Denise's Weight Loss Journey - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

djjmak · 10-26-2009, 05:54 PM

I am so happy to have found this web site... I am so inspired by all of your stories that I want to get my story started on this site...

August 2009 I decided out of blue that I was going to have weight loss surgery- never had even contemplated it before. I attended a free weight loss surgery seminar.

September 2009 I found out that my husbands employer excludes any type of weight loss surgery- I cried, and cried....

October 2009 I found out the gastric sleeve is only $16,500- I decided I was going to do it anyway

It took my husband over a week to give the go ahead.

October 2009- being self pay- everything is moving very fast. I went for my consultation on October 21st, I told them I wanted the surgery as soon as possible. They sent me over to the hospital the same day to have my upper GI ( yuck), blood drawn, chest x ray, etc. I came back and met with the nutritionist. After that they told me they had me penciled in for Nov.17th pending the outcome of all of my tests. On October 23rd I called and all of my tests came back fine ( other than low iron) Have to start 3 calcium pills, 2 multi vitamins and and iron pill every day. I have made it a personal goal to lose 10 lbs before I meet with the surgeon sometime before surgery.

I am very excited to do this for myself. I have spent the past 17 years doing everything for everyone but me. I am not nervous about the surgery, I just know it all is going to go great

I have told everyone about the surgery- husband, parents, kids, co workers, sister, grandma- everyone- and almost everyone is happy and excited for me. I just can't wait to be able to wear cute clothes, workout at the gym, feel good, and to quit thinking about food all of the time. I have spent the past 17 years gaining this weight, I can't believe in as little as 12-18 months I can go from 306lbs to lets say.... 179lbs

anyway- I am very excited...........

Highlandlass · 10-26-2009, 06:59 PM

Hi djjmak - welcome to T.T. This is an awesome site for all of us who are either contemplating the surgery or are post-op. Its a great gift you are giving yourself and I'm so happy that you are facing this with positive thoughts and a lot of family support, as well as the support for friends and co workers. It is so important to have a good support network. T.T. can offer you support, advice and friendship so if you have questions or concerns, just post them and someone will answer you for sure!
Read as much as you can about the surgery and face it with as much courage as you showed by taking your first step - going to the seminar! Give your hubby a big hug as well! Looking forward to more posts from you.

djjmak · 10-30-2009, 10:54 PM

ok I have not been on in a week- my youngest daughter had emergency surgery on Tuesday. It made the week go by fast but I didnt eat what I should have been eating 3 weeks out from surgery..... We are home from the hospital now and I am trying to get things back in order. I attempted to call my surgeons office today to make sure we are still a go for the 17th. It went to voicemail all day. I will try again Monday... I am getting so excited.. Not excited for full liquids week before, clear liquids day before, magnesium citrate, night before... Cant wait to start watching ALL of my clothes get to big for me.

Highlandlass · 10-31-2009, 07:47 AM

Hi, So sorry to hear about your daughter - if you don't mind me asking, what type of surgery did she have to have. It must have been very stressful for your family - its hard to eart properly under stress like that and away from home. Hospital cafs don't offer the best choices!
Now you can really get things organized and begin the preps for the surgery. I did 2 weeks of full liquids to help shrink my liver - if you could manage I would suggest you try to do the same. You don't want any problems with fatty or enlarged liver. Read about Mistymee's problems during surgery!
Well, get started with a new month and a new eating regime and a new life! Hold onto your hat the journey is awesome!

djjmak · 10-31-2009, 12:12 PM

Thanks Rhonda for the advice... I went ahead and went to the store to purchase all of the supplies I need for the full liquid diet starting Monday. My doctor gave me a bunch of samples of protein powder.. I need to decide which one I could get down... I also went to the store and purchased new "big underwear" so they won't hurt my stomach after surgery, trial size toiletries to take to the hospital, a new nightgown and made a list of a few books I would like to read. You asked about my daughters surgery.... she is 10 years old and has been having stomach aches for about 2 months... they started out about once a day and hurt her bad enough that the school would send her home. In the past 3 weeks, they have hurt so bad, we have taken her to the E.R. three times, started seeing a specialist who suspected it was a twisted colon... started having a lot of tests and we had surgery scheduled for this coming Monday. Well Last Tuesday her pain started and never stopped, the doctor told us to meet him at the hospital- they did surgery at 11pm Tuesday. It had gotten so bad that her abdomen was filled with blood and her colon was a purplish black color rather than a healthy pinkish white color.... The doctor came in after the surgery and told us how bad he felt that he waited this long. We don't blame him at all- it is a rare thing to happen in a young kid and you don't want to open them up if you don't have to. Anyway- she is doing much better but is very sad that she can't go trick or treating...She is home from the hospital and I am back on track for preparing for surgery. I bought all of the supplies and I am starting full liquids tomorrow. That will give me 15 days of full liquids, one day of clear liquids and then SURGERY...... YEAH.

