 |
 |
 |
| April's Gastric Bypass Journey......... |
| Hello Everyone and Welcome. I started this web page for those of us who have started or are planning on starting their journey to loose weight with Gastric Bypass Surgery. I'm hoping we can share our thoughts and fears, encourage eachother, and give advice on what works for some of us. Hopefully this will help others who are contemplating weight loss surgery. And so the journey begins.................. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| I'd like to start by telling everyone about myself. I'm a 32 year old, married, mother of three. I was a hairstylist for 13 years before I became ill from fibromyalgia, possible lupus (test pending), arthritis, degenerative disc, vasculitis, and a 6th nerve palsy. For those of you who don't know what that is. It's paralysis of the 6th cranial nerve which causes double vision in the eye it effects. I found myself depressed when I wasn't able to continue working. Struggling with my weight since I was young, I began to put on the pounds. Food was always a way to celebrate, comfort, or just something I enjoyed. It's been five years now since I had to quit work, and I find myself with 100 lbs. to loose. I can't believe I've let myself get to this point! I've tried almost every diet out there, but to no avail. I'd loose your typical 20 lbs. and then gain back 30 lbs. or more. Out of desperation to find something or someone to help, I started doing research on a surgery called Roux-En-Y, also known as RNY for short. This surgery reduces the size of the stomach from a 1000 ml. (33oz.) to a 30 ml. (1oz.) "pouch". Titanium staples are used to divide the stomach. Then the small intestine is divided from the normal stomach. The proximal end is then reconnected to a lower section of the small intestine to allow gastric, biliary and pancreatic juices to combine and achieve normal digestion. The distal end is then reconnected to the "new" stomach pouch. Even when the stomach "pouch" expands over time, to 4-5 oz., it is still smaller than a normal size stomach. Because of this, the sensation of being full after much smaller amounts of food are consumed, smaller portions are eaten, therefore causing weight loss. On average, 20-50 lbs. can be lost in the first month post operatively. In the first year, possibly up to 100 lbs! Keep in mind results vary depending upon the patients dedication to healthy eating habits and exercise. After close to a year of private researching (I didn't want my family/friends to know in case I chose not to do it), I decided on Dr. Matt Bosquez M.D. He's out of Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Surgical Weight Loss Center of Oklahoma through Southcrest Hospital. After researching all of his credentials of course, I set up an appointment with him. His office staff was incredibly nice and very informative in what I could expect during the first meeting. He has a former patient of RNY, Karen, who works there also. She has a great website to refer to for more information along with before and after pictures. http://www.geocities.com/i_blong_2_hwkfxr/KarenWLS.html When we had the group seminar on the procedure, Dr. Bosquez answered any question we had. Then we each had a one on one consultation with him. He seemed to be compassionate, dedicated, very knowledgeable about the procedure, and above all a Christian. All great qualities I look for when someone will be operating on me. My surgery is scheduled for April 20, 2004 at Southcrest. Before the surgery can be preformed you must complete a Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Psychological, and if necessary, a Pulmonary evaluation. Once these come back a clean bill of health, you can proceed. I have my mind set, that if I'm going to put myself through these evaluations and pain, I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure I loose these 100 lbs.! I'm tired of letting my weight control my self esteem and my health. Not to mention the fact that I'm ashamed to go around family and friend's that I haven't seen in a long time because of the weight I've put on. I've been called "stubborn" all my life. I guess you could say that's a curse and a blessing all in one. Curse, because I refuse to give in when sometimes I probably should. Blessing, because it's what drives me to go on. I guess it's the "Fighting Irish" in me. Some really good books to read while researching, are by the singer Carnie Wilson, who's been down this same road. They are "Gut Feelings", and "I'm Still Hungry". I found her story to be inspirational, humourous, and so much like my own story, that I felt like I knew her. I'll be back to keep everyone