Jeanette Z

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At home the next few days were hard. Mike did everything! He took care of me & the house, washed clothes, dishes, fed animals, everything. Of course he usually does do a lot anyway. As for me, I couldn't move much and had to wake him in the middle of the night several times a night to help me out of bed for bathroom & help with meds & fluids. Nights are the hardest. I always took my meds every 3 hrs to keep the pain under control & it helped a lot. The small grade fever was always up at night, but stayed a low grade. Once up out of bed, I would walk around the house in the middle of the night to help the horrible gas, gas pain & diareea. Its the only thing that seemed to help. I had to finally end up calling the surgeron office for help with the D about the 4th day of being home. I was having to wear pads & disposable underwear. My problem was happening from the protein shakes, the milk in them. I started pouring them down the G-Tube only, no more by mouth. The D went away for the most part thank God. I was beginning to get very dehidrated.  No more milk products for me! My stomach is raw from the tape. Mike bought the gentle tape which helped a lot. I also broke out in a itchy rash on one side of my back, its started itching the first day home. Its now spread to my stomach & other places. It drives me crazy always itching. I'm taking benadril as often as possible per the surgeron's office. They said I'm allerg to the tape or meds or something. On the good side, I am feeling much better now and am feeling a little better everyday. I was finally able to get up & down on my own by the 5th day after surgery.

contining from last post.....Back in my room all I remember is being in the bed and my parents & Mike sitting there. I pretty much went in & out but was sleeping most of the time. Parents left to eat & go to motel. I think Mike went down to get food & brought it back up. He said their  food was pretty bad & he's not a very picky person. I remember a very dry mouth & being very thirsty witha very sore throat, the ice chips helped so much! The rest of the day is a blur, until the next morning when the nurse came in to take the nose tube out. It didn't hurt just a little pressure, it felt weird but was done really quick. I kept having a overwelming urge to go to the bathroom but I had the catherter in. The nurse said that was why it felt that way. I think it was removed a little later. No more pain meds because I had to walk before going down for the leak test. The leak test was a little diffcult with the moving & drinking but I got though it. Back to my room. Soon, I was being told the test was good  & I would be getting something to drink. The drink came & I sipped a lttle of the grape juice, broth, hot tea, then I was done. A little while later I was told I would be going home soon. Had to wait for the lady to come in & explain the care of G-tube. Hubby started packing things & soon we were off. The 21/2 drive back to Jax was really hard on me. I slept thru some of it. We stopped three times to walk & use bathroom. Until next post.............

I made it to the other side!  

Surgery was on 01/03/07.
I have lots & lots to talk about. I'll start with pre op since I like to give details. I was on the pre op diet off & on 2 wks before surgery. Then the day before surgery, Tuesday was water, jello & coffee with splenda only all day, boy was I hungry. I had to work OT too! But it kept my mind off of everything a little bit. Tuesday night we had a 21/2 hr drive from Jax to Ocala. Mike had gotten off a little early & finished getting most of the stuff ready to go. We got to the motel (TravelInn) tired. I took a shower with the soap they gave me & washed my hair. I We went to bed soon after. Before bed I took something to relax me that my primary doctor gave to me after I told her how nervous & panicy I felt I would be. Next morning I was required to do the shower & hair thing again & took another pill with a small small sip of water. I got permission from the surgeron. It did help me some! 
Off to the hospital which was 5 mins away. Suregery time is 11:30am. Went to Reg office, had some bloodtest done. Then was taken to a room. Changed into gown, really nervous but meds were helping some. After a while my parents came back to my room to visit. Mike was with me the whole time. As soon as I could I asked for something to calm me. They said I had to ask the anastgist first when I see him. Set me up with an IV. Asked a lot of the usual questions. The anastgist came in, listened to my lungs. He said he wanted to hold off on the meds to relax until right before I'm wheeled back. This wasn't good, I really needed something I was so scared, Never had surgery before! Talked to Mike & my parents for a while then 2 nurses came in. I asked them if I might get something to calm me & one of them "you haven't already been given anything??" ummm, NO. They said it was almost time for me to go back to OR & everyone had to leave. Panic again. Mike gave me a quick hug. The nurse  messed with a few things and thats the last I remember. I don't remember being wheeled out of the room or anything, I'm so glad! 
The next thing I can sort of remember is three nurses standing around me and one trying to put a mask on my face. Well, I was fighting her. I coudn't control myself, I was in full panic. I remember asking for something for pain.That's all I really remember in recovery. They didn't have a room ready for me so I stayed in recovery until 5PM. All according to Mike & my parents, I don't even remember ever being taken to my regular room.  Next post, more on room.....
LATER GATOR, HOW BOUT THEM GATORS !!!!!!

