Tomorrow is the Day!

As I make my final prep plans today for surgery tomorrow I have all my information at my fingertips, stored in my phone and printed out on paper as a back up.

My bags are packed and we will be heading down to Houston this evening to check into our hotel. Since I need to be at the airport by 6:30AM to leave at 8:15AM to fly out my husband and I booked the hotel. Traffic on Monday mornings is Houston is awful and there is a much lesser chance of us getting stuck in traffic and being late. Yes, there is heavy traffic on all the highways here in Houston at 6:00AM.

I have already checked in for my flight this morning with ticket pick-up at the counter. I wanted to make sure that they can list my return flight as needing a wheelchair. I was advised by Stephanie who had her revision surgery with Dr. Kelly this past Monday that I will not be able to stand in the long lines during check in upon return and to order the wheelchair so they will take me to my gate so I will not have to stand. (Great advise, thanks Stephanie!)

I have also packed me a small pillow to take on board the flight with me. I recall from gallbladder surgery that riding in a car or sudden movement hurts your insides and the light pressure of a pillow helps keeps things from moving and hurting.

My laptop has been updated this morning and I made sure my Netflex, Huluplus, and Blaze TV are all set up so I will have something to watch in the hotel room. I have also packed 3 books that I have been reading and this will be a good chance to get them completely read before I begin my next semester of college in September and won't have time to finish the for while.

As far as I know, I have all my food supplies already purchased for my return home so there will be no stopping since I expect to feel pretty lousy and just want to come home and rest.

I recall not feeling completely recovered and ready to take on the world full day like normal for almost 9 days after I had gallbladder surgery so I anticipate that this will be the same way give or take a day or two.

My weight this morning was 233.4, so even after two weeks of pre-op diet and two days of clear liquids, broth, and such, I have neither lost or gained any weight.

Well, here's to my new future. I do not anticipate feeling like posting until I checked out of the hospital and into my hotel room on Wednesday, August 21, 2013.

See you all then!

Day 2 of Pre-op Liquid Diet

Yesterday was not a bad as I thought it would be following the clear liquid diet.

I only had one episode about dinner time where by blood sugar dropped and my body began to shake and feel listless. I opened a can a sprite and drank it down to get the sugar back in my system and I was able to make it through the rest of the evening.

All was well until I awoke about 4:00 AM with an awful migraine headache. I took only one Tylenol rather than the normal two I would for a headache. I sipped some milk to wash it down since I already felt nauseated from the headache.

By the time I awoke this morning, I still had a headache, but it was at least no longer on the migraine level. I drank some tea to give me caffeine and it has helped tremendously. I do not feel the greatest today but I am feeling okay. At least I can function normally today.

My weight today is still 221.6. Even after two weeks of following a pre-op diet, my weight has not changed. Very much the same as when I have dieted with no weight loss.

I am excited that my surgery is only 2 days away now. :)

Only 3 Days Left!

I am finally 3 days before my surgery. Wow that time went by fast! I am now really nervous and excited at the same time.

I began my 3 day pre-op diet and so far today I have been doing fine with just the broth. I have been fortunate enough to not have any diabetic issues needing to eat or take my medicine.

3 Days Prior to Surgery  

• Complete bowel prep by taking laxative (only once) on the 3rd day prior to surgery.

• Consume only clear liquids, i.e.; broth, Jell-O, sugar-free juice, etc. after that.  

4 Days until Surgery!

Yesterday my husband began to get nervous wondering if going to Mexico for surgery was legit. Worried itcould be a scam or they just make a few cuts on me and do nothing or do something other than I paying for. All his worries are understandable.

So today we went through and looked at all of Dr. Kelly's creditials and heard from others about his great reputation. I also contacted his office and shared with them his worry and concern and they will request that Dr. Kelly call us later this evening.

All in all, he is beginning to feel better about the decision.

Seven more days

Well, I am coming down to the end of wire here with only 7 more days until my surgery.
I am both excited and nervous at the same time.

