Chapter 3: The Surgery + Aftermath

The morning came amazingly early, 4:30am. I had to shower the night before with specific soap given to me during pre op and I also had to shower that morning before surgery. I had to wash my hair, shave my legs and blow dry and straighten my hair the night before as well. I wanted everything to be easy after the surgery.

We left the house around 5:30am and got to the hospital area EXACTLY on time. We checked in and I had to use the restroom in a cup before they took me to the back. Thank goodness I had to take pills that morning b/c it might have been a long time before I had to go to the restroom. It took "forever" to get to the back room where they prep you for surgery. I wasn't nervous I was ready for this to be done so I could get on with the rest of my life. Mom and I sat chatting and even chatted with another family who was there. Everyone was getting a different kind of surgery done, no one was there for the same reason. Finally, my name was called and I was getting ready for surgery. Hospital gown, socks, hair in a net all the works. They also put these socks and cuffs on my calves to create movement. With every surgery you have to worry about blood clots and these socks they put on my helped during that process.  I did weigh before I went into surgery which I was kind of excited about.

At Pre Op visit I weighed 319 pounds

A week later at my anthologist appoint I weight 313 pounds

The day of surgery I weighed 308 pounds

I have not yet weighed since surgery b/c you gain water during this whole process, iv drips and what nots.

All the doctors came back and saw  me before the surgery, then they wheeled me down this impossible path of hallways and seriously after all the hallway twisting and turning they pulled me into a really big room, moved me to another bed quite easily and then I was out. LOL, the nurse said she only gave me something for calming, I didn't think I would have been knocked out.

When I woke up there I was in recovery room. I couldn't even tell you what it looked like b/c they were wheeling me out and sending me to a SIMU area. It's a place where, I believe, they can put people after surgery who have problems with breathing. I asked that they make sure my mom knows where to go, it took forever for her to get there. I don't know what time I came out of surgery or what time I finally saw my mom and cousin Missy. I think I remember mom saying it took forever.

At the time for pain they gave me a morphine pump. So the every time you pushed a the button you go some morphine. It was beautiful, I was in barely any pain. I was walking around the SIMU area  and thinking things were great. I do remember around 3pm they took me off the morphine pump and that's when the pain came in. I have seven incisions across my abdomen. They were not really painful unless someone pushed on them. The inside of my abdomen was the thing that was painful. My doctor put it like this, you just had machines moving and clipping and sewing up inside of your abdomen of course you going to be in pain. They gave me pain medicine after the morphine and it took forever for that stuff to help even a little bit, and of course being a hospital I had to ask every time I wanted the stuff. After the new medicine settled into my system it would work for like 3 hrs and 55 minutes, I was taking it like every 4 hours religiously.

We slept the first night in the SIMU and the next day (couldn't tell ya the time) we went to the private room within the hospital.  But I can tell you the next day, Saturday, I was headed home. My doctor said I was doing beautifully and did wonderfully in surgery. He was very proud with my case. This was so good to hear b/c before the surgery he was very worried with how my body would take all of this (b/c of taking prednisone).

 I know this chapter is a bunch of facts and listing, but that's kind of what it's all about. Soon I will write about my coming home and diet since surgery. I will be seeing my doctor tomorrow so I'm excited about getting on that scale. I would love to be under 300 pounds.

Tomorrow is another day!

Chapter 1: Overcoming Predisone

 



 

Yes, I'm a very cute girl. I love to dress up anytime my Kindergarten calendar allows it.

 

I'd like to introduce myself, my name is Vicky. I am a 33 year old, first year Kindergarten teacher. It has taken me a long time to find a teaching position, but I've finally found my place in this world. Due to my wonderful job and fantastic insurance I am now on the path of overcoming my worst quality, being overweight. I've been overweight most of my entire life. Now with insurance I can finally be 'forced' to lose weight.

 

Yes I used the word forced. I've been there done that with every diet. I either do not stick to them or lose weight and give up soon. As we all know after you lose the weight if you don't keep working at it you gain it back plus more. I have no will power when it comes to food. I love it, crave it, enjoy it, and I want what I want, no substitutions. This of course is a problem. With my weight loss surgery I know there will be limitations, but those limitations are forced. After surgery if I eat to much I will throw it up. I will have to learn how much my body can take in. I will have to learn what my body can handle and what it cannot. For a girl with no self control this is exactly what I need.

 

I have seen my doctors and everything is set up for June 12th, 2014. My surgeon has asked one thing of me so far, he has asked me to get off of the Prednisone. I take Prednisone to help me with my asthma. I've had asthma since 2004 and have needed Prednisone to control it since close to the beginning. I have been taking 10mg for about 2 years, that's the lowest I've ever been on it. A week ago I lowered my dose to 5mg. Doctors suggest that you ween yourself off of medicines like Prednisone. It is not a good idea just to stop taking this medicine,  you can go through withdrawals just like taking any other drug. The withdrawals feel like you are going through the flu with terrible body aches and sometimes fevers.

 

Being on 5mg hasn't been fantastic, but it hasn't been terrible either. My breathing has become labored. I have to walk slowly and make sure not to excerpt myself or I will going into a breathing frenzy. My pulmonologist told me to take 4 breathing treatments a day and stay on my medicine. He says that the heavier breathing is part of coming off the prednisone. Hopefully it doesn't last forever.

 

I am hoping with my weight loss my asthma will also clear up or completely go away. Less than a month to go before a new adventure starts.

 

I will be keeping this blog to let you know how the weight loss procedure goes for me. I will also take pictures from time to time to show my progress.

 

Tomorrow is another day!