GASTRIC BYPASS
On Wdnesday, July 21, 2004 I had a Roux en Y Gastric Bypass surgery at Kaiser's new Bariatric Unit in Fremont, California. Sanjoy Dutta, M.D. was my surgeon.
Here I am four months after I first started my authorization process for gastric bypass
Halloween 2003
I went to Fremont, about 80 miles away from my home the night before to do my prep in the comfort of a nearby hotel. Below are some pictures of me the day I left for the hotel:
Here I am at the hotel:
The day of surgery We had to be at the hospital at 6:45 a.m. :
We checked in at the Surgery department, where they started an IV, weighed me, and I talked with the Anesthesiologist. They then walked me to the operating room. After the operation, I had some pain difficulty as I am allergic to Morphine. In recovery I woke up in terrible pain. They gave me a PCA (patient controlled analgesia) with Dilaudin. I did OK with that:
Later that night, I had a fever. The best nurse on earth, Vivian, noticed that my urine bag was cloudy and discolored. She called the doctor who ordered the test that would show I had a urinary infection. He ordered IV antibiotics, and my fever lowered a little. The fever was persistent though, so by Friday, the doctor ordered an Upper GI test. Anyone who has had this test knows it's unpleasant, however, picture that unpleasantness of drinking that contrasting fluid when your stomach is the size of an egg! But the doctor had to rule out the possibility that he nicked a bowel, so the test had to be done.
Later that day, Dr. Dutta came in and said he had good news and bad news. The good news was that the fever was caused by a urinary infection. The bad news was he was going to have to remove my drain and it would hurt. And, he was right! A lot of the major pain I encountered was rib pain. They have to crank your ribs open and up to perform an open gastric bypass...this causes pain in the back and front...very sore! They took me off the PCA and put me on Tylenol and Codeine Elixir, and it wasn't very effective.
I was released on Saturday morning and looked a little worse for the wear
My friend Jamie took me to her house to get well for about three weeks. Jamie's had some experience taking care of people after gastric bypass, and I am soooooo thankful for all her help...AND she is an excellent Cook!
On Sunday, I noticed I had like skin coming off my tongue, and I had itching elsewhere. Unfortunately, all the IV antibiotics, and the Cipro I came home with gave me Thrush and a Vaginal Yeast infection. I discontinued the antibiotics and went on Diflucan.
I came home eating 2 ozs of cream soup, and 1 oz of sugary jello or pudding. THat's what i had for my three meals. I had a 4 oz protein drink in between. I lost 25 pounds the first two weeks.
So far, it's been very difficult feeling so full i could hardly eat. I've suffered some depression and plateau in weight loss because I'm eating so little. Hopefully, this process will simplify in the months to come. Everyday I feel a bit better, and I like the results that show!
Cyndie 08/22/2004
Cyndie singing at the Merced Horseman's club
back to work 9/7/04
October 2004
here I am in October 2004, 100 lbs
lost
November 23, 2004
As of Thanksgiving, I'm down nearly 110 pounds, four months after surgery! Things are so much easier for me now. By three months I was able to eat nearly anything, just very small portions. I feel energetic and undeprived!
Here I am New Years Eve 117 pounds lighter
I'm lovin the new me!
singing in Merced 08/27/05
Disneyland Oct 2005
me in our spa
Ashley and I on her 21st birthday in San Francisco