a huge thank you!

Hi, everyone. I so much appreciate you writing to me and encouraging me. How thoughtful. I am sorry about not contacting anyone, yet. This surgery has been a little rough. May 22, 2003. It's June 19th and I have lost 25 pds. I guess that that isn't as much as others but for me to lose it in 4 weeks it's a big deal. I need to walk more. I walk around the house and run errands but don't officially walk, yet. Bad me? I was pretty sick when I came home. I had the tube in my stomach for two more weeks. YUCK! What a pain. My staples came out several days later than they should and it hurt but thank God they are OUT! hee hee. Well, I don't know about anyone else but I ended up with diahrea for two weeks. Nothing seemed to stay in me. The source? The antibiotics that I continued to take while at home. I went off them (Drs. orders) and was able to obsorb food. YEAH! I lost around 20 pds because of it but hey I'll take it any way I can!!! The last two weeks have been a couple of pounds a week. Is that bad? I do eat a little carbs each day as I still have trouble with digestion. Not alot but just as a buffer. I know I am supposed to stay away from them but sometimes it makes my stomach feel better and not nauseaus. Do ya hate Me? Well, sorry but this is such a radical change and my consumption of food had changed so much that I really don't understand why I haven't lost more. More excersize? I still wear the wrap because I bought a Panty Support Not girdle and the drs. office sd I could, well, my upper stomach was really hurting last week and I tried again a couple of days ago and still hurts. The assistant sd that the support was needed for the lower stomach., well, I disagree., my pain and discomfort is the upper. Anyone agree? / My tube hose still hasn't scabbed over and it concerns me. I peroxide it every day and bandade loosely. But the wrap still holds it close to my body. / My two week follow-up was good (except when they took the staples and tube out). The nutritionist was most helpful and my real Dr. to me is Woods., He co-originated the Micro-pouch and he assisted Dr Schuchnect. I haven't seen him since my initial counsetation. Dr Wood took care of my (emergency-worry) calls and also attended my two week follow-up. Due to the day that we could get down to the clinic (5 hrs away). It ends up an overnight trip and is costly. At least my family lives about 1/2 hour away and we can utilize it witha good visit. I wish the clinic was closer, oh well. Would someone please e-mail me and let me know how your first month went? My boss called on my message machine and wants to know the status. Frankly, I don't know if I can go back in two weeks. My job is sedentary but still I'm concerned about the (bathroom habits) and not being able to get up and move around when I need to. I am a phone operator and stuck at my desk. Any suggestions as to keeping the circulation goin'? I know the obvious ones, just anything new? If you are reading my profile and are seeking information regarding the surgery, please e-mail me and I will be happy to explain some things that weren't explained to me and I almost didn't have the surgery when it was scheduled., Such as don't take aspirin or ibuprophen 4 wks before surgery. I had taken serious ibuprophen just a week before because I had put my low back our ( found out it is serious arthritis from x-ray) and I could barely walk. I didn't get my pre-op or post -op info until less than a week prior to surgery. You make sure you get all the facts well in advance. I about had a stroke because I had disability and loan pymnts rearanged and all that good stuff. Man, was I ticked. I didn't know if I would have the surgery until the day before surgery when I formally met with the Dr and he reviewed further tests that I had done and o.k.'d the surgery. What a stressfull week! The Dr didn't really want me to have an epidural (which is the better way to go for pain management) because he didn't want to risk bleeding in the spine due to the ibuprophen. He really didn't want me to broadcast it to the anesthesiologist. Well, the next day when the ANTH wanted to know why I didn't want an epidural, I TOLD HIM! You know why? Because it was my life on the table and being overweight was high risk enough. I'm not real pleased with his attitude about it but tough. You have to look out for yourself and ask alot of questions. Don't be ashamed or afraid to because noone will tell you much unless you do. They are busy and repeat so many things that they don't remember what they say. So bug 'em. I was able to have the surgery because the Anothes., sd that ibuprophen is not the same as aspirin in the body and it only several days to be out of your system. What a blessing that was to hear after waiting several hours in pre-op. Well, take care and please contact me with info or just to chat. Also, I do appreciate and thank all who have prayed for me. I have a cold and it doesn't feel great when I cough. I don't care for the protein drinks and I was slacken" in taking them. Well, see what happens when your not a good little child? I got run down and sick. Be good and God Bless. Patti