Misti B.

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Well it has been an interesting few months. I recovered from my bypass surgery pretty good. I have lost 84 pounds to date. I was in the hospital for 5 days on 3/28 for a bowel obstruction. So not my idea of fun. Still at home recovering from that, but should be back to work by the 18th of April.  So excited to be almost 100 pounds lighter. I feel great, I still don't see it, but I can definately feel it. Everyone have a happy Easter.

My stepsister Orry got engaged on New Years Eve. I was so happy for her. It's been a long time coming, ask anyone in the family...lol  Well yesterday she called me and asked me if I would be a bridesmaid!!! Hell Yes I will lol.  And they picked 5-12-12 as their wedding date so that gives me plenty of time to be comfortable in a dress again. I'm so excited I can't stand it. Just thought I would share the news with you all.

So I have been so worried about not losing weight since surgery. So I took the scale away last week. Talk about withdrawls. lol  I went in today just to check in and decided to check the weight. I expected another 1 pound loss like I've been seeing every week. Low and behold I get on the scale and I lost 8 pounds! I was so happy.  When I left there I went down to the YMCA, time to get started on my water aerobics and working on my upper arms and thighs to help somewhat with the skin during the weight loss.  I felt fine after surgery but now I am seeing and being told that something is definitely happening.

So I got up at 5am, got showered, put on some make up, got dressed and headed out to work. There were more than a few shocked faces that I was back so early.  I have only been released to work 4 hours a day by my doctor since Liberty Mutual decided to be douche bags, (pardon me, but I'm still pretty ticked about their BS).  So mondays I work 630-1030 and the rest of the week I work 1030-230.
It went alright. I was a little sore sitting up in the chair like that for 4 hours. And a little more tired than I have been since having my surgery. I still have energy, but it's one thing to spend an hour cleaning the kitchen then being able to take a break and rest and another to work 4 hours straight.
Still a little discouraged about the lack of weightloss. I had more success pre op then I am having post op. What gives?  I know everyone says to give it time, that my body has to adjust and all. But seriously, with as little as I am eating and not losing anything???
It's a stressful thing that has led me to tears more than once a day since last week.

     So I sent in all my paperwork and EOI forms to Liberty Mutual back in November to allow plenty of time. When I got my approval for FMLA there was nothing in there about the short term disability. So I called and they said they didn't receive the EOI paperwork. So I refaxed all the paperwork along with confirmation that the first fax that went through.
     I called today to check on it, and they denied me. Because of HIPPA laws they wouldn't tell me the reason, they said that I would get my letter any day now. So I called my work to let them know that I would be coming back to work next Monday, two freaking weeks post op!
     Well my HR gal said that they can't let me come back without a release from my surgeon. So I called my nurse and she said that she didn't think there was any way he was going to release me to go back to work only two weeks after major surgery. So I'm pretty much screwed.
     Have any of you had to deal with this. And anyone who's surgery is upcoming stay on this and make sure everything is in order and taken care of before you put yourself out of commission.

So I went in to to see the surgeon today. He said that I am doing great and put me on pureed. I'm now down into the 350's, haven't seen that weight in over 5 years.  The only thing he told me to change was to split up my protien. I have been having it all in the morning.  Came home and had some refried beans with a little FF sour cream and a sprinkle of FF shredded cheese.  He wants to see me back on March 1st. The nurses there said I can come weigh in once a week at the clinic.

I have been waking up around 6 every morning. Which isn't out of the ordinary since I am usually at work by 6 lol. Yesterday I swept and mopped the living room. Today I got up, did all the dishes, cleaned the entire kitchen. Made my son grilled cheese sandwich and soup for lunch.  So not trying to overdue anything. I am sitting down now having some blended homemade soup my Russian friends mother made for me.  I'm just really enjoying this.  Before surgery on my days off it be out of bed and onto the couch.  With no energy or motivation to do anything. It's too icy out to be walking so I guess house cleaning is my way of getting in some exercise. I go tomorrow to my doctor for my one week post op appointment.  Hope he see's that everything is alright. I would hate that feeling this great would be overshadowed by a complication or anything. Happy thought, happy thoughts.

