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The full journey

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back in the hospital :(

So, I had been running an extremely low grade fever post op....between 99-100, however the doctor said that was okay since my body was healing. Yesterday was my first full day back to work, I work at home at a desk job but was still expecting some discomfort. But it just seemed like as the day wore on I felt worse and worse my pain was more and more intense.... just all in all a crummy day. Finally 530 rolled around and I basically crawl to the couch to spend the rest of my night. Got in about a quarter cup to a half cup of soup.... and started literally shivering and shaking because I was so cold. Took my temp and it was 101.3.... which is high enough that I am supposed to notify my doctor My doctor called me right back and discuss the potential for a leak although was sure to mention that my surgery went extremely well.... but the pain that hadn't seen to subside since surgery, and now with a growing fever he suggested I go to the emergency room to be checked out. I was terrified They ended up doing a barium and IV contrast CT scan, and discovered I have a 7 millimeter kidney stone.... that is not passing on its own :"( So they admitted me last night from the emergency room and I am awaiting surgery for my kidney stone today... the good news is my surgery was a success and there is no issues with a leak or anything along those lines. However I certainly feel the saying, "when it rains it pours" sure is fitting today this is not how I wanted to get 2 weeks off of work :/
nygurl

nygurl

5
 

Hi there, emotional basketcase here.....

I've read from a few other posters that after surgery for some reason, they have some emotional unbalance...depression, etc. OMG- I've been the crabbiest, crybaby ever the last solid 24 hours. Yesterday I was EXTREMELY tired...and slept a good part of the day (on an upnote- went in for my first pre-op check...surgery was 2/28, pre-op visit yesterday had me down 10# from Wednesday!!) Today, everything makes me angry, being angry makes me feel overwhelmed, being overwhelmed- makes me cry...so that's fun. Today is also my first full day back to work- have gotten little to nothing done at this point, and frankly- I stopped caring about 4 hours ago. I'm just really cranky and want to crawl into bed and be left the hell alone.   IS THAT NORMAL?! lol :wacko:
nygurl

nygurl

6
 

hmmmm...maybe not SO easy

Ok so, two days post op. I was discharged yesterday and hone by like 1:30-2:00. Lots of sleep since then. Still getting up and walking on the treadmill for 15-20 minutes at a time. Funky starting to move some gas so that's a relief! I'm having a he'll of a time getting anything in. Liquids and protein are like impossible. I'm just not hungry. Everything I make tastes terrible, I really need to get some recipes or ideas that are low volume but high protein ...not so much luck on that right now. I either end up with what feels like could be 3 days of protein shakes. Or like an ass flovered paste lol. Hopefully this gets easier!
nygurl

nygurl

12
 

hospital stay

Ok, so I'm officially a 'sleever'! My preop nurses were AWESOME! My anesthesiologist....AMAZING! My surgery took about 30 minutes and I've had an amazing recovery. Up walking for 15 minutes at a time every hour. Have only had to have a few doses of pain meds. Things are going very well. It's amazing to experience this like instant change in my outlook, attitude, and really ....my life. Walking along today slow and steady I couldn't help but smile and congratulate myself for being strong enough to make this choice and I can't wait to share my journey with you all as I go tucking myself in now to get some much needed rest. Nighty Night sleevers!
nygurl

nygurl

2
 

on the road..

As long of a journey I was expecting this to be....I'm on the way to the hospital right now for surgery. I'm excited, nervous, and scared all at the same time....and I'd kill for some breakfast lol. Yesterday was hard, only clear liquids. My Dr didn't provide me with any other preop diet...just to try and lose something and keep walking. I'm not sure how those folks on clear liquids for weeks on end do it! Surgery is scheduled for 9:30, I need to be there at 7:30...of course Michigan is dumping a nasty winter mix on us...so now I get to add worrying about being late to everything else...oh well, it's something else to focus on, right?! See ya on the flip side
nygurl

nygurl

2
 

It's the final countdown.....

Ok, so here we are- the week of surgery- three days from now- I'll be in recovery. I had a moment of panic this morning. My son crawled into my bed and I had this sudden flash of "what if you die!?!?" come through my mind. I literally panicked...my heart rate went up- my mouth got dry- my palms got sweaty. I posted on a thread that I'm sort of active in on the site- and thanfully almost immediately two women talked me down realizing that it could happen to anyone, anywhere- obviously surgery has its risks- but I needed to but my rational thinking brain in action...make sure I spoke with hubby about the plans should anything go wrong, but keep in mind- I'm doing this to have a healthier LIFE going forward. SO- protein shake, water, positive outlook...moving foward with today- and ready to start my new life later this week I'll keep you all posted!! :wub:
nygurl

nygurl

0
 

Then the fear sets in....

