Well, it's been a while

I've done a horrible job of keeping this thing updated but just in case anyone is curious this is what I look like now ...

After picture, sort of

I've been meaning to post some after pictures but honestly I have felt to bad to get dressed and wouldn't want any photographic evidence of THAT!  I did feel well enough last night to get together with a few friends so I took a self portrait, not the best but this is about what I look like now.

I have a long way to go still :)

Follow up Appointment

I had my first post surgery follow up appointment today and it went well.  So far I have lost exactly 20 pounds since the day of surgery, add the 11 that I lost right before that for a total of 31 pounds!  YAY!  The nausea has passed and I'm rehydrated and eating solid foods now.  Yesterday I had some scrambled eggs and a piece of bacon for breakfast, a little chicken salad and cottage cheese for lunch and a piece of grilled burger with pork and beans for dinner.  I only ate about 1 1/2 ounces of food at each meal but it does fill me up.  Today after the doctors appointment we had lunch at  my favorite place Moes!  I got an Over Achiever with no shell, I think I can make about 4 or 5 meals out of it.

The doctor said now that I'm rehydrated my recovery should move along better.  I will have another scope in a couple weeks to ensure that the stricture hasn't come back.  He also told me I would need a few more weeks off from work to regain my strength.  I think my date to go back will be March 18th so that will have me out for a full 2 months.  I would have liked to go back at 6 weeks but that isn't a realistic expectation at this point considering the set backs I've had.

Three Weeks Post Op

Not much change since 2 weeks post op.  I still have the drain, I still am throwing up water sometimes and I still feel sick about half the time.  Hopefully the scope on Tuesday will help me out a little.  I woke up this morning feeling very sick but some warm tea helped to settle my stomach.  I just tried to eat some refried beans but I don't want much of them as they seem heavy on my stomach. 

Yesterday I got cleaned up and went for a ride, then visited with my grandparents.  My nephew Caleb came back to Mom's with us and has been providing me with some good entertainment.  We've sung "Itchy Bitchy Spider" and "Over the wood and through the pasture to Mamaws house we go" as well as some song about grapes, nanners and Monkeys that I don't know.  The weather is nice today and I'm going to sit out on the porch for a while to soak up some sunshine.

Feeling a little better

Will and I are spending the night at Mom's tonight.  I know I just left but it seemed like a good idea to come back over here for a couple nights.  The nurse came to my house today and checked me out, everything seems to be fine, I still have the drain.  My doctor scheduled a scope for me on Tuesday to see if I have a stricture which could be the cause of the nausea. I've kept my foods pretty bland the last couple days so I have been able to have my three meals though  not a lot of protien.  I've just decided to eat what sounds good and goes down well so far that has been chicken noodle soup and orange jello.  Hopefully when I see the doctor on Tuesday they will remove my drain then too.  I really think I will feel so much better once that is removed. 

NAUSEA

I came home yesterday.  "Home" home.  It feels good to sleep in my own my own bed again but all day yesterday and now again at 6 am today I have been so nauseated.  I'm taking my Phenergan and I think it helps but all I want is ice chips, taking a drink of water only seems to make me more nauseated.  Of course all I have here is ice trays, not crushed ice.  I need something to hydrate me, could that be the cause of the nausea?  Ugh.  I feel crappy and whiny now :(

Two Weeks Post Op and I'm Still Draining

The nurse came today and checked me out.  I'm still draining too much to have the drain removed but I guess that's good since the fluid does need to come off.  I really would like to have that thing out so I can start to feel normal again.  I don't have much pain anymore, just a little tenderness in the abdomen.  Last night I walked on the treadmill for 10 minutes and wasn't completely worn out. I'm hoping to get out of the house for a little bit tomorrow.  I might have Mom drive me out to the park for a little fresh air if it isn't snowing or raining.  I'm down about 11 pounds since the day of surgery, I had expected more but I think that might have to do with the fluid that is still draining. 

I'm starting to get a little bored here and really missing my animals.  I'd like to go home on Sunday.  Joe seems to think I should probably stay here until the drain is removed, he thinks the pets will wear me out.  I feel like it would be good for me to be there so I can work on getting into a routine.  I could always come back here if it's too much.  Right now my Short Term Disability is approved through April 24th, I have my 1 month follow up visit scheduled for that day.  The nurse will be by once a week until then.  Hopefully she will take out the drain next week. 

