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Everything posted by kutia
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I was going to mention the same place as the previous poster. The Surgery Center of Richardson (SCOR) does offer financing or you can do the CapitalOne thing. There are several docs. that operate out of SCOR. They offer informational seminars fairly regularly. You might also check out www.aigb.com That lists all of the docs. and their websites. I am two weeks post-op. You're welcome to PM me if you have any other questions.
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I disobeyed my doctor a little bit. I was told to leave the steri-strips on until they fell off. I just couldn't stand it anymore and I pulled them off a few days ago. I've mostly managed to get all the adhesive residue off now. The mark that I've circled in green isn't a surgery scar. That was me, trying to hard to get the adhesive off. I've been putting a little polysporin on my scars at night. The worst scar is actually the one to the left of the port. It is the tiniest bit red and raised. Sorry for the quality of the pictures. I have a problem with blurriness.
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Obviously the bandages are still on. I took this myself, and I had the hardest time holding up my shirt and aiming the camera. It didn't occur to me to take off the shirt. The largest bandage is my port. It had stopped bleeding by then but I was too chicken to take off the bandage. There is also some blue ink in a couple of places. I think the doc must've gotten bored and decided to draw on me. :cool: (I hope the pics. aren't incredibly giant sized)
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It is my official weigh-in day. So here's my new ticker... I made it to my first mini goal. :clap2: :clap2: I ordered my ipod this morning. Yippee!!! I also graduated to mushies this morning. I was never so happy to eat a smushed potato. I could only eat about half of it though. This is the list of what I'm allowed to eat now: In addition to the clear and full liquids, you may have the following: Cream of Wheat Oatmeal/Grits Scrambled eggs Mashed potatoes and gravy Refried beans Queso Yogurt Pudding Applesauce Cottage cheese (small curd)
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It is my official weigh-in day. So here's my new ticker... I made it to my first mini goal. :clap2: :clap2: I ordered my ipod this morning. Yippee!!! I also graduated to mushies this morning. I was never so happy to eat a smushed potato. I could only eat about half of it though. This is the list of what I'm allowed to eat now: In addition to the clear and full liquids, you may have the following: Cream of Wheat Oatmeal/Grits Scrambled eggs Mashed potatoes and gravy Refried beans Queso Yogurt Pudding Applesauce Cottage cheese (small curd)
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I just read back over my journal and realized that I forgot to post anything about goals & rewards. Which means the ipod line in the previous post makes absolutely no sense. Whoops. ********************************************************* REWARDS -30 lbs. (250) I'm going to buy an ipod. -50 lbs. (230) I'm going to buy a Van Gogh print. -75 lbs. (205) I'm going to buy my dream dress. -100 lbs. (180) I'm going to go horseback riding. -125 lbs. (155) I"m going to an amusement park and ride roller coasters. -140 lbs. (140 goal) I'm going to take a "discovery flight" at a flight school. ************************************************
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I just read back over my journal and realized that I forgot to post anything about goals & rewards. Which means the ipod line in the previous post makes absolutely no sense. Whoops. ********************************************************* REWARDS -30 lbs. (250) I'm going to buy an ipod. -50 lbs. (230) I'm going to buy a Van Gogh print. -75 lbs. (205) I'm going to buy my dream dress. -100 lbs. (180) I'm going to go horseback riding. -125 lbs. (155) I"m going to an amusement park and ride roller coasters. -140 lbs. (140 goal) I'm going to take a "discovery flight" at a flight school. ************************************************
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I heard about this yesterday and I'm fairly freaked. My mom and aunt are flying home from London today. Their plane is in the air now and I won't breathe easily until they are on the ground in the States again.
