I have not been here in quite a while the name changed and I had a hard time finding it but I DID!
My start wt 448
Surgery wt 419
1 st year anniversary wt 279
Current wt 242
226lbs gone fitting in 1x on top 2x on the bottom (from7-8xl)
My goals pre op were to be able to chase my grandson- check
Walk up stairs without holding the rail- half a check can do a few up and check for down unless I am really tired.
Be able to walk a mile- check! Did it easily when I had to get my car out of the shop. Surprised me that I was able to do it( glad my neighbors weren't home to give me a ride)
Go on a mission trip to Africa - not yet but I think I am going to go google that right now! Maybe this summer.
I am working full time nights, able to wear skinny jeans comfortably, buy stuff at a thrift store easily, and swim for over an hour and then do physical therapy in the alpine pool for another ten min. I have a tiny waist and can feel the bones in my shoulders and hips. In fact when I sit on the potty it hurts a bit cuz my poor butt has lost a lot of it insulation.
I tolerate most food but small portions are key. Half a sandwich, 1/4 -1/2 of a restaurant portion entree, and stay away from loads of sugars (under 9 grams at any one time) which means I don't deny myself a special treat but I only have a tiny piece or one small candy. The holidays meant a load of cooking but for me at least not a load of eating. Side benefit saving money on food big time.
All in all this journey has been what I had envisioned and I see my end goals coming up fast.
Under 200 lbs and being ABLE!
Dang a lot has been going on with everyone. As I posted before my surgery went great, I got all my horrible complications pre op starting with MRSA scare, a fib episodes, injuring my SI joint during my IVC filter placement, and busting my toe with the scale in the br right before my surgery. Post op the worse pain has been my SI joint pain, I am able to walk very well, passed my leak test, tolerating clears, and been burping away from the start so no shoulder pain just occasional burning pain around my q pump. I am not hungry at all my taste buds are fine so far and I still love to chew ice and tolerate cold so I am happy about that. I love being able to drink sip sip sip no problems but I do take everything slow. I have used my incentive spirometer like a religion and am almost back to pre op levels. I talked my doc into keeping my pca through the night tonight cuz the SI joint was still hurting a lot but that got better today spontaneously and I am not using it much so I feel fine about switching to oral pain meds tmr. Hope to go home tmr not sure when I will know.
Oh my blood sugars have improved greatly and my Bp is normal so I have refused the Bp med they wanted to start cuz I Think it will bottom me out and my nurses agree. That's my story and I am sticking to it!
Today I went to bluepoint for my dietician and doctor appointment. I have had my issues with some people at the office and today was no different. I think they just plain do not like me. Not everyone but at least two are cold curt and borderline insulting. I am an advocate for my own health care (what nurse isnt) and I ask questions. i do not know if this can be resolved but I am not taking it sitting down. When they ask me how it is going I say fine except the way certain people treat me. If I get the chance I will write them a evaluation that is truthful. I do not think I am unreasonable but maybe i am. either way BE NICE it wont kill you and it goes a long way when dealing with people having a major life changing surgery sheeesh.
Ok so I am excited and nervous but not to bad yet. I am in day three of my two week optifast (adjust by me of course) diet. I had reduced 12 lbs per my PCP's scale then the bluepoint scale said i gained back 5 lbs. At that time i was doing less then 2000 calories a day low carb no cheating. I was like F this and had a candy bar. What is the point of being good and still gain. Not a good attitude I know. I admit the candy did not taste as good as I thought it would and I got back on track pretty quickly. my FINAL meal pre op was sunday night. I went out with the family to my old favorite italian restraunt and had pasta spinach soup and lovely italian bread and desert but i forgot about the brownies i had at home and didnt have one. I made my son take them the next day once I started my optifast diet. I was proud of myself for not eating those!
Today my wt at bluepoint was back to the 12 lbs reduced but the scale fluctuated to a 2 lb gain (I guess I was not being still) I about freaked out. The girl weighing me was a bit unfriendly but I think she was feeling unwell (cough or cold).