1 Week Post Operation

So it's been one full week since I had my surgery and I'm feeling pretty good.  I had some bad days, Sunday when my blood counts got so low and Thursday I had a lot of pain in my ribs and abdomen when getting up and down.  This morning I woke up feeling really well and had what turned out to be a bad idea that caused me to throw up a few times.  I thought that I might be able to take my large calcium vitamin right before a breakfast of a protein shake.  It ended up preventing everything else I ate from passing through my pouch.  That was around 9:30 and finally at about 4pm I was able to eat some Cream of Wheat that stayed down and have been slowly taking my medicines through out the day.  Mom gave me my blood thinner shot at 11pm.  She's been taking really good care of me this week which I am so thankful for. 

According to the scales here at Mom's I haven't lost any weight yet, which is disappointing.  When the home nurse was here today she was speaking on the phone with the nurse at Dr. Gellar's office who told her that 15 liters of irrigation fluid were used to find where the bleeding was coming from.  I guess that explains the lack of weight loss and the amount of fluid coming out of the drain in my side.  I will just keep drinking my water and walking around Mom's house until I notice some changes. 

I'm home and feeling better

Just wanted to make a short post to let every one know that I'm home and feeling pretty well today.  I was released Monday around 4pm, came home to Mom's house and got some uninterrupted rest.  I woke up about every four hours to take a pain pill and empty my drain.  There is a lot of fluid in the drain but the surgeon said to expect that  due the fact that I had quite a bit of bleeding during surgery and much irrigation fluid was used. 

The home health nurse stopped in today at 3pm, she checked to make sure I had all my prescriptions and knew when to take them.  She will have to call my doctor to find out about the blood thinners, there wasn't a prescription called in for them but I'm not supposed to take that until the drain is gone anyway, looks like that could be a while.  She will be back tomorrow to take some blood for testing, they want to make sure my blood counts are stable and/or improving. 

Today I've had cream of wheat, refried beans, and part of a protein shake that I will need to finish before bed.  I don't feel any kind of hunger and it doesn't take much to fill me up.  I've been taking little walks around the house to keep moving.  I have no problem going up and down the steps 5 or 10 minutes is about all I can do before I feel tired. 

I'll update again in the next few days, hopefully I will continue to make good progress.  Thanks to everyone for the prayers and good thoughts.  I think they've really helped and made a difference. 

Monday... COMING HOME!

Just talked to Bridgett on the phone, and she's coming home today!!!!  That news sounds much better than what we were hearing yesterday.  Her blood pressure is good, hemoglobin is stable at 9.6, walked to the restroom by herself, and she sounded so much stronger and better today. She will come home with the drain tube, but according to the Dr. that is looking thinner today :)  She will be staying with her Mom (Beckie) and a visiting nurse will come to check her out on Wednesday. 

THANK YOU all for your prayers and THANK GOD for the good report today!!! 

~Kathy

Sunday Jan.23

This morning, Bridgett was dizzy and nauseated.  Her blood pressure dropped to 86/62.  Her hemoglobin, which was 14 before surgery, had dropped to 7.  The Dr. ordered a transfusion, with 2 units of blood.  The first unit is almost done, her blood pressure is back up to 117/60 and Bridgett is feeling better.  Not as light headed and tired.  They'll start the 2nd unit of blood shortly, and check her hemoglobin level after 24 hours.

The drainage tube from her stomach is too dark, indicating there could be some kind of bleeding inside.  They are keeping a close watch on this tube, and if it doesn't clear up soon, there's a possiblity they will have to do another surgery to find out where it's coming from.   The nausea and dizziness has kept her from walking like the Dr. ordered, to prevent pneumonia.  She was able to eat a little bit of jello today.

Please continue to pray for Bridgett.
~Kathy

The Big Day

Bridgett's surgery was scheduled for 10:00 am on Friday, but they didn't start until 12:20.  Everyone at Suburban Hospital was so nice.  They kept us updated on the progress the whole time.  Surgery lasted about 2 1/2 hours.  Dr. Gellar came out and explained that Bridgett did great during the surgery.  They were able to do it laproscopicly? but it took longer than expected because he had to find a source of bleeding after the bypass. They also did a biopsy of her liver and that looked good.  He said she lost a unit of blood, but her vitals stayed good.  She was in recovery for about an hour and they called us when she was in her private room.  When we walked in the room, Bridgett looked a little pale and had a drainage tube in her nose, but she was talking and said she felt much better than we expected at that time, thanks to some good pain meds.  They were going to get her out of bed Friday evening for better breathing and to keep her moving. Dr. Gellar said that the more walking she could do, the better.  Bridgett sent me a text at 10:50pm... "Nose thing is out yay!" If she continues to do well, it's possible she will come home on Sunday!! 

