Sannah

Sleeved December 5th. Had a leak, but in track with my weight loss. Down 64 pounds. Still on liquids only and I hope to transition to puréed foods soon!!

I am not sure if I can eat. Everyone who has cared for me has a different idea. Things will be delayed longer because I am transitioning care. My nut can't see me until she has medical proof that I am safe to eat. So some how she will need to get documentation that my leak is healed. I called to get this process started.

Also.. The cardiologist said If I can start to eat my heart may improve!! I do not like salt. I have never been a fan. I do not add salt to my food and have always brought low sodium when it's an option. Suddenly I need salt. This is bad, like I could easily grind in it in a spoon and enjoy!! What is going on with me? My husband was in shock to see me eating salt. I am having some blood work. Weird right?

Hello All! I hope you guys are all having a great evening. I saw the cardiologist today, he is younger!!! This is something that I really like about him. He is calm and centered and was able to address all of my questions. I feel so positive and very confident in his ability. I am now informed about my heart health and the processes that need to take place. Great news! He is allowing me stop one medication that I take 9 pills of a day. This medication is dreadful!!! I have miserable side effects. I have to taper off and I am okay with this. I was also taking the highest dosage and he was not surprised to hear of all the problems I was having when I took it. Dilated pupils, back pain, nausea, vomitting, red hot face,severe head pain, aching joints and dizziness. I was taking this medicine three times a day!! I dreaded this medicine, because I knew I would be out of commission after taking it!!! I AM SO HAPPY TO STOP!!! He believes my leak has really agitated my heart. He says I will recover, but doesn't know how long it will take. Could be months... Could be years... So, we'll see. My heart is clear of Fluid and inflammation! Beating normal this time. Prior I was having irregular heart beats. I need to wear a heart monitor for 2-3 weeks. He said I can think about this. I am kind of done with medical devices being in or on my body and space. So, although I still require care things are surely looking up! I have a doctor who is able to explain my condition to me and give me a clear treatment plan! I am so happy and thankful for this!! What a great appointment! Best, Sannah

Good Evening Kiki, Your message is very heartfelt. I appreciate that you are thinking of me and wishing me well. This leak has been outrageous! I want so badly to be in a healthy place. With all of the support from you and the others I can do this!! You gals are helping me more than I am able to express! I feel like everyone giving me this support is a positive current carrying me along. I am getting stronger, but when I am weak I reread messages and realize I am okay. I think having these new doctors is the right thing to do!! I believe that they are going to help and support me!!! To feel like I am able ask them questions without judgment is an amazing feeling! Thank you kindly for being here! Even more thank you for carrying me through this process! I am truly thankful to have such great people here for me and cheering me on. I hope that your journey is unlike mine! I wish smooth sailing to you!! Best, Sannah

Laura! Your great!!! I got a kick out of your "Strange Lady Laura" comment!! I gave her big hugs and kisses!!! Little Venla was a ball of fire tonight, it was so fun!!! She was walking all over and cracking up! We are practically neighbors!! Not often I find someone only a state away!!! Is it pretty warm right now? The beach!!! I am jealous!! The coast here in Oregon is gloomy!! Nothing like California, or parts of CA I have been too!! How was your day? Having a relaxing evening!? You guys doing anything for Valentines day? I was thinking I might get Venla a bright fun heart shaped balloon and a toy. Might be fun! Best, Sannah

Hey Sweet Tee!! The leak was my and still is one of my biggest fears. My other was blood clots, thankfully this no never came true!! If I can share anything with you about leaks its this. Listen to your body! No one knows it best!! Leaks don't always present in the subset of symptoms the doctors give us. I had a low dull back ache. Who would have thought a leak? I didn't and neither did my dr. You're going to be good! Its so great that you are doing research and finding information out. Do you have insurance that would cover any complications? I hope so. They are very costly. Welcome to the journey! I am sure you'll do great!!! Congrats on reaching the home stretch!!! How exciting!! February 26th!! It will be here before you know!! I cant wait to follow your journey and see your success!! Best, Sannah

Hello Dawn, I am sorry it took so long for me to reply. My two thumbs couldn’t write this reply, because I had several things I wanted to write back with! Wouldn’t it figure that I am feeling so brain dead. Well, actually physically and mentally- checked out a little. First off, your son is sure a handsome young man!!! I LOVE his hair, but as you know I am biased towards red heads. My mom, sister, aunt and uncle are all red heads and somehow I have this weird color. Did/are you guys doing the tooth fairy deal? Venlas teeth are just now coming in!! It’s so fun to watch her grow and change! You are so right about these darn leaks!!! It’s not really the stomach so much as it is every other organ that gets damaged or disrupted by the damage. Leaks are devastating physically and the emotions are an aftershock. I thought I would have a leak because I am often times the weird 1% and my body is generally sensitive. I do have to say that surgery was so easy. I came home on Advil and I was fine. Right before my leak I kept thinking this was so easy!! Why in the world didn’t I do this sooner?!? The truth be told I never thought my weight was that big of an issue. I would never have imaged that I would have WLS. But the more I researched the more I accepted WLS as an option for me. Sounds like you have been hard at work on the costumes!!! Perhaps the trip up to Alaska will be a nice little break!!! I do not take pain meds. I did for a while and they did the job, but it has always been my intention to try to be off such potent drugs as soon as possible. I have never been the type of person who likes to take medication, unless absolutely needed. I am not sure what my blood pressure or heart did on pain meds. It seems that everything is blurry! Maybe this is for the better? I do know that when I was hospitalized I was on a nitropatch and IV meds for my heart. My husband told me this today, I was not aware and this fact creeps me out!! I can relate all too well to these moments of wondering if this is it. I asked my doctor if I was going to die and made it clear I WAS NOT ready to die. In one procedure a very kind doctor held my hand and came down to my eye level, I was laying down and he let me know I was not going to die and I would live. I didn’t believe him, but I have this image of his face telling me this, and I recall him being so kind and gentle. Thank for your message and support. It’s so nice to have someone to talk with. I agree unless you’ve walked in these shoes you have no idea. I never realized I would be okay until I talked to someone else with a leak. I still try to focus on the fact that I am going to be okay! I am going to make it!!! Also, thank you for giving me a place to find strength. My daughter is a good motivation to keep pushing and to do the things that are hard! I am going to write this down so I can remember, that when I am feeling weak to think of Venla and she is a HUGE and GREAT reason to do hard things (appointments , testing and all that stuff). I hope my message makes sense! I am so out of it!! I hope your having a peaceful evening! Best, Sannah

