can you have fun with pre-op stuff?

October 2, 2001

I sure did! Spent yesterday getting pre-op labs,

x-rays, etc., for my hernia repair tomorrow. What made

it fun was the difference from nearly five months ago.

In early May - they had trouble getting blood, I felt

like a giant whale, people didn't want to look at me.

If they did, it was with great pity and a little

disgust. (Not all people, just enough to make me self

conscious.) If they found out the testing was for WLS

they either tried to talk me out of it or made sure I

knew how totally it would not work.

NOW - what a difference! It only took one stick for

the bloodwork. The EKG tech (same from before) said he

didn't recognize me at first. (His wife is now also

looking into the DS!) And, maybe most fun of all, I

NOW FIT INTO A REGULAR SIZED HOSPITAL GOWN !!! With

room to spare! My blood pressure could be taken with a

normal sized cuff.

The pre-admissions review nurse and anesthesiologist

couldn't ask me enough questions about the DS. The RN

was especially amazed. She'd never seen a WLS patient

who hadn't looked tired and unhealthy. After

describing the DS she said (what we all think) that

she couldn't understand why the DS isn't performed

more often, that it's miles above the RNY. I just

smiled and agreed. The anesthesiologist was happy that

she didn't have to worry about an RNY. (They must take

even greater care when intubating an RNY patient, it

can put a hole in their pouch.)

All this just reconfirms my choice in surgery. It

seems that every day bring more happiness with my

decision. Isn't life good?

Later,

Page

post-op 05-30-01 lap-assisted BPD/DS

Dr. Kim, Ocean Springs, MS

pre-op 330, BMI 52-53; now 260 lbs

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