Whoa what a ride! WEEEEE
Introduction: What can I say? Food was a major part of our lives? Parties, any celebration would include a feast. My
parents were from the generation of "eat everything on your plate and you will get dessert." Food wasn't just tasty, it
was a comfort for times of depression and anxiety and after my parents painful divorce, short time in foster homes, my
weight ballooned, my self-esteem plummeted. Eventually, my dad remarried and I got the support I needed to lose
weight in high school. But later in life, after a young marriage, anytime stress or depression would rear its ugly head,
food became my closest friend. I started to gain weight from a healthy 135 in high school ballooning to 200 by age 28.
Then it just became habit. I enjoyed it like a drug (food). By the time I hit my 30's my weight continue to creep up. In my
early 40's I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes, a heart defect, and was showing signs of problems with eyesight
and neuropathy. My new meds were now for a disease that was getting out of control. I saw the lives of my aunt, uncle,
and mother before me, having died from complications of diabetes and here I was heading headlong for the end of the
road. I had a beautiful life, family, friends I all loved, and I was determined I would not be a victim to it. So I started the
research on bariatric surgery and decided to ask questions and learn everything I could, pray, and go with my gut
(pardon the pun here). My heart told me to go forward and start the process of getting the surgery done and so began
my journey on December 28, 2006. I signed up for my consultation and have never looked back. Maybe, I could get my
life back.
Path: I didn't realize it would be so hard. It was endless tests. Though I knew they were necessary I had to have them, it
seemed like I was continually going to the hospital for screening, blood work etc. Then started the real hard work,
working with the dietician to lose 10% of my total weight to be approved for surgery with this surgeon. This meant
exercising 5 days a week, which I hadn't done since high school, and total change of habits, which included keeping a
food diary with calories, protein, time of meal, and mood. I then had to share this and get weighed in once a month. It
took me about 6 months to lose the 25 pounds I needed to lose. I did finally get approved, and I was so excited to have
reached my goal: My surgery date was scheduled for July 9, 2007.
Surgery: 7:30 a.m. July 9th. Lap Roux en Y bypass: Wheeled in. Don't remember much until I was in recovery. The doc
had to spend lots of time with my case. I had major adhesions that he had to remove. The bypass itself went well.
But...then came the pain, wow! I had morphine for 2 days, which I weaned myself off of. But I had a set-back. I had
hemorrhaged in the soft tissue post operatively and was found to need a transfusion of 2 pints of blood to start on the
upswing. After the blood given I was starting to feel much better. But the pain and sleepiness was still there. The last
yukky thing I experience in the hospital was the removal of the drain from surgery. Removing it, it felt like I was in
labor. It truly felt like labor pains while they were removing it. But after 5 days in the hospital I went home. I had a lot of
support from my husband. You need support when you get home (physically, and emotionally). Believe me when I say
that you won't care that you can't eat for a while. Get rest, follow the doc's plans, and you'll get stronger every day.
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