My surgery was scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb 3rd. I was told to be at the hospital NLT 6:00 a.m.! Since Ginny and I didn't particularly feel like getting up at 3:30 to leave by 4:30 to be at the hospital by 6:00, we decided to spend Monday night in the Potomac Mills area at a motel that was only a mile or so away from the hospital. Much more relaxing for both of us!
After checking into the motel, we found a Pizzaria Uno nearby and had a nice, quiet dinner. We returned to the motel and I read until about 9:00 p.m. and then turned in.
On Tuesday morning, we were roused by the 4:45 a.m. wake-up call we had requested. I got up, showered and got dressed. Of course, I was supposed to arrive at the hospital fasting, so I didn't have to worry about breakfast. Ginny didn't need food that early and would just wait until after I was taken into surgery before she found herself some breakfast.
As we drove to the hospital, I remember feeling no real anxiety. I knew that this was the right step in my life at the right time, so there was really nothing to worry about.
At the hospital, after checking in with Registration, I was taken to the lab to have blood drawn for something they called "type and sort". This was done so that they could have several units of blood ready in the OR, just to be safe. After finishing that, Ginny and I headed back to the Surgical Suite.
There I was put in a small room with a bed and the obligatory I/V contraption. After getting undressed and into the hospital gown, the anaethesiologist came in and hooked up my I/V. I don't remember too much after that. We only had to wait about 15-20 minutes before they came to take me into surgery. I remember saying goodbye to Ginny, getting a kiss from her and then being wheeled out of the room, but nothing after that. They must have started the anaesthesia already.
The next thing I remember is that uncomfortable feeling of starting to come out of it in the Recovery Room. I call it uncomfortable because you're half in it and half out of it still. I remember feeling a lot of activity going on around me and an obnoxious nurse who kept moving my left hand back down to my side every time I tried to rest it on my upper chest. I guess she thought I was going after some of the incisions. I don't know!
Anyway, after what I have been told was an hour or so in recovery, they took me up to my room. I was still kind of "out of it", only partially aware of what was going on around me. Ginny was there waiting to greet me. I'm sure I didn't act like I was happy to see her very much. I was still trying to wake up!
Monday, February 23, 2009
The final days before the operation
It's time for me to catch up on what's been going on with the ol' Cheese grater.
I can not believe it has been almost a month since I last entered anything here. So much has happened during that time that I'm sure I will not get everything down. But I'll give it a try!
Pre-op liquid diet: I had to give up on the Optifast diet after about five days. The shakes were going right through me. I lost ten pounds during the process, which was the whole purpose of going on that diet. But, I don't think it was a "healthy" weight loss.
During the last week in January I went through the final clearances from my cardiologist, family doctor, and the surgeon's office. I met with the nutritionist and my surgeon on Thursday, the 29th. They noted that they were still awaiting the input from my cardiologist and clearance from my family doctor. I let them know that I had appointments the next day for those.
On January 30th, I had appointments with the cardiologist first thing and then my family doctor later that morning. From the cardiologist's standpoint, he wanted me to have one last EKG (which was normal). When I got to my family doctor's office, she wanted me to have an EKG too. I told her about the one done earlier in the cardiologist's office. So, they spent the next couple of hours trying to get that one faxed over.
I'm going to break this up into multiple posts so that people don't have to wade through everything if they're only interested in certain parts of the story.
I can not believe it has been almost a month since I last entered anything here. So much has happened during that time that I'm sure I will not get everything down. But I'll give it a try!
Pre-op liquid diet: I had to give up on the Optifast diet after about five days. The shakes were going right through me. I lost ten pounds during the process, which was the whole purpose of going on that diet. But, I don't think it was a "healthy" weight loss.
During the last week in January I went through the final clearances from my cardiologist, family doctor, and the surgeon's office. I met with the nutritionist and my surgeon on Thursday, the 29th. They noted that they were still awaiting the input from my cardiologist and clearance from my family doctor. I let them know that I had appointments the next day for those.
On January 30th, I had appointments with the cardiologist first thing and then my family doctor later that morning. From the cardiologist's standpoint, he wanted me to have one last EKG (which was normal). When I got to my family doctor's office, she wanted me to have an EKG too. I told her about the one done earlier in the cardiologist's office. So, they spent the next couple of hours trying to get that one faxed over.
