To My WLS Surgery Story, page 12! 
| On Monday Mom called the Doc's office, Dr. S was out of town so Dr. Reise (a
partner) called her back. Mom got a little miffed at her when she said "It sounds like to flu to me". So mom explained the
whole thing to her and Dr. R said to go to the ER. By the time we got to the ER I had brain fog. I was so incoherent I could
not answer their questions, Mom had to do all the talking. They started the IV's, one in each arm. Next thing I knew I
was in a room. They gave me Anzamet, Morphine and Reglin. Dr. R came the next morning and spent about 45 minutes with me.
She asked tons of questions and explained some of the options to me. Dr. R and Mom agreed there was really no use doing the
scans and the endoscopy again. But she wanted to do another upper GI with a small bowel follow through. OK, this is another test from Hell!!! It took almost 2 hours to drink that 16 oz. cup of sludge. Again the test was normal. So we stayed with the IV's with vitamins and minerals. |
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| On Friday Dr. S said he would see how I was doing on Monday, if I was not getting better then he would have two options for me, a centeral line and a feeding tube or exploratory surgery. He was very concerned that I was too weak to make it through surgery. He really didn't like this option. On Saturday the 28th Dr. S ordered me an Ensure, it was vanilla and tasted gross but I got it down and it stayed down. That was the first step to my recovery. On Sunday I wanted real food for the first time since my surgery. Dr O put me on a normal diet and they brought me Meatloaf and cheddar potaotes. I could only eat about four bites but it was wonderful. The more food I ate the more water I could drink. The more I drank the better I began to feel. My nurses would have brought me anything I wanted to eat, they were so sweet and good to me. One of my nurses (Mary Ann) had her RNY about 16 months ago and is doing great, she took great care of me and my mom. |
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Being sick and lying in bed for so long made me weak. On my second stay Mary Ann started me walking and we all know how important that is. While walking one time my thighs went to jello and I fell down on my butt. OUCH! You never saw so many nurses come running. Well that cinched it, no more walking for me without some help. Well everyone is too busy to walk a patient. Before I knew it my thigh muscles had atrophyed and I could not stand without help. They ordered physical therphy and a walker. The PT came and did some leg exercises with me and walked with me using my walker. She was so nice she would have walked all day with me if I wanted her to. I always felt better after a walk. The first thing Mom did when she came was to get me up and out walking. Dr. S sent me home on Tuesday October 31. It was so great to be home.
I'm finally on the mend after 8 long weeks. I get a little better everyday,but I'm still very weak. The Doc's best guess is a virus in the closed off part of my stomach combined with my state of health. I have to admit it was mainly my fault. I wasn't eating much (licking the back of the spoon) or taking my vitamins. I thought I was drinking all my water, but you know how easy it is to lie to yourself. I was very run down.
I always told the Doc "Oh, I'm doing OK" I wanted to be the perfect patient, after all I AM SUPERWOMEN. I thought as long as the weight was coming off everything else would fall into place. I didn't want to be
a problem patient, I didn't want to make the Doc's mad. Well, let me tell you something, maybe we have to get a little mad to get on the right track. I know I did. I always thought the Doc's would be put out with all my little complaints. Dr. S told me at my last visit, "I want to know everything that goes on with you, every headache, every ache and pain, how many time you throw up, everthing. If you don't tell me what's going on with your body, then how can I help you get well." It made me cry.
Water is our life line, drink as much as you can. By the time I got sick I was 2 1/2 months out, I had already lost 107 pounds. The month of Oct I really didn't loss anything. Once I started eating and drinking again I started to loss again. I'm not sure what size I wear now, I did buy a pair of 18/20 pants that fit and a top in a 22/24. Before surgery I wore 26/28 (snug) pants and 4X tops. If I don't lose another pound (but I will) I'll still be happy about the surgery, I'm a different person now and I love it.
Why
is it that we don't tell someone when we don't feel good? If we don't feel good then something is wrong. It may only be something small or it could be a real problem - don't wait until it is out of control before you call for help.
I went to physical therapy three times a week for 3 weeks. At first it was pure torture, but it got better everytime also. I still have to use my walker anytime I go farther than 100 feet. Mom stayed for a week after I got home and cooked up a storm. I have an big appetite and eat about a cup of food a day, I also drink an Ensure everyday. I take my vitamins and drink at least 64 oz. of water a day. I don't want this to happen again. |
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| Barbara and I joined Fitness Connection and started on November 27th with a personal trainer. We love it. So far I have lost 124 pounds, I'm kinda on a plateau but that's OK because I need to restore my stength and nutrition levels first, the rest of the weight will come off I just need to slow down a little. And let me tell you about sagging skin. YUCK! My butt has slid down to the back of my thighs. And I can certainly fan the turkey with my arms! LOL Hopefully in July I'll get a full body lift. |
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Support Group l My Bio l WLS Links l Webrings l Photos l Updates
The List l My Hero l The 10 Commandments l True Beauty
Tracking Measurements l Poems & Inspirations l MS Links
My WLS Journal
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