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. 
~Kathy

Day 2 of clear liquids

This would be easier if I'd already had the surgery - I am STARVING!  Last night I dreamed that I forgot I couldn't eat and then I caught myself eating something so I spit it out and and started chewing up stuff and spitting it out.  How gross is that?  Today I just let myself stay in bed as long as I wanted because I thought it would keep me from thinking about how hungry I was ... and then I had a dream about eating, haha!

Today I have to finish getting things in order before I leave.  My friend Brett is going to stay here and take care of my animals until I can come back to the house on my own.  He's doing me a huge favor, Thanks Brett!  I hope you're still speaking to me after you realize how badly spoiled they are :) 

My bags are packed and I'm ready for the hospital.  If you see me on line message me, it helps keep my mind off of real food.

Edited to add:  This bowel prep stuff is really, really gross :( 

Two Days until Surgery...

Well, it's getting really close to surgery time.  I'm very anxious and excited about it all.  Thank you to all my friends and family who are being so supportive.  Today and tomorrow I will be on a clear liquid diet, then tomorrow night I will have to drink the Magnesium Citrate for the bowel prep (I keep thinking of  that as the "Big-Ass Blow Out" in my head.) 

I've asked my Aunt Kak to update the blog for me Friday evening so everyone will know how I'm doing.  She and my mom will be in the hospital with me while it's going on so I wouldn't expect to see anything here right away.  I'll try to answer any texts or emails as soon as I feel up to it. 

Pulmonary exam and Liver Shrinking Diet

I had an appointment with the pulmonary doctor today and he cleared me for surgery.  He seemed to think that I was having some issues breathing so he gave me an inhaler that I have to use twice a day.  I made an appointment to come back in three months.  Now, I don't feel like I have any respiratory issues,  I get winded if I climb more than one flight of steps or if I really exert myself exercising (doesn't happen very often, don't worry) but, in general I feel fine.

I had never been to a pulmonary doctor before so I didn't know what to expect as far as testing.  I had to take a copy of my Chest X-rays and I figured he'd listen to me breath and that would be it.  But NO, that was not it.  The nurse came to get me, I was weighed and my height was measured  then she had to take blood.  I can't remember exactly what she called it but she said something about gasses ... testing my blood for oxygen levels I guess?  Anyway, they have to take the blood from an artery in your wrist.  It HURTS!  I don't think it hurt because of the nurse, but just because it's a painful place to be stuck with a needle.  My whole wrist hurt for a few hours afterward.

Then I was taken to a room where the nurse measured my breath intake.  This part was horrible.  Whoever came up with these tests should be forced to sit with a clothes pin on their nose while breathing through scuba gear for the rest of their life.  I had to put a clip on my nose and put some kind of mouth piece in my mouth and breath through a tube.  Who can breathe like that?  They didn't just test normal breathing, you had to take a deep breath then then force it out or let it out slow.  While doing these tests I was sitting in this round thing which closed up kind of like a phone booth.  I was  getting that claustrophobic feeling so I think that is why my test scores were kind of low.  I will take the inhaler like I'm supposed to though, I just really don't think I need it.

The doctor also told me to start using my C-Pap machine again and to take it to the hospital with me.  I really hate that thing.  I hate having all that crap on my face.  How do people sleep like that, I could never get accustomed  to it so I stopped using it but tonight I will set it up and try again. 

So, 10 days until surgery ... I'm excited and a little scared.  I'm worried about waking up with that breathing tube crammed down my throat.  I started the Liver Shrinking Diet on Sunday.  I kind of half did it on Saturday too but Sunday was the first full day of it.  Sunday wasn't too bad but I started getting a caffeine withdraw  headache about 9pm and it stayed with me all day Monday.  I got some good rest last night though and today I feel better.  Monday I was hungry all day so today I had a protein shake for breakfast (Monday I had jello) and that helped so much with making me feel full.  When I was weighed at the doctors office today I had lost 6 pounds since my last visit on Dec. 30th, assuming the scales work the same.  I'm going to count that in my total pounds lost, seems fair right?

My before pictures, taken on Christmas Day 2010.

Suggested websites to help in your weight loss journey

Included in the papers I was given last Thursday is a list of websites that could be beneficial to anyone wanting to lose weight.  Some are specific to bariatric surgery patients but not all.

