Jacque V.

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I am 30 days post-op and I have made it to onederland!!!  I have not been under 200 lbs. in many many years.  I am very pleased to say the least.  I have been feeling pretty well most days.  Some days are not so good, but they are few and far between.  I started back to the gym yesterday.  Before surgery, I was doing 40 minutes on the arc trainer at my top heart rate plus 15 minutes on the rowing machine.  In addition, I was doing the weight circuit and several workouts that focused on my abs.  Now I am starting slow.  I did 20 minutes on the arc trainer at my top heart rate yesterday and today.  I won't start the weights or the ab workouts for a couple of more weeks.  I will just concentrate on building up my cardio on the arc trainer and continue walking in the evening at home.  I still don't seem to have as much energy as I would like to have.  I don't think I'm getting enough calories or protein.  I will continue to work on that. 

My surgery was on Wednesday, and now I am home!  Everything went well – no complications or problems so far (knock on wood).  I was allowed to leave on Friday afternoon because I was doing so well with my walking (every two hours), drinking water and passing gas.  I will admit that I felt really awful the first 24 hours or so.   But now I notice a significant improvement in how I feel everyday.  It is tough getting all of the liquids in – but I’m doing my best.  It is getting easier though. 

One of the most difficult things for me was (and still is) a huge headache.  The pain from the surgery is tolerable, however this headache is unbearable.  Hopefully, I can keep it under control with the pain meds until it runs its course and goes away. 

I don’t know about anyone else, but my sense of smell seems to be in overdrive.  Everything smells bad to me, and I have a nasty taste in my mouth.  Consequently, nothing tastes good – not even water.  All of the sf drinks, jello, and popsicles taste too sweet.  I just sent my husband to the store to look for something else for me to try.  We shall see. . .

So far so good.  I can’t wait until tomorrow when I’m sure I’ll feel even better.  I just keep sipping, walking and resting.

My surgery is this Wednesday!  I'm so excited and not really very nervous.  I know I am in good hands with Dr. Singh.  This past week, I had medical appointments every day - Tuesday was my endoscopy, Wednesday was vascular and anesthesiologist, and Thursday was my pre-op with Dr. Singh.  He told me that everything is a GO, so now I just wait until Wednesday.  I can't believe this is finally happening.  This journey began back in 2004 when I first started researching WLS.  It's been a long road, and I am sooooo ready for this.  You may have noticed that I changed my avatar to the symbol of energy.  I hope that having WLS will give me back the energy that I lost after I gained so much weight.  I can't wait to feel energetic again. 

Wish me luck!

 

I received a letter yesterday from my insurance company (MVP) approving my lap RNY!!  YOO HOO!!  Everything is going along so well.  I hope that the surgery and recovery goes as smoothly. 

My daughter's wedding was last weekend.  I know she and her new husband  will be very happy.  She was soooo beautiful!  However, I am embarrassed at how heavy I look in the photos (and this is after I have lost 28 lbs).  I wish I could have looked better for her wedding.  Although, I know it bothers me more than it bothers her.  My son is getting married next year and I should look and feel much better by then.  I'll be interested to see the difference. 

So, as I mentioned before, all is going well.  I can't wait for the big day - July 16th!!!

I am so excited!  I met with Dr. Singh today and he gave me the green light!  My surgery will be on July 16th!  He was so nice and answered all of my questions.  I am very happy with my surgeon choice.   However, I was so excited that I forgot to ask them what happens with insurance approval - like who does what, and do I need to do anything.  I guess I'll call to find out. 
The date works perfectly with my schedule.  My last class for the summer session is July 7th.  I'll have my endoscopy done on July 8th and pre-anesthesia screening on July 9th.  They were great to be able to work within my schedule (I don't think that usually happens). 
HOORAY!  It's finally going to happen!  Wish me luck!

Finally, I have lost the 10% that I was supposed to and my nutritionist has referred me the to surgeon!!!  My appointment with Dr. Singh is May 8th!!  That is the day after my last exam for the spring semester, so I will be able to fully focus on myself and not be distracted by studying.

I am so excited to be moving along with this process!  I really hope that I can have the surgery in July.  I am soooo ready for this.

It's been a long journey just to get to this point, but I am finally on track with my weight loss.  I am seriously losing the 10% necessary and am determined to loose even more by my next appointment with Dr. Alger in April. 
I have done everything else required - psych evaluation, support group meetings, education seminars, and C-pap machine.  I just couldn't lose the 10%!!!  Well now I am doing it!  I am hoping that I can have the surgery in July because that is when I have some time off. 
As you can probably tell by length of time it has taken me to get to this point, that I have been sort of ambivalent about the surgery.  However, I am now sure that this is what I want to do and am going full steam ahead with it. 

If anybody has read this - thanks.

I went to my first support group on Thursday.  It was very informative.  I learned a lot of little things that I may not learn from a doctor or nurse.  There were several people there that were post op and many others that are in various stages of the WLS journey.  They all had lots of great information.  I will definitely be going back! 

I have my psych evaluation on Tuesday.  I'm quite sure I'll need some kind of counseling to learn new ways to cope with stress.  Now, unfortunately, I eat when under stress.  I need to learn new coping skills to handle life's ups and downs.  Actually, its not the ups I have a problem with .... it's the downs!

I have been researching WLS for several years.  I realize that this is a huge decision and I don't want to go into it lightly.  Last May, I went to the first educational meeting to learn more about it.  I wasn't sure this was for me, so I waited and continued to research.  I have now decided that WLS is the tool I need to change my life! 

I made my appointment to see the nutritionist and met with her yesterday.  Dr. Alger was fantastic!!  I never met with a doctor that I felt this good about.  She was so informative and understanding!  She spent so much time with me - asking questions about every aspect of my life and how food fits into it.  I am so excited about the decision I made!  She wants me to get the requisite psych evaluation and a sleep apnea test.  My psych appointment is next Tuesday and my sleep consult is the following Tuesday.  I return to Dr. Alger on April 17th, and I hope that I will have lost a significant portion of the 10% weight by then.
 
I started working out again on my eliptical trainer a few weeks ago in anticipation of this weight loss journey.  I'm up to one mile in about 40+ minutes.  I do this about four times a week.  I already feel much better.  I don't huff and puff going up the stairs at school anymore! 

Oh yeah, I was concerned about the 10% weight loss because I would be below 40 BMI and no longer eligible for the surgery.  However, I have high blood pressure and possibly sleep apnea so I guess the additional problems from obesity will allow me to have the surgery after all.

I will be going to my first support group this Thursday.  I am excited to meet others who are going through the process and those who have already had their surgeries.