starby
Update
Feb 03, 2008
So, here's more of the story.
After surgery, I was in pain for two weeks, and then uncomfortable for another two. The inside and outside of my stomach hurt: muscles, flappy belly, staples, port hole -- when my sister had it done, she was fine after three days! I'm the one who declines Novacaine at the dentist because I can handle the pain/discomfort (which never seems THAT bad) rather than the numb mouth, so I was surprised that my threshold for pain seemed so low. At this time, I also seemed to have a very high sensitivity (oh, & I do know that it's all in my head: I kept admonishing myself!) to bad tasting stuff like pain medicine: I couldn't keep it down. So I didn't really take any. I couldn't lay flat: my stomach muscles would get stiff, and it was so painful to get upright again! Basically, I laid in a reclining chair for two weeks, trying to get my liquids down, sleeping as much as I could, and taking painful walks around the house while holding my belly tight, because that seemed to help.
The doctors had told me that I would have pain on the left hand side: that's where the work was done. Boy, did I ever! Then one day, I had such severe pain on the right hand side, lasting three days before I called the dr. They gave me a CT scan (more bad-tasting stuff: I'd vomit, try again, vomit, yell at myself, try again . . .) it wasn't surgery related and went a long way at putting my mind at ease that some instrument wasn't left in or a hernia: there was a large bump in the skin above the painful area. (Hmm, if you wonder that you're turning into a hypochondriac does that mean you're NOT one?)
I burped SO MUCH! But I was glad it was not from the other end. I still burp a lot when I'm full.
I went from the reclining chair at my sister's house for two weeks, to the leather sofa (slightly less in a sleeping upright position) at my house for the next week and a half, before I could sleep flat (not on my stomach, though!). I'd take my walks holding my stomach to keep it from bumping or jiggling: I was so weak! It wasn't 'til my fifth week (no wonder UCD advised 6 weeks off work!) that I began to feel MUCH better!
I now have a friend going through the pre-op process with a different doctor. I'm envious because she's having such positive visits and rapport with her doctor/staff! When she asked about recovery time, including me as an example, she was told that everyone, of course, responds differently. However, sometimes it can be related to surgical skills. My friend's dr mentioned that most of their patients were back to feeling better within 1-3 weeks: the dr said surgeons who have done the procedure more often may have a finer touch, thus not bruising/moving around in the stomach so much . . .
In any case, that was the most physically painful time in my life so far, and I'm glad it's over.
Since surgery, I have lost 60 pounds. I have surprised myself by being non-compliant with dr's instructions, and I'm embarrassed to tell him that. I don't get all my protein (I'm just not hungry much and I HATE those liquid proteins!), don't drink all my liquids, don't remember to take my vitamins every day -- I am slowly improving now that I see some of the unwanted side effects. I've been feeling weak and tired, and my hair is coming out like crazy. I am holding myself more accountable.
I have been going to the gym 3-4 times a week, remembering vitamins at least every other day, and really paying attention to more protein. I was at a weight platuea, but the gym has got the pounds moving again. So has the immenient possibility of too loose skin. I didn't go through all that to stay fat, or to keep myself sick. I'm in charge. I'm responsible. I'm still trying.
My diabetes is contolled (no meds!), I think my sleep apnea is better (don't fall asleep driving anymore!), strangers talk to me in public, men hold open doors for me, I can shop in the regular size clothes (the X-large), I can chase my niece around, and (drum roll, please!!), I can cross my legs like a feminine woman!
After surgery, I was in pain for two weeks, and then uncomfortable for another two. The inside and outside of my stomach hurt: muscles, flappy belly, staples, port hole -- when my sister had it done, she was fine after three days! I'm the one who declines Novacaine at the dentist because I can handle the pain/discomfort (which never seems THAT bad) rather than the numb mouth, so I was surprised that my threshold for pain seemed so low. At this time, I also seemed to have a very high sensitivity (oh, & I do know that it's all in my head: I kept admonishing myself!) to bad tasting stuff like pain medicine: I couldn't keep it down. So I didn't really take any. I couldn't lay flat: my stomach muscles would get stiff, and it was so painful to get upright again! Basically, I laid in a reclining chair for two weeks, trying to get my liquids down, sleeping as much as I could, and taking painful walks around the house while holding my belly tight, because that seemed to help.
