TY Sweet Deb.  You're been there for me more than you'll ever know.  Hugz back@cha~

 I've been sleeved!  June 23rd, 2011 was my surgery date and I continued on this journey to a healthier me!

I've been on a waiting list for WLS since 1999 in Halifax, my hometown.   I was told last year that I would never reach the primary list for operation because they sort by co-morbitities and I don't have diabetes or a heart condition.  I would remain forever on the secondary list. 

 I felt abandoned and neglected by my own health care system.  I waited long enough.  I had to be pro-active with my health, and take care of me. I chose to relocate to another province, where my specialist had also sent a referral a few years prior.  

I relocated to NB in the summer of 2010 to receive Medicare coverage to be treated there.   I've been commuting between NB and Halifax since last summer.  I met Dr. Savoie in late August 2010.  He was informative, knowledgable, professional and caring.  He was also good looking and a really sweet guy.   His staff is A1 -- the absolute best.  You get immediate response for concerns or questions.  Dr. Savoie explained the different procedures, and which he thought was best for me.  He asked me to come back in two months, after deciding on which surgery I wanted. 

October 2010 - I went for my 2nd consult with Dr. Savoie.  I got the green light for surgery, and I chose the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy because of Dr. Savoie's recommendation.  I signed all the consent forms for surgery, and now waiting for my date. 

April 2011 - I went for pre-op testing.  Pulmonary, Arterial Blood Gas, Chest Xray, ECG, Blood labs & swabs.  Everything checked out fine. 

June 9th 2011 - I went on the two week pre-op liquid diet:  4 diabetic boos****er and crystal light only. 

June 14th 2011 - I went for pre-op testing that was manditory to be done two weeks prior to surgery.  Some was a repeat of what was done in April.  

June 23rd, 2011 -- I arrived for surgery.  Went to the pre-surgical clinic -- got weighed in, blood pressure, blood work.  I got gowned and ready for surgery.  They put on those air-inflated leg things to increase circulation and decrease chances of blood clots. I met with the anaestetiologist who explained I had a very small opening of my throat.  He had decided to use conscious intubation.  It sounds horrifying, and the thought of it is horrifying.  Here's a video showing it:  http://youtube-anaesthesia.blogspot.com/2007/06/conscious-intubation.html   Thankfully, they also give you drug-induced amnesia!  

I met with the surgeon pre-op and he would be using a 34F bougie for the size of my new stomach. I had difficulty in recovery, and an expected 1 hour recovery time turned into 5 1/2 hours recovery time.  I had a hard time staying awake and was incoherent.  They knew this about me long before surgery, and just had to wait a little while longer for me to come around. 

There was a complication during surgery, the lining of my discarded stomach was ruptured as they were removing it through the small laproscopic opening.  This caused some fluid to leak back into my abdominal cavity, which is toxic.  They removed it, and cleaned the area really well.   I was on IV antibiotics as a preventive measure for 4 days post op.

I was in a continued care, step down room for the duration of my stay in hospital.  I was released on June 27th, 2011 at noon.   

I don't regret one single minute.  I'm so happy to be on the mend, and beginning to have my life back again. It's been a long journey to this point, but I know things are going to work out wonderfully from this point on!

Awesome!  You will be a size 8 again before you know it!!!  WOOHOO!!!  I know it's not why we got wls to begin with but what a great side effect!!! 

Aww, thanks everyone!  It does feel good to be reaching those goals already.

.....not tooting my own horn, just wanting to spread the positive message that wls rocks and you'll all eventually get to reach your goals! 

Stay positive peeps and look forward to what your future brings!!! 

 Awesome accomplishment Miss Coreena!