readytolive

High Weight: 257

Surgery Day 7/12/11 : 244

1st day home from surgery: 239

I did it! I am sleeved! I went to Dr. Kelly in Tijuana and had a good experience. My coordinator suggested I arrive the afternoon prior because she had me scheduled for the first surgery of the day on 7/12/2011. I did a 5 day pre-op liquid diet due to my BMI, the last 3 days was all clears. On 7/11/2011 Ricardo picked me up at the airport and brought me to Florence Hospital and got me set up in a room. He was very nice and I felt safe with him. The hospital is small and was not fancy, clearly decorated in the 80's but it was clean and I was comfortable.

I was greeted by the nurse and doc on duty who immediately placed my IV. I asked them if this could wait until the next morning and they said no so I went with it. Dr. Kelly was in surgery when I arrived but came to meet me after. My husband was supposed to come with me and wasn't able to at the last moment so I was extra nervous and feeling alone in a foreign country. I was reassured after meeting Dr. Kelly and seeing how professional he was, it was calming to me. I told Dr. Kelly I was an anxious patient before any procedure but I was really good at recovery. No sooner did he leave when the staff brought me a full meal of rice, potatoes, green beans, toast and a pear along with some purple juice. I told her I couldn't have this and asked what the purpose was of the liquid diet if I ate now? She said she did not know but that I needed my strength for surgery. I insisted she call Dr. Kelly and ask if I could have this and she left and came back and said she called him and that it was okay. I couldn't believe it! However, I wanted to be strong for surgery and hadn't eaten in 5 days so I ate the potatoes and green beans and some of the rice and was full. I'm not sure if it was eating or nerves but I had a stomachache most of the night.

I woke up at 4:30am and was surprised by a visit from Dr. Kelly shortly after. It turns out the patient he had operated on had a heart condition and some other pre-existing issues so he was called in to monitor him during the night. He noticed my light on and came to check on me since he was concerned I wasn't sleeping. I asked him about the meal and it was evident he thought they had brought me broth and I shouldn't have eaten what I did the night before. I already wished I hadn't! However, it would not hold up my surgery. He told me to shower and be ready around 7am so I did. My coordinator had told me to expect 10am so I wasn't surprised when 7am came and went. Around 10:30am Trish came in to meet me and she was as warm as everyone says she is. I had quite a bit of nerves worked up and asked her to check on my surgery time. She told me that Dr. Kelly was resting since he was up half the night with the other patient and I would go around 3pm. I was disappointed but also wanted the Dr. Kelly to be good and rested before we began. I was also glad that extra care and attention was provided if a patient was in need of it.

About 1pm Dr. Kelly showed up and said he was ready. He assured me he was rested and I was wheeled in to the OR. When they brought me back to my room I felt horribly nauseous and vomited. Dr. Kelly came by and whispered some reassuring words in my ear and I was in and out of sleep. I'm not going to lie, the first few hours are difficult. I was still nauseous and felt like I had been kicked in the stomach by a horse most of the night. However, I got up to go to the bathroom a few times and around 2:30am I asked to take my first walk. One of the nurses helped me go down the hall and back. I knew walking would be key to feeling better and I asked to walk about every 2-3 hours. The nausea was managed by my first walk and although I had pain the following day I kept walking. First 2 laps up and down the hall, then 4, then 6 then 10. I did this every few hours. By Wed 7/13, I asked if I could go off the IV and they said no. I had been eating ice so they stopped the saline but I had to take meds until Wed night midnight. Thurs morning Dr. Kelly came to remove my drain and I was very nervous about that. However, it was quick and over almost before I knew it. They removed the IV and was thrilled not to be connected to anything anymore! Shortly thereafter I was on my way to the leak test at Hospital Angeles. We were in and out of there in no time and again I had myself all worked up about the leak test and it turned out to be no big deal. I spent one night at the Lucerne and then was able to go home on Friday night. Surgery isn't fun but I am surprised at how good I felt and how soon and think it is because of the good care I received and all the walking I did. I spent the weekend resting at home and went back to work on Monday.

Before Surgery ProfileI've been overweight for way too long and I'm ready to start really living! I have a great job an incredible husband and son and I am so thankful for them but I still feel like living in this fat suit is only half living! My husband had lap band in 2007 and lost 100lbs and I have watched his quality of life increase by so much and I just can't wait to join him in a thinner world! I joined Weight Watchers for the first time when I was 13, got a job at a health club when I was 16 so I could start working out and swore to myself on my wedding day that I would never weigh over 200 again. Instead.. I gained more weight! I've done all the diets out there and never lost more than 15lbs or so and always gained it and more back. I've been approved for lap band 2x by a local doctor and turned town 2x by my insurance company. I'm now 40 and am so ready to learn what it feels like to be a normal weight person!