Then there is the MRSA issue. I have been concerned that I will have an active site near my surgery date and maybe get a systemic infection even though the worst one I had (left leg) that required 5 days hospitalization never cultured positive in my blood. I mentioned it to my doctor he was not concerned since I have nothing active right now. The nurse at the hospital said I must have a swab of nose and throat prior to my surgery. So I am working on that now.
Source: September Members
Bucket list
I have many desires but I want a concise list to focus on in the coming months to rewire my brain and change my habits.
Walk up and down steps " hands free"
Go to Africa on a mission trip.- this one includes the fitting in an airplane seat and being able to walk at least 1 mile!
Meet a man I can attract and be attracted to.
LIVE LARGE - philosophically not physically
I think that's enough to focus on. I want to keep these four things in my mind when the going gets rough. Might even laminate the list.
Source: September Members
So I was at work today Wednesday the 29th, had a bitch at a Drs office kinda yell at me, and next thing I know I am crying. Back in my younger years as a new nurse I would cry whenever I had a confrontation. I hated that so much I trained myself not to cry. I haven't done that in many years so this was a shock. I think I am just in a fragile state. I have gotten alot done for my WLS here is my checklist
Pre op testing checklist
☒ Cardiac clearance redo
❏ Incentive spirometer “bag” from Kathy
❏ IVC filter placement scheduled IAH 9/21 w/CVIR
☒ Labs
☒ Chest xray
☒ Ekg
☒ Sleep study
☒ GI consult: colonoscopy& EGD
☒ Medical clearance
☒ Psychiatric consult
☒ Education program
❏ Nutrition and surgery pre op post op class@IFOH 9/20
☒ Behavior modification/compliance
☒ Nutrition counseling
❏ 1:1 Coaching with RN-IFOH bariatric education
❏ Doctor and Dietician appointment scheduled 9/12
I got some reassurance from my cardiologist. I had an appointment friday morning and I went into Atrial fib the afternoon before (right after my 2 hour nutrition class at my baritric drs office) I was still in FIB when I went to the appointment. I have been very worried that my fib state would postpone my WLS. In discussing it with him we worked through many aspects of my condition. The new medicine has changed the episodes from completely debilitating: I would be dizzy, short of breath with any exertion, and have a raging headache to functional: I do not have the headache, shortness of breath, or dizziness. I just can feel a little fluttery in the chest and I have limited energy. Thus I am able to go to work driving myself where as before I was laid up in bed. The Doc says the main thing is to maintain my anticoagulation and control the rate by doubling one of my meds while I am in FIB. I also will need to be off my anticoagulant prior to my IVC placement and pre op WLS. We will bridge that time with lovenox (a shot that anti coagulates you). So now I have a plan.
Unfortunately it is now saturday and I am still in FIB. YUCK! Just wish I would convert already.
The golden rules of eating post op
*30/30 don’t drink within 30 minutes of starting or ending a meal.
*Protein first veggies and fruits second and carbs if there is room
*Avoid “white” or simple carbs eat only complex carbs
* Drink!!! At least 64 ounces, 2 standard quarts Each day caffeinated beverages don’t count replace 1:1 with water
*Protein at least 60 grams per day-vital to maintain strength
*Vitamins and supplements for the rest of your life (get blood test periodically to check)
*Medical Follow-up keep in touch with your Doctor keep your weight off
*Support groups promotes accountability and sense of community
*CHEW CHEW CHEW!!!!!!!!!!
