Here I go again... at 50!
So, my surgery is 5 days away. I'm very thankful my insurance is covering this for me, but it all happened so fast! Like within a month and a half at most! I went thru my pre~op tests; such as 13 tubes of blood, a chest x~ray, ultra sound of my heart, nutrition class, psych appt, and TA DA! approved.
I have a past health history of APL leukemia. Thankfully I had a WONDERFUL Onocologist, Dr. Kasubai up in Washington. That man saved my life. I am " cured" of this disease; it's been 6 years. I now see another wonderful Onocologist, Dr. Wu here in Long Beach who I respect greatly. I go there every few months for a special blood test. All clear.
Both my regular physician, Dr. Kesvokic , and Dr. Wu recomended me for weight loss surgery.
I have entertained myself the past month by watching just about every horrible you tube video about the risks of RNY surgery and reading horror stories about it! A woman screaming in pain ect... weeee! I also found some excellent resources online as well, blogs and such that I bookmarked.
I was just about ready to back out, especially after my last pre~op appt where I was confronted by PAGE AFTER PAGE that I had to read then paraphrase in my own words and sign that read basically like, to me anyway, ~you must be REALLY desperate to do this because you could DIE....~ page after page of these serious risks in stark black and white, yes I am VERY AWARE THIS IS A SERIOUS OPERATION AND I COULD DIE. sign here. My head was spinning! I was thinking to myself, " self, someone would have to be totally crazy to agree to this! WHAT amm I doing?!
I have met my Surgeon, and his assisant and all the office staff. My very first impression of my surgeon was relief, and I felt that I would be in excellent hands, as he is very very educated and experienced and projects confidence. His excellent assistant,Carolyn, took the time to thourouly answer all of my questions, no matter how silly they seemed. They mattered to me, after all! plus she has a very calming presence which I liked.
So, as of today I am going to show up at 5am. I am over 100 pounds overweight, and I feel like crap. It is affecting every area of my life. I have really tried to lose weight allot , 60 pounds here 85 there only to revert and have it all come back and more.
I have thought allot and talked with folks about the reality of post surgery, and It will be a wild ride! I want good health and a longer life. I want to look good again. I want to live!
I figure all I have to do is show up on surgery day with a positive attitude, but nervous~ I will be, and the rest will be in the excellent medical team and god's hands. Till next time.....
I have a past health history of APL leukemia. Thankfully I had a WONDERFUL Onocologist, Dr. Kasubai up in Washington. That man saved my life. I am " cured" of this disease; it's been 6 years. I now see another wonderful Onocologist, Dr. Wu here in Long Beach who I respect greatly. I go there every few months for a special blood test. All clear.
Both my regular physician, Dr. Kesvokic , and Dr. Wu recomended me for weight loss surgery.
I have entertained myself the past month by watching just about every horrible you tube video about the risks of RNY surgery and reading horror stories about it! A woman screaming in pain ect... weeee! I also found some excellent resources online as well, blogs and such that I bookmarked.
I was just about ready to back out, especially after my last pre~op appt where I was confronted by PAGE AFTER PAGE that I had to read then paraphrase in my own words and sign that read basically like, to me anyway, ~you must be REALLY desperate to do this because you could DIE....~ page after page of these serious risks in stark black and white, yes I am VERY AWARE THIS IS A SERIOUS OPERATION AND I COULD DIE. sign here. My head was spinning! I was thinking to myself, " self, someone would have to be totally crazy to agree to this! WHAT amm I doing?!
I have met my Surgeon, and his assisant and all the office staff. My very first impression of my surgeon was relief, and I felt that I would be in excellent hands, as he is very very educated and experienced and projects confidence. His excellent assistant,Carolyn, took the time to thourouly answer all of my questions, no matter how silly they seemed. They mattered to me, after all! plus she has a very calming presence which I liked.
So, as of today I am going to show up at 5am. I am over 100 pounds overweight, and I feel like crap. It is affecting every area of my life. I have really tried to lose weight allot , 60 pounds here 85 there only to revert and have it all come back and more.
I have thought allot and talked with folks about the reality of post surgery, and It will be a wild ride! I want good health and a longer life. I want to look good again. I want to live!
I figure all I have to do is show up on surgery day with a positive attitude, but nervous~ I will be, and the rest will be in the excellent medical team and god's hands. Till next time.....
Lorna
CONGRATS!!!! And WELCOME to OFF (over 50 Forum) we are a great group that offer support no matter what the problem you are having!!!!
I had my WLS just over 4 years ago and I lost 154 pounds, gained some back but lost it again and trying to get a bit more off at this time and its hard but I am working the tool. I was 54 at the time of my WLS and my only regret was I didn't have it sooner!!!
