Lexibelle

Today marks 3 weeks since my surgery. I never meant to be so silent, but between trying to recover and getting back to life as usual (Mom's don't get sick days) I've been too tired to do much writing or recording. Week 1 was probably the hardest. I was still in pain - both from the surgery and my back due to sleeping in ungodly positions. I was exhausted because I wasn't sleeping through the night yet and I was back to work by Day 6. By day 8, it was pretty much back to business as usual - with the exception of having to cook for the kids and trying not to have to carry the baby. During this time my stomach was doing fine, but I was getting very tired of broths. I was actually looking forward to my first protein shake. The only thing I was having trouble with (and honestly still am) was taking my meds. By the time I'd get most of them down I'd feel overfilled from the water. This isn't so great when you're supposed to be taking 12 multi-vitamins and 12 calcium pills - in addition to Tylenol and 2 prescriptions - every day. Week 2 was definitely better and I started experimenting with different soups. I'll admit - I splurged and indulged in a couple of cream soups and I'm so glad I did. They helped break up the monotony of protein shakes and chicken bullion. I also transitioned from using Almond milk to using regular milk in my shakes. The good news is - I can still tolerate the milk. A lot of people who have this surgery come out lactose intolerant to some degree on the other side. For some it's temporary and for others it seems to last for the long-term. This makes me happy because it gives me some extra fat (which DS patients need) and protein with my shakes. I'll still use Almond milk (unsweetened plain or vanilla) if it's available, but it's nice to have an alternative when we run out. The pain continued to lessen and, the best part, I got to sleep in bed! I started off using a pregnancy pillow I had leftover from last year but slowly graduated down to my normal pillows. Unfortunately, I can still only lay on my right side or on my back and both positions result in me waking up in pain for one reason or another. I've also been having a hard time sleeping through the night. My normal routine seems to be that I wake up somewhere between 12am and 2am and then stay awake for at least 30 minutes (sometimes longer). This really sucks when you have to be up for the day at 4:30am AND are caffeine free. My major accomplishment for this past week is getting back into the habit of walking Oliver to school. Prior to this week, I honestly didn't feel physically up to the 1.5mi round-trip. I might have been braver, except I have to be sure I'm back by the end of my lunch - which means my walk back has to be done in less than 20 minutes. So on Tuesday I sucked it up and took the plunge. I'm happy to say I was able to do it and even went back for round 2, when Ray walked with me to go pick him up. THAT was probably a bit much - but I'm still proud I did it and hope it starts getting easier soon. Aside from all of that - I do have a few other triumphs to celebrate. The first is that, for the first time since I got pregnant with Oliver, I'm below 300lbs. I've lost a total of 17lbs since surgery and a grand total of 53 since I first saw Dr. Srikanth back in July. I'm definitely proud of myself, but also frustrated. Why? Well, my pants still fit. While that's not necessarily a bad thing - I mean I NEED to wear pants - I also don't feel like there's been that big of a 'transformation' for someone that's lost over 50lbs. Then, I put on one of my hubby's t-shirts and saw a bit of what was to come. Let me explain - Hubby's t-shirts are all either 3x or 4x. I've tried wearing them before, and while I fit into a 3-4x in women's clothing, his shirts were too tight on my tummy. In order to wear them, I'd have to try and stretch them out - and even then I'd look a few months pregnant. Well yesterday, in a rush to get out the door on time, I decided to grab one of his t-shirts since I'd just be driving Oliver to school. Much to my surprise, the shirt fit - not only fit, but was roomy and comfortable. So obviously, my body IS changing - even if it's not immediately obvious when I look in the mirror or put my clothes on. I think that I'll be taking some measurements to commemorate the 1 month mark so I'll be able to keep better track of the inches I'm losing - and where. I can honestly say that, so far, there hasn't been any buyer's remorse. I'm glad I took charge of my life and am excited to see what the next several month have in store for me. Actually - in store for US. Ray's surgery countdown is down to 7 days and then he'll be joining me on the Dark Side. Can't wait until we're walking this path together - both literally and figuratively.