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The soreness is almost completely gone, although I still don't feel comfortable sleeping on my side. Instead I barricade myself with pillows so that I don't turn over. I am so sick of liquids and according to Dr. J's post-op diet I still have a week to go. At least now I can have smoothies and shakes to break the monotony. Yesterday though, all I could think about was Pizza Hut. I had a recurring fantasy of ordering a pan crust Pepperoni Lovers and breadsticks. I didn't do it, but man I sure thought about it. But this morning I weighed myself. Down 23 pounds. :mad: (I don't get why there is a 2 on that trophy?) I'm so happy about that. I'm even almost to my first mini-goal. ipod, come to mama.
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Well, I didnt' say how much later. Arrived at 11:15, a few minutes later I got called into the office to pay and sign legal type papers: privacy rights, permission to take pics. or video for their records, an agreement to allow Dr. J to cut me, etc. My dad & aunt also got coupons for a free meal at the cafe next door. Then I waited just a few more minutes and a nurse called me back. Took me into a bathroom/changing room and showed me the patient outfit. A huge piece of fabric with armholes and strings that tie behind your neck. Also a pair of socks that I got to keep. All your other clothing (and I mean all) bra and panties too go in a plastic bag. Then I gave a urine sample which you send to the lab through the little door in the wall. Its kind of like the kind in connecting hotel rooms - doubledoored. Next stop pre-op room. The Nurse was named Mercy and she was extremely nice and capable. First thing was to weigh me. According to their scale 260.8 which means a 13 lb loss. This does not quite jibe with my scale at home. My scale said 265 which means a 15 lb. loss. Earlier I said my scale was going to be my official ticker scale so see below for my ticker. Back to what went on in the pre-op room. Got into a patient bed and she asked me all sorts of questions: did I follow my diet, last thing I had to eat or drink was when, anything foreign in my body (which includes tampons), any allergies to anasthesia in the family, do I have history of high blood pressure. Then she started an I.V. I was given the choice of in the hand or the elbow. I let her choose, she knows which one she's better at. I got Versed (sp?) for pain. They must be really concerned about preventing blood clots, they put anti-blood clot booties on my and gave me a shot to prevent them. That shot left a big old bruise on my hip. The OR nurse and the anasthesiologist both came in to chat, repeated the same questions Mercy had already asked. Then it was on to the O.R. They wheeled me down a hallway to the O.R. put a mask over my face (I think) and then................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................. ............................................ I woke up saying "ow". That was about all I could manage to say for a few minutes then I added "water". Remember I'd never had any type of surgery before at all. So this was a completley new experience for me. I'm real fuzzy on the details as to what actually happened. I think I kept asking to lay back down and go back to sleep but they wouldn't let me. One of the nurses went and got my dad & my aunt. I had to go do the "swallow" before they would let me have any water. It tasted like chalk. Then they led me back to my chair and gave me some water. Oh it was so good. They also told me that I'd had an hiatal hernia and the doctor repaired it while he was in there. I also got some Lortab for pain. Then they made sure I could pee and one of the nurses helped me get dressed and it was time to go home. Dad pulled the car around and everybody helped me in. Even my mom who had to help me in by phone seeing as how she's on a business trip. It was 3:15 when we left. On the way home Dad stopped at Walmart and got me some GasX and some gatorade to sip. That's all I drank for the rest of the day. I slept most of the way home, except for the bumps. I already posted what I did for the rest of the day, alternated the recliner and walking. I also used the breathing thing. I dont' know what it is called. I have to suck in and get the thingamajiggy to hit a certain mark. I'm supposed to do it 10 times an hour I think. But its hard, I guess I don't have much lung capacity. Then I took some more of my medicine Hydrocodone and went to bed. Except I didn't sleep in my bed. I was afraid I might pull something trying to lay down or roll over. So I slept in the recliner in my room. So now this morning I have a sore back. Not real bright I guess. I'm slowly drinking an Unjury chocolate flavored protein shake. That's all folks.