So my ex husband thought maybe it would be a good idea to get out of the house.  I have been feeling so well I thought sure. Took a shower put on some makeup and out we went. Ironically enough we went to dinner with some friends of his. It wasn't hard at all. I had a bowl of chicken noodle soup, (actually I just had them skim the top and I was careful not to swallow any hard bits of veggies or chicken. And he ordered me one scrambled egg. It was weird to me after a little bit of broth and three WELL CHEWED bites of egg I was full.
Then we went to Walmart to get a few things that I needed for the house. Started getting a little tired so when we were done there we dropped off a birthday card to our friend and headed home. I have to say the only uncomfortable thing about the evening was the driving. Missoula roads are well, less than kept up. 
I slept pretty good last night, although I do still wake up when I need to move or change positions. But I find that if I keep a pillow on either side of me so no matter what side I turned I have something to hug against me I sleep good. 

I have noticed some bruising now around most of the incision sites. Mainly on the sides and right above my belly button. The one at the very top hasn't bruised at all yet. I'm thinking that may have been just a camera because it's the smallest incision.  I feel a twinge here and there in my abdomen but nothing excruciating.  I have my post op next Tuesday with the surgeon so we'll see how it's going.  

Well hello there everyone. I'm happy to say that I made it thru surgery...lol  Yes I am a bit of a worry wart. Getting ready for surgery was a bit more of a pain in the ass then anything.  Took them over an hour before they got an IV started. I almost didn't have time to see my family before I went in. They stuck me 7 times, they were just about to just put one in my NECK, then the doctor came in again and got one started in my hand.
Surgery was Monday, that night in the hospital I was pretty sore. The only thing that escalated it was them emptying my JP drain and resetting it to draw again.  It felt like they it had a hold of my lung or something. Intensive care nurse came to check on me once to rule out a clot for the pain.
Tuesday morning I had my swallow test and passed with flying colors. So when they got me back to my room I got all the tubes and drains removed. I was free. They kept the IV attachment in my hand just in case. I went walking Monday night and a few times Tuesday. By 3 o clock Tuesday I was resting at home on my couch.
I have a great support system here. Friends were with me all night and have been in and out everyday that I've been home. I was in and out of it Tuesday night. Wed was a pretty good day, Thursday was a rough one. Not sure why I woke up feeling like poo. Started feeling better by that afternoon.
Today even with my friend here I got up by myself, fixed my shake, fixed my soup. Haven't had any pain meds today.
I am tolerating water, the shakes, the puree'd soups really well. Just getting use to the constant burping. lol All in all I think I am doing pretty well and having a great experience so far.
Although I haven't lost any weight yet.  I talked to my nurse about that today and she said it was because of all the fluids that were given to me in the hospital and the gas they pumped me up with, she said that usually after about the first week after surery is when the weight loss starts. And that I'll be surprised.
I do want to thank you all for the well wishes and thoughts. They meant alot.

So here I am sititng at home enjoying my dinner of chicken broth and the phone rings. It's my surgeon!   He was just calling to make sure that I am ready  for Monday and to discuss me changing my mind from my lap band to the bypass. I gave him my reasons which he all said were good reasons.  But he wanted to let me know that there were bigger risks and talked about death. But that no matter what surgery I had he believed that I was making the right choice.

I knew he was just doing his job informing me, but something snapped and I went to the background and cried for an hour. I almost called him back and cancelled. The fear of the surgery has been overshadowing everything else for the last few days. I am so scared of death, I have been since I was a little girl. But now that I am a mother and have two beautful kids that need me I'm even more scared.  But this is a pretty common surgery these days.  And both my surgeons are wonderful, in this Bariatric Center for bypass both partners are in on the surgery.  Dr Swannack is also a vascular surgeon so I feel that I am in good hands. And he also let me know that he only works with the anesthesiologists that are use to taking care of people my size.
Some of my friends haven't helped with the panic, telling me they are scared for me. That they had a dream about me and woke up crying. NOT the words of encouragement that someone needs to hear 5 days before major surgery.  I have to believe that I am going to be okay. I know there are no guarantees and it's okay to be scared. I heard that this brings life changes so I am started by removing the naysayers and their opinions.  Is this going to be hard, you bet your ass it is. But I am ready to be healthier. They'll just have to give me an extra shot of the "I don't give a damn juice" before they take me in...lol