I'm going to break this up into multiple posts so that people don't have to wade through everything if they're only interested in certain parts of the story.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Optifast - Day 8 (Tue, Jan 27)
The Optifast shakes are definitely not agreeing with me. They go right through me and keep my system messed up throughout the day. I tried using an anti-diarreatic but to no avail. Over the weekend, I stopped using them. I needed a break.
I discussed this yesterday with my nutritionist. She opined that maybe I was having an allergic reaction to them. Either way, we are suspending the shakes. I will attempt to replace them with low calorie (protein and veggies) meals/snacks.
Weigh-in info: 258.4 lbs.
I discussed this yesterday with my nutritionist. She opined that maybe I was having an allergic reaction to them. Either way, we are suspending the shakes. I will attempt to replace them with low calorie (protein and veggies) meals/snacks.
Weigh-in info: 258.4 lbs.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Optifast - Day 4
Morning weigh-in: 257.2 lbs (down 2 more lbs - total loss todate: 8.4 lbs)
I'm really amazed at this whole thing because I really haven't been hungry. I don't know if that's attributable to being sick or to the Optifast having an appetite suppressant in it.
So, yesterday saw a bit of a flurry of activity as the surgeon's office scrambled to get everything in order before the surgery.
1. They have decided that they need an abdominal sonogram done after all. Initially, they had said that since my gall bladder had been removed previously, that wouldn't be necessary. But, now they've changed their mind. Bummer! Requires an extra trip over to VA.
2. Surgeon also says he needs an updated cardio clearance from my cardiologist (Dr. A. K.). I had one done back in September when I first started this whole thing. Apparently that's a little too far back to use. So, that necessitated moving an appointment with A.K. from next Friday (1/30) to this morning.
3. I also will be seeing my primary care physician this a.m. to get her medical clearance for me to have the surgery.
I'm really amazed at this whole thing because I really haven't been hungry. I don't know if that's attributable to being sick or to the Optifast having an appetite suppressant in it.
So, yesterday saw a bit of a flurry of activity as the surgeon's office scrambled to get everything in order before the surgery.
1. They have decided that they need an abdominal sonogram done after all. Initially, they had said that since my gall bladder had been removed previously, that wouldn't be necessary. But, now they've changed their mind. Bummer! Requires an extra trip over to VA.
2. Surgeon also says he needs an updated cardio clearance from my cardiologist (Dr. A. K.). I had one done back in September when I first started this whole thing. Apparently that's a little too far back to use. So, that necessitated moving an appointment with A.K. from next Friday (1/30) to this morning.
3. I also will be seeing my primary care physician this a.m. to get her medical clearance for me to have the surgery.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Optifast - Day 3
Weight this morning: 259.2 (down 2.2 more lbs)
OK. So, I think what's happened is I've experienced, medically speaking, the "perfect storm".
When I started on the Optifast, I immediately developed what I thought were side effects (e.g., d...ha). But, now I think what happened was that the flu or a virus decided to drop in on me at about the same time. Reason I say this is because I have had a slight fever now for the last few days. I'm no doctor, but, I don't think drinking Optifast is going to give me a fever.
I'm worried about dehydration, so, been tossing down Crystal Lite and water like they're going out of style. The program calls for drinking 64ozs of nocal fluid each day anyway. So, I'm probably doubling that. I think I drank a gallon or so yesterday.
Now, on to more important things: weigh-in this morning - 259 lbs! That's a total of 7.5 lbs lost since starting on the program. Whew! That seems a little fast to me. I'm probably seeing a combination of the Optifast and the virus. I hope this drop doesn't cause me other problems.
OK. So, I think what's happened is I've experienced, medically speaking, the "perfect storm".
When I started on the Optifast, I immediately developed what I thought were side effects (e.g., d...ha). But, now I think what happened was that the flu or a virus decided to drop in on me at about the same time. Reason I say this is because I have had a slight fever now for the last few days. I'm no doctor, but, I don't think drinking Optifast is going to give me a fever.