• http://www.fitday.com/ - track your foods, exercise, weight loss goals. 
• http://www.mydailyplate.com/ - track your food, exercise and weight loss. 
• http://www.obesityhelp.com/ - information site which addresses all the weight loss surgeries available.  This can be used as an online support group with the many chat rooms available. 
• http://www.realizemysuccess.com/ - online tracking tool for gastric band and gastric bypass patients.  You will have access to online food diary, exercise log and many bariatric friendly recipes. 
• http://www.lapband.com/ - Tracking tool for gastric band patients.  Bariatric friendly recipes also available.
• http://www.caloriecount.about.com/ - Free database of thousands of foods, which include nutrition information.  Have a favorite recipe?  This website will allow you to analyze your recipes as well.
• http://www.foodcaloriescounter.com/ - Find the amount of calories in a large variety of 18,000 plus foods.  Find out how many calories are burned performing common exercises.
• http://www.livingafterwls.com/ - bariatric friendly recipes, newsletters, online support group.  You can also purchase bariatric friendly cookbooks on this websites.
• http://www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ - a former weight loss surgical patient.  Her blog contains recipes, food tips and other helpful hints.
• http://www.mapmyrun.com/ - find local running trails in your area.  This website also allows you to map your own neighborhood and develop your own  personalized run.
• http://www.bariatriceating.com/ - sugar free recipes, post-op diet, before and after photoshow, food, nutrition, meal plans,  BMI calculator, experience support forum and more.
• http://www.bariatricchoice.com/ - bariatric diet supplements and foods delivered to your door at discount prices.
• http://www.sparkpeople.com/ - create a free profile to log your daily nutrition intake and exercise routines, with access to free exercise videos, recipes, message boards, support articles and more.

 I was already familiar with a lot of these sites but a few are new to me.

Pre-op testing and Scare the Crap Out of Me Seminar

I went in for my pre-operative testing on Dec. 30th.  I had to fast for 12 hours before testing arriving at the hospital at 9 am I was registered for testing and pre-registered for my surgery.  I was told during pre-registration that my payment due on the day of surgery would be about $1,200 more than expected.  Instead of freaking out I decided to call my insurance company to verify my coverage and it looks like the hospital based that number on my coverage being 85/15 and didn't take into account that my max out of pocket is $2,000.  Whew.  I was told to pay the deductible of $250 on the day of surgery and have the hospital bill me for the balance.  The director of registration made a note on my account at the hospital saying the same thing so that was a crisis averted. 

Next I went to the lab to have some blood drawn, pee in a cup and get chest X-rays.  I spoke with a nurse about pre-operative instructions and pain management after surgery.  She went over all the usual stuff, nothing to eat or drink, bring prescription medications, shower with antibacterial soap, no make up, lotions, powders or perfumes, no jewelry, and arrive in loose clothing.  I was given a folder with information on what to expect after surgery; pain control and medications/medication delivery methods and how to manage pain at home.  There was also an insert that went over what to expect the morning of surgery and what will happen when I wake up after surgery. 

When I was waiting for the chest X-rays I noticed it was about time for me to be back in the waiting room to meet with the Nutritionist and Surgical Nurse for the class.  They were running behind and I had to ask if they could get me done so that I could move on to the next thing.  They got me right in and out and when I got back to the waiting room a lady working in the waiting room kept asking me if I was there for the "Diabetic Class."  Well, no I wasn't there for a diabetic class I was there for a class about nutrition after surgery.  If it hadn't been for the surgical nurse announcing who she was looking for when she came in the room I guess I would have missed it or been late.  I guess she was confusing diabetic for dietary but you would think someone working in a hospital would know the difference.  It probably wouldn't have bothered me as much if I had been given time to get something to eat after the labs were done.

After all the lab tests were complete I had to go to a pre-admission testing education class or what I like to call the Scare the Crap Out of Me Seminar.  It started out fine, we went over a lot of the things that I had already been reading about in the paper work I'd been given; diet after surgery, pre-op diet, bowel prep, nutritional supplements, what to bring to the hospital etc.  THEN they started talking about what I should expect the morning of surgery ... and they had pictures.  Now, I had been trying to not think about all that stuff because while I know that I should be prepared for it, thinking about it makes me anxious.  So, I'm going to wake up with a drain tube coming out of my nose that goes to my stomach, a catheter, a "pain ball" which is something that contains pain medicine delivered directly to the surgical site, a drain tube from the surgical site and possibly a breathing tube.  I say "possibly" because they try to have that out before you wake up but some people wake up with them if they decide that person still needs help breathing. 

I will definitely freak out if I wake up with that breathing tube, no doubt about it but I can't think about it.  Right now I'm focusing on being prepared for the pre-op diet, the bowel prep and the post-op diet.  Those are the things within my control so I'm not thinking about the other stuff. 

I spent this past weekend cleaning out my cabinets, fridge and freezer.  I've been cooking and tossing all the stuff that won't be a part of my diet for at least the next year.  Everyone tells me that at about 6 months out you can start reintroducing certain things to your diet but I will think about that at the 6 month point, for right now I don't want it in my house.  I will have to sit down this week and make up my grocery list for the next two weeks liver shrinking diet.