Butterfly/Lisa's Journey

[Butterfly]

I'm now 6 days post-op and doing fine.

I'm coming to terms with the fact that I have a sleeve instead of a DS by basically ignoring it at this point. I'm just concentrating on liquids, resting and walking.

I'm came home from the hospital on Sunday morning (surgery was Wednesday night).  The first 24 hours were awful as far as pain was concerned but I was getting good drugs.    I opted to stay in the hospital the extra time and it was a good thing too because Saturday morning I woke up feeling bad and turns out I was dehydrated and my blood sugar was too low.  After a bag of IV liquids and apple juice I felt much better and was glad I was still in the hospital when that happened rather than at home.

I am supposed to start full liquids today and tried a protein shake this morning but after 2-3 sips I found that it was just sitting to heavily in my stomach.  I've been having water, herbal tea, apple juice and clear chicken broth.  Since yesterday when suddenly I felt that the swelling went down, those liquids have been going down quite easily.  So I tried some soft white cheese now for dinner which I let sit in my mouth until it was liquid and that went down really well.  I had a couple of tablespoons in total and I feel good with that.  

My surgeon used a 50 fr bougie and says I have stomach capacity of 80 ml / 2.7 oz.  I'm actually surprised at how much I can drink.  Is this considered a large sleeve?  Do DS'ers get larger sleeves than straight sleeve patients because of the malabsorption issue?  I know that my surgeon said he was intending to give me a 75 cm common channel.  So would a larger sleeve balance a shorter CC?

I would say my biggest complaint at this stage is I can't seem to get comfortable to sleep at night and my back is really sore.  Otherwise, my recovery is better than I expected!

And eventhough I know I shouldn't weigh myself yet, I couldn't resist and I'm down 1.5 kg/ 3.3 lbs.  Yay!

-- Lisa

[Girlrocker]

Hey there, I'm really glad for you that you started a blog for yourself. You've been through a lot and all things considered, you sound very sane and healthy! You were smart to stay in the hospital and let them take care of you. I'm not sure about the distinction of the sized of the sleeve varying based on the size of the common channel for a DS, but I know others here who can definitely speak to that. Your actual healing sounds on par, slow and easy on your healing stomach. Sleep is usually not quality these early weeks; you're healing, you went through a lot. Get sore in weird spots compensating for how you might be moving around too, I did. I slept on my couch cuz it was comfy and I could sleep partially sitting up. Would have rented a recliner if I hadn't lived in a studio at the time. Hang in there, this part gets better. Was thinking maybe, too, you could update your subject to add your screenname cuz that's also how people might recognize you here.

[Butterfly]

Hi Sharyl! How do I update the subject once I've created the thread? That sounds like a good idea but I can't work out how to change it.

Today I'm really not feeling great. I'm really sore and the pain meds are not really helping. Also, I feel completely weak and just wiped out. Did anyone else get this one day better/one day worse pattern or was it a slow but steady improvement? I'm wondering if I did too much yesterday (I didn't think so).

I've started tracking my intake on fitday.com. I've used that site on and off for years so I figure I'll just stick with what's familiar.

- Lisa

[Taterweight]

Oh heavens yes! One great day, then you think you're going to be fine and the next you're weak as a kitten. It'll get better overall, though. The first weeks are the toughest and then they'll be a distant memory. Just stay focused on fluids and protein to heal quickly!

[meq815]

^^^^^^what tater said.

Hang in there, butterfly.

[Girlrocker]

Apr 2, 2014 5:27:39 GMT -5 Butterfly said:

Hi Sharyl! How do I update the subject once I've created the thread? That sounds like a good idea but I can't work out how to change it.

Today I'm really not feeling great. I'm really sore and the pain meds are not really helping. Also, I feel completely weak and just wiped out. Did anyone else get this one day better/one day worse pattern or was it a slow but steady improvement? I'm wondering if I did too much yesterday (I didn't think so).

I've started tracking my intake on fitday.com. I've used that site on and off for years so I figure I'll just stick with what's familiar.

- Lisa

Hi hon, yes, this is all very very typical/normal with major surgery, you've had a substantial portion of your stomach removed, plus the added 'nick to your spleen' and the additional work to fix that. You need to be very gentle with yourself, do the best you can to get in a minimum of 48oz of fluid - and stick with sugar free, non-carbonated decaf to go easy on your healing insides. If you can't eat much, and can tolerate a protein shake, those help get the protein in. It will take 4-6 weeks for this hardship healing phase to 'level out'. Walk as much as you can too, around the house, a yard, grocery store, wherever; and remember to keep deep breathing for at least two more weeks, helps keeps your lungs clear, they go through a lot under anesthesia.