The doctors had told me that I would have pain on the left hand side: that's where the work was done. Boy, did I ever! Then one day, I had such severe pain on the right hand side, lasting three days before I called the dr. They gave me a CT scan (more bad-tasting stuff: I'd vomit, try again, vomit, yell at myself, try again . . .) it wasn't surgery related and went a long way at putting my mind at ease that some instrument wasn't left in or a hernia: there was a large bump in the skin above the painful area. (Hmm, if you wonder that you're turning into a hypochondriac does that mean you're NOT one?)
I burped SO MUCH! But I was glad it was not from the other end. I still burp a lot when I'm full.
I went from the reclining chair at my sister's house for two weeks, to the leather sofa (slightly less in a sleeping upright position) at my house for the next week and a half, before I could sleep flat (not on my stomach, though!). I'd take my walks holding my stomach to keep it from bumping or jiggling: I was so weak! It wasn't 'til my fifth week (no wonder UCD advised 6 weeks off work!) that I began to feel MUCH better!
I now have a friend going through the pre-op process with a different doctor. I'm envious because she's having such positive visits and rapport with her doctor/staff! When she asked about recovery time, including me as an example, she was told that everyone, of course, responds differently. However, sometimes it can be related to surgical skills. My friend's dr mentioned that most of their patients were back to feeling better within 1-3 weeks: the dr said surgeons who have done the procedure more often may have a finer touch, thus not bruising/moving around in the stomach so much . . .
In any case, that was the most physically painful time in my life so far, and I'm glad it's over.
Since surgery, I have lost 60 pounds. I have surprised myself by being non-compliant with dr's instructions, and I'm embarrassed to tell him that. I don't get all my protein (I'm just not hungry much and I HATE those liquid proteins!), don't drink all my liquids, don't remember to take my vitamins every day -- I am slowly improving now that I see some of the unwanted side effects. I've been feeling weak and tired, and my hair is coming out like crazy. I am holding myself more accountable.
I have been going to the gym 3-4 times a week, remembering vitamins at least every other day, and really paying attention to more protein. I was at a weight platuea, but the gym has got the pounds moving again. So has the immenient possibility of too loose skin. I didn't go through all that to stay fat, or to keep myself sick. I'm in charge. I'm responsible. I'm still trying.
My diabetes is contolled (no meds!), I think my sleep apnea is better (don't fall asleep driving anymore!), strangers talk to me in public, men hold open doors for me, I can shop in the regular size clothes (the X-large), I can chase my niece around, and (drum roll, please!!), I can cross my legs like a feminine woman!
The only hoops I like are hula!
Jun 06, 2007
Jumping through hoops for pre-op! I expect it weeds out the people who would not be good surgical candidates. Heck, if we don't follow instructions & practice good nutrition & exercise now, guess we wouldn't do it after surgery either.
I went for a pre-op consult with Dr Ali a few weeks back. Found that it wasn't just my appointment: it was a group of us. And Dr. Fuller came and spent time answering our questions after we watched a video.
Then we got sent to our own exam rooms, where I saw a doctor who took case history, then Dr. Ali, then the surgery coordinator, then a surgery counselor. Came away with the sense that this is a VERY busy practice. The clinic was dirty and old in the reception areas, bathrooms, and meeting rooms. But after reading some posts about UC Davis bariatric post op ward (kind of like Survivor! Obesity Island. Only you WANT to get booted off the island as quick as possible), I was expecting this. Still, there's a sense of disappointment, especially after researching nice clinics who don't take your insurance.
