my intestines, but he feels that when my muscles get stronger, it will stop. He feels strongly that the complications I'm having now are because I had two major surgeries within a 2 week period. He will release me from the hospital today but I have to eat very soft foods for a few weeks. When he told me he would release me today, his eyes just about popped out of his head when I ripped my hospital gown off ... and underneath I had on my clothes. I was going home come hell or high water. The doctor just laughed. I think he thought I was naked under the gown. All I knew was I was going home.
August 21, 2003 - I had hoped to go home today, but the doc wants more tests tomorrow. He is still seeing some problems in the CT scan I had yesterday. He wants to actually watch the barium go down my throat and into my stomach and intestines. He also wants to have Dr. Coates there as well. Neither has ever seen my particular problem.
August 20, 2003 - I am still in the hospital and getting a bit depressed. I was doing so well after the first surgery, and it's hard for me to be going through this setback. My sister Jeanie realized how down I was and she and my daughter Sara arranged a special surprise for me today. Sara co-conspired with the nursing staff and doctor for me to have a special visitor at the hospital. Bob came in to my room with a wheelchair and said he wanted to take me outside for some fresh air. That sounded so good to me. I was so sick of having the smell of the hospital in my nose. When he wheeled me out, the sun was shining and I could smell the flowers. It was wonderful. Then he turned the corner and much to my surprise ... lying there on the grass ... was my Sadie. Sara had brought my precious dog for a visit. Sadie was as happy to see me as I was to see her. Her foot was still bandaged, but she had no problem jumping up to saturate my face with kisses and give me hugs. I almost peed my pants, I was so happy I was blubbering like an idiot. She looked so good and even though I knew Bob was taking good care of her, I have been so worried about her. What a great day it was.
August 15, 2003 - My sister Jeanie called to say that she and her husband Dan were going to go by my house every day to spend some time with Sadie. Bob works about an hour away from home, so it wasn't possible for him to come home on his lunch hour to check on her. I'm so blessed to have such a caring family. I don't know what I'd do without their support and love.
August 13, 2003 - Second surgery was today. There's still no room in the bariatric wing, so I had to be upstairs. I was in a lot of pain, and hitting the PCA button quite frequently. Then at 2:00 am, I had an allergic reaction to the morphine. I felt like I was going to scratch the nose off my face and my eyes swelled almost closed. The night nurse said it was a classic reaction, but she didn't want to wake the doctor to see if she could give me Benedryl, and said I would have to ride it out. Excuse me, but that was just plain crap. The morphine finally started wearing off around 6:00 AM and I had just dozed off when the nurse from hell marched through my room with two other ladies, and parted the blinds in my window so she could show them her new car. Then they stood outside my room, cackling like a bunch of hens, laughing and talking loudly. Helllloooo! There are people here that don't feel well. Why is it that you can never get any rest in a hospital? They wake you up at 5:00 in the morning to weigh you, and then wake you at 6:00 to draw blood. God I wish they had room for me in the bariatric wing. My daughter Sara called to check on me at 9:00 AM, and I was crying. I think I was just at the end of my rope. They wouldn't give me anything for pain or the allergic reaction until they spoke with the doctor and he hadn't come in yet. Sara was very angry about the lack of treatment and compassion that I was getting from the nursing staff, and she became my advocate and champion. She called the director of the hospital and advised her that I had an untreated allergic reaction for the past 7 hours and told her about the loud nurse from hell. I didn't know she was going to call the director, so I called Dr. Coirin's office and advised them as well. Between Sara and Dr. Coirin's influence, the director was in my room apologizing within a half hour, and I was moved to the bariatric wing right away. The nurses and staff settled me in right away and I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
August 12, 2003 - I had my CT Scan today and Dr. Coirin says I have a Fistula. Somehow my new small pouch and large old stomach are touching, causing a "communication" between the two. Food and water are leaking from one to the other, which is causing all of the pain. The bad news ... the only way to fix the problem is to have more surgery. The good news (for other wls patients at least) is that this complication is so rare that it only happens once in every 11,000 surgeries. Tomorrow Dr. Coirin will go back in, tear down everything he did in the original gastric bypass, sort through and invert all of my intestines, repair what needs to be repaired, and then put everything back together again. Kind of like Humpty Dumpty. I am so bumbed out. I was doing so well ... if only I never had to eat.
August 11, 2003 - Dr. Coirin says I am dehydrated and is worried something else may be going on. He admitted me back into the hospital for a CT test to find out what might be causing the pain and to re-hydrate me. They plan to keep me for a minimum of 3 days. There is no room for me in the bariatric wing so I was taken to the 2nd floor. The nurse there tried to get me to drink cranberry juice because I was dehydrated. When I explained that I can't have sugar, she insisted it would be okay. Good thing I was on my toes. Dumping syndrome is not something I need.
August 10, 2003 - I haven't been able to eat any food, and water is even becoming difficult. I'll call the doctor tomorrow.
August 08, 2003 - I ate one bite of scrambled egg this morning, and it caused me to have a lot of pain. It feels like I swallowed a golf ball and the pain stayed with me for about 45 minutes. I called the doctor's office and Sonya said some pain is common, but things should be fine as long as I'm not running a fever. Later in the day, I tried another bite of egg. Same exact pain. I don't know what's going on here, but I'm kind of scared. At this point ... NOT eating seems like a pretty good option. Now it is even painful to drink the water. This just doesn't seem right.
August 06, 2003 - Went to the post-op lecture at DoctorsHospital. Cheryl Budde taught the class and gave a lot of really great information about what to expect down the road. I have no problems driving or walking, and have no fatigue at all. The only problem I still have is pain when I drink. Tomorrow I'll be having my 1st food since surgery ... an egg.