As for the editing option, you know, I think there might be a set time limit for editing which would be why you no longer see the edit button. If you go into messages, you can send the site administrator a PM and ask her to help you update your subject line to reflect Buttlerfly/Lisa's story. Sound good?

Our recoveries are pretty similar for DS/Sleeve in these early days; the differences will be your bowels might not be quite as funky as ours can be and you won't be working your way up to the level of vitamins. From what I've read, your sleeve size sounds normal; there's no real 'rule of thumb' based on sleeve size in tandem with common channel, each surgeon is a little different, and, the DS particularly is not one size fits all and has to be tailored to each of us. I know very successful sleeve people, and I can reach out to and see if you can connect with them to get more info too.

[Girlrocker]

Look it's Lisa the Butterfly! How are you today girl?

[Butterfly]

Wow this sure is a rollercoaster ride!

I'm actually doing really well physically but my emotions are all over the place.
Yesterday I was worse that the wicked witch... I'm surprised my family didn't throw me out.  I was so bitchy!  Now the day after, I'm so ashamed and had to apologize to DH and all 4 kids!  Today was better but I really had to watch myself.

As far as eating/drinking, it is going well my only concern is that I'm able to eat too much.  
I'm not having any problem getting in 8 glasses of water as long as I constantly sip.  
What's really surprising me is that I can eat soft foods.  Yesterday I pureed 400g of soft white cheese with 100g smoked salmon which gave me a delicious lox spread.  Over the space of the last 24 hours, eating 2 tablespoons at a time I ate it all!  I expected to be able to only have liquids for 2-3 weeks yet I'm doing so well on soft foods.  I don't overdo the quantities and I have no discomfort or pain but I'm scared that either I'm doing something wrong or I broke my sleeve or my sleeve is no good.  Someone please reassure me!  As it is I have little confidence in the sleeve (having expected the full DS believe that it was the right surgery for me).  If I can eat like this only 10 days after surgery, what will happen when I'm fully healed?  Am I going to be one of these people for whom the surgery doesn't work?  I'm seriously freaking out.

Before surgery I prepared whatever I thought I would need in terms of protein supplements and now just the thought of them makes me sick.  I have a full 2.5 kg bag of chocolate flavoured protein powder, a container of unflavoured protein powder which I thought I'd add to soups not to mention lots of "Protein 2Go" saches to get in even more protein.  Instead I seem to be doing fine with real food and today I managed to get in 62 g of protein and less than 40 g of carbs.  I didn't expect to be able to do this until I was 2 months out.  

Tomorrow I will hopefully get my staples out which I'm really excited about as they are really itchy and driving me crazy.  

- Lisa/Butterfly

[goodkel]

You're doing great!

Two spoonfuls at a time will never be "over doing it."

A low carb, high protein diet will serve you well, too, and I see you are doing that.

There are many people who have been successful with the VSG. Much of that success comes from the choices they make about what to eat. Restricting carbs is the key to weight loss and weight loss maintenance for everyone whether they have had bariatric surgery or not.

And, if your results don't please you, you won't require a special revision surgeon to add the intestinal part to give you the full DS.

It is going to feel so good getting those staples out.

[Girlrocker]

Girrrrrl! Many of us have experienced this fear/anxiety, thinking we can break our surgeries. You're doing just fine! The big difference having the sleeve - half the DS -is the fat factor. We can and sometimes have to eat 'copious' amounts of fat to keep things moving. I think you WILL do well with the protein/low to modest carb approach, and keep those carbs good ones - vegetables - for now, steer clear of starchy vegetables like peas, corn, acorn squash - stick with spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, greenbeans, mushrooms, peppers, onions, cabbage, type stuff, complex alternatives for starches - sweet potato, oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, non-flour/gluten bread-cracker-chips. Use the 50g carb count a day as a guideline, it helps as a start point when you feel exactly as you do now, fearful and anxious. When you have them, eat them 'condiment' style, as a taste, not the main event, which will be your protein and comes first. If you want fruits, limit them to lower sugar fruits for now - strawberries, blueberries, apples, cherries - all have good stuff, antioxidants, low sugar, some fiber and scratch a sweet itch. Berries/cherries taste yummy in greek yogurt with some almonds, and it's amazing how just a few adds so much flavor. Apples are a great sweet treat, au natural, or baked/warmed up with a sweetener alternative and cinnamon.