Highlandlass · 10-31-2009, 12:26 PM

That is so horrible for your little girl. Its a good thing you got her to the ER when you did - could have been much worse, although any surgery is the pits! That said, the one your are going to have shouldn't be as bad as hers and she can really empathize with you when the time comes. Don't be too much of a wimp around her, after what she has been through. She'll laugh at you!
When I was in hospital I only wore their gowns - much more comfortable and I thought I'd read, but couldn't because my eyes couldn't focus (pain meds do that!), and because I slept an awful lot. When I wasn't sleeping I was trying to eat, walk, go to the washroom or visit with my family. Do you have lip balm? Everyone on here says to take it (I didn't but then again I didn't know about it). Will you take along your own pillow for comfort? The trial size toiletries are just right for a few days in there too.
Good for you getting the 15 days of full liquid - the first few days are hard for some people (not for me though) and you may get a headache, but its amazing after day 3 its a piece of cake. You will be detoxing as well and getting over the sugar/fat/carb addiction. Really, after surgery you probably won't even feel hunger (in your tummy that is - you may get "head" hunger though).
Sounds like you are all ready for this wonderful journey. If you have questions or concerns, just post on here and you're likely to get all sorts of responses. Keep in touch! I'll look forward to your posts! ((((( hugs for you and your little girl )))))

djjmak · 10-31-2009, 12:43 PM

I just realized before I get too far into this jounal I should post a little bit about myself.... I am 36 ( turning 37 just 4 days after my WLS) I have been married for 17 years and have 4 kids ranging in age from 10-15. The kids are all very active in many different activities, church, football, gymnastics, cheerleading, piano, band, baseball, and track. My husband works out of state about 200 days per year and I work part time at an insurance agency. I started gaining weight after I met my husband. I am 5'8" and weighed about 135 when I met my husband at 18 years old. I weighed 165 by the time we got married at age 20. I weight 197 when I got pregnant for our first child at age 21. Got down to 189 when I got pregnant for my second child at age 22. Was on bed rest, gained 70lbs that pregnancy but lost it within a few months of his birth. Got down to 201. THen my 2nd son got sick, I was housebound for about 12 months with 2 babies and quickly went to 240 and stayed around that throughout the births of my 3rd and 4th children. in the 10 years since I had my last kid, have just slowly gained weight, I had some small periods where I dieted ( weight watchers, atkins, medi fast, Jenny Craig, herbalife, slim fast) I lost 40 lbs twice, 20 lbs several times and sometimes I gave up dieting within a few days. Weightloss surgery was something I had never considered, when the idea came to me, it hit me hard. I went to a seminar within 2 weeks ( that was less than 3 months ago) I am self pay so I don't have to mess with insurance- things are moving pretty fast. Now just waiting until surgery. When I went for my consultation I weighed 306. I want to weight 296 before surgery and then I am hoping to be under 200 within a year. We will see... I won't be dissapointed if I am not but I so excited to make this work. I am a huge planner so you would not beleive the lists I have made. I have already made planning pages for each day after surgery... little boxes to check when I drink, etc.....

Highlandlass · 10-31-2009, 01:04 PM

Hey, except for age we are very close in our stats. I too have 4 kids (all grown now), am 5'7, top weight was 292 and would love to get down to 160 in the new year. Thanks for introducing yourself and giving us some personal details. Its nice to know a bit about people we are befriending.

djjmak · 11-04-2009, 12:33 PM

just 13 days to go.. I called the surgeon's office because they want paid 2 weeks before surgery... they have not received my ekg results yet... I am not anticipating any problems and neither are they but until every single test is back they can't CONFIRM the surgery date- so I am assuming as soon as I hear from them things will move fast, meet the surgeon, anesthesiologist, etc.. I am so excited. Not nervous at all- I am sure that will come the night before the surgery. I just want this Journey to begin. I bought a huge moving box to put all of my "fat lady clothes" in as I start shedding the pounds. I was joking around with my husband the other day, telling him that the reason he didn't want me to have the surgery was because he knows how much money I will spend on new clothes

djjmak · 11-05-2009, 05:43 AM

12 days and counting... got some great advice from someone here on TT. She said for me to try muscle milk light.. I did, it is not too bad. Now I am sure I can do the required prep and post op.

Still have not heard back from the surgeon- they are waiting on my EKG results. I will call them today.