posted on my progress starting April 5th, after my first pre-requisist evaluation. Any questions you may have, feel free to email me at [email protected]. Until then, take care. Journal Entries 4/5/04- Well, I have proof that I'm not a "nut", (despite popular opinion, ha) and I have the recommendation that I can proceed with the surgery! One down and two to go. The Psychiatrist I saw yesterday said "You're a very competent person, and it sound like you know what you want and will most certainly succeed." YES I WILL! 4/6/04- I went to my first "Bosquez Beauties" meeting last night. It's the support group for all of Dr. B's patient's and potential patient's. I learned quite a bit actually. What to expect etc... I look forward to going again. 4/7/04- Today was a long day. I had my Gastro. appointment at 9:00 in Broken Arrow. Everything was good, and I go for my pre-surgery EGD test next Thursday. I had my Cardio. appointment also today at 1:45 in Tulsa. I was told I have a slight heart murmur, (mitro valve prolapse) but that won't stop the surgery from going ahead as planned. I have to go back on May 24th to the Cardiologist to have an Echocardiogram done. Just to make sure that it's nothing that's progressing. This is common with people that are over weight for some reason. So I'm praying that when I go back in May, hopefully 20 lbs. or more lighter, there is no murmur! God will preform a miracle, I have no doubt! 4/15/04- I had my EGD done today, everything was perfect. I'm set for surgery on Tuesday! See you on the loosing side soon! 4/18/04- Well, food as I know it is over, ha ha. I started my liquid diet today, which includes: chicken broth (yuck), beef broth, vegetable broth, juice, popsicles, and jello (no red). I have to say, I'm hungry of course. So I just go in and drink something else. 4/20/04- Today was the big day. I left my house at 4:15am to head to the hospital 40 minutes away. This gave me several minutes to think about what was getting ready to take place. I have to say, I started getting a little nervous. Once I got to SouthCrest Hospital, they took me right back to prepare me for the surgery. They were incrediably nice, and compassionate to the fact that I was starting to get a little freaked out. But before I knew it, they were taking me back for surgery, put the oxygen on and that's the last thing I remember for several hours! By 7:00pm, I was sitting up on the side of my bed, and then stood with some assistance. The pain was a little tough to handle, but thank goodness for the pain pump that was attached!!! 4/21/04- I had a rough night this night. I started getting a severe migrain, which made me a little nauseous. But the nurses were great and brought me in phenergan to stop it. They removed the catheter today, and I was allowed to start walking in the halls. I had some issues with bloating, so it was a little painful. I developed a really bad rash on my face. But other than that, I did really well. 4/22/04- Dr. Bosquez says I'm allergic to the Demoral (one more to add to my list!). This is what caused the rash on my face, and the migrain. So they stopped the pain pump, and started giving me Toradol through the IV. This worked great, and I was up walking around the halls again. He also said, I'd be going home tomorrow as long as I could start taking my pain medicine in pill form and tollerating it. I started taking Lortabs (cut up into 4th's and taking me an hour to take 8 pieces) but they made me nauseos also because I couldn't take them on an empty stomach. Even though they were giving me an 1oz. of Argenade (protein drink), 1oz. of Carnation Instant Breakfast, and horrible horrible broth (dirty sock water!), I still couldn't take the Lortabs without food. So Dr. B switched me to Darvacet. We'll see what happens. 4/23/04- I tolerated the Darvocet wonderfully! So Dr. B says I can go home today. YIPPY!!! My Mom and and Son came and picked me up mid moring, and I slept all the way home. Thanks in part to the pain medicine and rain. When I got home, I got into my pajamas and into my bed slowly. Then realized WRONG THING TO DO! I didn't think I would ever get up, and it hurt when I did! So my kid's moved the big, comfy recliner into my bedroom. How wonderful is that?! If your contemplating this surgery, or know your going to have it........be sure to have a recliner handy until your incision heals, and your muscles are mended back together. 