katheek

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Thirty days came on April 8,2011 and I have been so grateful everyday.  I thank my higher power every night when I lay down.  When I quit drinking over 4-1/2 years ago I traded one addiction for another.  I replaced alcohol with food, mostly foods that were full of sugar.  I'd go to Top Foods or Safeways every morning always making sure I didn't go to the same store two days in a row, just like I didn't want to go to the same liquor store, I sure didn't want anyone to think that I might have a problem.  I'd have two doughnuts or several cookies eaten before I got to work which is probably less than a 10 minute drive.  I started to drink pop (no not diet) and my portions were getting out of control.  In my recovery from alcohol I chose to do a 12 step program and learned so much about myself, I made changes and I continue to grow and learn each day.  So I researched WLS and talked with my brother and several friends that had RNY.  I chose RNY.  I attended a seminar at Virginia Mason in Federal Way, listened to the surgeon and his staff and I knew that I was making a good choice. 

I had a long haul some my making and some not.  My insurance required that I lose 5% of my weight which was only 14 lbs and that took 4-5 months because I cheated.  Once I made the 5% I was on my way to going to the next step which was an appt. with my surgeon's team.  I got the appt and had blood work done and an EKG.  One week later I had my psych eval.  About a month after I had my psych eval completed I received a phone call saying that my EKG was borderline and I would have to see a cardiologist, so this is what set me behind a bit.  I had to get into see a cardiologist, then I had to wear a monitor for 24 hours then I had to have an appt. for a stress test.  Stress test was excellent, the cardiologist said my heart could handle anything the surgical team through at it.  So by the second week of January all testing had been completed,, the surgical team was notified and then the insurance company.  By February 18th I was in to see my surgeon and well my surgery was on March 8.

I now have the tool I needed to continue my weight loss journey and I love it.  I have had no complications, no fatigue, nothing but a little constipation......

Some days I have head hunger but I don't give in to it just like I don't give in to alcohol. 

From Preop appt to 30 days post op I have lost 36 pounds and I am feeling good,I can exercise with the best of them and my knees don't hurt as much.  I hope that when I have reached goal the pain in my knees is at a minimum.

Really need to find out what the "norm" would be for a bowel movement?  My stomach is making all kinds of gurgly noises and I think it might be a bathroom issue.

I had laproscopic gastric bypass on Tuesday, Mar.8th and all went well.  I got home to my house about 9:30 last night and the drive home from Seattle was terrible.  I have not seen that much rain in a long time. 

I have had no pain medication since 9:30 last night and I honestly don't feel like I need to take any.  The toughest part is remembering to don't drink liquids 20 minutes before a meal and 30 minutes after a meal, take vitamins and just relax.

I had to ask the dr. if he really did do surgery on me or did they just place some bandaids strategically on my stomach so that I would think I had surgery, maybe it is all a trick........

Kathee

Tomorrow I am just liquids then the next day my surgery.  I've been excited so I hope I keep up that attitude and not get frightened.

Good day all,

I have completed my first week of the pre-op diet and it was really, really easy.  I am using Bariatric Essentials, the dutch chocolate and the vanilla creme.  These drinks are very tasty so this makes the pre op diet quite simple.  I'm surprised I haven't lost more weight because I am following the program to a "T".  According to the program I should lose 5-10% of my current weight and I have only last 4.5 pounds.  So if I do the calculations I should lose about 13-14 lbs, only have lost 4.5 so I am about two pounds over from a goal of 6.5 pounds for the week.  I'm not obsessing over it but kind of curious if others have experienced this.

So seven more days and I will have my surgery and I am so excited.  I have obsesity help for support plus two people where I work have had gastric bypass and they are doing very well. 

Kathee

Kind of curious...if you had a routine laproscopic gastric bypass surgery how long was your hospital stay?  According to what I have been told by the bariatric team I might only be in the hospital one night...is this the norm?

Yesterday I went up to V.Mason in Federal Way to meet with the nurtritionist, surgeon and anastesiologist (sp).  So much information as far as the preop diet goes and we talked vitamins.  I left the pharmacy $213.00 poorer and still have to order my vitamin d3 online.  I start my pre op diet on Tuesday.  Went shopping this morning and purchased several of the essentials for the next two weeks then I'll go shopping the weekend before surgery to get the other things I will need for the liquid/puree diet.  Everything looks real good so surgery is a go on Mar.8.  I don't know anytime yet and won't know until the day before which is kind of a bummer because I have to drive 2 hours to reach Seattle, not sure if I'll want to go up the night before.  I'm sure I'll be on here more now that things are coming down to the wire and I know I am going to have many, many questions. 

Is there anyone having surgery at Virginia Mason on Mar.8?  Let me know if you are and perhaps we will be recovering WLS roomies.

I put out a message to folks that might have smoked.  I can not have surgery if I am a smoker.  I put off quit smoking for awhile because of continous "kinks" in the process.  Now my surgery is 35 days from now and I am wondering if I stop smoking if the blood test will come out clean of the nicotine.

Anyone have any suggestions, ideas?  Yes, of course the obvious one is to quit smoking and I will because the surgery means the world to me and then to be smoke free is another blessing. 

Just real curious if I should call the doctor to reschedule surgery which I really, really, don't want to because the date works out so well with my job.  I work in a community college and while I am out recouping, the students are out on break....perfect.