August 02, 2003 - I came home from the hospital today, just 48 hours after surgery. Besides having a golf ball-like pain when I drink, I'm doing very well. I have little or no fatigue, so it's gonna be hard to force myself to take it easy. Sadie is doing very well and we had an emotional and joyful reunion. I know she's been confused about everything, and probably wondering why I wasn't with her at the vets. Thank God she pulled through her surgery okay. Now we can keep each other company while we recuperate.
August 01, 2003 - I came through the surgery very well. It only took Dr. Coirin 1 1/2 hours. The surgery was done lap and I had no adhesions from previous surgeries. Because I have bladder sensitivity, I requested the catheder be taken out in recovery, which they did. I was out of bed and walking within 1/2 hour of getting to my room, with little or no pain. The nurses and Dr. Coirin are amazed at how well I did. Note: Sadie's surgery went very well and she should only have a 5" scar on her foot. They her home with a cone on her head. Bob says if I pick at my incisions, I'm gonna have to wear a cone too.
July 31, 2003 - Just a quick post to let you know I'm on my way to the hospital now. My dog Sadie (Border Collie) got "nudged" by a truck yesterday. She pulled through the SHOCK and we got to bring her home. Bob agreed to take her in for surgery on her foot today, so we'll both be on the table at the same time. Bob wanted to take me to the hospital and be with me, but I know he understands that I would feel a lot better if he would take care of Sadie. I can't loose her. She's my baby. July 30, 2003 - Surgery is tomorrow and I'm doing the bowel prep today. Not a pleasant thing, but then diarrhea (I like to call it the Big D) never really is. July 15, 2003 - My sister Jackie called to see what she could do to assist me while I was recuperating. As I mentioned before, my mom requires a lot of care, and so does my grandma. They live just 4 doors apart, but are unable to take care of each other. Grandma is 92 years old and blind with a lot of health problems, and mom is 70 years old and on 23 different medications for various problems, primarily diabetes & congestive heart failure. I have been the primary caregiver for Grandma, and Jeanie takes care of Mom. Jackie & Jeff spread themselves out between the two. It's a team effort. Anyway ... Jackie offered to take care of Grandma while I was mending and you can't know what a relief that is for me. Grandma is a sweetheart, but she can be pretty demanding of your time. July 09, 2003 - Well ... I went shopping today for the vitamins I'll need to take. I found the chewable adult multi vitamin (Costco), the B12 under the tongue (Trader Joe's), but I can't find the liquid Calcium Citrate. I was told that Costco had it, but neither Tracy, Stockton, or Modesto carries it. So the search is on. I also went ahead and stocked my cabinets with broth and diet jell-o in preparation for my 1st week post-op. Mmmm Mmmm Good. July 08, 2003 - While I was at the hospital for the teaching seminar, I went ahead and pre-registered, had my EKG, let them snap a chest x-ray, and went belly-up for an ultra-sound. The only thing I have to do now is have the blood work done 3 days before surgery. July 08, 2003 - All of Dr. Coirin's patients are required to attend a 3 hour "teaching" seminar at the hospital. The information they provide is very valuable. Cheryl Budde RN teaches the class and when you leave, you will know everything there is to know about bariatric surgery, from pre-op to surgery to post-op. There is nothing left undiscussed. July 04, 2003 - My sister Jackie had a swimming party & BBQ for the 4th of July. My grandmother (90 years old, blind, & lives alone) has never learned how to swim and is afraid of the water. It was supposed to be 102 degrees today, so I took a swim suit over to grandma's house and was able to talk her into getting in the pool. Jackie's pool has a huge lounge area (about 5' x 12') near the shallow end. You can sit in a lawn chair under an umbrella and still be submerged up to the chest in water ... and that's just what we did with Grandma. Mom and I sat on each side of her and she really enjoyed it. Today is the first day I told my family about my upcoming surgery. My husband and daughters knew, but I didn't want to say anything until the approval process was done and I was scheduled. With the exception of my step-mother, everyone was supportive. I imagine she will be too as soon as she realizes that I won't do the same thing her sister-in-law did, and that was to stretch my stomach out. Apparently her sister-in-law is now having the fat gland removal surgery. Anyway ... I'm so happy to have the support from my family on this. They really love me. June 18, 2003 - Insurance approved the surgery. Surgery date scheduled for July 31st. Yippee! I'm on my way to a healthier lifestyle. June 11, 2003 - Surprise! I passed the psyc evaluation. Dr. Coirin's office submitted the paperwork to the insurance for approval. Let's keep our fingers and toes crossed. May 30, 2003 - Sonya called with the insurance approval for the psyc evaluation, and the 1st appointment with the psychologist is scheduled for next week. May 26, 2003 - Dr. Coirin seems to be a wonderful and caring surgeon. He is very patient and took the time to answer all of my questions. My husband Bob came with me and I'm so glad. His support and love mean the world to me. Although very busy ... Dr. Coirin's office staff is effecient and friendly. April 30, 2003 - Attended the Seminar at Doctors Hospital in Modesto. Very Informative! Turned in my packet of information, along with prepared documentation for my health history, medications, family history, diet history, and a personal statement. April 10, 2003 - It took 1 week to get the approval for the consultation appointment. Dr. Coirin's requires that you attend a seminar (2 hours) at Doctor's Hospital in Modesto BEFORE he sees you at the consultation appointment. The hospital sent me a packet of information to complete and return at the seminar.
About Me
Woodbridge, CA
Location
24.9
BMI
Surgery
07/31/2003
Surgery Date
Apr 09, 2003
Member Since
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
One Day Pre-Op - July 2003
263#lbs
March 2004
162#lbs