DebraLea

I started this June 2011 after gaining over 70 pounds on my already overweight body. The weight was caused by medication I was put on and of course we ended up with the age old "well if you lose weight but yes we understand that being on this medication doesn't allow you to lose weight very well". Really !?! Seriously ya think?????
Well I changed physicians and when I found out that you didn't need to be 4-5 humdred pounds or more llike you see on TV that with certain medical conditions you CAN have weight loss surgery. My new doctor was all for it when I asked him. He immediately told me to call my surgeon Dr. Birkedal and set up an appointment to see what he thought. That five minute appointment me on my journey that hopefully will end the medical problems and allow me to be a healthy weight.
I have no illusions of ever being skinny or pretty but being healthy would be nice.
We jumped through all the hoops put in our way and finally even with an insurance change along the way in February 2012 I was denied. They would pay for a lap band or a Roux N Y, no sleeve. Well I told my surgeon it was the sleeve or nothing. That is what he recommended and what I agree with after reading all the information on the others this was the safest for me. He sent them a nice letter which almost two months later we were approved. Sara from his office called me and said what day do you want to go? I had to arrange for time off from work with much whining of the boss who told me I didn't need the durgery I just needed to quit eating. So after I ripped him a new one and told him he couldn't really stop me from taking the time off, I set up my date of Wedmesday April 25th 2012.
Each day I became more anxious and finally they told me to take my Xanax everyday instead of as needed. It did help a little. My anxiety and fear was due to a fear of being put under and not waking up.
We had to be there at 5:30am for 7:30 start time. The Anesthesiologist was awesome and spent a great deal of time with me prior letting me know what was going on and re-assuring me that all would be fine. After one last kiss from my fiance off I went. They had me out before I ever got to the OR. Woke up in a very nice room with a view. Everything seems to be going well until late that night. I was up walking within hours after the surgery which I found out was longer than they thought due to my wonderful anatomy.They went to take my BP and it was terribly high, I am not Hypertensive so this is disturbing. All night of BP readings many meds lots of shots they decided two days later the machine was messed up. Alyway I have normal BP readings everyday when I check them. They had to check for leaks before I could even have ice chips so nothing at all in my mouth until late Thursday afternoon and finally broth on Friday. The pain medication what was ordered ran out in the pharmacy at the hospital so they had to change that the last day I was there. Apparently it is on national backorder (Thank you big Pharmacia for not having what we need available), since they had already written the script thinking I was going to be going home the AM following surgery they didn't change it. They wanted me to stay another day so another script could be written but I was like NO I want to go home, they were great but I want to go home now. The surgeon actually stopped what he was doing and found a pharamcy that had the treasured red liquid for my pain and we left and got it.
First post op appointment Tuesday May 1, 2012.
Appointment went well. All incisions closed and looking good, all bandages pulled. First weight loss 6 pounds bringing me down to 244. I have to admit I was disappointed I really thought it would be more, but they were very happy with it and added regular liquids and if I feel okay I can try cream soup and pudding or applesauce. My biggest problem other than gas has been keeping my blood sugar from dropping to low. Go back in one week.