HI, IM THE NEWBIE HERE!

Hi!

I would like to introduce myself.  My name is Eileen and I am 43 yrs old and have been overweight since high school.  I decided to have the RNY surgery around Christmas time last yr, and went to my first information session in January with the Kane Center.  Dr. Wallace gave the talk and I found him to be very personable and knowlegable.  My husband came with me, for support, and he also thought that after the info session this was a good idea.

I made an apt that night for a few days later and they assigned me to Dr. Wallace, so I thought, "great, at least I already have heard his talk".  Surgeons are not ususally known for their charming personalities, so he was already ahead on my list.  I had my initial consult and was still impressed with the whole process and was referred to a pulmonologist, Diet and Nutrition center, and for some tests. 

Alexian Brothers is not normally my "home" hospital, so I was hesitant to go to another hospital for care, but that is where they operate, so that is where I go.  Since then, I have actually switched my home hospital to ABMC because of the awesome care I have received there so far.  I am now in search of a new primary care who practices out of ABMC.  Any suggestions are welcome!

The pulmonologist saw me and did his eval and ended up ordering lots of tests including a sleep study.  Who knew I had sleep apnea?  Apparently most of us have it and dont know it.  So I had the inital sleep study and then found out I failed and had to go back for another study using the cpap machine and that showed I need the cpap.  I now wear the nasal pillow cpap every night, and to my surprise, I do not mind it.

He also reccommended an endocrinoligist becasue I have had Diabetes II since 2003, and my A1C's have been climbing as of late.  So I found one out of Alex bros and he also ordered tons of tests and started me on Lantus insuling along with my oral meds.  We have been adjusting the Lantus and I think now we are at a stable level. I wish I had seen him long ago and he was controlling my DM sooner.

I then had to complete a 3 month medically supervised diet and the Kane center referred me to the Nutrition and disease prevention center where I saw the nutritionist and nurse practioner.  I also saw a therapist who I was already seeing, for the psychological part.

Now all the requirements are done and the paperwork is submitted to insurance and we should be hearing from them hopefully this week.

In the middle of all of this I started having right sided pain under my ribs with chest pressure, and after 2 ER visits, an ambulance ride, a 3 day stay at my former home hospital with complete cardiac work up including Persantine stress test, I called Dr. Wallace and went to see him.  By the end of the week I had my gallbladder taken out laproscopically and spent 2 days at ABMC, 6th floor.  He told me that usually it goes the other way around, you have the gastric bypass and then the gb surgery.  Why should I be normal?  The only good thing that came out of that, is to find out what excellent care I recieved from everyone at the hospital and on the 6th floor where I will be after the bypass.  The nurses were great and even told me what it will be like after the bypass surgery and eased alot of my fears. ( my less than great experience w/my previous home hosp. is what lead me to fire them and now I am looking for a new primary care out of ABMC). 

I was released last Saturday and felt pretty good til Monday, when I started having increase pain on the right side, where my pain was before the surgery.  It was to the point where I could not walk, had shortness of breath and felt worse than before the surgery.  I saw the nurse practioner on Wed and after speaking with Dr.Wallace she orderd a chest ct to look for blood clots, normal.  On Friday, I went to the pulmonologist to see if the shortness of breath was lung related, or due to the pain.  He decided it was due to the pain.  I called the surgeon again, and he sent me for an abdominal and pelvic ct scan, and when that came back normal, Dr, Guske who was on call, decided to admit me and try to get my pain under control and then I could go home.  So I only had to spend one night and went home Sat late afternoon with an increase in my pain meds, a Lidocaine pain patch and an abdominal binder.  I can now walk without shortness of breath, and am only in slight discomfort.  HURRAY!!!

So the moral of this story is:  I need higher doses of meds, and an abdominal binder and possibly the Lidocain patch after the bypass.  I think the extra pain was due to a combonation of things, one being overduing it at home, and one being that my bellly is so large that it is pulling down on the internal organs and causing the pain. Plus the surgical nurse told me it was a difficult surgery and that my liver was in the way so it was hard to get the gb out. SHe said she remembers saying, "She is going to be really sore after this one!" The binder was a great thing!  Wish I had it last week.  But the important thing is we know now, and will have a plan for the "big" surgery.

So now we wait and see when the insurance company to give the ok, and we can schedule the surgery. All I have left is to do the protein shakes and liver shrinking diet beforehand, pack my bag, and go!

I am still very excited for the after surgery period and seeing all of everyone's pictures before and after it gives me so much hope!

I have a 9 1/2 yr old son and a 22 month old daughter and a husband to take care of , and I really want to be here to be ABLE to take care of them.

THis will definitely be a life saving surgery and I am so greatful to have the opportunity to have it done!

I am looking forward to hanging out with you all before and after the surgery and making new friends and helping each other thru the good times and hard times!

Thanks for listening!

Eileen

 

 

 

Welcome Eileen!

You have had a lot of adventures so far in your journey! It sounds like you are going to be good to go for this surgery. It is such an awesome experience! I could not believe just how well it went. I too loved the binder after the surgery. I had my gallbladder out 10 years ago and a binder was also a big plus then.

I think you will like it here on the boards. Feel free to jump in on discussions and ask questions any time you want. We are not shy around here.

Welcome Eileen to the board. Don't forget to pop in everyday to the roll call. There you can post what ever is on your mind, from question to what you are doing for the day! Glad to have ya!

 

Karen

Hi Eileen -

I'm glad to hear you're on the mends.  Hope your approval process happens quickly and you can move on with your new life.  How long will Dr. Wallace have to wait in order to proceed with the wl surgery?

Take things one day at a time and listen to your body,

Christina

Wow  Eileen, you have already had quite a journey, and you just started. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I too love the Kane Center and ABMC.

when my journey started, I was going for lapband, hopefully within a few months. I got sidetracked by needing open heart surgery. I elected to have it done at ABMC , instead of by my former heart specialist and hospital. It is a great medical center.

Please feel free to jump in our daily roll call, and ask anything  you want, we are all here for you.

Welcome, Eileen!!!!

Good Morning Eileen and welcome to the IL board, everyone here are just the best people you can ever meet. I will keep my fingers crossed for you that you hear from the Ins comp. this week.

 

Welcome to a wonderful board with great ladies AND gents here!! (that was for Paul! lol)

Sounds like you have been through a lot already, but just wait things will be so much better after surgery.  hang around here often and join in the roll call!  Kane Center is great, all the Dr's are...I should know, I've seen every one of them..LOL

Welcome Eileen!!  Thanks for sharring your story and what an amazing journey you have been on. I had my RNY on 3/21/08 with Dr. Rantis, but I did spend a lot of time with Dr. Wallace before hand and after my surgery. I really liked Dr. Wallace!!! I also have an 11 year old daughter and a 2 year old daughter, so going into this surgery was a struggle for me. Thank God for my hubby, becasue after my surgery he was an amazing help and let me tell you...I needed help! :)  I am SO excited for you and your new adventure you will be starting. I have used this site several times and have gotten a ton of information and made some great friends that have given me some amazing support. I am looking forward to your futrure posts! Keep us posted and we are all here to help! Good luck Eileen and nice meeting you!

Best wishes!           Jill  

Hi Eileen, welcome to the Illinois forum. You'll find the very friendly people here always willing to support us newbies!  Paulette