Wow, its been a long time. Good News! I've been approved and have a surgery date in 2 days!!!!!!!!!
Jan. 3rd in Ocala, Florida. I have so much to write & no time to do it! So until later........

~~~ HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE ~~~

Hi Ya'll, My case with VR FINALLY made it to Tallahhassee!!! 
This is good news since this is where they approve it. I've been told that I should expect to hear about a final decision around 12/02. From what I understand, it has to come back to Jax. & be signed-off on here for a final decision. Acually, a little angel told me she received a email saying I was pre-approved!!!! This was a intercompany email that she wasn't allowed to send to me. I refuse to believe it could acually be true until I hear a final. It will take a little time to sink in since I've been trying so long. Once I hear their's a real final there will be a million things to do. I still have pre-op testing to complete, family & work to talk too, etc. Work has another lady that's about to have surgery too that might interfer with mine. We can't both be out at the same time. I've waited so long & with VR you have to do it as soon as you can because you never know if the funding might be pulled at anytime. 
PLEASE if ya'll can, update your profile here on OH. It will help many many people in the future. I learned a lot from reading everyone's. I've also learned so much from the forum/message boards but its hard to refer back to info.
I sure wish I could attend meetings with the Dr. Jawad group, I would really enjoy them. But being in Jacksonville, it's not possible :o(   Wish there was a Jawad Jax meeting. I do attend meetings here from another surgeons group & they are great! We don't make it to every meeting but have been to quite a few. 
I will be posting about this more when I find out more about being approved but........Here I thought I was the only one here who has had panic attacks & clos. I'm so relieved to hear that others have it (not that I wish it on anyone) because if they made it though the surgery then somehow I will too, more later.     — Jeanette Z

Still waiting & waiting & waiting...........
My VR worker has told me that she has sent my case on to the next step, whatever that is. She said as far as she knows its with the regional director & from there it goes to Tallahhassee??? She thinks so but she's not sure. If so I may not have too long too wait, like a few weeks. Its driving me crazy, not even knowing where my case is & waiting.
This is so hard, that I've been trying for almost A YEAR & still don't know.  I'm so afraid I'll be turned down & I'm so afraid I'll get a yes, does that make sense?? The yes is what I really want but I want it done & over with, the surgery part I mean. I'm scared to death of the surgery, I mean really really scared to do it, but I want it so bad.
OH, also I have been told that I have a liver problem & that it is more than likely caused from being so overweight. This is good in the sense that it may help my case get approved.

Until next time, hope to know something soon, pray for me!

My VR worker, Ellen called at home, Mike spoke to her. She has now submitted my case to their medical person for approval. Oh NO, this is where it failed last time, but I do have a doc letter this time. Then to her super for approval before its sent to Tallahassee.

I met with my new VR worker, Ellen. She was really nice! She has had RYN surgery herself & has failed in her quest. She lost 95 lbs & has gained 70 back. She was great because she's been there & was good about telling me how important it is to do everything you can to change habits while you have this great tool to use. Remember, its only good for most people for the 1st yr or 2. Then you really have to work at not going back to old habits!!!
She received my letter from the surgeron & will work up my case to send for final approval. She estimates it will take 2 wks for her to finish before its sent off & then 2 more wks in Tall. before they decide if they'll give finally approval.

I passed the shrik exam & have been to the surgeon's for my consultation. There's a bunch of pre-cert testing that has to be done. They are faxing VR the letter & office notes beforehand though so I HOPE this means VR can do whatever else they have to do & get my case sumitted to Tallahassee for final approval! 
Oh NO, my worker Kristen has left VR so I'm now being sent to another new worker, this will make my 3rd worker, I hope she's good!!!
Mike just got out of the hospital & is doing well. I will try to update his profile soon.

Wow, its been a while!
Well, I won the inter appeal with VR!!!
I'm now bascially starting over with a new worker. But thank God I have a new worker, Kristen & she's great so far!!!!

I just had my shrink exam & they said it would take about a week to be sent to VR. If I pass, next I will be seeing a surgeon. But I have to wait for VR to let me know what surgeon, I think they are going to have a list for me to choose from. From what I understand, after the surgeon meeting he has to decide if he recommends the surgery for me & write a letter stating so. After that I'm not sure what else I have to do before it can be submitted to Tallahassee.
Will update again later.
God Speed to All! :o)