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Well, I didnt' say how much later. Arrived at 11:15, a few minutes later I got called into the office to pay and sign legal type papers: privacy rights, permission to take pics. or video for their records, an agreement to allow Dr. J to cut me, etc. My dad & aunt also got coupons for a free meal at the cafe next door. Then I waited just a few more minutes and a nurse called me back. Took me into a bathroom/changing room and showed me the patient outfit. A huge piece of fabric with armholes and strings that tie behind your neck. Also a pair of socks that I got to keep. All your other clothing (and I mean all) bra and panties too go in a plastic bag. Then I gave a urine sample which you send to the lab through the little door in the wall. Its kind of like the kind in connecting hotel rooms - doubledoored. Next stop pre-op room. The Nurse was named Mercy and she was extremely nice and capable. First thing was to weigh me. According to their scale 260.8 which means a 13 lb loss. This does not quite jibe with my scale at home. My scale said 265 which means a 15 lb. loss. Earlier I said my scale was going to be my official ticker scale so see below for my ticker. Back to what went on in the pre-op room. Got into a patient bed and she asked me all sorts of questions: did I follow my diet, last thing I had to eat or drink was when, anything foreign in my body (which includes tampons), any allergies to anasthesia in the family, do I have history of high blood pressure. Then she started an I.V. I was given the choice of in the hand or the elbow. I let her choose, she knows which one she's better at. I got Versed (sp?) for pain. They must be really concerned about preventing blood clots, they put anti-blood clot booties on my and gave me a shot to prevent them. That shot left a big old bruise on my hip. The OR nurse and the anasthesiologist both came in to chat, repeated the same questions Mercy had already asked. Then it was on to the O.R. They wheeled me down a hallway to the O.R. put a mask over my face (I think) and then................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................. ............................................ I woke up saying "ow". That was about all I could manage to say for a few minutes then I added "water". Remember I'd never had any type of surgery before at all. So this was a completley new experience for me. I'm real fuzzy on the details as to what actually happened. I think I kept asking to lay back down and go back to sleep but they wouldn't let me. One of the nurses went and got my dad & my aunt. I had to go do the "swallow" before they would let me have any water. It tasted like chalk. Then they led me back to my chair and gave me some water. Oh it was so good. They also told me that I'd had an hiatal hernia and the doctor repaired it while he was in there. I also got some Lortab for pain. Then they made sure I could pee and one of the nurses helped me get dressed and it was time to go home. Dad pulled the car around and everybody helped me in. Even my mom who had to help me in by phone seeing as how she's on a business trip. It was 3:15 when we left. On the way home Dad stopped at Walmart and got me some GasX and some gatorade to sip. That's all I drank for the rest of the day. I slept most of the way home, except for the bumps. I already posted what I did for the rest of the day, alternated the recliner and walking. I also used the breathing thing. I dont' know what it is called. I have to suck in and get the thingamajiggy to hit a certain mark. I'm supposed to do it 10 times an hour I think. But its hard, I guess I don't have much lung capacity. Then I took some more of my medicine Hydrocodone and went to bed. Except I didn't sleep in my bed. I was afraid I might pull something trying to lay down or roll over. So I slept in the recliner in my room. So now this morning I have a sore back. Not real bright I guess. I'm slowly drinking an Unjury chocolate flavored protein shake. That's all folks.
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I'm home. I'm still tired from the anasthesia so excuse my spelling. I nap for 55 minutes in a recliner and walk for 5. I have some pain but not too bad. Shoulder & back. I'm going to go take another nap now. I'm doing okay, thanks for all the good thoughts. More later.