Now that I am this close to my surgery date I have additional steps to following within these last 14 days.

7 Days Prior to Surgery    
 • Discontinue vitamins, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, Aleve or any other non- steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. This includes baby aspirin and most arthritis medications.  These medications can cause unnecessary bleeding after surgery. (If you are not sure, please check with our doctors.)
 • For headache or minor pains you may use Tylenol. 
 • Do not take any herbal medications/remedies.

Feeling Remorse for What I Will be Giving Up.

It began last night, the second guessing “am I making the right decision?” The dread of knowing I can never have any ice cream or sugar used in anything I eat. Wondering how long it will be before I tire of eating the same thing day in and day out for the rest of my life. The thought of never enjoying a Margareta or a rum and coke at an occasional celebration made me really feel like the loser that school kids called me many years ago.  I questioned my decision, asking myself, “Why can’t I lose weight?”” Why am I so different than all the countless others who do what I do but get results?” It surely does make me feel like a failure since I am unable to do this without surgery.

Then, I began questioning the type of surgery I chose. Should I do VGS since I can go back to eating normally after a few months and I could still enjoy all the foods of life like every other human?

As, I woke up still pondering my thoughts and questioning my decision, I was listening to the Sunday morning news and one of the doctors discussing health issues went on to talk about how Americans are given too many pharmaceuticals, blah, blah, blah, but then he said no all pharmaceuticals are bad, for instance heart meds since hypertension is the silent killer, then he said diabetes. He said no doctor likes to know his patient has diabetes because it has so many downfalls and complications a patient can have to shorten their life, hamper their quality of life, and so on.

That is when the light bulb went back on in my head. BINGO! That is why I chose RNY surgery over VGS in the first place. I wanted the 95% chance of my diabetes being gone. It reminded me to not feel like loser or failure, but to realize, that I am not like many others. I am older, I am diabetic, and as my doctor told me in the past, diabetes will prevent me from losing weight. It will fight against me.

I now feel confident in my decision to have RNY and I welcome leading a more active and enjoyable lifestyle without all the foods I cannot have anyway as a diabetic, but with a future filled with better health and not having to worry about all the problems associated with diabetes.

I think having these thoughts is very normal, this is a big step. RNY is a life altering decision. It is not something to take lightly, but the results far out-weigh what not having it done can do to my life. I am no longer second guessing my choice.

PRE-OP PREPARATION

It is 14 days now until my RNY surgery and per my doctor’s instructions; today I am to begin my pre-op diet.  My weight today is 222.6, it has not changed in month’s since I began logging in my weight every day.  Many people lose weight before having surgery just from the pre-op diet. My daily weigh in’s will show if I will have any weight loss on the pre-op diet.

PRE-OP PREPARATION 

14 Days Prior to Surgery   • Follow Pre-Op Diet below: 

Use any prepared canned or powdered protein drink.  You may purchase these in any health food store or many grocery stores.  Please be sure it contains at least 15 grams of protein per serving. 

 * Breakfast: 1 protein drink

 * Lunch: 1 protein drink

 * Dinner: Salad with Protein (chicken, fish, egg, etc.), small amount of low-fat or fat-free dressing,   

   or olive oil and vinegar.

* Evening Snack: 1 protein drink (if needed).

You may also take 1 Metamucil capsule per day for hunger (if needed). * Patients with high BMI and/or other medical conditions may be prescribed other dietary prerequisites in addition to the above pre-op diet.  

Almost time for Pre-op diet

Only 16 days until my surgery. My protein have arrived and I begin my pre-op diet on Monday.

It is hard to believe it is this close. The time is going by quickly and I very happy that it is. I am really looking forward to having the surgery behind me and my life of being thin and not taking meds for my diabetes ahead of me.

I will open up my protein drinks and put 3 of each of the flavors I purchased (Banana Cream, Strawberry, and chocolate). I sure hope that all three flavors taste well so the variety will not become unbearable to drink by the end of my pre-op diet.