Sooo follow doctor's orders and your nut's orders and remember to sip sip sip and wlak walk walk and you will be fine!!! You will have plenty of stalls along the way trust me!!! So make sure that you measure yourself and stay off the scales everyday!!!! The weight WILL come off trust me!!! I had so many stalls I still do not know how the weight came off me!!! LOL
Wishing you the best of luck and hope you come back and visit with us and let us know more of yourself...how you are doing and all.
HUGS
You said, you'd have to be pretty desperate to do this ... well, I was. I was at the end of my rope. I had dieted and dieted and exercised (I swam regularly) and didn't lose. My pain doc told me if I didn't lose weight, I'd end up in a wheelchair. So that's how desperate I was.
So I had the surgery and I chose life. I was not disappointed. WLS saved me. Yes, it's serious surgery. Some people do die. Some people have serious complications. Not to scare you, but it's true. But many more have great results ... I lost 180 pounds, have had no complications. I was at 355 pounds at my heaviest. Now, I may still end up in a wheelchair from spinal arthritis, degenerative disc disease and arthritic knees ... but at least I fought back.
Good luck to you and welcome to the board.
So I had the surgery and I chose life. I was not disappointed. WLS saved me. Yes, it's serious surgery. Some people do die. Some people have serious complications. Not to scare you, but it's true. But many more have great results ... I lost 180 pounds, have had no complications. I was at 355 pounds at my heaviest. Now, I may still end up in a wheelchair from spinal arthritis, degenerative disc disease and arthritic knees ... but at least I fought back.
Good luck to you and welcome to the board.
Thank you all for your warm welcomes :)
I know surgery isn't " quick fix' at all. I will have allot of challenges in the coming weeks /months. I intend to follow my doc's and nut's advice. I even have all my vitamins allready!
Being mature , I think, gives me the mindfulness I might not have had when I was younger.
I know my main challenge in the first few days will be just staying hydrated :)
Then it continues from there!
I hope to join you all on the losers bench.
Happy new year to all, and here's a virtual
toast to health and happiness and successful surgery's for all the dates coming up!
I know surgery isn't " quick fix' at all. I will have allot of challenges in the coming weeks /months. I intend to follow my doc's and nut's advice. I even have all my vitamins allready!
Being mature , I think, gives me the mindfulness I might not have had when I was younger.
I know my main challenge in the first few days will be just staying hydrated :)
Then it continues from there!
I hope to join you all on the losers bench.
Happy new year to all, and here's a virtual
toast to health and happiness and successful surgery's for all the dates coming up!
Lorna
Cherry,
Just want to say it takes courage to go down this path, that, along with determination to change and do the work after our surgeon does theirs, makes all the difference in living post-operatively. While there are always chances for complications, the reality is living "obese" has it's own complications and the rate of complications has very much changed over the past 5 years and I have known a person or two to suffer with some and they all say without thinking twice that they would go through it all over again, to live the lives they live today. I, for one, am glad I chose this way of life, it has greatly enhanced my living and also brought me a whole circle of people that have become a family, people I never would have had the opportunity to meet and I have met a good number of the folks on this board, all wonderful, and while your fears are not without merit, try and focus on the joy of living that you will be getting as you shed that extra personage. . .
Best wishes to you and what a great way to start the New Year!
Laureen
Just want to say it takes courage to go down this path, that, along with determination to change and do the work after our surgeon does theirs, makes all the difference in living post-operatively. While there are always chances for complications, the reality is living "obese" has it's own complications and the rate of complications has very much changed over the past 5 years and I have known a person or two to suffer with some and they all say without thinking twice that they would go through it all over again, to live the lives they live today. I, for one, am glad I chose this way of life, it has greatly enhanced my living and also brought me a whole circle of people that have become a family, people I never would have had the opportunity to meet and I have met a good number of the folks on this board, all wonderful, and while your fears are not without merit, try and focus on the joy of living that you will be getting as you shed that extra personage. . .
Best wishes to you and what a great way to start the New Year!
Laureen
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
Thanks Sybul, your comment made me chuckle. lol~ I guess none of us are immune right?
It's the night prior, and I am pretty excited, nervous too. Hope I get some happy drugs before they wheel me into surgery. 5am here I come.
And thank all of you for your comments and support. It helps to have others who have gone or will be going thru the same thing.
I 100% agree Laureen, it takes courage, and it's going to be one very new year with lots of changes and challenges.
I'll update as soon as I am out and able to.
It's the night prior, and I am pretty excited, nervous too. Hope I get some happy drugs before they wheel me into surgery. 5am here I come.
And thank all of you for your comments and support. It helps to have others who have gone or will be going thru the same thing.
I 100% agree Laureen, it takes courage, and it's going to be one very new year with lots of changes and challenges.
I'll update as soon as I am out and able to.
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