My name is Rachael. I am a mother, a nurse, and a very fat person. I was given my first diet pill at age 10 by my mother... I couldn't take pills so I struggled to get the huge pill down. I don't know that I ever did or that it worked or if I even really needed it! I see pictures of my self and I am a bit chubby but not obese at all at that age. I remember being teased about being fat and large at an early age. I remember carving the word fat into my arm at around 12 years old. I remember hating my body and thinking my life would be perfect if I weren't fat. Years flow by I am in high school I am 5 7 my wt a HUGE 155. In retrospect that isn't that tall or fat but at the time I felt unattractive. I had a period at age 16 were I had a lot of dates no sex but boys asked me out and told me I was pretty....... I did have big boobs and a full soft figure. I think I undervalued myself in some respects but was a fun, gregarious person. I met the man I eventually married he seemed to think I was attractive. We moved in together 2 years later. I did my first "successful" diet at age 20 . It was a liquid protein diet run by a doctor. My dad paid for it and I achieved my ideal weight of 130 lbs. I bought a tiny bikini short skirts and tight jeans. I went to community college for 2 years then nursing school. By the time a graduated in 1983 I had regained the wt I lost plus 30 or 40 lbs. I married at age 22 wt 170 ish ....continued to gain year after year hitting 270 when I got pregnant for the first time. I lost wt during the pregnancy but regained during breast feeding. Rinse and repeat x 2 more kids over 7 years. At age 33 I was 300 plus lbs but active and healthy. Years flow by my life hits a snag or two my husband developed into an alcoholic and we have marriatal problems. We split for the first time when I was 38 wt 345 lbs 3 kids ages 12, 7, and 5.
Living as a single mom for a year was hard we got back together kind of to buy a nice house in VA and be a family. The difference was we kept separate rooms. I had become used to sleeping by myself reading if I wanted to and did not want to hear my husband snore or reek of alcohol.
I am tired that's the beginning of my history more soon.
A few days later I added a second installment :
Today I am thinking about why I decided to have the surgery. I have become increasingly UNABLE. I can not: walk up stairs, walk any distance comfortably, fly comfortably, ride a bike, get up from a sitting position with anything like ease, and take care of myself alone. I have a laundry list of things I want to be able to do a BUCKET list if you will.
Chase my grandson
walk up or down stairs without a rail
fly to Africa on a mission
ride a bike
take a hike
buy a small car and fit in it
ride a motorcycle
Meet someone and be attractive enough to attract them
I sometimes want to do a skit like Jeff Foxworthy (not that its very funny)
YOU MIGHT BE MORBIDLY OBESE IF
you can't wipe yourself without hurting your wrist
you can't climb a stair without a reinforced rail
get up out of a low couch without assistance
well you get the idea i have a million and they all make me want to cry
life as a fat person in America is not much fun .....the ridicule is one thing ......the discomfort of chairs that bind you is another...... and the comments people feel free to make is yet another.
Yes I am responsible for my situation I know that but it does not make me sub human or less valuable as a person. I know I have lost friends, one in particular that I relate to my weight and my inabilities. This makes me sad and mad.
A few days and thoughts later........
I find out my surgery date next week. Today I hurt my leg walking into work. I did not fall I was just walking and my right calf pulled or charley horsed maybe my Achilles tendon. Whatever it was it has crippled me worse then I have been ever! I so did not need another obstacle to exercising sigh. I am ready to do this.
I have a lot of questions about the surgery itself
How long will I be in the hospital?
How much recovery time will I need before I can return to work?
How my much pain will there be?
How will my body feel inside?
Will I have control of my bowels and will I vomit a lot?
I think I will visit the blue point website and attend a support group this week.
I must get ready to get ready
I am a disappointment to my children though they love me they worry about me when they should not have to. They miss being able to do things with me or having to do things for me. They want a Mom they can count on and not have to worry about. I want them to have that as well. That's why I am doing this surgery to be ABLE.
I need to express concern and frustration. I rescheduled an appointment a month ago but I misplaced my organizer so I put the new appointment into my phone then added it later to my organizer. Only I forgot to cross out the original appointment scheduled today Friday the 20th. I tried to call the office before I went at 851am but the phone rolled over To the message : office hours are 9-5. So I go and the receptionist says I indeed do Not have an appointment my appointment is the 24 th at 930 am. I mention I tried to call. She says" oh no I opened the phones at 830". I looked at my phone it shows I made the call at 851am she says "no no no the phone was ringing and being answered then". Ok wtf is the point of saying that to me? It came off so rude and she did it over and over. I left disgruntled not because I wasted my time but because of her attitude. This is making me nervous about the office staff. It's not the first time I have had an issue. When trying to schedule my counseling appointments which I have to pay out of pocket for the receptionist interrupted our scheduling to say she had to do something else and someone else would have to help me. She then answered the phone and scheduled someone else. I got upset because it was complicated confusing and she dumps me for another call. I walked out.