4/24/04- I woke up to a itchy rash all over my stomach this morning around my steri strips. I didn't want to bother Dr. B on a weekend, so I waited to call him. Which was a big mistake, because I'm allergic to steri strips, and it only made it worse to keep them on. Talk about itching!! I started walking around the high school track today. Did ok, walked half a mile. By the way, I'm not hungry at all! 4/25/04- Couldn't take the itching any longer, so I paged Dr. B. Sunday afternoon. He called back within 5 minutes (told ya he was wonderful!) Anyway, he said to take the steri strips off, wash with warm soapy water, and then put cortisone anti itch cream on. AWWWWW, relief! 4/27/04- I started walking around my block yesterday. I'm feeling really good. Especially after getting on the scales and seeing I've lost 13 lbs. in 8 days!!!! I was 233 lbs. when I left the hospital, now I'm at 220 lbs.!! WOOHOO! 4/30/04- I'm trying to stay away from my scales so I can see a much bigger weight loss. But this morning I couldn't help it. I've lost 3 more lbs.! Down to 217 lbs. now!! My friend Dianna (president of the Bosquez Beauties support group in Tulsa) said I need to have my husband measure me and take pictures every two weeks to see the progress. I know I'm making progress and loosing inches though. I had to go buy some new summer pajama's, because the ones I have are flannel, and make my incision itch worse. But when I went to get some, I started to pick up the 2x (down from a 3x origianally, habit), and my husband told me to try the next size down. He said he could tell I've lost weight. So I took his advise and low and behold I'm wearing an EXTRA LARGE!!! Grant it they fit just right, a little snug, but by the end of the week, I bet they fit perfectly! I refuse to buy the 2x! When I came out of the dressing room, I was smiling from ear to ear and had tears in my eye's. My husband said, "they fit don't they!", and we walked around on cloud 9! 5/5/04- I went to my two week post-op today. I weighed in, and I've lost 20 lbs. in two weeks time! I was told today by Dr. B. that I can now start on the semi-soft food for the next two weeks. This includes no fat cottage cheese, refried beans, scrambled eggs, instant mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, oatmeal, low fat yogurt, sugar free/fat free jello pudding, un-sweetened applesauce, mashed banana's, and chicken or tuna salad with no fat mayonaise. But the chicken and tuna must be put in a food processor. I can also have shrimp too, but it must be put in the food processor also. I don't know if I can handle that or not, but I assure you I'm going to try it. For the potatoes, cream of wheat, and oatmeal, I have to dilute it down with no fat milk to a thin consistancy. But it's pretty darn good. I'm walking between 2.5 and 3.25 miles a day, and drinking 60 plus ounces of water or Crystal Lite. My incision is doing so well, thanks to a great surgeon, and Mederma three times a day. It's going to be so faint you'll hardly notice it by another couple of months. I got a perscription for a B12 shot once a month. I'm not real sure I can give these to myself in the thigh. Dr. B says to go to my PCP and have the nurse show me how to do it properly. If I'm too big a wimp about it, I can go get liquid B12 at the health food store and take it everyday under my tongue. That's probably what I'll do. I go back to Dr. B in a month. At the rate I'm going (10 lbs. a week), I'll be down 40 more pounds in a month! Half way to my goal weight! 8/23/04- I'm so horrible at keeping up with this website. But here I finally am to "toot my own horn" so to speak. I've lost 63 lbs. and over 2 1/2 feet in inches, and I now wear a size 14. I can't believe the amount of energy I've got now and that I actually like to go out walking and do physical activites. I walk anywhere from 2-3 miles a day or every other day. Depending on my schedule and how my fibromyalgia/lupus is treating me. Some days I have to give in to that, but it's not very oftern that I do. So far I haven't encountered any problems with the surgery. I eat anything that's within my low carb., low fat, sugar free, low calorie limit and nothing has made me sick. And beleive me, there's unlimited possibilites now a days for what you can eat. I take my vitamins w/ iron, calcium (in chewable form), and give myself my B12 shots once a month. It's amazing to me that I've only got 37 lbs. to go to meet my 100 lb. total loss. And I've done it in four months! I can't brag about my Dr. and his staff enough. Dr. Bosquez has totally helped me change my life FOREVER! I'm trying to get a digital camera so I can post pictures on here for everyone to see the dramatic changes. So keep your eye's posted................. |
| Pre-Op Stats: Height: 5'4" Weight: 236 BMI:40.5 4/19/04 |
   |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
| www.obesityhelp.com |
 |
|
 |
 |
| Tw Two |
| Two weeks out 213 lbs. |