Kathyproctor
My Story: Kathleen ONeal (Proctor) – pre-consult 262 lbs.
October 19, 2010 I attended a seminar in Plano, Texas @ Baylor Medical Center with Dr. Nick Nicholson. The seminar was very informative as far as how the different surgeries work. I originally wanted to have the lap band but realized with the lap band, I would still be able to drink sugary drinks and eat whatever I wanted. The sleeve was what I decided on.
On October 27th 2010, Summer Dalrymple called me and informed me that the insurance approved my surgery but, they did not cover the sleeve L So, I decided to have the gastric bypass. Now I had to go through the steps the insurance company required of me to have the surgery approved.
My first step was to get my weight history from my x-primary care doctor, get my titrate levels for my sleep apnea, see a nutritionist, see a psych, get an EGD (upper scope) and, lose 5% of my body weight.
On Nov. 4th 2010, I set up an appt with Dr. Ted Mclemore (pulmonologist) for my titrate levels. Apparently all he wanted to do was try and clear me for surgery instead of doing my titrate levels so, After calling Summer in the insurance office, she called and set me up an appt for a sleep study in Greenville on November 5th 2010. Although I was already on a CPAP machine, they did the whole study all over again. One night without the machine and the next visit was with the machine so… Sleep study was completed.
My Next appointment was with the nutritionist and the Psych. These were both done on November 15th. The nutritionist was in Plano, TX. She pretty well much got my weight, asked about my eating habits, told me about the bariatric diet, gave me a book and took my $50.00 (The book has helped A LOT) Then I headed over to the Psych’s office. Dr. Steven Patrick (he seemed more like the nutritionist) Again, I was asked about my eating habits, explained my bariatric diet and then gave me a 350 question survey type thing where you fill in the ovals. Some of the questions asked were things like: “Have you ever killed an animal", “Do you ever feel like hurting someone else", “Do you have imaginary friends" etc.
So,… With all my tests out of the way, I was ready for my surgery appt date… December 21st 2010!!!
On December 9th 2010, I met with Dr. Nicks Personal Assistant (Ms. Burns) for a pre-pre consult. We discussed my choice in surgery procedures (lap band, sleeve or bypass) and, my weight was taken. I was told I would need to lose 5% of my body weight to shrink my liver before surgery and was given a slim fast diet plan to start 2 weeks before surgery.
I started the slim fast diet plan two weeks before surgery as I was told but, after a week out, I had only lost 3 lbs. My co-worker told me to go on an all liquid diet and it would come off so, I did. I ended up losing 8 of my 13 lbs.
Dec. 15th 2010 I got a phone call that I needed an EGD to check for ulcers and hernias. Appointments were set up. The EGD was done by Dr. Stewart in Paris, Texas and the x-ray was done at Paris Imagine in Paris, TX
Dec. 17th 2010 I had my lab workup and my final visit to see the doctor before surgery. My lab consisted of an EKG and blood work, then over to see Dr. Nicholson to discuss the surgery and what to expect. Later that day, I received a phone call telling me that I would need to get clearance from my heart doctor for surgery because my EKG was abnormal.. I was told if my heart doc didn’t send the go ahead that they would have to reschedule the surgery so…. A phone call later, my heart doctor faxed over permission to do the surgery (yeah)
At this time, I was wondering what could be next.. All these little things kept popping up on me.. I got to thinking that the day before surgery, something was going to come up to stall the surgery.
So.. Surgery was done on Dec. 21st 2010. I had to be there at 4am and surgery was at 6am. When I got to the hospital, they had me undress totally and put on a gown, they tried 5 times to stick a needle in my arm for an IV and couldn’t get it.. They finally called the anesthesiologist down, he put some deadener medication in my arm (like when you are getting stitches) and inserted the IV with one stick and no pain (I have a needle phobia). Then they hauled me down the hall for surgery. I don’t remember anything else… until I woke up.
After waking up from anesthesia, I was told that my blood pressure shot up during the surgery but, I was told by the anesthesiologist “not" to take my blood pressure medication before surgery so.. HIS FAULT! I guess the only problem I had when I woke up was that I kept throwing up… old yucky brown blood (nasty) so, I hit the morphine pump as much as I could (every 9 minutes) But, in 2 days, I only hit the machine 13 times J
Because of my blood pressure shooting up all the first day, I had to stay in the hospital an extra day.. After I talked them into getting me my blood pressure medication, the nausea and vomiting stopped so.. The next day (Dec. 22nd 2010) I was being forced water and protein (Nasty protein)… it took all I had to keep from throwing up with those protein “shots" NASTY!!! So.. I then was up to the bathroom on my own and walking the floors of the hospital 6-7 times a day.
