A Year+ In Review: 1 Year Post-op Today

A Year+ in Review One year ago today at this time I was probably getting up to go to get my shower before heading to the hospital for the *big day*. Let me quickly drop back a year before that for the full story. In May of 2004, Rich and I went to Maine for vacation. Weather was cool but lovely. Lots of lobster. But in reality, it was a very frustrating trip... Rich's leg swollen with lymphedema was not cooperate and held us back from doing anything active. Weight and stamina were definitely an issue. He was up to 450 lbs (or down from 500 lbs depending on how you look at his weight journey). My own weight went back up from my loss the prior year so I was headed back to the 270s. Our doctor had suggested WLS to Rich a month or two before but he was resistant. He had seen a surgeon years before about it who told him "if you like to eat, this surgery isn't for you" (what we now know to be a complete and utter crock). Anyway that trip to Maine, convinced us that going to see a new surgeon was definitely a good idea. We were 50/50 on him having surgery. Neither of us knew much about the surgery at that point. We had his surgical consult, loved the surgeon and Rich had his open RNY on 8/5/2004. In September of 2004, my mother suffered a series of strokes. We would take her home two weeks later and she would be gone within one week. I saw my future right there. I was already diabetic and already had high blood pressure and would soon find out I had sleep apnea (my sister heard me gasping on that trip to mom's). I had back problems so did mom. Mom had many other things to pass along... coronary artery disease, cancers, etc. I was scared. I didn't want to be gone at 70. I went to see my doctor and in tears I asked her what I could do to stop the fact that I was walking in my mother's footsteps. She told me to have WLS like my husband. My insurance didn't cover WLS. Someone at work had tried but they had an exclusion and couldn't risk approving something that wouldn't be covered by their umbrella policy should something go very wrong. Rich and I were engaged at the time and decided to get married a year earlier than planned so that I could get on his insurance and get the surgery. We were married on a Monday. Yup, a Monday. The date: November 22, 2004. That date would have been my parents 52nd wedding anniversary. It was short and sweet. A justice of the peace in a lovely little cafe and a few friends. I signed up for Rich's insurance and it took til January for me to be added to his policy. What a mess but we got there! I was approved for WLS in February - approval was so fast. I was shocked. In the meantime, I started having major back issues and ended up needing back surgery before WLS. I had my surgical consult for the lap RNY December 1, 2004. I had to get my back looked at first it was hideous so I was waiting on that consult. In mid-February I started my pre-op diet at 276 lbs (my highest weight ever was 279). My surgeon's requirement was a 10% loss prior to surgery so I had alot of work to do. I met with the back surgeon and it was decided that I needed the back surgery first. I had that on 3/31/2005. Back surgeon conferred with bariatric surgeon and it was decided that I could have WLS no sooner than 5 weeks after my back surgery. My bariatric surgeon called and my date was set. 5/20/2005. I cried when I got the date. It was my mother's birthday. I called my father and sister each and said "Guess when I'm having surgery?" They both guessed it. It was very ironic and wonderful. Two weeks before surgery, Rich and I went for my post-op appointment. My surgeon looked at how much weight I had lost and asked Rich if he could hug me. I guess not many of his patients comply with his pre-op weight loss. I did so well that he didn't even put me on the liquid diet leading up to the surgery - he just told me to keep doing what I was doing. Which I did. I ended up losing 32 lbs prior to surgery in those 3 months and weighed in at 244 on surgery day! My surgery went very smoothly expect the anesthesia hit me hard (like it had for my back surgery) - all I wanted to do was sleep. I couldn't keep my eyes open. I didn't eat but a few ice chips in the hospital... I was too tired. I went back to work 11 days after my surgery and did well except for getting tired late in the afternoon. I lost 25 lbs the first month and then 8 the next month. All my weekly weigh-ins (the good, the bad and the ugly - LOL) are on my profile. In September, I started having pain in my right side. Did a gall bladder ultrasound and a HIDA scan. My gallbladder wasn't ideal but we weren't sure it was the true problem so we opted to take it out. I had laproscopic choly on 10/14/2005. The GB was inflammed and filled with stones but wasn't the cause of the pain. I had more tests and more tests to no avail. But, in November my pain faded. It would stay away for many months before returning in March and it is still with me. But we now know that it is related to my rib cage. There are conditions where the cartilage is inflammed and it causes pain and that appears to be my problem. I just got my 1 year labs back and I am deficient in selenium (PLEASE, make sure your multivitamin has this in it) and my liver enzymes are slightly elevated - the rest is good. I am wondering if this deficiency is what caused the problem. I have taken a multi-vitamin that didn't have the selenium in it and then switched so I wonder if there is a correlation between that and my pain issues. Time will tell now that I am adding a selenium supplement. The journey hasn't been easy given my pain issues. It is hard to hurt every day for months at a time. I definitely feel for people with chronic conditions. I have hope that things will get better. But here I am a year post-op today. I've lost 109 lbs total (32 pre-op and 77 post-op). My CPAP machine is long gone. I take no meds for diabetes or high blood pressure. I work out at the gym 4-5 times a week. I can do so very much that I couldn't a year ago. I want to thank all my dear friends on OH - the main board but especially those on the Virginia state board and most of all my Maysters on the May 2005 surgery board. Couldn't have done without you. I want to thank all my family and friends. Love you folks. I want to thank my loving husband Rich who spoils me rotten with his love and affection. Don't know what I've done in my life to deserve you but I'm going to keep trying. I wouldn't trade my ride... even with my issues for anything. I no longer feel doomed to follow in my mother's footsteps. Her legacy to me, gave me my life back and brightened my future. So today on my surgiversary and my mother's birthday, I say "Thank you Mom, I love you, but because of you I will NOT be seeing you soon". Love, Kathy

What a wonderful update. I feel like I know you so much better. What a blessing to have a wonderful supportive husband who can travel the journey with you. Thank you for taking so much time on a gorgeous Saturday morning to share with us. Have a wonderful weekend. Jenn

Thanks, Jenn! Kathy

Ok I have really tried to refrain from tears this am but they are starting up. Thank you for sharing this with us this am. Every pm before bed I pray now and every am when I first get up. Then I do it through an email type deal with family and friends and then I have list by me so I don't forget. I am telling you what it works! You & Rich as well as others are on it even today. Even when there is nothing majorly wrong and all seems quiet. I love your story and am so happy for you and for Rich and these tears are joyful and happy. Our journey isn't easy but I am like you and would never trade it for a minute. Thank YOU for blessing my life. Kat

Thanks, Kat! Extra prayers and thoughts are always a good thing! Hugs, Kathy

What a story, I now have to go to find some tissues..... I just want to say ...Thank you and everyone in this web site for all of the encouragement that has been sent my way through my journey. I am almost 4 months post op and it is amazing how much better I feel already. I am looking forward to my "surgiversary". Hugs to ya! Cathy

Thank you, Cathy! We'll be waiting to hear how things are for you are a year post-op. It is truly an amazing journey. Kathy

Kathy- Thank you for being willing to share so that others can learn, be informed and inspired. You are always full of knowledge and helpful insight. Many more years of blessings to you and Rich, Christina S

Thank you, Christina! Your time will be here so very soon. Best wishes, Kathy

Congrats on your AWESOME journey! I am so glad that it is finally known where your pain is coming from. Sometimes the "not knowing" is worse! You have done so great with your weight loss, and I thank you for the times you have answered questions for me along the way. Thanks for being the lovely, encouraging person you are. This journey is a wild ride, ain't it? Love, Stephanie