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Well this was my last day of clear liquids only. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Yippee!!! I can't believe I made without cheating. Unless you count the watermelon which I don't. 12 hours from now I'll be on my way to the surgery center. Yikes. The anesthesiologist called earlier to go over pre-op instructions. She also asked for the name and cell number of the person who was going to be driving me. And here are my instructions: nothing to eat or drink after midnight drink two full glasses of water after supper don't wear any jewelry, contacts or hair accessories wear comfortable clothing arrive an hour prior bring method of payment This is the diet I am allowed to have post-op: DAYS 1-14 AFTER SURGERY In addition to the clear liquids, you may have the following: Milkshakes Protein Shakes Smoothies V8 juice Tomato soup Cream soups
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Well this was my last day of clear liquids only. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Yippee!!! I can't believe I made without cheating. Unless you count the watermelon which I don't. 12 hours from now I'll be on my way to the surgery center. Yikes. The anesthesiologist called earlier to go over pre-op instructions. She also asked for the name and cell number of the person who was going to be driving me. And here are my instructions: nothing to eat or drink after midnight drink two full glasses of water after supper don't wear any jewelry, contacts or hair accessories wear comfortable clothing arrive an hour prior bring method of payment This is the diet I am allowed to have post-op: DAYS 1-14 AFTER SURGERY In addition to the clear liquids, you may have the following: Milkshakes Protein Shakes Smoothies V8 juice Tomato soup Cream soups
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I've quit eating the jello entirely. I've switched to popsicles instead. Yummy. Of course if I had alternated from the beginning I might not have gotten so sick of the jello. My aunt arrived this morning. She is the most horrible person in the world!!!! She brought DIVINITY with her for my mom. That is just cruel. Divinity is THE best candy in the world and extremely hard to make. Which is why my mom & I never try to make it. The last time I think we screwed up 3 batches before we got it right. Mom & my aunt keep eating pieces and telling me how bad it is. Yeah right, I am so sure. (in my head that came out in a "valleygirl" voice. Which I do very well). Then they went out to eat, I stayed home. That's ok, they went to an Italian place that I dont' really care for. Well, my surgery is the day after tomorrow. I'm trying not to think about it too much. I'm a pessimist and slightly paranoid, if I think about it too much then I'll just think about everything that could go wrong. I'm trying hard to hang on to my happy thoughts.
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I've quit eating the jello entirely. I've switched to popsicles instead. Yummy. Of course if I had alternated from the beginning I might not have gotten so sick of the jello. My aunt arrived this morning. She is the most horrible person in the world!!!! She brought DIVINITY with her for my mom. That is just cruel. Divinity is THE best candy in the world and extremely hard to make. Which is why my mom & I never try to make it. The last time I think we screwed up 3 batches before we got it right. Mom & my aunt keep eating pieces and telling me how bad it is. Yeah right,:mad: I am so sure. (in my head that came out in a "valleygirl" voice. Which I do very well). Then they went out to eat, I stayed home. That's ok, they went to an Italian place that I dont' really care for. Well, my surgery is the day after tomorrow. I'm trying not to think about it too much. I'm a pessimist and slightly paranoid, if I think about it too much then I'll just think about everything that could go wrong. I'm trying hard to hang on to my happy thoughts.
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Not much to report today. I am definitely sick of the Jello. I think I must be going through Chick-fil-a withdrawal or something. My stomach has felt out of whack all day. Mild nausea (especially when I had some Jello:rolleyes: ) and it feels kind of crampy. Nothing bad, just uncomfortable. I'll be so, so glad when I graduate to mushies. I'm going up to airport tomorrow to pick up my nursemaid for the week after surgery. My aunt is coming in for a whole week. I hope it is entirely unnecessary.
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Hiya. Let's see, where to begin? How about some stats? 28 yrs., 5'4'', 280 lbs. I'm still deciding whether or not to get the band. I'll be self-pay and I'm afraid it's just too expensive. I went to a seminar today at the Surgery Center of Richardson. From what I saw it looked like a very nice facility. The presenters were great, but I was a bit disappointed not to actually get to meet the doctor. His Nurse was there and she was very competent and seemed nice. She has the band herself and has lost quite a bit of weight. I've got a consultation with Dr. Jayaseelan on 7/19/06. We'll see how I feel then. I have started buying (and sampling) the liquids that I would have to be on before surgery. I've even given up Dt. Pepsi. Which is a major sacrifice for me. I'm still worried about the money, but I'll probably take the plunge. I'm tired of cringing every time I catch sight of myself in a mirror.
