Guest guest Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 What a journey. Thank you for sharing the whole process. What a great sense of humor you have! Cecilia --- Robynn VanPatten robynnsf@...> wrote: > Actually, I just think Pammagail is adorable...like > " nightingale " or something. Yes, I had my surgery > on Wednesday a.m. i suppose I should use this > opportunity to recount the whole thing for those of > you who are still waiting. > > OK...so I was referred by my PCP in November, I > think. I was approved in early December. Because I > was going through Richmond, and they don't count > your weightloss until AFTER they weight you in at > the orientation, I anxiously awaited the orientation > date. I called a couple of times to inquire about > it, even though I probably shouldn't have (given the > instructions on the tape). i was just so darned > eager!! > > So, my orientation was in January. I weighed in at > 261, and I am 5'6 " . I'm now 41 years old, I turned > 41 in April. > > In February, I had my nutrition class, and I had to > meet with the new staff psychologist, even though I > already met with a wonderful woman named > Villareal at the Oakland facility. She gave me some > very good behavioural things to think about in my > upcoming surgery. If you look at a past post by me, > baci in January, it may have 's name in the > post...I listed some of the advice she gave. > > In March, I think I had some other class or > something (the memory is fuzzy). but, I was > incredibly busy at work, and while I had lost 19 > lbs., the remaining 7 lbs. were stubborn. My friend > from France came, and we walked around a lot, and I > couldn't eat much around him...so I lost a few more > lbs. But, my birthday came and went (I was aiming > to have the surgery by my birthday, or by the end of > April), and I still had those last three lbs. or so. > They kept going up and down. Up and down. Very > frustrating. > > Finally, in May, I thought 'enough is enough. " So, > I started doing protein shakes twice a day, and > salad with tuna in it at night. i upped my workouts > to a couple of hours every day (between walking, the > elliptical trainer, Pilates and weightlifting)...and > finally...at the end of May I reached goal. > > I called the office, and they were able to get me in > two days later! I went in, and weighed in on their > scale and I was a half a lb. below goal. I nearly > starved myself in the two days before that meeting, > because I wasn't positive how my scale and their > scales correlated. That was on a Thursday. I met > goal, and they gave me a surgery date for June 8th, > which was less than two weeks out! I was shocked, > thinking I would have to wait four to six weeks, at > least! > > So the next few days were a flurry of activity, > doing all of my tests, trying to get stuff done at > work...getting an airline ticket for my mom to be > here with me...etc.. > > I had to go in the following Tuesday for some tests > and the pre-op class. They weighed me in, which I > hadn't really expected. I was wearing a rather > heavy outfit, and I had gained FIVE lbs. I hadn't > done anything to merit that weight gain...just my > body going nuts. I was totally stressed, and I was > told that unless I was at goal on thursday (when I > had to be there for my final round of tests) they > may cancel the surgery. > > I freaked...and did everything I could to lose the > weight. I went in, and thank God, I was at goal > (actually a half of a lb. above.) > > On the day of surgery, they weighed me again, and I > was at 235, the goal weight. (I had lost the final > half lb.) So, I didn't have any " final meal " , > although on Friday p.m., Steve and I went to my > favorite Indonesian restaurant, and we had what we > would ordinarily have...only I had no alcohol, and > we shared a dessert (I only had two bites). That > gave me Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday to be > hyper diligent before weigh in. I worked out, and > mainly, I just didn't stress about it. I figured it > would happen, I would get there. > > So, the day before the surgery, I had been told to > call the same day surgery line, and they would tell > me when to arrive at the hospital. I called during > the requisite time period 1-3, and the message said > they would call me before 5. I did my final > errands...like had a pedicure and manicure (to > remove all polish, because you can't wear any in the > hospital), and I had them buff out my nails. Picked > up some flowers for my mom. Tried to find that > yoghurt everyone is talking about that is " Atkins " > approved. Bought Cream of wheat, and other stuff > I'd need for stage 2. Ordered my Bariatric > advantage vitamins, and paid extra to have them > delivered overnight. You know... > > No phone call. I called back right before 5. > Called the bariatric clinic, and they were already > gone. Called the surgery department. Finally, I > reached somebody who said they had left a message on > my machine (nope. no message on MY machine), and > they told me to be there at 7 a.m. I was first on > the board. > > I was glad about that, because the doctors are more > fresh when they are on their first one. So, I > wasn't worried about getting up on time. but then, > my garage door wouldn't open, and we had a bit of a > drama...but I figured out how to manual override it > (damn