So, I survived my surgery Definitely not the easiest thing I've ever done, but I'm glad that part is behind me. I checked into the hospital at 5am on 9/18 and discovered I was the first surgery of the day. During check-in, IV placement, introductions and vitals I found myself running the gamut of emotions. No, let's be honest - I was terrified and practically in tears. What was I about to do to myself? Why was I electively (though really, at 315lbs can it really be considered elective rather than a necessity) going to be put under anesthesia for 8+ hours, having most of my stomach cut out and my intestines rerouted? What kind of passion would I be in? What if I didn't wake up? That last one was the scariest. The idea that I was choosing to go under and may never see Ray or my babies again made me want to get up and walk out. The thing is, I knew if I did that I'd be guaranteeing that one day, much too soon, I'd be doing that anyway. At least if I survived this internal slice and dice, I'd be extending the amount of time with those babies as long as possible. Not only world I be extending it, but I'd be making the quality of that time so much better. These thoughts weren't quite so coherent Thursday morning, but I didn't get much time to dwell. Shortly after 7am, Kristen (my nurse) and Dr. Srikanth came in and sounded it was just about time. Then the anesthesiologist came in, slipped me a mickey and I was being wheeled to surgery. I remember being told they were putting an oxygen mask on my, that was just oxygen and then I remember waking up with my right arm hurting like I'd been stabbed. That arm still hurts actually, but I guess having it squeezed continuously by the blood pressure cuff for 9 hours will do that. Yep ... 9 hours of surgery. Won't go into details mostly because a lot of it is still fuzzy for me, but there were adhesions, scar tissue, hernia and a really big liver to contend with. All I can say is thank god I was in such wonderful hands. The first night was rough, especially with nurses coming in every time I got into a good sleep and wanting me to do things like drink or walk. The next morning wasn't much better but by the afternoon I was told I'd get to go home. The idea of leaving the IV and nurses was scary, but the thought of being comfy, in my own chair without people waking me up or bothering me was heavenly. The only catch was that I'd need to go to St. Francis the next morning for an xray, since my bowels were being lazy. We got home about 7pm and I happily passed out in my chair for the most part. There were some rough patches, but the pain meds and constant sipping helped. Now, 48hrs after surgery I'm feeling a bit more human. I've managed to drink close to 40oz of water, a few ounces of broth and a few sips of vitamin water. It's been 3hrs since my last dose of pain meds and I'm not ready to climb the walls in pain. I even managed a bit of time downstairs in the Livingston. Unfortunately the recliner is still the most comfortable spot for me. I've got a long road ahead of me ... several weeks of liquids and soft foods before I'm eating normally again. Days of slowly working up to being able to walk any sort of distance. Months of learning how my new insides work, what they like and what they don't. And lots and lots of pounds to lose along the way.

I'm not sure if my situation is unique or not, but even though surgery is only 15 days away I've told very few people about it. My husband knows, obviously, and so do my IL's but that's it. I've told my parents I'm having surgery to remove my galbladder and correct a hernia. I don't have any friends I hang out with in person, so no one to tell there. Also haven't said a word about any sort of surgery on Social Media to the friends I keep up with that way. On the one hand, I'm perfectly fine with this decision. My mother and I have a tenuous relationship (at best), so I really don't feel comfortable divulging all of the details to her. She tends to be a 'know-it-all' and this is one time (outside of parenting) that I don't want her opinions or advice. Obviously if I tell her, I can't tell my dad - plus I really don't want to worry him unnecessarily. I haven't shared on social media because I feel like if I do, I"ll be under a microscope. There are so many misconceptions about WLS that I'm afraid if I'm a slow loser or even never get 'skinny' (which I likely won't - not with 160lbs to lose) there'd be unfair judgments. On the other hand, if I'm seen as losing weight the 'old fashioned way', I feel like the expectations will be less if that makes sense. I think if anyone asks outright, I'd probably tell the truth (privately) but don't yet feel comfortable having that public. On the other hand - my support is currently limited to my husband, my MIL (to some degree) and online strangers on the WLS forums I've been lurking on for years. I feel kind of isolated and also sad that I'm not really able to share what's going on with other people in my life. This is a huge step in my life and I'd like more people involved, so-to-speak. I don't know - maybe my feelings on the whole issue will change between now and surgery or after surgery. Right now I'm going with what I feel comfortable with, which is maintaining mostly radio silence outside of WLS communities and my blog which it would take a miracle for people to find (I think at least LOL).

