Oh my gosh!

I just can't believe it. I was approved for the RNY through my insurance on Friday (only took 48 hours for approval through UnitedHealth Care) and on Monday I received a call from Dr. Hong's office scheduling my surgery for May 10th....Mothers Day! It is just going so fast now. I have my appointment with the hospital for all of my pre administrative stuff and my preop appointment with Dr. Hongs office and then my surgery date. Now I am truly nervous....Yikes. Please tell me again....it's all worth it right? I mean, it's all I have been thinking about for months now but now that the time is here I am really nervous....is that normal? I feel so fortunate to be able to do this surgery and with such a skilled surgeon I almost fill guilty for being so nervous. But I do know this, I am sure looking forward to getting this diabetis under control! I want to be healthy and play with the kids and teach my daughter how to serve the volleyball and not be the first one to drop when we go shopping and race my son to the door or down the hall way...you know...stuff like that. So many things in my brain...what do I pack, who will pick up the kids after school, is my protien drink the right one (because it tastes real good!), should I take my mother-in-law up on helping me for a few days after surgery, will I survive having my mother-in-law here for that much time (haha)? And more.... Thanks to all of you who get on here and share your experiences, you have made it that much easier. I will keep in touch Dawn

Hi Dawn, Dr Hong performed RNY on me on April 4, 2005 - that's 15 days post-op. Yes, all of your panic was just as I had experienced. At the last minute I was second guessing myself. But it is all worth it. I stayed in the hospital 2 nights because of a slight fever and I had an allergic reaction to the contrast used in the stomach test. I didn't have any other complications other than a sore left side (where most of the work was done frm). Dr. Hong was absolutely wonderful!! As for the protein shake - if it meets the protein requirements and tastes good you're OK. I tried some samples from Vitalady.com and was able to find the shake I enjoyed. It seems that it takes most of the day to ensure that I get in my protein and water. After surgery I found that I needed a thinner protein shake so I could drink it within 30 minutes. Other than that I eat pureed tuna (which I mix with cottage cheese). I recently tried to eat a small piece of chicken without it being pureed and it hurt right away - so I purged and didn't eat for the rest of the day. Next week Wednesday I have my 3 week appointment with Dr. Hong and I'll see how much weight has come off. My scale says 10 pounds - but that can't be true. I'm afraid to believe it. I am excited to finally be lighter instead of gaining weight. So keep the faith and understand that others have been there. Keep your goal in sight and before you know it you'll be post-op and losing. Lara

Hi Dawn, It is wonderful news that you are on your way! I would embrace the fact that your approval went so well as one of those life signals that it was meant to be. Your nerves are normal! I didn't really experience a crisis of confidence until the night before my surgery. I worried about the logistics in the days before, but it wasn't until that last night that I realized my feelings/fears about giving up my life of food. All of the steps you have taken so far will really get you through your feelings of "what am I doing?!?" I have never regretted my decision once. I have regained my health, and the quality of life benefits are something I experience every day. I too desired to be able to do more with my kids. A couple of months ago I took my eleven year old daughter and her friends roller skating. I settled in on a bench with my big bottle of water (always!) and book. After watching my daughter clinging to the side for about 20 minutes, I looked over at the skate rental counter and thought to myself "I am totally going to go over there and rent skates". When I was 325 pounds I had to be so protective about falling, because my joints and bones were so at risk. I was really afraid of falling. Out of that habit I really sat there assessing the vision of me trying to skate (it had been at least 30 years). I got out there and after going around a couple of times (it was pretty scary) I was able to take her hand and get her off that wall. COOL! A half hour later I was gliding along waving at the girls during the only girls over thirteen skate! The mother-in-law advice all depends on how old your kids are, and how available your husband is. Whatever will ensure that you can just rest . All I ended up using at the hospital is my two feather pillows, chapstick , a shower brush with deoderant liquid soap and toothbrush. Never read, never put on my nightgown, didn't use anything else in my bag. Good luck - keep us posted. Patty

Thanks so much you two for the great advice. I just love coming on this website! I am glad to hear that I am normal! What did you all wear home? Pajamas? Sweats? How comfortable/uncomfortable are you when you walk out of the hospital? Did you wear slippers around the hospital? Thanks again for all the advice and feel goodies that you are all giving. Dawn

I wore sweats of some kind. I don't think I was willing to put on a bra, because of that left upper incision. You ride down to the car in a chair. I timed my pain med so that getting home and into my own comfy bed was not a problem. You will be moving slow, and very carefully. I don't have small kids, so my main problem that first day was my little lap dog not understanding why he couldn't hop up on me like he does every day of his life. My family's main memory of me those first days is doing my childbirth breathing whenever I was geting up or down, going up the stairs, etc. It is such an effective way of getting through something physical. Try it - it helps! Again, my dog was really not O.K. with my body posture and all that breathing. For some reason I didn't use my good slip on slippers. Just the silly little socks with skid proof bottoms they put on me. Probably because they just stayed on me the whole time. I got a manicure/pedicure the day before my surgery. I had never gotten a pedicure in my whole life. It pleased me when I was laying there in my hospital bed to see me pretty toenails down there. Unfortunately, now that I am all recovered from the whole thing I am totally hooked on the pedicure thing! I kind of put it in the whole "take better care of me" category that I have adopted post-op. Patty

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You're going to be on the other side soon! I would just add to what everyone else listed to bring: Chapstick and hand lotion. I used the lotion so much... and buy yourself some you REALLY like the smell and the rich texture, it can work like aroma therapy and get your mind off of other less pleasant things. GOOD LUCK and best wishes.

I must be crazy! I was looking at my original message....mothers day is not on the 10th it is on the 8th.....I meant it is a great mothers day present! You know I have been in run mode since I have found out about the surgery. We sold our house so I want to pack everything before the surgery since I am assuming that I will not be able to pack after the surgery. I am trying to get everything settled at work since I manage two places. I guess I am greatful for all of these time consuming items as I have not had a lot of time to think about the surgery. Otherwise I am sure I would be nervous. I really appreciate the tips on what to bring. I have three weekends to get my bag ready and three weekends to get the house packed up! I am sure I will get it done but with all of your help on what to bring at least I can just go right to the store and know what I am picking up. So thank you all! I was wondering about the sweats. I thought of that as well and then I thought....won't the elastic band push on the painful areas? Is the only painful areas the incisions themselves or does it hurt if there is a little pushing on the stomach as well, such as the elastic band in the sweats? I was told I was the first one of the day and I was excited about that because I thought then the doctor will not be tired. Then I got a call. I was moved to second position because "self pay" folks go first. I was still alright with that. Then I received another call...now I am third place because the way that it works is self pay goes first in the day and then the higher BMI go before a lower BMI. I do not consider myself a low BMI believe me! So then I got a little nervous but they assured me that there will be no more surgerys for the day so I cannot be bumped again. So I am third in the day and right after lunch....I hope the doctor does not eat too many carbs so that he is not sleepy!!! ha Hope everyone has a great weekend! Dawn

Thats soo groovy Dawn. I had my consult with Dr. Patterson on the 21st of April, I have United Health Care as well, but it seems that Dr. Patterson hasn't dictated my consult notes, so almost 2 weeks have gone by and United hasn't even recieved any paperwork, UGH! I know they are fast, but I had not clue the office would be so slow. Do you know how long after your consult did you wait before they submitted to United? Brandi