For fats, I don't think you have to go fat free - but choose good fats and use them sparingly - like olive oil, avocado, almonds (one serving of a dozen) - watch the other nuts, peanutbutter - they are protein, but very, very low in count, higher in sugar and fats so not always the best in large quantity for protein/satisfaction when going for weight loss.

I know a LOT of successful VSG people,and you don't have to decide about having the rest of the surgery, if ever, yet. You have every right to be upset, stressed about not waking up with the surgery you signed up for, so keep venting that out with us.

I also wanted to say, not everyone struggles with food early recovery! Lots of people could eat well right outta the gate, like Leonie for instance, I used to tease her and say she had a cast iron sleeve. She has her intolerances too, but really, she was able to eat well right away, so yay for you! You will hopefully progress well. You are doing great so far, YAY and staples out, even mo better!

[Butterfly]

I got most of my staples out yesterday. But it seems that the incisions hadn't closed sufficiently so the nurse covered them with some special bandage that has active ingredients that encourage cell growth. I have to go back on Wednesday to have the 5 remaining staples out and for them to check the incisions. I'm less itchy now that the staples are out but still experiencing some significant itchiness.

Yesterday was not a good day for me. It started with the fact that I slept only 40 minutes the night before. WHY I have no idea. And eventhough I tried to sleep during the day I couldn't so I spent the whole day exhausted which also had effected my food/drink intake. I got in about 50 oz of liquids but only a tiny bit of protein. And I'm feeling the repurcussions today even though I slept an amazing 10 hours last night. I'm really weak today. So I'm going to really concentrate on getting sufficient liquids and protein.

I started today with a bit of unsweetened applesauce with unflavoured protein powder added. Tasted okay but I don't plan on making a habit of it as it has 13 g of carbs.

Hope everyone has a great day!
Lisa

[Girlrocker]

Hi Lisa, you definitely had a sucky day There's definitely an ebb and flow to healing from this type of major surgery, so the things you are experiencing are relative. Not that it makes you feel any better! Just keep in mind all the work you had done, and the fact that you are now dealing with most of your stomach being removed. You're still detoxing from anesthesia too, that stuff really wreaks havoc on the body. You're right on to keep focusing on fluids. And your choice of unsweetened applesauce with some unflavored protein was a good one. Use the 50g carb as a guideline, plus the apple source is a complex carb fruit, apples are low sugar and have fiber. And GOOD for you for paying attention! You're aiming for 30g of protein now, keeping the fluids up is most important. You'll probably feel tired and weak, on top of the actual physical recovery, but it will get better once you can eat solid foods.

Staples ugh. Very uncomfortable, I know I lived for the moment when I was fully unplugged/undone from all that stuff, because of my revision I came home with 2 drains and a feeding tube. JOY when it was all gone.Hang in there!

[Butterfly]

I'm now 18 days post surgery.
I am healing slowly but surely. I still have 5 incisions (out of 9) that are not yet closed completely but the pain is now minimal. I am taking a painkiller only 1-2 times daily.

I still feel quite weak and nearly had a breakdown in a parking lot a few days ago when I didn't have the strength to walk to my car.

A friend pointed out that I am doing way better than a week ago but I'm not seeing it. I still get jelly legs after a short walk.

Despite having lost 700 ml of blood during surgery, I'm not anemic according to my recent blood test results so that doesn't explain my fatigue. My PCP wants me to speak to my surgeon as she doesn't think I should be feeling so crappy at this point.

I'm not having any problems getting in my water and protein as long as I pay attention. As soon as I get distracted and forget to drink I fall behind but yesterday I drank 11 glasses of water/herbal tea.

The latest development for me is that I have developed nausea. I seems to happen after I eat, especially if it's a fatty food. Friday it was an egg with mayo that made my nauseous for hours and today it was a couple of tablespoons of chicken liver pate. My PCP gave me Pramin which I hope will help.

-- Lisa

[goodkel]

Apr 13, 2014 15:36:01 GMT -5 Butterfly said:

I'm now 18 days post surgery.
I am healing slowly but surely. I still have 5 incisions (out of 9) that are not yet closed completely but the pain is now minimal. I am taking a painkiller only 1-2 times daily.

