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my story from preop to now, almost 9mths postop
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I was asked if I could post my story here, so here it is. If you make it to the end, I applaud you!
I began researching WLS last January. My sister, age 33, had a heart attack Sept. 09, and then a triple bypass 2 days before Christmas 2009. My mom told me that we have a family history of heart disease before the age of 40. My 40th birthday was only 8 mths from that time. So about a month after her triple bypass I heard my husband talking about how a co-workers wife just had WLS, the sleeve. I never even considered looking into WLS. I always was one to say that you could do it on your own, just eat right and exercise..it's simple. BUT..after living my life at 354 lbs for at least the last 10 years, I realized that I could NOT do it on my own. I went to an Orientation on Jan. 25, 2010. By March 2010 I was approved by my insurance company and given a date of 4-16-2010 for surgery.
At this point, I had been diabetic for 2 years (Type 2), and had just been put on high blood pressure med's 2 mths before surgery. I was noticing how my knees ached and hurt, especially after riding in the car and having to push up to get out of it. I rarely did the dishes, because I couldn't stand out there long enough to get them all done. When I did do dishes I would wash some, then go sit at the computer for awhile, then go back and dry them. There were times when I was cutting up meats (for pizza) that I would take everything to the table and sit down to do it. I remember laying on my side in bed, and literally not being able to put my arm behind me and touch the bed. I snored something terrible. My husband told me that I would stop breathing at times and he would lay awake waiting for me to breathe again. I called once to go in for a sleep apnea test, but I was too uncomfortable w/the idea of staying the night at the hospital and someone watching me all night, so I cancelled and never went. Whenever I went to the grocery store, I would always get a cart, even if I only needed a few things. I would tell my husband that my purse is too heavy, so I like having a cart..when I actually just needed that cart to lean on, because my back would be killing me just walking through the store. I always got so mad when my husband would park far away from the store, instead of driving around to find some place close.
So, everything happened so quick. I was scared to death. At the hospital, just before being pushed into the operating room, I almost backed out. The only thing that kept me from getting up and leaving was the fact that I figured we'd be charged some big bucks if I did. Oh..just to mention, I did have a 2 wk preop diet to follow. I had to purchase high Protein foods from my surgeons office, and was only allowed to eat that for the two weeks, and it sucked..tasted horrid.
My surgery was a Friday morning. It only took about 1 hour. I woke up to a few nurses saying my name..and hitting me on the arm. I wondered what the heck they were hitting my arm for. They asked me if I was in any pain, and what my number is..1 out 10..10 being the most pain. I said my number is a 10..I need pain medicine. They told me that the IV had quit working, and they were trying to find a vein to put in a new one..and as soon as they did, they would give me medicine. My husband was brought in to sit next to me. I kept falling asleep..and then the machine (I guess that keeps track of your oxygen) would keeping beeping. A nurse would hurry in the room and tell me to take nice deep breaths. So I would start breathing deeply..the machine would quiet..then I'd fall back asleep..only to have the same thing happen again. They asked my husband a few times if I had brought my CPap machine with me (I've never been diagnosed, nor have a machine). I guess I should have pushed for a sleep apnea test before surgery.
That whole first day I primarily slept. My husband sat by me the entire day. When i was awake I was given a cup with ice chips to suck on or eat for that first day. I had to have shots in my belly because of the diabetes (didn't want me swallowing pills). The shots didn't hurt at all. I was up and walking in the hallways that first day. I had 6 incisions, no drains, no catheters. No staples, just steri-strips over the incisions. The next morning the surgeon came in (not mine, but another one from his office) and said all my stats were looking good, that there was no reason to do an upper gi..(leak test). He told me if I could handle the liquid pain med's (instead of in my IV) and hold down some Protein drinks, I could go home that day. I had no problem getting in the protein drinks, and the pain med's worked fine. I was discharged by 5pm that day (only 1 night in the hospital). The only thing I would suggest bringing is chap stick..my mouth was so dry.
For that first 4-6 weeks my mouth was always dry. I would keep a glass of Water by my bed to drink when I'd wake up in the night. I also had a funny metalic taste (bad breath) for awhile. It made even my water taste funny. I've always loved water, but couldn't stand it that first month. After that everything returned to normal though.
I was regretting having the surgery for a short period of time at about 3 weeks postop. I was just so mad that I couldn't eat what I wanted to eat. I would see my family eating pizza and want it so bad. I actually, when noone was looking, ate a bite of pizza..chewed it up really good..then spit it in the trash. I did that a few times. Seems silly now..but then..it made me feel better.
Now..I am thrilled that I had surgery. So much has changed. I feel so much better. I remember reading a quote somewhere where someone said "I didn't know how bad I felt, until I felt good"...that makes so much sense to me. I think we get used to how we are feeling, and think of it as normal. Now that I feel so good, I realize how not-normal my life was before surgery. My husband just told me today how worried he was about my health before surgery. He was afraid he was going to lose me at an early age. I have a terrific husband..always been supportive and loving with me.
Here are some of my stats. I have weighed 354 for at least 10 years. I lost 14 pounds during my two week preop diet, so I was 340 on surgery day. I lost 14 lbs the first week after surgery. At 2 mths postop I had lost 63 lbs, 3 mths postop I lost 77 lbs, 4 mths postop I lost 84 lbs, 5 mths postop I lost 98 lbs, 6 mths postop I lost 105 lbs, 7 mths postop I lost 115 lbs, 8 mths postop I lost 123 lbs, and next week i will be 9 mths postop, my grand total so far is minus 127 lbs.
I have so much more energy now. I was wearing a size 32 jean, today I am wearing a between a 16 and 18, depending on the jeans. I am 5ft 5 inches tall. I can stand behind my husband and wrap my arms around him, my stomach no longer gets in the way. I can lay on the bed, only lifting my head..and see over my stomach. I can see my toes. I can bend and paint my toes. I can sit in the chair and cross my legs, no needing to use my other hand to help my leg up. I can walk around the store forever and not get a cart, and not have my back hurt at all. I purposely park as far from the store as I can. I no longer wonder what I'm having for the next meal. Many many positives.
There are times I wish I could eat more of something that I love. But that feeling doesn't last long. I have found that I can eat a bit more now that I could before 6 mths postop. Not much though. Instead of 1-3/4 of a meatball..I can not eat 2-3/4 meatballs.
The one thing I'm finding difficult right now, is friendships. I've had a few friends tell me that they don't want to hear about my weightloss anymore. Its difficult, because I don't feel I have anyone to talk to. I don't feel like they understand (or even want to hear) how difficult it is to get used to all the changes. Everything has changed. I still walk into the store and go right for the size 32 jeans, and the 4x tops. I just don't see myself as being smaller. I am getting alot more positive attention from strangers. I've always been outgoing and talkative, but now people are actually talking back, and looking me in the eye.
Ok, I've rambled on and on. If theirs something you are curious about, please ask!!