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My Trip from Big Man to Thinner Man - 2006

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1 Week Out - Tired, Light Headed, But Lost Weight

May 31, 2006 8:36pm (CST):   Well, it has been one week out since last week's banding (5/24/06) surgery.   A quick update since, 5/23/06. I woke up and met Germaine for some breakfast. He is a really great guy and hope some day to be a really special friend.   I went to see my dentist at Jefferson Dentist Clinic and found I have 5 old cavities that need to be drilled out and refilled due to decay around the fillings. Also, she wants to repair my bad tooth, replace the metal cap with a porcelain one. The teeth bleaching is working out good.   She wants to wait until I have my surgery and a few weeks to get the stomach/band in place -- doesn't want to upset it.   Went to the Trinity Medical Center Day Surgery unit to get all my prep done for the surgery tomorrow, 5/25.   The people were really nice and was done in about two hours.   WEIGHT (per D.S.J.): 392lbs.   I was tired and headed back home to take a nap before my sister and sister-in-law arrived. I am nervous meeting them. I haven't seen them in a year since I brought my mom's car I inherited back to Dallas, Tx.   Shawn and I went to DFW airport and found my sister, Sandy, and sister-in-law, Nancy at the baggage claim area. I teared up and let my emotions flow. It felt so good to have family in my arms, I miss my family so much. That is another story in its self.   They had to take the bus over to the Rent-a-car area. We decided to pick up a few things and head over to the hotel, InTown Suites. I decided to do my recovery there instead of the apartment. It was a mess and I didn't want to go through any crap stepping on something if I needed to get to bathroom or phone for any emergency.   Anyways, I went to Embassy Suites where Sandy and Nancy were staying. We chatted for several hours and we had a mild dinner in their room. I had vegetable soup -- tasted so good. It would be a while before I could have any thing like that again until the doctor/dietician say so.   NOTE: The conversation came across several things that I felt I had to confess to my sister and sister-in-law. I advised them that I was gay. Yes, if anyone but myself is reading this, I am gay. They were not shocked, but had an inkling I was. They didn't get upset or hate me. They said that they loved me no matter what.   That was a great weight off my shoulder and I had one more confession, but that is to come down the way.   It was 11pm and I kissed them both good night and would see them in the morning.   I cried when I got in the card because I had this on my heart/mind for over 40 years and it was finally gone -- no more guilt. Only thing I wish I had told my parents, but I am sure they know nowthat I am gay -- they are in God's loving arms.   I think I finally fell asleep about 2am and woke up at 4am, though I didn't need to get up until 5am. 2hrs sleep--that's it!   Well, it is 5:30am, Shawn and I are on the way to the hospital. I see the hospital as I drive up Josey Lane and it stands out as a monilith -- how many people has it seen come and go, and those who didn't make it.   Anyways, I arrived in a fairly good, but nervous mood. I sat down at the D.S.U. and announced my arrival.   The attendant motioned me over and I paid the $700.00 which covered my $500 deductible and my 20% of my share of the hospital costs. Strange that it said in the employee's guide for benefits that "surgical and non-surgical gastric (including morbid obesity)" is excluded. Well, guess what, other than Dr Frank Veninga's costs, UHC has paid all the costs--shhh! don't tell.   Anyways, I sat back down and was about 6:30am and I was called back to get prepped for my surgery. I asked Shawn to wait until Sandy, Nancy, and Pastor James Walker came in and when they did to send them and him to come back to my room.   I met with Sandy and Nancy at first and cried, I found it hard to have this surgery not knowing if I would survive it -- as with any surgery "death is a possiblity."   Nancy prayed with me and I felt much better. I thank God for her becoming a Christian. Amen!   Anyways, I was ready to reveal my last confession. I asked Nancy to leave so I could tell Sandy. I confessed to her that I was molested as a kid (at 11yrs old) by . She was upset and I asked to forgive me for not telling my family. :angry She forgave me. I asked her to bring Nancy in and I advised her of the molestation. She cried and asked if I had forgave this person. I advised her that I had been through therapy and had forgiven .   I advised them that I wanted to get anything off my mind and advised them of those two things that I had sought forgiveness or wanted to let them know -- in case I died during surgery.   Anyways, Pastor Walker came in and I asked the others to leave the room. I confessed what was on my heart and sought God's forgiveness. Pastor Walker talked to me and lead me in prayer. I gave him a really BIG hug as I really trust Pastor Walker. I was ready for the surgery.   From this point on, I remember talking to the anesthesiologist. He advised me of what would be done, asked if I was alergic to any anesthetics--advised no, and asked if he could do anything for me. I asked for a shot for my nervousness. He said I would get it shortly, before any anesthetics.   While I waited, a nurse came in and gave me my shot. It was a short time and I was out of it and asleep.   (I don't remember anything after that).   