landlord...but that's a different story), and > we were on our way...that rainy, rainy morning. > > When I got there, I checked in. The wonderful Ricky > , RN, came out to the lobby and explained to my > mother and my husband what to expect, when they > would hear from him about my progress, etc.. He was > great. Really great and calming and reassuring. He > took me back to the back, and they settled me into a > very comfy recliner. He asked me questions, > inserted an IV (no big thang...he was good), had me > do some oxygen inhalations (I have asthma, so he > wanted to open my air passages), and he chatted with > me. I wasn't nervous at all, and he had a lot to do > with that. Just a steller human being. Really. > > The CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) > came and sat down and talked to me. (I had met with > an anesthesiologist a few days before, but he came > and spoke with me anyway.) He asked about my > history, figured out I was allergic to Latex...and > learned that my sister had had a very bad reaction > to anesthesia in the past. And it is something that > can be genetic. (Find out if anyone in your family > has had malignant hypothermia). It may be > hyperthermia, not sure. Anyway, he called over the > chief of anesthesia to participate, and he asked > questions, too. They satisfied themselves, and > determined a protocol together. They were very > professional. > > They walked me into the surgery room, and Dr. Fisher > appeared. I asked him whether he had slept well, if > he was still hung over from a bender the night > before...if he had consumed a reasonable amount of > coffee (I asked the anesthesiologist if he was > bringing a book into the operating room, if he was > on any cold medication, and if he had enough sleep > the night before, too. He said he was still drunk, > but other than that, he'd be perfectly attentive. > smart ass. It was funny.) Dr. Fisher was in fine > form. I layed down on a table, and they tied my > arms...a little like Jesus on the cross, you know, > with your arms stretched out. No disrespect > intended. > > The last thing I remember saying is, " Dr. > Fisher...when you are making those little holes in > me, go gentle will you? Remember, the whole point > of this surgery is that I want to look damned good > naked! " Everybody laughed and that's the last thing > I remember. I think I went in at around 8 a.m., > maybe 8:30. > > The procedure took 2 and a half hours, and Dr. > Fisher went out and spoke to my mom, hubby and > brother to let them know I was fine, and in > recovery. > > I think I got back into my room at around 2 or so. > I took a while coming out of anesthesia. I always > have been a cheap date...it doesn't take much to put > me under. > > I had a private room (as did Pam and back when > I visited them). I was very out of it > initially...it was like people were speaking Swahili > to me. The two funny stories coming out of it is > that at one point I said to my mother, " That doesn't > even make sense in English! " And also, I spoke very > intelligently about building hospitals for about > five minutes, and I guess I was talking about Henry > J. Kaiser. ANd then I said, " And of course his > tricks, too. " My brother said, " Tricks? you mean > in archetecture? " I got really mad and said, " No, > his airplane tricks. He's a stunt flyer. " I have > no idea what the hell I was talking about. > > So, I got up and walked a few times. Had the Foley > catheter in (most uncomfortable) just for the first > walk, and then begged them to take it out. They > told me that if they took it out, and I didn't pee, > they'd have to reinsert it. I said, 'Fine, I'll > take === message truncated === __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Well, Jeez , if they had split me open like a Christmas turkey, you can be assured I would have been mainlining herion. Not exactly wimpy to have pain during an open, girlfriend! Robynn Diane Duenas wrote: WOW RobynnNicely Put..brings back soooo many memories. Except everyone says they didnt have much pain and rarely used their pain meds, I feel like a whimp cuz I used mine alot...but then again I had open!Huggles> > Robyn,> > I've read that you just got out of the hospital. I hope you are > doing > > well. I was telling my husband that it was really good to read the > > messages of people who are in different stages. I am fine with the > > name Pammagail so I won't confuse you in your state of confusion. > > Pammagail> > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Well, Jeez , if they had split me open like a Christmas turkey, you can be assured I would have been mainlining herion. Not exactly wimpy to have pain during an open, girlfriend! Robynn Diane Duenas wrote: WOW RobynnNicely Put..brings back soooo many memories. Except everyone says they didnt have much pain and rarely used their pain meds, I feel like a whimp cuz I used mine alot...but then again I had open!Huggles> > Robyn,> > I've read that you just got out of the hospital. I hope you are > doing > > well. I was telling my husband that it was really good to read the > > messages of people who are in different stages. I am fine with the > > name Pammagail so I won't confuse you in your state of confusion. > > Pammagail> > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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