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I am finally going to write a little something about my post operative experiences.  I have been so busy lately (after you read this you will understand).  I knew going into the procedu,re that I may not be able to have the RNY due to excessive prior surgeries and scar tissue.  Dr. Nick said it would be a little risky to try to get around all the scar tissue and he may have to do a VSG procedure or lap band and I chose the VSG as a plan B.  So, as soon as I was awake I found out the dreaded news....VSG!  At first, I was a little disappointed and then when I actually let it sink in, I was okay with it.  Now I am happy as hell everything went the way it did.  I don't have any of the issues I was concerned about having with RNY but I am still experiencing decent weight loss!  I did however incur a couple of hiccups along the way.  First, I got to stay in the hospital after my procedure for three days because I have a blood clotting disorder and they wanted to monitor my blood thickness.  DH finally gets me home (for about 16 hours) and I go back to the ER via ambulance with chest pain.  Turns out I had an episode of atrial fibrillation and I got to spend another 4 days in the hospital.  BTW-Baylor Plano and the Baylor Plano Heart Hospital will ALWAYS have mine and my husband's 100% endorsement.  The staff and the ER staff are the greatest!!!!!  Not to mention the facility is super fantastic.  All is well from that, the cardiologist gave a big thumbs up last week!

We get through all of this, I go for my six week post op check up and everything is GREAT!  The next day or two I started experiencing some pain in my large incision so I went back to see the surgeon and found out my gall bladder needed to be removed! UUGGH!!! What else??!  That all goes pretty good so I schedule the procedure to remove my IVC filter that was put in to prevent clotting.  I have my post op appointment and my surgery for the filter removal scheduled for the same day.  DH, who also had a doctor appointment early that morning dropped me off at the surgeon's office and went to park and meet me at the entrance to the hospital (we were running a little late and they are in the same parking lot).  I got a good post op report on my gall bladder removal, found out I am down SEVENTY, hell yeah that is 70 pounds and then I headed over to the hospital.  I met hubby in the lobby and we went up to the sixth floor to check in for my surgery.  We report to the front desk and the guy at the desk has us follow him to my room to get me ready for my surgery.  It all goes downhill from here.......As we were walking to my room, I fell...just out of the blue fell on my dang clumsy ass or I should say KNEE.  ALL of my weight(which is still a LOT!) on my right knee.  NOPE, I cannot move it-I ain't even trying again after the pain that shot thru me on the first try-I am just going to lay here and cry!  The nurses all got me up on a stretcher and took me down to the ER.  I really am more concerned about my surgery now than my knee...it's all about end of year, deductibles and maximum out of pocket, etc. etc.  I want my surgery TODAY or at least this year!!!!  The ER doc comes in orders x-rays and gives me a thorough check up.  He offers me meds for pain, which believe me would have really came in handy-I was in some kind of PAIN.   I said nope, no drugs until we find out if they will interfere with the possibility of still getting to have my surgery.  He called the surgeon who said he would still do the procedure if nothing is broken and yes I could have pain meds...YIPPEEEEEE!  Bring on the dilaudid!! That is definitely my pain med of choice! And that cute little ER doc let me choose between dilaudid and morphine.  NO comparison in my book, - bring on the good stuff!!  No broken bones which is so cool, surgery is STILL going to happen and other than contusions(fancy word for bruises) I am all good.  I am going to hurt like hell-not right now tho I still feel the effects of the dilaudid!  I am bruised from my head to my toes and I thought I only landed on my knee.  My left wrist is bruised, my right knee of course and both my boobs.  How the hell did my girls get bruised??!!  I dunno either but they did and it HURTS! 

Today, I am recovering from the fall and the filter removal, I feel great and my loving husband has been a champ through all of this....OMG I don't think he could make another trip to the hospital though.  Seven times in two months is ENOUGH all ready!  His instructions were to keep my up and moving as much as he could so I don't develop any clots so, we have been to every mall, seen every store in DFW and I am almost scared to ask what he has planned for today.  Can't I just sleep all day? Nope, the doc says move move move- go go go, so, that is exactly what we have been doing.  What was that? Oh, does it hurt my knee?  Hell yes it hurts my knee, but not nearly as much as a blood clot would (been there done that got the t-shirt) so we will just endure the pain and the hydrocodone they let me have....  I am doing great!  And I think my husband is ready for a break!

Please don't forget the important part - I have lost seventy pounds!!!   Just wait-I should be released to actually do some exercising in a couple of weeks!!!   Wonder how that will affect my weight loss....?????

More to come soon......

Teresa

  Wishing like hell I could sleep.  We leave for the hospital at 9:00 and I sure would like to get a couple of hours of sleep!  I AM SO ECITED!!!  I cannot believe this day  is actually here.

I am getting nervous!  Monday is getting so close.  I still cannot believe this is happening for me.  I have wanted this for SO long. I am rushing today to get my vitamins.  Any suggestions?  I read all the chatter about Bariatric Advantage vs. stuff you can get at the store.  I was thinking about going to The Vitamin Shop.  Any recommendations on them and their products.  I will want to go ahead and get some protein powder also.   OOOHHHHHH so excited I cannot even think straight!!

They called yesterday to move my surgery to Monday October 12th.  Yipeeeee! Two days earlier. I am really nevous now!

October sounds like it is sooooo far away nut that is my surgery day.  I started this journey March 19th.  That was my first consult and the beginning of that dreaded 6 month diet.  Look out world here comes the new me!!!

I finally have a surgery date-Oct 14,2009 at noon.  Baylor Plano  with Dr Nick Nicholson. I am SO excited and a little apprehenasive. This week is filled with some pre op appointments and mt EGD. 10 days ... I started this process on March 19, 2009 and I didn't think I would ever get to this day. Ijust don't even know what to say-the excitement is real!!!! It IS going to happen!

On July 7th I went to Dr Nick Nicholson's seminar and have made the decision to change to him for my procedure.  I really did like him and his staff and what they all had to say.

I got a thumbs up from the cardiologist!!  YEEHAW!!!   I really am happy to have that over with.  I have had some heart issues in the past so that was a big hurdle to overcome early in the game!

 How many of you know about the clothing exchange link on this website?  I ran across it merely by accident today and I think this is a WONDERFUL idea.  However, right now there is not very much activity out there.  I know (or I think I know) this post is only seen by those on my short Friends list?  If this is the case, I think we all should talk about it so others can see it.  I know this section will help me clean out my closet and hopefully even find some items I can use.  Let's all join together and spread the word-I think this is GREAT!  Why heck I am just jumping for joy to get some activity out there. 

Okay in the morning at 7:00 AM for my stress test to get my cardiologist clearance.  Why do they schedule those things so danged early anyway?  This, to me is just another step of my journey.