jmysticm

Ok, so for those that don't know me I am jennifer Miller a single mother of a 2 1/2 daughter. I am over weight and have suffered from being overweight for years and from sever GERD for many more years. I recently had surgery to correct GERD and at the same time had Lap Band placed and I have decided to journal my experience with the Lap Band surgery.

Being over weight and having major GERD issues, my surgeon was really pushing for lap band. I was eager and excited to receive the lap band. I was abrubtly shut down as my insurance company who will not cover it because my employer did not buy into bariatric surgery benefits of my plan. I did some research of my own and the hiatal hernia repair surgery consists of pulling the stomach  (hernia) out of the chest cavity, through the diaphram and place back into the abdomen. The the top of the stomach is wrapped around the esophogus and stapled in place. OR  I can have lap band surgery to repair the hernia which consists of pulling the stomach through the diaphram and banding it with the lap band device.... no staples, not nothing, end of story.....

So, what my insurance company would not cover because it is considered bariatric surgery, they would cover a totally evasive, more expensive surgery with ten times the amount of side effects. So my surgeon decided that since he was already in there doing the hiatal hernia repair he would do the additional labor for lap band and waive his fees and the hospital agreed to let him place the band itself and I would have to make payments on it over a couple of years to pay it off. The thing is that the device costs about $2400. I am a single mother, who very much lives check to check. I am so greatful for the opportunity that my surgeon has given to me to become healthy so that I can live a long healthy life with my daughter.

So my journey began 9 weeks ago. I weighed in at 255 lbs; my surgeon wanted me to lose 20lbs prior to surgery. I began Weight Watchers and began changing my eating habbits. I totally learned that I can eat as much as I wanted of the right thing. I met with a dietician who counciled me on a balanced meal. My favorite part of my meal is always my vegtables but I have to have a startch and a meat to. I take a plate, 1/4 my meat, 1/4 my startch and 1/2 my veggies. This with a light breakfast and light lunch makes for a pound dropping diet.

Yesterday, I went in for surgery and weighed in at 232, and at 9:30 am on 08/09/10 I went into the hospital to have a hiatal hernia repair surgery with lap band done. As of this date my life will change forever. I will spend 2 years paying off the device which will result in very few activities, and family outings, but will pay off years to come with good health.

My surgery went well. It was fast, then late afternoon into the early morning hours my blood pressue dropped and my pulse was very low.... the lowest was at 9:30 pm on August 9... BP was 72/38 and my pulse was 36 beats per minute. This resulted in the nurse calling my surgeon for the 10th time and my surgeon discontinuing all pain medicaions. Yes, I had 0 pain meds from 9:30 pm until 9:00 am this morning. I didn't sleep much. I was hooked up to a heart monitor that was monitored by ICU. My heart rate ranged from 36-44.

This morning at 8:30 my surgeon came to see me and advised he wanted me to get up and walk. I got up and started walking and not 10 steps down the hall the ICU called my nurse and said my heart jumped up to 74 bpm. As soon as I sat down my nurse called ICU and my heat rate was 43. My surgeon consulted the cardiologist who said this was OK..... I don't know how I feel about that. I definately will be following up with my primary care physician.

Needless to say I am home now, feeling good and recovering slowly. For those that have this surgery, or any stomach or laproscopic surgery done, the key is walking. Walk  a lot. It makes for faster healing.

So, today is day 2 of lap bound and I able to get 1/2 cup of broth, 1/2 cup of tea and a very small scoop of sorbet down. I look forward to sharing my experience with all of you. Please stay tuned for daily updates and photos to come... once I figure this out.... Ü

Til tomorrow..... Jen