KERLEYGIRL

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Let me tell you what an experience the last few weeks have been like.  My surgery on 11-21 was cancelled at the last minute due to my potassium being 2.8 which is extremely low, so I was admitted to the hospital immediately and out potassium heavy duty, pills as well as IV's boy does that stuff burn going in.  I wouldv'e been put in the hospital even if I hadn't gone in for surgery because of how low it was. As luck would have it someone cancelled their surgery on Tuesday afternoon, so I was put into their spot.  My surgery started at 3 p.m., my family was told it would take no more than 3 hours, so when it went over they were getting nervous, it took 4 1/2 hours, necause Dr Dutta did the gps, fixed 2 areas of my hiatal hernia as well as took out my gall bladder. If it wasn't for the gall bladder I wouldn't have had any pain.  I was in the hospital for 4 days, they had me up and walking 2 hours after I was out of recovery.  I went back to work part time 1 week after surgery.  At my 2 wk check up I had lost 18 lbs and was advanced to Stage 3 for food, as well as being informed that if  I take it easy I can go back to Karate next week, I am very excited about that. SInce my acceptance into the program at the end of May 2006 I have lost 51 pounds.  I have so much more energy that I can't even believe it. Don is once again telling me to slow down instead of me telling him.  I also actually like getting dressed in the morning and wondering how I look, I have gotten rid of my clothes that I was wearing in May.  I am already down from a 5X or size 32 to a 2X size 24 or 24 depending on the maker.

At the moment my life seems almost surreal.  I had my preop today with Dr Dutta, I am 1.5 lbs under my goal weight which is great, and I found out I have to be in Fremont at Kaiser at 6:15 am, my surgery is set for 8:00 a.m.  Now all I have to do is survive the weekend!!!!!!!!  
My new life is ready to begin again on Tuesday 11-21-06.

Monica

Where do I start today??? My emotions are all over the map, Don (my husband) doesn't understand, he keeps saying whats wrong?  When I say "I don't know" or "nothing" he says "what can I do"? And then again when I say "nothing" he says he feels helpless.  Today I see Dr Dutta for my preop, at this time I will find out what time my surgery is on Tuesday.  As of this morning I am 1.5 lbs below goal weight  (295.5 lb)on my scale.  Which was the same as Kaisers when I got weighed there a few months ago.  Hope it's still the same, since everyone on the Kaiser site keeps saying the scales are weighing heavy there lately.  That's scary since they can cancel surgery if you're over goal.  Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for me please.  I will update again after I have my appt with Dr Dutta.
Monica

September 8, 2006

I went to Fremont to get weighed on their scale (2 pounds from goal!!!!!!!!!) before my final appointment with the psychiatrist last Thursday, after our appointment she said I could call Kaiser Fremont this week and have them put me on the wait list for surgery. I was told that Dr. Dutta is scheduling 2 to 2 1/2 months out right now. I'm so excited, it's almost here. I called today and was put on the wait list like I was told to do, now all I have to do is wait until I lose my final 2 pounds and then let them know. The time is flying by now. I hope to have surgery by Thanksgiving. I'll keep you posted.

September 19,2006

Well I have hit alittle glitch in the road. My upper GI showed a moderate hiatal hernia and severe esophageal dysmotility, which means my esophagus squeezes poorly. I have to do a Motility test Oct 12, and then the following week we should know the results of that test. At that time Dr Dutta will decide if I can have the surgery or not. If I can it will be hopefully by the end of the year. I can't be put back on the list until he decides what to do. I am a bummed out but I am also glad that he is thorough, because if he did the surgery without doing this next test it could have bad effects for me such as not being able to drink a glass of water or being on a feeding tube for life. I wanted this doctor because I liked how thorough he was, and even though I'm bummed I'm also glad at the same time. Even if I end up not having this surgery at least we found out something was going on that I had no idea about. He consulted other surgeons who ignored the UGI results and still did surgery their patients are the ones who ended up on feeding tubes. Say a prayer for me that the test goes well on October 12. Thank you and God Bless