So, it's possible I'm not going to be as touchy-feely as others, so I apologize ahead of time. I don't mean to sound harsh and my tone is one of genuine concern and understanding. Please understand that. Okay, so having dealt with this personally - my first suggestion is going to be to explore the reason you're having trouble getting pregnant rather than focusing on your husband having major surgery. Male infertility isn't often hugely linked to weight and it could simply be hormonal or anatomical. It could also not be an issue on his end at all. Either way, getting to a fertility doctor will help you get the answers and point you in the right direction. This will solve two problems. The first is, if it is a problem on his end and weight loss might help, the doctors can tell him and it may provide extra motivation to lose weight (surgically or otherwise). The second is, if it's not a problem on his end or if weight isn't a factor, then you can get pregnant and won't resent him anymore for not being able to get pregnant. As an extra added bonus, suddenly having that little life to take care of is often good motivation to get people to take a closer look and deeper interest in their own health. Once that's all out of the way, then address your concerns for his health and take the other advice here. However - don't be angry at him if it doesn't work or he's not doing it for you. WLS HAS to be a decision that he makes for himself - plain and simple. As a wife, I understand how it seems selfish for someone not to want to extend their life so they'll be with you longer - however it's equally selfish to expect someone to have a major, life-altering surgery for your own benefit. Hopefully that makes sense. When I started looking at WLS I never once pushed the idea on my husband or made him feel like it was something he had to do. He made the decision to join me at the seminar, meet the doctor and pursue it on his own. In the end, while he's your partner (hopefully for life), it's also his body for life. It needs to be his decision 100% - otherwise if something goes wrong or he finds himself miserable (read the failed surgery or regret forums), the blame will go toward the person he views as having pressured him into something he may not have been ready to do yet. The best thing you can do is be his partner, his supporter. Create a healthy environment for him to live in. If you have to, tell him it's for YOU to improve your chances of getting pregnant (maternal health does play a huge roll). Keep both of you busy with things that keep you active when possible - around the house and otherwise. Taking the dog for a walk feels like exercise - exploring a new area of town or building something outside (garden, porch, etc) doesn't as much. Either way good luck. I don't know how long you've been struggling to get pregnant, but I understand the toll it takes and wish you both lots of luck and baby dust.

Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case ... unless there's a secret to force install apps from the play store on a kindle that I'm not familiar with. Really bummed about not being able to use it. Boo.

I just had my surgery done with Dr. Dormant who practices out of St. Francis (Federal Way) and Evergreen (in Kirkland). The pre-op care and testing is fabulous and I've heard nothing but great things from his patients. I'm also a patient with Virginia Mason (primary) and wasn't as impressed with their bariatric reviews or the overall care I get from them on a normal basis. Plus I wanted the Duodenal Switch and they don't do it.

I've successfully lost 80lbs on my own - about 1/2 of what I'd need to lose overall. I have no doubts that I can take the weight off without surgery. I do know that I can't keep it off. Each time I've lost weight in the last 5 years (80lbs and then 60lbs) I have gained most, if not all of it back within 18 months. Personally, I can't keep doing that over and over again. I need help not only to continue losing past that mark, but to also keep it off long-term. If you have NEVER tried a diet or changed your lifestyle habits before, then maybe you do need a longer trial. Maybe you're one of the lucky 1-2% that will be able to lose it and keep it off without it being your entire life. Those people do exist and I have the utmost respect for them. On the other hand, if you've done the diets or lifestyle modifications before and never been able to maintain the loss, then perhaps this is the right choice. You definitely need to go into this knowing that this is the best decision for you and your lifestyle.

Oh OP I could have written your post. I'm on day 4 of 10 and seriously finding myself worried about life post op. The thought of feeling like this for 6 more weeks is terrifying. I'm starting to find my groove though. I have a double Protein shake in the morning, a single in the afternoon and either a double or single at night. I constantly sip Water, have 2-3 sugar free jellos, about 2 cups of broth and one popsicle a day. The last two days I've stuck to that, I've felt satiated. It's still hard in the afternoon and when coming Breakfast and dinner for the kids. We WILL get through this though! This isn't indefinite and the reward is so going to be worth it!

Totally feel you on that. The only thing to worry about with the hospital bed is how damned uncomfortable they are. It wouldn't kill them to put a *little* more padding on them.

Right there with you. My surgery is scheduled for 9/18 and I'd love to fast forward just a little bit. I keep bouncing between being excited, anxious and just a little scared. Kind of glad I've got work and 2 little kiddos to keep me busy!