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The doctor's office called yesterday and left a messge asking me to call them back. I didn't get the message until much too late to call. So I called them this morning. I got transferred to three different people before finally getting the one with whom I needed to speak. Seriously, don't they talk to each other in that office? The whole point was to tell me to arrive at the Surgery Center at 11:30 a.m. instead of 10:45 a.m. I guess my surgery has been pushed later in the day. That's fine, I guess, I did double check to make sure it is at least the same day. I just the hope the doctor is more on the ball than his office staff. :mad: **Just got a call from the Surgery Center of Richardson (that's where I'm having mine). They just wanted to confirm that I am indeed a self-pay and they let me know which types of payment are acceptable: cashier's check, money order or credit (not debit) card. I was also told to expect a call from them on the 3rd. (the day before surgery). I assume that is for the anesthesiologist to tell me which meds I'm allowed to take. Which will be a short conversation as I don't have any meds. I'll probably also be reminded not to eat or drink anything after midnight. Maybe SCOR's staff is a little more competent than the office staff.
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My measurements as of 7-29-06 (day 2 pre-op liquids). Calf: 17.5 inches Thigh: 26.5 inches Hips: 55.4 inches Waist: 51 inches Bust: 53 inches Bicep: 17 inches My before pictures as of 7-28-06 (day 1 pre-op liquids). I think the photos are fairly self-explanatory. My jeans and top are size 24 (edging into a size 26). I also wear 3x.
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Not much to report today. I am definitely sick of the Jello. I think I must be going through Chick-fil-a withdrawal or something. My stomach has felt out of whack all day. Mild nausea (especially when I had some Jello:rolleyes: ) and it feels kind of crampy. Nothing bad, just uncomfortable. I'll be so, so glad when I graduate to mushies. :mad: I'm going up to airport tomorrow to pick up my nursemaid for the week after surgery. My aunt is coming in for a whole week. I hope it is entirely unnecessary.
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Day 10 - "the camera makes me look fat"
kutia commented on LittleBird's blog entry in LittleBird's Journal
Hey thanks for posting your pics & measurements. You gave me the courage to do the same. Even if you are smaller than me. Go for it!!! -
Wow, I'm over half way there! The jell-o is good, but I'm starting to get extremely sick of it. I tried some beef broth today just for a change of pace. I decided it wasn't worth eating. It was better than the chicken broth. I guess I'm just not a fan of broth. I've never really been a soup person either. I think Spaghettios was as close I've ever gotten. I can't believe how much I am looking forward to mushies. :hungry: Gimmee some of those grits!! Okay I deviated from the "doctor-approved" liquid diet today.:phanvan I don't think it was a big bad though. It was watermelon. All told I probably had about 2 cups. Watermelon is mostly water anyway, so I'm hoping that doesn't really count as cheating. My mom grew it herself in her garden and she was just so proud of herself. I couldn't turn it down. I'm not going to post what I ate (loosely speaking) today. If you want to know, scroll back through the past three days.
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Wow, I'm over half way there! The jell-o is good, but I'm starting to get extremely sick of it. I tried some beef broth today just for a change of pace. I decided it wasn't worth eating. It was better than the chicken broth. I guess I'm just not a fan of broth. I've never really been a soup person either. I think Spaghettios was as close I've ever gotten. I can't believe how much I am looking forward to mushies. :hungry: Gimmee some of those grits!! Okay I deviated from the "doctor-approved" liquid diet today.:phanvan I don't think it was a big bad though. It was watermelon. All told I probably had about 2 cups. Watermelon is mostly water anyway, so I'm hoping that doesn't really count as cheating. My mom grew it herself in her garden and she was just so proud of herself. I couldn't turn it down. I'm not going to post what I ate (loosely speaking) today. If you want to know, scroll back through the past three days. :mad:
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How do I attach photos from my computer to MyJournal? I've figured out how to do it in regular posts, but the Journal still baffles me.