I still feel quite weak and nearly had a breakdown in a parking lot a few days ago when I didn't have the strength to walk to my car.

A friend pointed out that I am doing way better than a week ago but I'm not seeing it. I still get jelly legs after a short walk.

Despite having lost 700 ml of blood during surgery, I'm not anemic according to my recent blood test results so that doesn't explain my fatigue. My PCP wants me to speak to my surgeon as she doesn't think I should be feeling so crappy at this point.

I'm not having any problems getting in my water and protein as long as I pay attention. As soon as I get distracted and forget to drink I fall behind but yesterday I drank 11 glasses of water/herbal tea.

The latest development for me is that I have developed nausea. I seems to happen after I eat, especially if it's a fatty food. Friday it was an egg with mayo that made my nauseous for hours and today it was a couple of tablespoons of chicken liver pate. My PCP gave me Pramin which I hope will help.

-- Lisa

You are not even one month out from having most of your stomach removed. Of course you are still going to tire easily. My pcp gave me a temporary handicap parking permit for three months. I did fine getting out and walking the store grocery shopping but, I was at the very end of my stamina by the time I was done. I was incapable of loading or unloading the car at that point.

It sounds to me like you are doing great.

[melanie74]

Apr 13, 2014 15:36:01 GMT -5 Butterfly said:

I still feel quite weak and nearly had a breakdown in a parking lot a few days ago when I didn't have the strength to walk to my car.

I was about 4 weeks out before I even attempted to go to Wal-Mart and I remember being in so much pain -- one of my incisions was still really sore and I didn't have any binder.  I got about half way down the store and I was just sweating up a storm (it was like 30 degrees outside and everyone was looking at me like I had some strange illness as I hobbled along, sweating profusely).     I looked at my husband, with our half full cart, and said "I have to sit down.  RIGHT NOW. I can't take another step."  Poor guy was panicked - there was no bench anywhere in site …  just barely made it to the car before I started sobbing…  looking back I can laugh at my emotions that day - but at the time, it really felt like my world was crumbling.  

I do still get weak sometimes, but it's better … and I'm 12 weeks out.  Like goodkel says -- it does take time… and at least for me, longer than I planned.  I do think you're doing great though!  HANG IN THERE!!

[Girlrocker]

Lisa, good to hear an update from you. The early post-op time can really, well, suck Nausea is common, related to anesthesia and the actual GI nature of your surgery. Plus, you didn't just have your sleeve done, you had that awful nick of your spleen and extra work done. Healing typically takes 4-6 weeks and that means the insides, not just the external healing of the incision(s). I had nausea on/off too early on, lots of us do, and hopefully you'll be given some anti-nausea medication. Certain foods might trigger it for now, but you can try them again later. You might need to switch things around protein-wise to find things that continue to agree with you. HANG in there, things will get better and vent away here any time you need to.

[Butterfly]

Thank you goodkel, Melanie and Girlrocker!!!
I needed to hear that I'm not the only one.
Melanie... I did burst into sobs the minute I got into the car.  I would have been thoroughly ashamed of myself except I was so glad I made it to the car before that happened instead of having to sit on the ground sobbing!

I am still having trouble trying to accept that I only have the sleeve. I am reading forums and chats about the sleeve and see that it has helped many people but there was a reason I chose the DS.  If I was two years old I would throw a full blown tantrum and yell "that's not fair" while stamping my feet.  

Diabetes - that's what made me want to have WLS again.  The weight loss is a bonus but I wouldn't have done it for the weight loss alone.  My blood glucose levels are down 30 points and I'm not taking my metaformin. (My numbers were not so high to start with.)  So yes, it's helped a bit and I'm sure continued weight loss will help further.  But bottom line, I wanted it gone and that's why I was willing to go through all of this.  

I keep playing the same scenario over in my head... I'll work really hard, lose significant amounts of weight, get healthier....... and then I'll start gaining, be ashamed to see friends who will be shocked to see me gain weight again, see my health decline again.  JUST LIKE WITH THE BAND!

I don't know if I can do this again.   I wanted the DS because I believed it offered me good long term results.  I can't face doing all this only to lose a far less percentage of weight and then have a much greater rebound as the sleeve stats report.  

