Hi Nikki Sue...
Here's my five cents on the subject.
I'm new on the forum. My surgery (gastric bypass) was on 3/31/08. I was approved for the surgery because I was 110 pounds overweight, pre-diabetic, with major asthma, high blood pressure, fatty liver, sleep apnea, etc. I come from a family of diabetics so you would think I would have never let my weight get so high but...oh well...anyway, on with the story.
After being diagnosed with diabetes, I started doing research on bariatric surgery. I, like many others I'm sure, was looking for a way out; a second chance. A gastric bypass was the solution I chose.
I had never been to a hospital before and I am terrified of doctors, blood tests, and needles so this decision was a major one for me. My mom was a diabetic who slowly lost bits of herself through several amputations; I was determined that this would not happen to me without a fight.
I then opened the discussion on this procedure with my husband. He poured over the research I had done, we both discussed the procedure, side effects, benefits, etc. ad nauseum. After the research period, we went to several presentations and spoke to patients of the surgeon we were considering.
I will admit that most of those patients said their surgery was a breeze with no complications and, in some cases, even no pain. That's great for them but I was worried about how it would be for me.
Gastric bypass is still major surgery and all major surgery contains a certain amount of risk. My surgeon helped to decrease those risks by scheduling me for an amazing amount of tests before my surgery. If I had any other health issues/problems, they wanted to know before I was on the table (so did I).
After all the info gathering, my surgery was scheduled.
I started on the liquid diet which was really difficult for the first 3-4 days. After that, it got easier. Every time I wanted to cheat, I reminded myself that I was doing the diet not to lose weight but to shrink the size of my liver so that the operation could be done laproscopically. I would ask myself if the piece of chicken (or whatever) that I wanted to cheat with was worth undergoing a full on surgical cut instead of laproscope. It's amazing how easy it was to turn down food after asking myself that question.
Anyway, the fear set in around 4 days before surgery. The "what ifs" were terrible. I love my husband and I love our life; I didn't want to lose it; what if something went wrong and I never came home?
My wonderful husband sat with me and held my hand while I cried and talked about what should be done if I didn't return home. He also reassured me that I was making the right decision for us. That choosing to do this surgery was my way of choosing life and him over sickness and death -- yes, diabetes kills! We chose to look at this surgery as a gift.
My closest girlfriends and husband were in the hospital with me before and after surgery. They all held my hands and reassured me. We all told each other how much we loved each other and they waited for me to be taken to my room after surgery.
Each person's idea of pain is different; I was in pain. My surgery was on a Monday and I did not begin to feel human again until Friday. But by that weekend, Sunday to be exact, my husband and I were tip toeing through the wild poppy fields at the California Poppy Preserve.
I have days when food does not agree with me and I have vomitted. I also have far more days that are problem free. I have gotten rid of Diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver. I've lost almost 30 pounds and hope to get rid of my sleep apnea C-PAP in another 30-40 pounds. My energy has tripled. My depression is far less severe. I've gone from 18 different medications and four inhalers a day down to two (thyroid & one antidepressant) + vitamins
Four weeks out...would I go through everything I have once again? To be where I am healthwise and mentally -- YES!
I will send out a prayer for you and your husband. My husband was strong for me. You can be just as strong for your husband. The fear will be there till he is out of it. But, in the hands of a capable surgeon who has done all the pre-tests, the risk percentages goes down.
There's some info on the 60 minute website that you might find helpful...also on the Mayo Clinic website.
We are all here for you....just shout out!
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