So, here I am- 9 days from surgery...still excited, but can't shake this nervous gut-feeling I've had lingering in the back of my mind the last few days. I've failed on so many other diets that I've tried...I've only told a select few people about my choice to have surgery- and one of them has already given me the 30 minute run-down about how if I really just TRIED I could lose the same weight this surgery will offer me. She keeps bringing up that it could fail, that I could have serious complications, that I might not lose the weight...or worse, regain it. Now, before you all say- "terrible friend" lol....she's said- I support you in anything you do- I just want to make sure you don't have bliders on to the "what-ifs" of this surgery. I think I'm comfortable in saying I've thought those through- my biggest fear is that I fail. I've never been successful on a diet- so I'm scared about those first few weeks/months. I'm scared my "head hunger" is bigger and stronger than me. I just can't fail at this- and knowing that it's a total lifestyle revamp is exactly what I'm wanting- but I'm also terrified of what a total lifestyle revamp means. I was making my son lunch the other day and thought, are you going to be able to do this when all you're allowed to have is beef broth and protein shakes? I need some support, stories of how you made it through...some inspiration to keep me on the right track and take comfort in knowing I'm making the right choice for myself......anyone....?
nygurl

nygurl

2
 

Holy approved financing Batman! :D

Just got the call from my bank!! I'm approved!! SURGERY IS OFFICALLY A GO! I never thought this would happen so fast! It's something I just started really investigating in January, and it looks like I'll be signed tomorrow, and can schedule surgery as early as the end of this month... Funny, all those nervous feelings are gone- I'm totally confident in the choice I'm making, and frankly, I'm ready to have my LIFE BACK. I'll keep you posted!!
nygurl

nygurl

5
 

Is this really happening?!?

After some more online research, and a few phone calls- and the prospect of self-pay...I found Dr. Pleatman in Bloomfield, MI. His office staff has been great, super helpful, and very friendly thus far. I had my first meeting with him today, I was a little worried- not exactly sure what a one on one would entail...and had read a few reviews saying he was a bit cold, not very friendly. Hubby came along for info and (as always...) support. They got me right in on time, weighed me without putting my #s up on a flashing billboard on the side of the highway, which I've come to fear at every visit at this point..lol. Dr. Pleatman was a little dry, but I'd hardly call him rude. He answered all of my questions in detail, went over numbers, charts, even photographs of patients that were in my age/bmi range and their results. We disucssed band, sleeve, and bypass- and he was very confident and set on his recommendation to do the sleeve, which made me feel much more comfortable. SO- I guess....onward from here- I'm organizing the last bit of funding, and dr said- he's off next week- but if all is ready when he's back surgery could be as early as the week of February 20th! I guess we'll have to wait and see, I do need to attend one last seminar with his staff as pre-op prep, but they offer them about twice a week when they have surgery scheduled, so that doesn't appear to be much of an issue either...VERY EXCITED!
nygurl

nygurl

0
 

I get knocked down...but I get up again

LOL   Sorry for the lame blog title- but I've been singing the song all day, not sure if it was a subliminal thing, or if I heard it on hold-music while I was working   Sounds like my insurance is going to give me the full run-around and after feeling like the wind had been taken out of my sails yesterday, I set out today looking for the next option.   I'm excited to say, while I did look into some options in Mexcio- I couldn't shake that ultra-nervous feeling I had about it- so I opted to trust my gut and look here in the US. I figured even if it's not within state, it'll still be closer than Mexico. Luckily- my search led me to two places here in MI. One was the Barix Clinic in Ypsilanti, however, they wanted $25,500 for the surgery- and that is just wayyy to out of the budget for me to self-fund. I did find Pleatman Surgical Center in Bloomfield Hills, called and spoke to the nurse- I'm qualified for their program, and even set up my initial consult...this is really happening!! I'm so excited to move forward on this journey. I'm trying to get the time arranged off work but as of right now, the morning of 2/6 will be my big date to meet my surgeon and schedule my surgery-- fingers crossed!   I'd like some feed back on this dr/location if anyone has any- I'm all ears..(and smiles today)
nygurl

nygurl

4
 

That punch in the gut feeling....