However, Dr. Ali has very positive reviews and outcomes from what I've researched. When I met him, he did not act rushed. He was very pleasant, and even though it was a few minutes of meeting, he projected confidence and spoke in a professional manner. I could only think I sounded like a dunce: I couldn't come up with a single question for him. I had a list carefully prepared, but Dr. Fuller had already answered every one.
Now, I had researched Dr. Ali for over a year, and I liked that he has done over 500 surgeries, and I liked his professional manner. Naturally, I asked to be on his surgery schedule. The surgery coordinator informed me that "he doesn't like it when people make those requests' and she 'couldn't guarantee' it even on the day of surgery. I did ask if I was just going to wake up from surgery, and find out then who had done my surgery, but she said they are required to tell me before the surgery.
And why wouldn't I be able to request a particular doctor? It's a patient's right! I schedule cataract surgeries and would never make a patient feel uncomfortable for requesting the surgeon they feel most comfortable with!
I do like that they give you very comprehensive written information beforehand, and I like that they don't consider this just a surgery, but part of a weight loss program, and to that end, provide us with all the pre and post op support and information we'll need.
Anyway, I'm emailing my weekly food dairy, working to lose 10% of my body weight, will have a mandated nutrition class on June 20th, will have all my labs done, along with my EKG, thoracic ECG, gallbladder ultrasound, and lung CT. I'm also prepared to give myself a daily injection of something for several weeks (can't find what it's for in my paperwork right now).
I will do everything I'm told to, because I want everything to go as well as possible. Something that really stuck with me is that the first six months are your most effective weight loss months. After that, it slows down. So there is this six month window of opportunity, my last chance to get that weight off!
I went for a pre-op consult with Dr Ali a few weeks back. Found that it wasn't just my appointment: it was a group of us. And Dr. Fuller came and spent time answering our questions after we watched a video.
Then we got sent to our own exam rooms, where I saw a doctor who took case history, then Dr. Ali, then the surgery coordinator, then a surgery counselor. Came away with the sense that this is a VERY busy practice. The clinic was dirty and old in the reception areas, bathrooms, and meeting rooms. But after reading some posts about UC Davis bariatric post op ward (kind of like Survivor! Obesity Island. Only you WANT to get booted off the island as quick as possible), I was expecting this. Still, there's a sense of disappointment, especially after researching nice clinics who don't take your insurance.
However, Dr. Ali has very positive reviews and outcomes from what I've researched. When I met him, he did not act rushed. He was very pleasant, and even though it was a few minutes of meeting, he projected confidence and spoke in a professional manner. I could only think I sounded like a dunce: I couldn't come up with a single question for him. I had a list carefully prepared, but Dr. Fuller had already answered every one.
Now, I had researched Dr. Ali for over a year, and I liked that he has done over 500 surgeries, and I liked his professional manner. Naturally, I asked to be on his surgery schedule. The surgery coordinator informed me that "he doesn't like it when people make those requests' and she 'couldn't guarantee' it even on the day of surgery. I did ask if I was just going to wake up from surgery, and find out then who had done my surgery, but she said they are required to tell me before the surgery.
And why wouldn't I be able to request a particular doctor? It's a patient's right! I schedule cataract surgeries and would never make a patient feel uncomfortable for requesting the surgeon they feel most comfortable with!
I do like that they give you very comprehensive written information beforehand, and I like that they don't consider this just a surgery, but part of a weight loss program, and to that end, provide us with all the pre and post op support and information we'll need.
Anyway, I'm emailing my weekly food dairy, working to lose 10% of my body weight, will have a mandated nutrition class on June 20th, will have all my labs done, along with my EKG, thoracic ECG, gallbladder ultrasound, and lung CT. I'm also prepared to give myself a daily injection of something for several weeks (can't find what it's for in my paperwork right now).
I will do everything I'm told to, because I want everything to go as well as possible. Something that really stuck with me is that the first six months are your most effective weight loss months. After that, it slows down. So there is this six month window of opportunity, my last chance to get that weight off!
