ladybugtx18

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Everything is really going great.  Have lost a total of 50 lbs. since surgery on September 30th, 2009.  My surgeon is living the group, though, and is starting her own practice.  Would love to follow up with her, but it is even further away than I'm going now.  Really need to find a bariatric surgeon in the Abilene area to follow up with since we are moving.

This last week has been pretty tough.  I have been really sick with an upper respiratory infection, Ughhh!

Went to the doctor and got a steroid shot last Thursday.  That didn't help any so I had to take a Medrol dose pack additionally.  The steroids have been causing me to have fluid retention and to be hungry all the time.  My weight loss has more or less come to a standstill because of all this and I have not been exercising like I should because I have just felt lousy.  Hopefully, next week will be better.  Please pray for me.  We are having a garage/moving sale at the end of next week and I have so much to do to get ready for it.  I have had friends and family offering there help and I thank God every day for their support.

Everything is going great!  Down from 295 to 270 pounds since first appt. with surgeon.   So glad I actually get to start chewing my food.  I was like a kid in a candy store trying to decide just what to eat first!

Surgery went very well.  Funny moment:  As I was wheeled into the OR, the music was blaring and the song being played was by Billy Joel, "Only the Good Die Young!"  I busted out laughing, and thought, well, too late for both, so I guess I should be okay here.  The most soreness I have is in the incision on the left hand side, and I have bruising there about the size of two hands put together.  Been on clear liquids since I've been home, but had 2 oz. of protein shake and 1/2 soft scrambled egg today.  So far, so good!

Well, the big day is tomorrow.  Seems like it would never happen, but now it seems like everything is happening really fast.  I am excited, nervous, excited, anxious, excited, etc.  I originally lost five pounds before, and since the liquid diet have lost another five (sure seems like it should have been more--but then again, that is one reason I am having the surgery--diets just don't work for me, but this is more than a diet--it is a change of lifestyle).  But the good thing is, I don't feel bloated like before, and some of the swelling in my legs has gone down.  I am ready for the next big step!

Had an appointment to meet with the nutritionist today.  I have to take four different freeways and traffic was murder this morning.  When I got there, first thing they did was the doppler study on my legs to make sure I don't have any blood clots before surgery.  I don't.   Then I met with the nutritionist.  Then I had blood work done.  Then they sent me to the hospital admitting office and they sent me for chest  x-ray, EKG, and more blood work.  My original appointment was at 9:30 this morning, but I didn't leave the hospital until after 2 this afternoon.  Wouldn't have minded so much if I had been expecting all this today, but I am glad to have it out of the way.  I'm just irritable because I had to go fasting and now I have had a headache all day from not eating for so long. 

Also, found out that my doctor requires a week of liquid diet pre-op.  Is this routine for WLS?  Anyone know?

This has bee a very long journey, but I finally have surgery scheduled.  Decided to have the gastric banding, after talking to the surgeon I chose.  She felt it would be a better choice in view of my history of cancer and radiation to the stomach and pelvic area.

Have been overweight all my adult life, and now have all the added complications of diabetes, sleep apnea, chronic back pain, and this month my feet have started to protest my weight with a vengeance.

Tried every diet that could be thought of, and of course, lost weight to begin with, but gained back even more every time. 

Started checking in to wls a couple of years before the band was approved in the United States, but just couldn't go out of the country for surgery. 

Around 2004, talked to a surgeon, but then got the news that my insurance through my employer had an exclusion clause, so the surgery would not be covered.  Then in June of that year my husband had to have quadruple bypass surgery, and before the year was out my mother had a stroke and my youngest daughter, who was seventeen at the time, had her first bout with bipolar disorder and was hospitalized twice for suicidal ideation and attempts.

In 2005, had surgery and radiation therapy for cancer, so thoughts of surgery was not really prevalent at that time.  Just the thought of fighting for my life.

In 2006, retired on disabilty and had to wait for Social Security to approve disability, so Medicare coverage would kick in two years after effective date. 

Now, have Medicare to cover procedure, but have had an awful tought time finding both a surgeon and a facility covered by Medicare.  Finally found both and will have to travel a bit to have surgery, but hopefully, the long wait will be worth it.