As I had said earlier, follow up will be my key to success on this journey. I called my PCP today to make sure they'd gotten the paperwork that the bariatric place said they'd fax over on Thursday- they said they'd check and let me know. I just got a call from my doctor's assistant (I know her on a first name basis, since I've been seeing my PCP for two years now trying to get this situation under control). She said she talked to my bariatric clinic, and they're needing documention of 6 months consecutive follow up with my doctor for weight loss. Well, since I've been on the program for 2 years now, I don't see my PCP every month, she'll refill my script for 2-3 months at a time, since I've never had any complications with the Adipex she had me on. The girl says, I'm sorry - but they want us to document now through June of you seeing us every month...I asked, can't they take into consdieration the total duration of this program? That I've been doing this for TWO YEARS now? She says- I'm sorry- if you find anything out, and if there is anything we can do to help you, please just call us and we'll make sure it's done, but your that's what your insurance company is saying. I guess my next call is to my inusrance company to see if they even look at the last two years of work I've put into this program. I feel so bummed out- like a sucker punch in the gut. I've been so excited and looking forward to what this has to offer for me, and I've read SO many people that have dealt with delay after delay with their insurance...I'm hoping I'm the lucky one that gets through this without a total loss of my sanity Here goes a call to my insurance...wish me luck :/
nygurl

nygurl

2
 

Here goes nothin'

Well, I've never been a "blogger" but I've always been a writer, so hopefully this will be something I can keep up with, and keep track of this entire journey. As of right now, I'm still pre-op. I decided in early January 2013 that I'd had enough. I've done the diets, I've done the exercise routines, boot camps, pills, programs, shakes...nothing works. It's the same 20 pounds I've been losing and gaining for years now. I'm tired of working my butt off, and not showing any results, or showing results- and the second I back the plan to a livable level- boom, the weight is back on. I've struggled with my weight my entire life- and I decided 2013 will be the year I change that.   I met with my PCP already, she agrees, we've been working on my weight loss for almost 2 years now, and she sees my work, my diets, my programs, and the failures they've all been. I was referred to Bilal Kharbutli who works out of Henry Ford Wyandotte. I contacted them the same day- I was excited, and nervous- but ready to at least get more info. That's actually how I found this site...digging for more info. The permanent nature of this surgery has me a little freaked out, to be honest. I contacted Dr. Kharbutli and they said I needed to attend a seminar, coming up on 1/15- I signed up- asked my husband to come along so he knew what we were getting me into (lol), and found a sitter for my son. I was more than nervous when the day came, and it was just the seminar!! I was surprised how many people were there, shocked at the information that was given to us- the obesity rates in the US are OUTSTANDING...it brought me a lot of information, a lot of comfort too- I walked out of there ready to "do this". I'm a little scared, every once in a while I think..what if I get this surgery and hate my life - this is forever, this isn't something you can go- "oh well, that didn't work out- on to something else" this is a MAJOR lifestyle change, and it's forever. The other side of me says- you need this, you haven't been able to get it done any other way- and a major lifestyle change is in order. I called the next day to set up my direct one on one consult with the surgeon, they never called me back. I called again today and got a receptionist- told her I wanted to set up my initial consult, and she explained they needed to run my info through insurance first to find out if it's covered...i asked- how can you find out if I'm covered, when you don't know my bmi? She asked for an approximate weight and height...which bothered me a bit. I've always called myself 5'7, but what if I'm only 5'6? The reason I stress about this- is that I'm JUST barely qualified for this surgery- at this moment. I've been qualified in the past, but decided this was the LAST option, and kept up dieting/exercise/Adipex daily. Anyway- I'm technically qualified if I have one or more health conditions-- other than head splitting migrains and daily back aches...I do'nt have the typical high bp, diabetes, etc- actually my dr said- I do'nt understand your weight struggle...when you look at your info on paper- your blood values, diet and exercise program, stats- you should be a healthy weight person...but I'm not...no clue why...? (very annoying to hear this btw). So at this point, the surgeon's office is contacting my doc to get records of my past diet and exercise programs, and then they're supposed to call me back for my first 1 on 1 consult. They've said I need to pay my deductable, and that my insurance then covers 50%, with a coinsurance limit of $1500...I'm not sure what that means exactly...either I'll end up paying less than $2,000 out of pocket, or could be paying like $5,000-$6,000 out of pocket- I need to figure that out   I guess that's it for today, at this point, I'm eating whatever I want..and feeling terrible about myself. I know that sounds crazy, but the dr said honestly with me being as close to just no questions asked "covered" by my insurance, a few extra pounds won't hurt my case. BLAH...as much as I enjoy digging into those yummy foods and stuff when the mood strikes, I find myself feeling crappier and crappier everyday- I hate seeing my body slipping back to the worst it has ever been- it's a not so great feeling, and I sure hope I don't need to keep this up for the next 6 months or whatever- I hear wait periods on all this process can be killer.   Here's to hoping I get a quick response from the doc today-
nygurl

nygurl

4
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