Happy New Years

Happy New Years everyone. Let's hope for a safe and healthy 2008!!!

It's me, finally with a PC

Thanks for all your phone calls, flowers and comments left on my blog. I am feeling ok. The pain is controlled ok. My pain is very localized on the left side where the "major" work was done.

Being a patient is much different then just working at the Clinic. My experience was great until they closed my nursing unit down and moved me to a different room, that was not fun. The bariatric insitute is now located where labor and delivery was so the rooms are previous birthing rooms with big beds and huge bathrooms and PRIVATE. The room they moved me to was much smaller and no longer private. I shared a room with a patient who had the same surgery so that was nice, we could feel each others pain. All the nurses and aids where great. Many of them asked that I stop by to show them my progress.

Thanks again for all your prayers!! Keep them coming, this is just the beginning.

Dawn

POST-OP DAY 4

Dawn was discharged from the hospital on Saturday. I picked her up and in words "the ride was hell" . Mayfield Road has a lot of bumps !! Not to mention the RTA that almost hit us. She did well yesterday. Her first night staying at my parents was restful and uneventfu- I am sure having her own pillos helped. She has progressed from 2 tablespoons of water an hour to 1 cup of milk every three hours. Her pain is under control with steady doses of pain medications-for all of sakes- Thank God for the drugs !! For those of you who have asked- she is up for visitors.

I will keep you posted.

Stacey

POST-OP DAY 1

Dawn is doing amazingly well !! Her pain is well controlled. She is on clear liquids and tolerating without difficulties. We walked the halls today and she did great !! She is even gotten over the pillows at the clinic. Today- they no longer "suck ass" as she said mutliple times yesterday. Dawn has been showered with beautiful flowers and tons of visitors !! The plan is for her to be discharged Saturday. She we will be staying at my parents for a few days.


Please keep praying for a speedy recovery !!


Stacey

OUT OF SURGERY AND AWAKE!!

I just spoke to the surgeon at 11:00 am. Dr. Chand was able to do the complete roux-en-y (this is good thing!! ) all laprscopically- all in three hours !! She is awake and comfortable per Dr. Chand and her anesthesia friend Dr. Anton. Thank god for pain medicine ! I will keep you posted. We should be seeing her within the hour.

Thank you all for your prayers- it is because of friends an family like all of you that Dawn was able take this amazing journey.

Stacey

SURGERY HAS STARTED

Dawn rolled into surgery at approximately 7:10 am. The surgery started at 8:00am. She was in great spirits. I think having practically every member of the anesthesia department come in visit helped tremendously. She had to throw around her bosses name when she was not able to provide a urine specimen for the pregnancy test- I think she honestly thought it would help !! There were a lot of people starring when multiple doctors were coming in to kiss the patient! We all feel she is wonderful and caring hands- (Even if she is at the Clinic !!!). I will continue to keep you posted

Stacey

The BIG day

Well tomorrow is the big day and I am ready. I survived the bowel prep (which was not that bad since I have had no solid food in 14 days). I have to be at the Clinic at 6:00am with surgery scheduled to start at 7:30am. I have to do a "skin" prep tonight on my stomach and once again in the morning. My sister, mom and dad will all be at the hospital with me. My sister will be keeping this blog going while I am in the hospital and recovering at my Mom's. I plan to be at my Mom's for a week or so.

Thanks for all your prayers. Keep them coming.

Dawn

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! I hope that you have a great christmas.

Thanks again for everyone's wonderful support through this journey. What a journey it has been.....My surgery is in 3 days and I am ready. I have survived my liquid diet with today being my last day. Tomorrow is clear liquids only. I have lost a total of 26lbs so far which I know that my surgeon will be thrilled with. I am shocked myself!

Again, Merry Christmas!

Pre-Op

I have completed all my pre-op appointments including meeting with the Surgeon. We are all set for surgery next Thursday. I have a 2 day bowl prep that I need to do on Christmas day and then some skin prep the next day. I was able to pick up my pain medications and other medications that I will need after surgery, which is nice, so I don't have to worry about it.

I have lost 8 lbs since I started my liquid diet, that brings me to 21lbs lost. I am very proud of this! The liquid diet is getting easier. Still haven't cheated yet!!!