This process is anxiety producing enough with out this crap from the staff. I thought everyone would be more encouraging and supportive and not nasty and confrontational. I might mention that I was not blaming them in anyway for the issue today that was all me. simply why in the world did she keep negating or denying that I had got their machine that morning. Seriously sigh
Today started off well traffic wasn't to bad since my fiasco last week (see previous post) I "knew" my appointment was at 930am I got there at 915 went to the bathroom first signed in at 930 and sat until called when I di my day went down hill fast. The very nice scheduler said my appointment was at 900 am and the nutritionist had a 930 already. She said she was confused about which visit this was for me since she was on maternity leave when I started and my 3 month program was not set up right. I stood there and and started saying but I was here Friday and she told me my appointment was for 930. Then I did something I haven't done in literally years I burst into tears. The sweet receptionist took me into a private room and straighten out my "program" the scheduler Pam set up my surgery appointment , I got to see not only the nutritionist but the nurse practitioner for my " second" appointment ( the pre op exam and review). While the end result is I have my date I got some questions answered and reassurance from the staff I cried a lot and melted down completely which for me is not a comfortable feeling. When I was a new RN I cried when faced with any confrontation and I hated it. I trained my self not to cry in front of people of authority and to stand up for myself. I became a strong voice in my career so this breakdown brings back bad memories of a weaker self. I felt better when I left went to work and remained a little fragile all day. I cried a few times ( in private) but I made it through the day. I work tmr but have the rest of the week off for my birthday.
Oh I forgot I freaking gained 2 lbs so they are pressuring me big time to lose 45 lbs before surgery.
I have started my fitness pal and data entering all I eat it is working to curb my binging as I don't like entering to much lol I am being brutally honest and entering everything I eat. My plan is to begin low carb in earnest Monday kind of a modified Atkins because that the only diet I have ever tried that helps me resist sweets and that I feel strong and healthy while I do it.
I gave myself to age 50 to lose the wt on my own and I failed major I have become so big I am almost crippled. So the decision is made the date is set and I am getting the gastric bypass. I wish it were sooner then September 25th but I have a little time to get some wt off ha ha ha. I know my doctor wants me to lose 35-40 lbs before surgery but if I could do that why would I need surgery? I am going to try and at least do the optifast for an extra week(they require 2 weeks prior to surgery).
What I am doing now is using my fitness pal to enter my daily intake , it is helping me to snack less and become aware of my snacking patterns, emotional eating, and types of food I eat. Since it was my birthday I did have chocolate cake and ice cream but I did eat smaller portions of my bday dinner and my slice of cake was also smaller then I usually would take. Today I am not having any cake but I did have a small ice cream bar. I plan to focus on my "diet" in a few weeks. I am also using online support groups to ask questions and get encouragement from others photos and stories. I will need to make a counseling appointment and start going to the support group on weds nights.