On Dec. 23rd 2010 , I came home… My husband was the best in the hospital and at home. He was disappointed though when the discharge nurse told us “No sex for 6-8 weeks) …. All my books said “whenever you feel like it" so, two weeks later I gave in to him J
When I first got home, I didn’t have any abnormal problems.. It was hard finding drinks that didn’t upset my stomach. I was growing really tired of chocolate whey protein ,water, nasty vitamins and Pepcid-AC chewables !!! On top of this, I was sore.. I then started getting burning pain in my stomach as though someone was giving me a carpet burn.. It seemed like pain meds couldn’t even make it go away but, that stopped after a few days.
After two weeks, I was allowed to come back to work. I saw Dr. Nicks PA who gave me permission to come back (I was happy)
Well, the liquid diet had been changed from 2 weeks to 3 weeks. I kind of ignored the new diet plan and followed the old diet which allowed me to eat soft foods after two weeks. After a week and 4 days I couldn’t handle the liquid diet anymore (Christmas dinner and New year’s eve celebration foods) so, I started eating some jell-o, cottage cheese, pudding etc. Let me tell you, it was a huge improvement from chicken broth with powdered protein!! With Soft foods we are allowed to eat cheese and I LOVE CHEESE!! So, guess what is next…. What happens to people when they eat too much cheese???
So, at 3 weeks, I started having severe stomach pains and cramps, mid and upper back pain and nausea. I called my doctors office and told them what was going on (except for all that cheese). They told me they wanted to have another scope done.. not because of the stomach pain & cramps or back pain but because of the nausea. So, They sent over the order to have another scope done to check for scar tissue between the stoma and small intestine.
About 4 days ago, one of my coworkers asked me a personal question. He said “Kathy, how many times a day are you going to the bathroom", I replied 1-2 times a week. He shook his head and told me that If I was eating right, I should be going every day or every other day.. So, that’s when I really started thinking about the cheese I had eaten AND… How I had taken an iron pill the week before and it still hadn’t come out. I went home and dosed up on some milk of magnesia and have taken Miralax every day since. I have expelled a lot of the backup but, My iron pill I took 7 days ago has yet to come out. The next morning after taking the MOM, I had lost 2 lbs and, because I am taking the Miralax every day, I have lost a total of 4 lbs! guess what…. IM NOT DONE YET!
So, I have an EGD scheduled for Jan. 25, 2011 because I am still having nausea. The stomach cramps are gone but the back pain and nausea still continue.
Little did I know when I went in to have this upper scope done that we were in a new year which means a whole new deductible! I really wasnt expecting the amount of money the secretary told me when she said "Ok, I will need your drivers licence, insurance card and your deductible of $497.40 (uggg) But, I paid it and.. here is what we found out:
Anyone care to hear WHY we shouldnt smoke after having a gastric bypass?? Well.. it DOES cause ulcers in the juijurnim (spelling). I am 4 weeks out and have developed one really big. My husband said "Ulcers dont develop that quick Kathy" But, guess what... Yes they do!! Other than being constipated from all the cheese, I also find out that when I made the snyde remark "Oh of course, lets blame everything on cigarette smoking why don't we" Well.. this is one of the effects of cigarette smoking so.. I have to quit again.. Plus be on two new meds to get rid of the ulcer.
Today is Jan. 26th 2011, Although it is just the next day after having the scope done and learning of the ulcer, I am feeling a lot better. I have not smoked since yesterday morning and I took my first dose of med last night. I don't feel sick at my stomache anymore (Yeah) Now maybe I can get on with my life...... More to come
Today is March 5th.. There's not really much to tell except that I am down 53 lbs. with only 69 more lbs to do. I've set my goal at 140 because of the excess sking I'm going to have. I think If I get down to 130 I'll be too skinny with all that excess skin. I'm really hoping that next year at income tax return time we will have the money for me to go go Mexico to have some sking removed "Tucks" is what I think we are all calling it :)
My life has improved as far not thinking about the diet so much. I still don't have a whole lot of energy.. I would rather sit around the house than to exercise or do deep house cleaning. I'm still waiting for motivation to catch up with me. Having to work 8 hours a day and then come home and clean are just not two things that mix and match. My husband has been on the road for over a month so, he hasnt seen me since I was at 230 lbs. I've sent him pics of my face and full body but.. pictures done really show the weight loss so much.
I've dropped from a size 22 to a loose 18, I look forward to dropping another pants size. I went to Goodwill and bought a few new clothes. In Dallas, I could trade in old clothes and get other peoples clothes they had outgrown but, my working hours prevent me from being able to go so, As I outgrow clothes, I go to Goodwill and Salvation army and replace them. My daughters outside dogs got my old clothes for warmth during the cold season. (They were not the best of clothes anyway.. You cant buy "cute" clothes for fat people.
Thats it for now.. I'll update in a few months again.