About two later (about 10am), I woke up droggy from the anesthetics, but I was thrashing about due to the pain and muttering "why did I have this surgery."   I guess I was given another shot of whatever knocked me out because I went back to sleep and woke up three hours later. I was in pain, but was given some mophine to handle it.   Sandy, Nancy, and Shawn were there and I began to cry, "I made it -- I didn't die." So, much worry even amid reassurances from many people, including my pastors, "...that everything would be fine."   Well, I was aware of things Sandy and Nancy told me about being taken to Dr Veninga's office and given a personal tour of the office. Also, that I would be held over night because I didn't have a CPAP -- my broke that prior weekend. Anyways, I must have dozed off as I don't very much until later that night.   Dr Veninga said that he was advised that my CPAP was broken and that I needed one before he'd let me be discharged. He arranged for the Lung Doctor, Dr Flewelyn. He arranged to have a CPAP (which belonged to the hospital) delivered so I could stay over night.   Of course, during the next 12hrs, I was visited every other hour by a nurse, doctor, or attendant. Anyways about 1am, I finally got my CPAP -- attendant didn't see it ordered on my paperwork. Anyways, with my morphine shots I gave myself (yeah!!!) and the CPAP I slept great -- except being woken up as I already stated.   The next morning, I awoke again to poking, proding, testing for oxygen in my breathing, and taking blood.   SURPRISE!! :hungry: I got coffee, clean chicken broth, sugar free Jello, and Apple Juice.   Which totally disgusted me -- as I wasn't hungry at the time. So, it sat there for a few hours just before lunch.   Anyways, Sandy and Nancy stopped by to say that they had a good night's sleep and had a Continental breakfast at the hotel. Sandy said that she had some other information from the doctor in what medicine I would be taking once I went home (or in this case the hotel).   Sandy told me that she had contacted my sleep doctor, Dr Nowara and left message that my CPAP was broken and needed to be replaced.   They left during my sleep times and I didn't see them as their plane left early the next morning.   Anyways, I received a call from Dr Nowara and explained what had happended. He authorized a sales person to come over and rent me a CPAP until after my sleep study -- scheduled on June 21, 2006 at his office at Baylor Hospital in Plano.   Dr Veninga stopped by and authorized my release pending my Lung Doctor's release too.   Well...about 2pm, the sales person arrived with a CPAP for me. After teaching me how to set it up and how to use it. I sleep for a couple more hours and was awaken by the day nurse that I was being discharged. I got dressed and was wheeled out of the hosptial to where Shawn picked me up in the Chevrolet Tracker.   We went to the InTown Suites, I slept most of the day and night. I had to becareful in the pain medicine I was taking. It was great I slept throughout the night, except to go to the bathroom several times.   I am going to skip Friday and Saturday, as I slept most of the day and night.   I will carry on in my next entry.   God Loves You!   I love you all,   Ron Sutton 5/31/06. 10:02pm.
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It is Sunday's Event - (cont'd)

Howdy again!   Well, I am writing this on Thursday, June 1st. It has been eight days since my banding.   Well, Sunday, 5/28/06, came and went. I awoke a bout 9am and got dressed. I felt the pain still from stiches and had diarreha bad.   I had decided to take another Immodium tablet, but this also handle the gas problem I was going through also.   I went to church and saw several people who asked how I was feeling. I expressed my concern about the pain, the diarreha, and what I was eating.   The service proceded well until the Come Forward for prayers. I went forward to Pastor Doug and asked for continual prayers and I just started to cry uncontrollable. While he was praying for me, I just heard that little voice speaking to me -- which I believed was the Holy Spirit. He said that God Loved Me and would be there for me. It was the peace in which I heard it. I want you to know that I always pray for Pastor Doug -- as I trust me as I do Pastor Walker -- that they are men I listen to because of their belief in God and how he leads us all.   After service, I went to the movies and saw The Hedge. It was a good movie, but I don't know if I would get it on DVD. That's is another story.   I went back to the hotel and spent most of the day with Shawn. We just watched tv most of the day and played on our laptops. Took my pain medicine and fell asleep.   Monday, March 29, 2006. It is memorial day. We must have slept late to about 10am. I played on the laptop some more, while Shawn watched "The Price Is Right!" My God, how Shawn does love Bob Barker. It is one of his deepest dreams to be on that show. Who knows -- he probably will be on it one of these days before Bob Barker retires.   Mostly, just rested and decided to get a new blender just for my Optifast diet packets.   Well, I did have the chololate Optifast...which was delicious....aded some cold skim milk instead of water to it.   Well, we are going back to the apt on Tuesday about 1pm. So, Shawn fell asleep and I prepared for bed.   Gosh, I am hungry, but I am afraid to get something to eat because I might get another case of diarreha. Sometimes, I still wonder if I was sure I should have gotten this lap banding.   :think   Oh wonderful, it is Tuesday and I got up early. Shawn and I went to Vic's place -- I had a small cup of grits and runny soft egg -- a little bit early for "mushy" food. It still tasted good.   We went back to the hotel and we got our stuff together. I loaded my Tracker with my clothes, my laptop, and medicines. Shawn loaded his stuff into the Ford Contour. I checked out at the office. It was a nice hotel, but I don't think I would want to spend another week at a place like this. The office isn't readily available -- it is only open 11am to7pm each day except Sunday, when it is closed.   Well, I got home, but Shawn decided to go shopping for some reason. Anyway I dropped off my stuff and went to the movies. I went to see a horror movie, but I ended up coming back home after I developed diarreha.   It was about 3pm and Shawn was home. I went to sleep for a few hours -- about 4hrs. We decided to just stay in after getting some groceries amid my thought to have an Optifast shake.   I didn't have the shake, but I did have an individual mash potatoes and it tasted good with the little gravy they put on it.   Well, I knew I would be busy on Wednesday morning into the afternoon. I woke up at 8am and got dressed to go and work out at 8:30am at Lifetime Fitness w/ Megan, my personal trainer. My God, it felt good to get there, but I felt strange.   It was about 8:20am, I saw Megan and advised I would walk for 10mins to warm up. I was a little light headed, but figured it would be ok once I got into working -- boy, was I wrong. Before we started, I asked Megan to weigh me. I weighed in at 380lbs. A loss of 9lbs per the prior week's weigh in. (I get weighed two more times with surprises!)   About 5mins into the workout, I began to get really light headed, but pushed on. After 15mins, I did something to my right shoulder, but Megan showed me how to stretch it and the pain went away.   We continued for another 15mins, as we were almost done, but I was too light headed to finish.   So, I told her that I would see her on Saturday. She knew I was going to Dr. Veninga's office to see Barb for my "one week follow-up."   It was about 9am, so I got a protein shake w/strawberries and whey protein. It tasted really good. I waited until 9:30am and left for Dr. Veninga's office.   I was stil light headed but not as bad. I guess my body was still adjusted to the lack of food it was use too. It was undergoing retraining on what it would be getting and how much.   After meeting with Barb, she weighed me. I weighed in at 374lbs. If I used the weigh-in from Trinity Medical Center's D.S..U. weigh-in of 392lbs. That would be an 18lbs loss. (Ok, I chuckled. I loss weight, but a six pound difference).   She advised me of several things, especially, I should not have been on a "clear liquid" diet for those three days out of the hosptial. I did express my concern of taking the Immodium and Gas-X tablets. She said that it is ok, but once it was cleared up not to take them. (I would notify the office anyways if I took anything or was contemplating taking for other issues).   I had to see Dr. Feinstein at 1:45pm, so I had about 2hrs plus before I saw him. I decided that since I was feeling light headed still to take a nap. So, I went home and slept good.   Shawn wasn't back yet, but I left the apartment to go to my appointment. It was strange to go back to his office as you might want to note that Dr. Feinstein was the original one who said I would have been a candidate for Gastric bypass (only this was said in 2002).   After filling out a new patient packet form(s) and paying my co-payment, I got to see Dr David Feinstein. He has changed little, but his office is now added other services -- not going into those.   He was surprised to see me, but was very nice. He had a new intern doctor in his office and was following him around -- he was in on our session -- I didn't mind this. I gave Dr Feinstein glowing adulations. He looked at my "old" medical information -- telling me my blood sugar levels of over 4 years ago. I advised him that his assistant didn't have a chance yet to do the blood tests and other pre-visit tests for the doctor.   So, he and the intern left and the assistant came back in to do the tests. My blood sugar was 155 and my blood pressure was 126/78 (both were great!!!). She weighed me at 376lbs. (that was a surprise when I told her the prior two weigh-ins).   Now, Dr Feinstein began to ask questions and was surprised when I advised I had gastric work done, but not the bypass. It was the lap banding done on 5/24/06 ... just one week ago.   I also, explained that I had weighed in and had three different results, but some average about 375lbs. I will take that weight loss of about 11lbs to 18lbs.   The doctor advised me to keep measuring my blood surgars and fax it in next Tuesday before making any adjustments in my medicines.   Well, I left his office and decided to go to the movies ... so, I went to see "Keeping up with the Einsteins." A delightful movie about the young man coming of age and how they "spend so much money" to "keep up with the jones" syndrome. It was hilarious.   Well, it was time to go home and I slept most of the day. Shawn went out for a while and I was playing on the laptop when he got home. We watched a new TV showing deal with the best game shows of the past. It was a good show. Well, I ended up going to bed.   Well, I will end this entry and begin the new one on the day it was written.   God still Loves you Ron!     Ron Sutton Banded 5/24/06 - 392lbs. Avg weight loss in 8days, 18lbs.
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