AGE: 51 WT: 448 HT 5 7 BMI 70 MOTHER of 3 GRANDMOTHER of 1 RN
HYPERTENSION/ ATRIAL FIBRILLATION diagnosed with bp 2002 atrial fib 2004
MEDICATIONS: Sotalol - antiarrhythmic and BP Diltiazem - as needed during episodes of afib (so I don't have to go to the hospital) Coumadin - anticoagulant to prevent clots during episodes of afib (again so I don't have to go to the ER and get lovenox) HCTZ - diuretic for BP KDUR - potassium supplement/ Magnesium supplement - from diuretic use if my potassium or magnesium gets low I have additional arrhythmias , also Fish Oil (stopped baby asa daily per my cardiologist this year)
***after my recent(today is 8/27) 4 episodes of fib in 3 weeks I changed my cardiac meds to Tikosyn and a daily dose of diltiazem for my blood pressure and discontinued sotalol and HCTZ.***
DIABETES TYPE 2 diagnosed October 2005
MEDICATIONS: Actos and Glipizide plus cinnamon supplement
ARTHRITIS/ BACK, KNEES, AND SHOULDER pain diagnosed 1991
MEDICATIONS: Motrin 800mg twice a day, Percocet (oxycodone) 5-10mg daily at night, Tramadol as needed for pain, and Benadryl w/percocet (because percocet makes me a little itchy)
SLEEP APNEA- Use CPAP machine nightly rated as severe setting 14
My plan to lose wt pre op
Step 1 Data entry everything I eat being brutally honest and writing down EVERYTHING Using myfitnesspal Time limit: August 14,2012
Step 2 will be to eliminate the sweets and keep track and decrease carbs. Time limit 8/14-21
Step 3 low carb no sweets 8/14-9/4 Step three if I haven't lost at least 25 lbs by sept 4th do an extra week of optifast. Time limit: if needed start 9/4
Step 4 optifast 2 weeks prior to surgery. Time limit 9/11-24
Step 5 surgery! 9/25
I live in Washington DC , city living is not designed for obese people. Parking is a bear I hate it but when I get a good spot it does make my day lol. That's another thing I will enjoy: not worrying if I have to park far because the walking won't be painful! A painful situation happened to me last year. I am a nurse and I have worked in labor and delivery for 18 years, it is my calling. last year I moved back here from TN and tried to do a travel assignment but was not mobile enough and they fired me. It was horribly painful physically trying to keep up and emotionally when I failed. I got a Full time night shift job at the hospital I had worked in before I moved to TN in 2007. Nights was hard and my ability to be fast enough came up after 6 months during a time I had become infected with MRSA. I was put on leave, paid fortunately, due to the infection. then I got THE call from my boss and human resources questioning my physical ability to perform my job. They kept me on paid leave while they decided what to do with me eventually sending me to a desk job 9-5 in PST pre surgical testing. There I call patients before surgery to obtain a history and advise them on medications and directions to the unit. I really like the hours and the people are very nice. But I feel like a failure. In the end it is the best thing for me right now. I really answer to no one as I am still on L& D's payroll so I can go to doc appts and take vacation whenever I need. Also It's really nice to be on days. I hated nights especially where I live. Because I was going with major traffic both directions which sucked after working a 12 hour night shift. So all in all this Job is helping me to attain my goal to have the RNY surgery and achieve my wt loss. Things do work out the way they are supposed to. That's my story and I am sticking to it lol!
I am hopefully experiencing the LAST of a number of things:
The last time I come to the beach on vacation and have fear of being able to get out of the ocean
The last time I slow the family down
The last time I am unable to help chase the baby down especially because we will soon have two babies in the house
PS It occurs to me that I need to lose not only a full person (in body wt) but indeed to lose a FAT person. Which philosophically speaking is just what I need to do LOSE a FAT person physically and mentally.
Ok since 2004 I have had intermittent bouts with atrial fib. My heart is rapid irregular and weak. It makes my head hurt and I can't exert myself at all. I used to go to the ER and they would try medication , it never worked, then they would admit me, monitor me and schedule a cardio version. I would always convert to normal sinus rhythm before the cardioversion. I got sick of going to the ER so I now live in a anticoagulated state on Coumadin and have short acting antiarrythmic medication that I take every four hours until I convert. There is a surgical option but my wt precludes the surgery.
In light of my scheduled wls I am thinking about this on two levels
one that I will have an episode before during or after surgery and
two that achieving wt loss will allow me to have the surgery to put a stop to theses debilitating episodes.
Unfortunately in the past week I have had the first episode in over a year lasting over 24 hours and then another episode also lasting 24 hours. So my concern about it interfering with my wls is very real. Also I had to use 12 hours of paid time off on friday and I need every hour for my time off for surgery.
Then there is my MRSA which is meth resistant staph aureous. This infection used to be named a nosocomial or hospital acquired infection but they changed it to MRSA and now it seems to be treated like leprosy. You are labelled for life and isolated whenever you are in the hospital. Which means i get a private room which works for me but it irritates me that I am treated like a leper and the hospital the freaking source of the microorganism is absolved of all blame or responsibility.