October 13, 2006,

Well I had my motility test yesterday, it was a weird feeling. It went well though, the Doctor who did it said that even though there are some areas where there isn't as much pressure when I swallow, they take an average, and that looks like it will be fine for me to have surgery. I called Dr Dutta's office and left them a message letting them know that they should have the final report from him in a day or two. So hopefully I will hear from Dr Dutta or Nancy soon with a surgery date. My husband and I are now doing karate along with my other exercising, we just got promoted to our orange belts (yipee!!!). I think this is why I'm probably at a standstill weight wise, I have gone down a clothes size but not in weight, I hope Dr Dutta will take that into consideration, since they always say muscle weighs more than fat. We are in the Tiny Tots class (there are other adults in there as well), it is one heck of a workout for me. When class is over I look like I just stepped out of the shower, but I feel good about myself. Still can't do jumping jacks or pushups to well, but I can do 40 crunches without stopping and I can now run 4 laps without stopping. 10 weeks ago I couldn't even do 1 lap or more then 5 situps WITH HELP. so there is a definite improvement I see and feel. I will post Dr Dutta's response when I get it. Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for me as it is in God's hands what ever will happen next.

 
November 7, 2006,

I HAVE A SURGERY DATE 

Wow where do I begin, everything has been going so fast all of a sudden. My motility test came out fine, so I was put on Dr Dutta's wait list for surgery on October 20th and was number 10. Nancy said it would be 2-4 weeks for me to get the call to schedule the surgery and then it would possibly take anouther few weeks. Plus since I was 1/2 pound from goal I had to call and let her know when I made it. Well last Wednesday I called and left her a message stating I was at goal, but also that my work said I could be put on the cancellation list for surgery as well. She called me back that afternoon and said "I don't have any cancellations right now, but how about Tuesday Nov. 21st, are you available?" I said "I'm there", my preop is the 17th, at that time I will find out all the details and what time my surgery will be on the 21st. As of right now it looks like they are going to do the GBS, fix my haital hernia and possibly take out my gall bladder. Dr Dutta said we will discuss this more on the 17th, I think it has to do with how well I am doing during surgery. 14 days from today I will be on the losers bench, and I can't wait. Thank you to everyone for your love and support, I will update you with my progress when possible.

I AM GOING TO BE ATTENDING THE ORIENTATION FOR SURGERY AT KAISER IN FREMONT, CA IN A FEW WEEKS. I HAVE BEEN DOING WW FOR 4 YEARS WITHOUT MUCH LUCK. HOPEFULLY I WILL GET TO HAVE THE SURGERY THIS YEAR. WISH ME LUCK.
WHEN I AM IN SHAPE I LIKE TO GO FOR WALKS AND BIKE RIDES WITH MY FAMILY. UNFORTUNATELY THESE THINGS ARE NOT POSSIBLE AT THE MOMENT. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY I CAN DO THESE AGAIN.
I ATTENDED THE ORIENTATION A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND NOW HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SURGEON AS WELL AS THE NUTRITIONIST THIS THURSDAY.

AUGUST 16, 2006

I met with Dr Dutta, the nutritionist and the surgery coordinator on August 3rd. It was very enlightening. I had lost 15 pounds from my highest weight per Kaiser. So I only have to lose 18 more pounds for surgery. I have to call in every 2 weeks with updates on my weight. When I lose 8 pounds I have to also inform them of that fact so that we can start all the final appointments to get ready for surgery. At that point they will try to estimate when I will be ready for my surgery. I am very excited about this new tool I am going to be getting to help me with my weight loss as well as getting my life back. My goal is to have the surgery by the end of the year. Kaiser is very strict with the weight loss, if the day of the surgery you are even 1/2 pound over goal they will cancel the surgery. They say alot of people end up having problems at the holidays with weight gain. I look at food totally different now, other people are starting to notice as well. I now look at it as something I need to eat to survive, instead of eating it to treat myself for whatever reason. I use small silverware, small plates and put my food/fork down between bites. I find I get full quicker then I ever realized. I have to call in tomorrow and give my first update, it looks like it will be that I lost 3 pounds. (YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!)