I'm worried about dehydration, so, been tossing down Crystal Lite and water like they're going out of style. The program calls for drinking 64ozs of nocal fluid each day anyway. So, I'm probably doubling that. I think I drank a gallon or so yesterday.
Now, on to more important things: weigh-in this morning - 259 lbs! That's a total of 7.5 lbs lost since starting on the program. Whew! That seems a little fast to me. I'm probably seeing a combination of the Optifast and the virus. I hope this drop doesn't cause me other problems.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Optifast - Day 2
Weight this morning: 261.4 lbs (down 4.4 lbs!)
OK. So this is pretty crummy so far. I've not been hungry, really. But, the shakes are giving me really bad diarrhea. (I know -- WAY too much information).
My weight yesterday morning was 265.8 lbs. This morning, as you can see above, I'm down almost 5 lbs from that, probably from all the fluids going out of my body. I've guzzled Crystal Lite all day yesterday just to keep my fluids up, not to mention the fact that this regimen requires that I drink an additional 64ozs of nocal liquids on top of the shakes/soup/snack bar. This morning, I'm switching to seltzer water because I'm afraid the Crystal Lite may be irritating my throat.
OK. So this is pretty crummy so far. I've not been hungry, really. But, the shakes are giving me really bad diarrhea. (I know -- WAY too much information).
My weight yesterday morning was 265.8 lbs. This morning, as you can see above, I'm down almost 5 lbs from that, probably from all the fluids going out of my body. I've guzzled Crystal Lite all day yesterday just to keep my fluids up, not to mention the fact that this regimen requires that I drink an additional 64ozs of nocal liquids on top of the shakes/soup/snack bar. This morning, I'm switching to seltzer water because I'm afraid the Crystal Lite may be irritating my throat.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Well, Shake It Up, Baby!!!
Today is the first day of the rest of my life...
Today, I begin a journey that I have been waiting for months to start. In many ways, it is a new journey, but in some, it is a journey to the past.
Today marks two weeks prior to my gastric bypass surgery day. Along with that, yesterday marked the last day that I would be eating as I have done most of my adult life.
This morning, I began two weeks of totally liquid diet using Optifast products. The purpose of this two-week period of liquid diet is to shrink my liver to make it easier for the surgeon to get to my stomach. Apparently, certain people, especially those whose excess weight is largely (no pun intended) around their waist, have larger livers. If they don't shrink the liver, chances are they won't be able to perform the surgery on the stomach. So, here I go...
My first taste was of one of the French Vanilla Shakes. There are two other flavors -- Chocolate and Strawberry, which I will try today as well. I had put a bunch of the shakes in the fridge last night, so it was slightly chilled. Not bad, actually. A little pasty, but not so much.
In addition to the shakes, there are packets of tomato soup and snack bars (Peanut Butter and Honey Nut 'n Oats). Which I will also get to try later today. An entire daily regime consists of four shakes, one soup and one snack bar, the sum of which totals a meager 960 calories per day intake. 960 calories!!! That's not even enough for a flea to subsist on!
Starting weight: 265.8 lbs.
Today, I begin a journey that I have been waiting for months to start. In many ways, it is a new journey, but in some, it is a journey to the past.
Today marks two weeks prior to my gastric bypass surgery day. Along with that, yesterday marked the last day that I would be eating as I have done most of my adult life.
This morning, I began two weeks of totally liquid diet using Optifast products. The purpose of this two-week period of liquid diet is to shrink my liver to make it easier for the surgeon to get to my stomach. Apparently, certain people, especially those whose excess weight is largely (no pun intended) around their waist, have larger livers. If they don't shrink the liver, chances are they won't be able to perform the surgery on the stomach. So, here I go...
My first taste was of one of the French Vanilla Shakes. There are two other flavors -- Chocolate and Strawberry, which I will try today as well. I had put a bunch of the shakes in the fridge last night, so it was slightly chilled. Not bad, actually. A little pasty, but not so much.
In addition to the shakes, there are packets of tomato soup and snack bars (Peanut Butter and Honey Nut 'n Oats). Which I will also get to try later today. An entire daily regime consists of four shakes, one soup and one snack bar, the sum of which totals a meager 960 calories per day intake. 960 calories!!! That's not even enough for a flea to subsist on!
Starting weight: 265.8 lbs.
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