Restrictive surgery is restrictive surgery.  Yes the band was crap but it was restrictive just like the sleeve.  I need the malabsorption of the DS to be successful.  I know myself and believe I made the right decision for me and feel cheated.  

I'm sure than once I heal and can get back to exercising and working and living my life, I'll feel better emotionally but this nightmare will still be true... I woke up with the wrong surgery.  

Thanks for listening to me vent!
- Lisa

[Girlrocker]

{{{{Lisa}}}} I wish I could jump on a plane and give you big hugs!

You have nothing to be ashamed of, for starters. The sleeve in of itself is a big surgery, let alone all that happened to you when he as in there. And, I'm really glad you have poured your heart out here, I know this has to be so painful for you on every level imaginable, and you do need to vent it out. For people who don't have metabolic issues, the sleeve is just fine, and a much better alternative to the lapband, regularly gaining in popularity vs. the band. But it wouldn't be enough for me either, and this is not a vanity surgery, we do it to be healthy, it's the only solution, fair shot we have at not only losing the weight but keeping it off.

What happened with your surgery is NOT your fault, this was 100% surgical error; you deserve nothing but empathy and compassion from the people around you who love you, whether family or friends. This was not your second procedure - it was half the procedure you signed on for. You need to heal mentally as well as physically from this in order to asses your next steps. But you are well within your rights to have your surgeon fix you on HIS time and dime, is is not a THIRD surgery. Please, take yourself off that blame hook. You have the sleeve right now and it will work, you will lose, and you will learn very valuable tools about eating, training wheels for a DS should you go the rest of the way.

I can't begin to imagine honestly the grief you feel; but I know the anguish and shame I felt with my RNY failing me; I didn't know much about the DS in 2002, it was hard to find information then, my insurance wouldn't have approved it but honestly? I bought the medical line back then about it being the 'gold standard'. I believed my first rate hospital, my top notch surgeons, and was later crushed by the process.

I can't say enough, stay here, with us, post as often and as much as you need; I know your support options are limited where you are and it might not even be possible to find a therapist/counselor who would be empathetic, 'get it' though it's worth a try. You don't have to figure this all out now, hang in there and keep in touch, ok?

Apr 15, 2014 13:44:57 GMT -5 Butterfly said:

Thank you goodkel, Melanie and Girlrocker!!!
I needed to hear that I'm not the only one.
Melanie... I did burst into sobs the minute I got into the car.  I would have been thoroughly ashamed of myself except I was so glad I made it to the car before that happened instead of having to sit on the ground sobbing!

I am still having trouble trying to accept that I only have the sleeve. I am reading forums and chats about the sleeve and see that it has helped many people but there was a reason I chose the DS.  If I was two years old I would throw a full blown tantrum and yell "that's not fair" while stamping my feet.  

Diabetes - that's what made me want to have WLS again.  The weight loss is a bonus but I wouldn't have done it for the weight loss alone.  My blood glucose levels are down 30 points and I'm not taking my metaformin. (My numbers were not so high to start with.)  So yes, it's helped a bit and I'm sure continued weight loss will help further.  But bottom line, I wanted it gone and that's why I was willing to go through all of this.  

I keep playing the same scenario over in my head... I'll work really hard, lose significant amounts of weight, get healthier....... and then I'll start gaining, be ashamed to see friends who will be shocked to see me gain weight again, see my health decline again.  JUST LIKE WITH THE BAND!

I don't know if I can do this again.   I wanted the DS because I believed it offered me good long term results.  I can't face doing all this only to lose a far less percentage of weight and then have a much greater rebound as the sleeve stats report.  

Restrictive surgery is restrictive surgery.  Yes the band was crap but it was restrictive just like the sleeve.  I need the malabsorption of the DS to be successful.  I know myself and believe I made the right decision for me and feel cheated.  

I'm sure than once I heal and can get back to exercising and working and living my life, I'll feel better emotionally but this nightmare will still be true... I woke up with the wrong surgery.  

Thanks for listening to me vent!
- Lisa

[melanie74]

Lisa - I think everything you feel is warranted. Most if not all of us would be the same. I know it's tough to fight the weight battle and lose ... After my band so many people thought I was a success that they went and got banded. And then I started to gain- it was hard to even speak to people that hadn't seen me in a long time. The looks on their faces and the questions about my band.... I was so humiliated.