Day Four

Well it is day four and I have lost 4lbs.!!! The hard part is over, it's amazing how your body adjusts to they way you eat. One of my family members called me today and told me I was there Hero. I have NEVER been told that I those words where awesome to here. Like I told her, the support that I have from friends, family and co-workers has been tremendous. There are alot of patients that go through this process alone. Not me, and I thank god for that everyday. I survived my holiday party last night at the Natural History Musuem and did not cheat. The only non liquid item I have had was a few crackers on Friday due to a "stomach" issue. Go Browns!

First Day

Well I have officially made it through my first day of full liquids! It was alot harder than I thought it was going to be, but I made it. I did have some chicken broth this afternoon but it was still liquid! I went to my Mom's tonight and brought over the rest of my food that I can't eat. She has been tremendous. Her support from day one has been awesome. I will stay with her after surgery for a little while. It will be nice to be home again.

Last Supper

Well my last solid food was a salad, go figure! I went to dinner with my cousin Robin and had my last martini (it was delicious). I am 100% ready for this. Thanks to everyone for the nice comments in my email, I appreciate everyone and will save them for days that I will need a little encouragement.

Friends

There is a quote from Sex and the City that is my favorite: "Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous".

One more day

They tell you not to eat like you are going to the electrical chair, but what I reliazed today was that my last meal tomorrow evening will be the last solid foods until most likely February!!! After the surgery I will be on clear liquids, then full liquids, then puree foods and finally soft foods. That takes me to February 1, 2008!!! I have made the decision to go forward with this surgery and being on liquids will be ok (they have to be). It will be tough, no doubt about it but I can do it!!

Countdown Begins

My surgery is set for December 27, 2007 which means that December 13, 2007 I need to start my full liquid diet. The reason for this is to shrink your liver. My diet will consist of Water, Carnation Instant Breakfast, Crystal Light, Milk and Sugar Free Jello and Popsicles (NO SUGAR). My only calories will be from the milk. I am able to sneak in broth every once in a while but not to much. I have been able to lose 15 lbs since my official weigh in on October 1, and I have 5 more to lose. I know that the 2 weeks of liquids will help. My family and friends have been extermely supportive during this process. I am VERY lucky to have such a great support team!! Wish me luck!!!

Meeting the Surgeon

My original appointment with the surgeon wasn't until the middle of December. With the help of some lovely anesthesiologists, my appointment was moved up to November 14th. He talked to me about the procedures available, asked about my goals for the future and how he could help me. He agreed with everyone that I am an excelled candidate for Weight Loss Surgery. There are a couple different types (Lap Band, RNY and Sleeve). I was interested in the RNY but because of my weight and where I carry most of my weight, he thinks that the Sleeve procedure would be the best for me. The decision will be made intraoperatively.

The Road to December 27

As I sit in front of my PC today, Sunday, December 9th, I am nervous and anxious about the weeks ahead! I have made the decision to have Gastric Bypass surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. My surgery date is December 27, 2007. This process leading up to surgery has been very lengthy and educational. The Cleveland Clinic has a huge Bariatric and Metabolic Institute (http://www.clevelandclinic.org/bariatricsurgery/) and many steps that need to occur before surgery. I started with a 20 page questionnaire that my Mom and Sister helped me complete. The questions were difficult and sometimes embarrassing, but I did it and waited for a phone call. I received the phone call and was told that I was a candidate for the surgery. I attended an educational workshop on October 1, 2007 with 20 other candidates. Attending the workshop was an eye opener for me. I was the youngest in the room and the healthiest. The others where in wheel chairs, on oxygen and had severe co-morbidities. I did NOT WANT to become them. I needed to regain control of my health and my life. My weight was controlling me, instead of me controlling my weight. My first appointment was with the Dietitian and Psychology on October 18 Wendy and Amy were great. They prepared me for what I can expect before and after surgery. I meet with them on a regular basis. My next adventure was getting an ultrasound of my liver and gallbladder, EKG, Chest Xray and massive amount of blood work. I also had to see my PCP who will follow my progress as well. After that I needed to see an IMPACT doctor, (not sure what IMPACT stands for), anyway he had to clear me medically. I was cleared for everything but needed to see Endocrinology because of a high Prolactin level. Normal levels are 16 and mine was 60!! My menstrual cycle had been screwed up for years because of my weight. After meeting with the Endocrinologist he believes that it will straighten out after surgery. I will be tested one month after surgery.