I am wondering about how much time off i will need to take post op. I was hoping to get back to work in 2 weeks because I dont have alot of pto. I have to use one week of pto paid time off( they lump vacation and sick time together) then I can use short term disability , which is 2/3 of my pay. I was really hoping to get back to work in 2 weeks but I think now I should plan for more like 3-6 weeks. I first didn't think about std just thought I would use pto but I don't even have enough. I live with my son and daughter in law so we share expenses and I will have help both physically and financially. I am hoping 66% of my pay will be enough for a month or so. I can supplement with my pto but I just don't have much and as I am writing this I am home sick because my darn heart is acting up (atrial fib) I have had it since 2004 but has historically been infrequent til 9 days ago. I have now had 3 episodes. 2 lasted 24 hr each still in this one Been over 12 hours. I might need my meds changed which requires hospitalization and cardiac monitoring sighhhh . I had planned to visit my 19 y/o daughter this w/e and have reserved a room at a hotel. Now I might have to be in the hospital sheesh. Can I get a break here
I am still in AFib feel like my head will explode and I am dizzy and weak. Can I cry now? When will this stop? I have a cardiology appointment tomorrow morning. Will be discussing changing my meds this weekend which will entail being hospitalized this situation has made my desire to have WLS even more imperative. I want to have the ablation procedure to cure the AFib. They will not perform it on a morbidly obese patient. So I must lose the weight first. I sure as hell hope my heart behaves for surgery!
My cardiologist stopped my sotolol yesterday and admitted me to the hospital today. I converted to sinus rhythm at 5 pm. So I feel much better. Hope this new medicine stabilizes my heart for surgery. I am ready to take this step and make a new me for the rest of my life. I want to be active and vibrant.
Ok that was Friday the 17th it is now the 23rd I got out of the hospital Monday and I went right to work. Started working out yesterday with my resistance bands felt good about that and then went to my first support group meeting. Got home had an unjury shake for dinner and then boom went into fib. It is different slower no head ache but still way wack. So I went to work feel ok can't walk far but I am trying to ignore it til it goes away. Oh and my damn tire has a slow leak so I had to put air in it before work too.
Yesterday I took a whole list of questions and wrote em up and called my cardiologist and bypass docs office . Got some answers still a lot to figure out. Here they are:
Ok so I am a nurse(almost 30 years now) I am most likely a PIA(pain in the a$$) to all my doctors because I "guide" my care and treatment, ask a lot of questions, and question their answers with a lot of data and research. The list below is the q&a for my RNY surgery 9/25/12. bluepoint is my gastric bypass doctors group, I have a cardiologist and a PCP or primary care physician, and a cardic surgeon to place my IVC filter.
Doctor questions
Bluepoint doctor questions
Q: Pain control post op for arthritis Meds that can be liquid or crushed?
***no NSAID's****
A:
Q:Is there a bowel prep diet pre op
A: no
Q: Expected length of stay in hospital
A: 2 days
Cardiology and PCP questions:
Q: What are my needed meds post op?
Tikosyn per cardiologist- can it be opened and added to liquid to take?
Kdur – will be on k added fluids in hospital and monitored
Magnesium
? Actos glipizide will be off these after surgery and on a sliding scale insulin. Recommended sugar control pre op suggested sliding scale insulin now (ask my pcp to write for the insulin)
Q: Lovenox? Since I need to be off 5 days pre IVC placement and 4 days pre RNY surgery are we concerned about stroke risk? I am! Also optifast will it affect my Afib or electrolyte balance ? Bluepoint wants cardiologist to adjust my cardiac meds on optifast if needed.
A
IVC filter DOCTOR q's (cardiac surgeon)
Q: Stop Coumadin prior to insertion when?
A: 5 days prior
Q:When and where procedure done A: Fairfax or fairoaks
Q:Anesthesia used propofol?
A:General
Q: IS MAC/PROPOFOL an option
A:
Q: Do they (IVC placement doctor) need clearance from cardiology and PCP prior to IVC placement A:no
