Thursday, June 17, 2010

My Weight Loss Surgery Journey

I should have started this a long time ago but Hey Better Late then Never.

I decided to have weight loss surgery after reaching 350lbs.. However, I didn't see a Dr until I had gained more weight. I Thought I had found a dr who would operate but he sent me a letter stating he couldn't take me on as a patient, I was devastated.

I then went out of state hoping I could find a Dr in Philly PA to operate on me and he agreed but my insurance wouldn't cover out of state operations so back to the drawing board. I was searching thru the website www.ObesityHelp.com when I found a dr who's offices were in North Jersey but he had a satellite office in South Jersey (Bayville, NJ) so I made an appt in Oct 2009. I was THRILLED he was going to operate on me and my insurance (Medicare) would cover it. Now to get the necessary testing needed to get the operation. OK I was so excited I wanted to get it done as soon as possible but like all good procrastinators, I waited Until AFTER the holidays to start the process.
I met with the psychiatrist who told me I was depressed. YA THINK!!! I'm Over 350lbs, Widowed, and disabled, WHO WOULDN"T BE DEPRESSED!!! Anyway, He thought the operation was a great thing for me but wanted me to continue seeing a psychiatrist.. Well that didn't happen but I'm sure I still need counseling for depression.
OK 1 down, 4 more to go..
Next was the Pulmonary Dr. I passed all the testing but the Dr wanted me to have a Sleep Apnea test. Grrrr So I packed my jammies and went for the sleep over. I was hooked up to about a thousand wires over my head and body and then this metal breathing thing on my nose and was told to go to sleep. HA HA HA!!! .. How does someone sleep with stuff up their nose? But I did manage to get a few hours here and there which was enough time for them to get the readings they needed. It winds up, I didn't have sleep apnea which shocked me because when My husband was alive, He would wake me because I would stop breathing while I slept. Go Figure.

2 down, 3 to go..
Next was the chemical stress test. Grrr I won't lie, I was Petrified to have this one as I had heard all types of horror stories. But if I wanted to get the Gastric bypass operation, I NEEDED this test. SO I went for the test and I have to tell you, It wasn't horrible. The worse part was sitting there for 5 hours and the nasty metallic taste I got when I was injected with the chemical for the test. But all in all it wasn't as bad as I had heard. And I passed this test also.

3 down, 2 to go.
My next test was an Endoscopy. I was schedeuled for Feb 25th and we had a Blizzard starting but I NEEDED this test. I have to tell you I'm NOT a good patient, I'm scared of Everything and Hate being in pain or uncomfortable so this wasn't going to be easy for me but Suprisingly enough I was calm. I was the first patient because alot of people cancelled due to the snow but Nope, Not Me, I wanted it OVER. Again It wasn't as horrible As I had expected. I was Ok UNTIL they put this plastic piece in my mouth with a rubber around my head to hold it in place.
I was told to bite on the plastic piece. It had a hole in it and I'm sure that's where the hose when down my throat thru that hole but I didn't want to know anything else and I Sure as hell didn't want to be awake so I was like put me out NOW.. and I was.. I woke up and wasn't in pain, no sore throat, Nothing. Ok I thought, not so bad. The Dr came in and said I had reflux (I knew that) and gave me nexium to start taking. I was already taking Nexium thru my family Dr so It wasn't anything I wasn't expecting.

4 down, 1 to go...
This was the biggy, Because I am over 50yrs old and Because my BMI was over a certain limit, My Dr required patients to get a Vena Cava Filter inserted a week before surgery. Grrr.. As I stated I'm NOT a Good Patient and was Scared to Death to have to go into the Operating Room twice. But Again I WANTED this Surgery so I had no choice. My Son, Chris, took me to the hospital which was in North Jersey.
I was schedeuled for 2pm surgery (I hate late surgeries) and they wanted me there by 12 noon so I got there and changed and my nerves took over. I got the runs and kept going to the bathroom. I just wanted this OVER. 2pm came & went, 3pm came & went, 4pm came & went and I'm still waiting for them to come get me. Finally at 5pm my son went to find out what was going on. I was ready to go home & reschedeule but at 5:30pm the OR called for me. OH Goodie.. (NOT) I was scared to death and the waiting didn't make it any easier. I, Talked to the Anethesiologist and told him to Please don't put ANYTHING over my face Until I'm knocked out. I Freak whenever I smell anything when something is over my face so I was taken into the OR and they injected something into my arm that put me out.. I woke up in the Recovery Room just fine. It was Over.. 7 more days and I'd be having my Gastric Bypass operation.

Scared & Nervous, but I was Ready for my Weight Loss Journey To Begin.

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