Hi! I like your name!! Thank you for posting and your words of encouragement! I am thankful to have all this support. This journey has been rough sailing!! No doubt!! I am down 64 pounds, but it doesn't feel good like I did it is in the last through nutrition and exercise. Maybe because for almost two and a half months I have not been able to eat. I am all liquid. I am happy and excited to change care over. How's your hour way going? Where are you in this process? Best, Sannah

Hi Katie, How are you doing? Your week off to a good start!! I am hanging in here, but by a thread. It's going to get better. I am feeling good and then not well based on taking all these medicines for my heart. I hope to get answers today. I want so badly to be healthy and in a good place. . Thank you for being so kind and all your support!! Hugs and love! Best, Sannah

Hi!! Thank you so much!! I see the cardiologist today. I think getting my heart back into a healthy place is going to be a huge step for me. I worry about this a lot. My blood pressure and pulse just keep rising and falling. It's miserable. I have never had anything like it. The drugs make me so sick. It's weird. How's your day going? Is it a good one? Best, Sannah

Hello ladies!! Having a little rough patch. I read your messages and will reply soon!! I would like to have replied sooner. I hope your week is off to a good start!! Wishing you Wellness

Hello!! Good Morning!! I hope you can be Nana one day!!! You'll be the best Nana ever!!! Your son sure is a handsome young man!! You'll have to forgive me. I am experiencing a but of trouble with the technology. I can learning how to post photos, but I can't figure out how to our Venla's photo in our message. I posted a few photos of my family(hubby, Venla and I) in the thread. I so agree with you about the forum!! It's amazing to have these connections. I find most anyone is sympathetic to the pain and changes, but I have found people who are sleeved relate differently; we get each other. November 13th!! I am glad that things are going smooth for the most part and I sincerely hope they continue to go this way, if not easier!! Are you on normal food these days? Can you tolerate the foods you like? Any change in taste? Venla is a scandinavian name. not too common. Your so kind. Thank you!! I hope your morning is off to a great start!! Best, Sannah

I am learning how to post photos. Left, us in the hospital at Christmas. Middle, day after thanksgiving(before surgery) Right, here in Oregon we get a lot of rain. This was Venla's first time out in it. She was trying to catch it like snow and eat it!!!

You're guys secrete is safe here!! so sweet that he still snuggles!!! I hope Venla will be like your little guy and still like to snuggle and be close!! Your lucky!! I was feeling good this am. Them I talked to the nurse of the cardiologist and learned all the information that I should already known I feel bummed. I started the medicines again. I feel awful on them. But I have to do this and log what I feel, bp, pulse and which medicine I took. Tonight my bp and pulse went way up. I felt so dizzy and blah. The surgeon has an open door. So my records are being transferred over. So I will have better care and hopefully be made aware of what is actually going on. What a relief!! You know. I don't think I have asked about your journey and how it going? Best, Sannah

Iggychic, I am learning that I need a little tough love right now..... I learned that I don't have enough nutrients for my brain to function properly. I am trying so hard to get better, but this surgery has been so much more than I would have ever imagined. I know you can relate to this!!! I am relieved to have someone else to care for me, and to see the cardiologist this Monday (my appointment can't arrive soon enough). I am so happy to hear that your little man is getting better each year!! This is great news! I can't imagine what those years of hospital care and tests must have been so terrible for him and you (your hubby too!). I hope that when he hits 9 that all is smooth sailing. My daughter (Venla), has so many people here to care for her. She seems to be doing great! I am pretty sure its harder on me than her. Any touch or time we get to spend together means a lot. My family has been amazing at allowing me to find that things I can do, rather than think about what I can't do. I can sit at the table and feed her! Evening at dinner time is always something I look forward to. Today I started trying to change her diaper on the floor. I am not strong enough to pick her up and carry her much. So, I have to be extra careful. Everyday I make time to sit on the floor and play with her. I am most certain all of these little moments together will be greater in time. You are absolutely right! I have had my moments of not being sure what was going to happen or where I was going to find strength to keep pushing. This last week is the first time I felt like I was going to be okay. I think my husband, and family already knew I was going to be okay. I didn't! I felt so alone. I needed to talk to someone who has been here in order to feel okay. I am so thankful for the relief. The concept that I am going to be okay is HUGE, it has been a game changer for me. How did your costumes come out? Best, Sannah

Hello! How are you managing? I am happy and relieved to see the cardiologist. The nurse I spoke to has never been involved in my care. So, she doesn't know why no one mentioned this. I am changing surgeons and moving on. I can't allow this treatment to go on any longer. I need to know what is happening with my body. I feel so left out of my own care. This is not how things are supposed to be!!! Best, Sannah