I'm Home!!

Well the Dr said the surgery went well and overall i'm feeling decent... could be worse. I'm sore which is to be expected, but doing much better today. I REALLY do NOT feel like eating (bleh!) but i'm making sure I get my protein shakes down and trying to get as much water down as i can.

I can feel the gas moving around and making noises - bleh! But I just keep walking trying to get it to loosen up! I am hoping it eases up soon.

I am a little bit loopy from the medicine so I will give a more comprehensive update later. heheh!

It feels good to be home... thanks for all the well wishes - you guys are the BEST!

P.S. A HUGE thank you to Dr Hart, Emory Johns Creek Hospital & Rita for being awesome and getting me through the surgery!!

8 DAYS..... single digits baby!

So... before surgery I have to:
- Meet with Rachel (the NUT) for my 6-week post op instructions (DONE!)
- Meet with Dr Hart to go over the final paperwork, sign consent forms, yadda yadda (DONE!)
- Meet with the Anesthesiologist for pre-op consultation (DONE!)

Yeah.... I'm totally awesome! hehehe! :)

So i've ordered and recieved my vits. I'll be taking the Bariatric Advantage Multi, Iron, Calcium Citrate & B12. I've also ordered my 2 cans of UNJURY (1 vanilla and 1 chocolate) and it should be here tomorrow according to UPS. I also had to go to a different pharmacy to pick up my liquid pain medication, as there isnt enough time for my normal one to order it and it get here in time. lame-o. oh well.. whatever.

So yesterday was my day-long adventure with the doctors office and the hospital :P

I went into work for about an hour and a half before i had to leave for my meeting with Dr Hart & LaTonya. It went pretty well... it was just a lot of signing papers for surgery and all that jazz. They also got vitals - great BP and i have lost 12 lbs since i first saw Dr Hart! Yay! After all that stuff and getting my perscription i left and went over to the hospital. I had to sign in and fill out all the anesthesia paperwork . Then the hospital took my vitals again and my BP was a little low they said... interesting.... Then I had to talk to the person from Anesthesia abotu any allergies... you get the picture. They gave me a Spirometer to mess with and drew some blood. I then got to go view the Bariatric wing of the hospital (Atlanta Bariatric Center) and check out the rooms and such... very nice! They have flat screen TVs and wood panelling and all that jazz. AND they have nice bathrobes ;-) I honestly couldn't have picked a better hospital to be laid up in! hehe! It was also nice to get to talk one-on-one with Rita, the Bariatric Coordinator. She also had RNY and has been very sucessful. :)

So yeah... i didn't leave the hospital until almost 3 and then decided to go eat some lunch. After that it was just too late to go back into the office :P

Now if time can just speed up a bit so the 28th can get here already....

Two Weeks!

Two weeks until the start of my new life!!!

So... before surgery I have to:
- Meet with Rachel (the NUT) for my 6-week post op instructions (DONE!)
- Meet with Dr Hart to go over the final paperwork, sign consent forms, yadda yadda (scheduled for next Monday the 19th at 10 AM)
- Meet with the Anesthesiologist for pre-op consultation (scheduled for next Monday the 19th right after meeting with Dr Hart)

So.. yesterday was the meeting with Rachel, and it went well. It was a mini-class that had about 6 upcoming patients in it. She gave us these paper packets that had all the info we need and then she went over it. So.. (in the words of V).. here's the 411 for the demolition:

*EXERCISE*
CARDIO
-you may start as soon as you can, there is no restriction on when you can start exercising after surgery.
-start only with walking until first post opp appointment with surgeon (JUNE 5th)
-minimum of 3 times/week for 30-60 mins per session GOAL: 5 times/week for 30-60 mins
-exercise in Target Heart Rate zone
-consistency is key
-PRIMARY cause of plateau is LACK of consistent exercise
RESISTANCE TRAINING
-2-3 times/week when cleared by Surgeon

EXERCISE WILL HELP YOU REACH YOUR WEIGHT LOSS GOAL
AND
EXERCISE WILL HELP YOU MAINTAIN YOUR WEIGHT LOSS

*VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION*
MULTIVITAMIN & IRON - 2 multi & iron with breakfast
CALCIUM - GOAL: 1000mg to 1500mg of supplemental calcium with vitamin D per day
-2-3 per day
-split dose, do not take 2 at a time
-take separately and with meals to enhance absorption, wait at least 1 hour between doses
-do NOT take at the same time as the multivitamin
-Calcium Citrate is best
B12 - 2000mcg per week
-must only take sublingual B12 or once a month injections

YOU WILL NEED TO SUPPLEMENT FOR LIFE TO MAINTAIN YOUR HEALTH. DO NOT SKIP DOSES

*POST SURGICAL GUIDELINES*
-there are 4 stages
STAGE 1 - in Hospital- Clear Liquids
STAGE 2 - until 1st f/u appt (june 5th) - Full Liquids
-goal is to consume 3 protein drinks and 2 servings of liquid food
-menu: 8-10AM Breakfast-Protein Supp #1 10:30-11:30AM Snack 12:30-2:30 Lunch-Protein Supp #2 3-4 Snack 5:30-7:30 Dinner-Protein Supp #3 7:30-bedtime Water or other non-caloric non-carbonated beverage
DO NOT EAT ANY FOODS THAT REQUIRE CHEWING AT THIS STAGE
SNACK LIST: cream of wheat, plain oatmeal (can sweeten with splenda or equal), sugar free jello,pudding, or Popsicle, instant mashed potatoes (very thin), light fat free yogurt (no chunks), 98% fat free cream soups(strained), broth based soups(strained)
Do not choose foods that are not included in the above snack list
Protein Supplement: 80z of fat free or 1% milk (or Lactaid) plus 1 scoop of protein powder. Add 1 serving of Benefiber powder to 1 supplement, may add to all 3 if needed to help with constipation. Use UNJURY Protein.
By the end of the day, you should have consumed 24oz milk, 3 scoops of protein powder, 1 serving of benefiber and 2 liquid snacks. and water of course.


So yeah... that is through stage 2. I'll post the stage 3 & 4 stuff later! I will start stage 3 on June 6th I suppose. I'm getting anxious now.... not really scared yet, but anxious! The next two weeks are going to be sooooo long!

TTFN! :)

oh...my....gosh!!!

I have a surgery date! I will be having my LAP RNY on MAY 28th, 2008!!! WOW!!! I'm so excited!!!! *squee*

I can't believe how fast everything is moving along. I'm so glad that Atlanta Bariatrics is the freakin BEST! Latonya is my hero! She is so sweet and has really helped me get the insurance stuff all together! :)

So... before surgery i have to:
- Meet with Rachel (the NUT) for my 6-week post op instructions (scheduled for TOMORROW at 11:30 AM)
- Meet with Dr Hart to go over the final paperwork, sign consent forms, yadda yadda (scheduled for next Monday the 19th at 10 AM)
- Meet with the Anesthesiologist for pre-op consultation (scheduled for next Monday the 19th right after meeting with Dr Hart)

Holy -freakin- Crap!! Now i'm getting twitchy with nerves a bit... not really scared, just ready for it to be over.

Thank you all for the great support you've given me thus far :)