That's the date I'll be making my way onto the 'Loser's Bench'! I just got the call today, from my insurance company no less. My paperwork was originally submitted around 8/4. I gave it a week, called my insurance company and found out it was sitting in the wrong fax queue. So glad I called! This awesome rep, Cynthia, personally got the docs, checked them to make sure there weren't any obvious exclusions (i.e. my hospital wasn't a Center of Excellence or whatever BCBS's term is) and then pushed it over to the correct department. She then followed up with me 3 days later to let me know it was there but a case number hadn't generated yet. She said I'd hear back on Monday, but I didn't (which really, I wasn't bothered by), but I did follow-up on my on Wednesday. Got through to the right department only to find out that my file was still sitting in someone's pending queue and, again, hadn't been touched. The rep got his supervisor involved and he personally started the process of creating the case. I got a call later that night from Cynthia, giving me the case number and telling me she'd be following the case personally. This was last Friday. I called yesterday, got a rep that wasn't quite as helpful but did find out that my case was still 'Pending'. My plan was to call again on Wednesday, since I wanted to be sure it didn't sit in pending for days. Lo and behold, I got a call this afternoon and it was Cynthia letting me know that the procedure had been approved, along with a 2 day hospital stay. WHAT? So the next hour was a flurry of activity that involved checking on my husband's paperwork, getting it faxed again (they didn't get the actual paperwork for some reason) and then scheduling my appointments. Sadly, we discovered that in order to have my surgery at the hospital that's about 10min from home, I'd have to wait until November to schedule. While there's nothing wrong with waiting, there are various reasons that I really wanted to be sure this was done before the end of October. Fortunately the surgeon had 1 slot opened at his other hospital, about 40min away, that was his last before he went on vacation for a few weeks. So September 18th it is! The next 2 weeks are going to be relatively busy, so I don't even think I'm going to notice the wait. Next week I have my pre-surgery education class on 9/3. I'm looking forward to that and getting more information about what Dr. Srikanth expects post-op. On 9/8 I start my 10-day, clear liquid diet. My husband has already said he and the kids will be staying in a hotel from 9/10 until surgery. On 9/15 I have my final consultation where I'm sure we'll go over a lot more information. Then at 5am on 9/18 we make the 40 minute drive to get me checked in for surgery. This will be the first time since I was 17 that I'll be going under general anesthesia for longer than 30 minutes. This will be only the second time I'm having any sort of major surgery. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared - I am. There's a lot of 'unknown' ahead of me, but also so much promise.

Holy cow! I just got my approval! Not only that, but I've got my surgery scheduled. September 18th! All I can say - once that info gets submitted, call your insurance and make friends with someone. The first first person I spoke to is the one that made sure the docs got where they were going, kept me updated and called me today to tell me I was approved. I'm SO grateful - especially after all of the horror stories I've heard. 23 Days and I'll be on the Loser's Bench...

Couldn't agree more - not knowing is definitely the hardest. I'm coming up on 2 weeks since my docs were submitted and I just want an answer from insurance already. I know people wait longer, but I'm not always the most patient person in the world. LOL They told me last week that I should expect about 5 business days ... so I'm just going to be stalking them this week. Not sure if I should ask for the contact info for the nurse reviewing the case or just continue talking to the reps that answer the phone. The one I got yesterday wasn't all that helpful. I do kind of wish my doctor would set a tentative surgery date, even though we're still waiting. I mean, there's really no reason they shouldn't approve me (which is kind of sad, but whatever) and I'd feel so much better having something on the books.

Hopefully! Mine is based out of CA, though I actually live in WA (it gets confusing). I was really surprised when I looked up the requirements and there was no mention of a diet. Just 1 nutritionist visit, visit with the psych and then surgeon evaluation of your past dieting attempts. I keep waiting to hear back and be told I still have to wait 6 months ... think I'm preparing for the worst. LOL The last time we tried to do this, we had to stop just a month into the process so I'm kind of skittish.

Congrats to everyone just starting out. When I first started the process for WLS back in 2012, my insurance required the 6mo diet. I was really surprised this time when mine (Anthem BCBS) didn't. All of my paperwork was submitted a week ago, though it only got to the review person on Wednesday (long story - but tip - follow up with the insurance company about the paperwork!). They said it should be about 5 business days ... I'm planning to call later today to check in on it. Really hoping I'll be scheduling surgery for sometime next month. I'd originally hoped for the beginning of the month, but I doubt that's going to happen without a scheduling miracle.