But - just because that was your band experience doesn't mean it and to be your sleeve experience. There are people who are successful - and I agree with Sharyl - your story may not be over. Why not give yourself 6 months and finish the DS?

I will tell you this: there are days when I know I had to choose the DS because I was almost 400 lbs .... But in my heart I wish I hadn't. I want to take it all back and be "normal" again. Not be deficient or have terrible smelly gas. I hope that this changes with time as I start to accept my "new normal" - but I'm being honest. For a newbie, sometimes it's tough accepting the DS life.

[amydroe]

Lisa, I'm so sorry your going through all of this.

I was sure I was going to wake up from surgery with a sleeve due to scar tissue from prior surgeries. My surgeon even told me that he was going in to do the sleeve and if that went ok and didn't take hours he would do the switch.
I did wake with a full switch but I won't lie, sometimes I wish I never did this at all. I know it's because I am only 3 weeks out and this is a hard time. It will pass and so will your hard time. I had already decided that if I wake with the switch then I will make the best of it. It would be my kick start to get to a weight that I could more comfortably work out. I hope you are able to find peace with this and kick some ass in your weight loss journey.

[goodkel]

This is not over until YOU decide that it is over.

If you have serious doubts about losing enough weight and maintaining that weight long term, you should start making waves with your surgeon about when to schedule part 2 of your DS.

All bariatric surgeries provide a temporary remission from diabetes. The DS is the only surgery with a 95-98% cure rate.
There are plenty of studies that would bolster the reasons for you to get the second half of your surgery, if for no other reason than to control your diabetes. We have a whole board filled with studies, like this one from Dr. Roslin comparing the surgeries:

weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/4703/new-research-roslin-gluc-tolerance

[Butterfly]

It's been a few days since I last posted here as I've been so busy with life in general (my brother and his family came to visit from abroad) and the fact that I've been suffering with intense, sharp, stabbing pains below my largest incision.

Despite the pains, I'm still managing to get in my water and protein so I am beginning to feel confident that I'm on my way with that. I'm 24 days out from surgery and I'm getting an average of 50 grams of protein daily.

Girlrocker, thank you for your words of support. You know just what to say. If you're ever looking for a new career, you should definitely consider counseling/therapy. You're a natural!

While I was lurking here in the months before my surgery I feel like I really got to know everyone and so eventhough I'm not YET a DS'er, I feel at home here. The online support is so important! No one else around me gets any of it. Sometimes I get so frustrated that my family and friends are so complacent about what is such a huge life decision for me.

Amydroe & Melanie, thank you for your honesty about adjusting to switched life. For me, I think I'm also experiencing a sort of anti-climax post surgery. I had myself all worked up to learn about a new anatomy, an new way of eating, a new digestive system etc. and now I'm just dealing with a restrictive surgery which after the band is really not such a big deal. And if it was just that then fine, but on top of it, I seem to be experiencing a somewhat sluggish recovery, not to mention this new pain I'm dealing with over the past 3 days. I read your posts and sometimes I think to myself "fortunately I don't have to worry about this or that" but then I kind of snap back to myself and remind myself that I wanted/needed that - the good, the bad, the ugly, the smelly - to make a permanent change.

Goodkel - you are absolutely right! It's not over till I decide it's over. I wanted this surgery badly and I had to fight for it in a number of ways. And if I want to finish it.... I need to re-commit. I think that's where I'm having a hard time right now. Intellectually I have no question in my mind, I need to lose a lot of weight and I have diabetes so the DS is the right WLS for me (and I am willing and able to follow through with what is required afterwards).

Emotionally I'm not yet on an even keel. Obviously I'm still recovering physically and that is affecting my mood but also I am experiencing all sorts of negative emotions too - disappointment being a huge one and a sense of failure (eventhough I know it's not my fault).

Part of me is telling myself to work with the sleeve for as long as I can and then get switched. But part of me is afraid that I'll settle into complacency and never see it through. For me this is an issue I really need to work through!

I have an appointment to see my surgeon on May 4th and I will definitely raise the issue of finishing the DS with him then. I know that he doesn't have a problem with doing it 6 months afterwards but the insurance will give me problems (socialized medicine here) so I'd like to start tackling that.

- Lisa

[goodkel]

Wait too long and lose too much weight and you'll have a hard time getting approved for weight loss reasons. But, we have plenty of studies to provide you the ammunition for approval because of your diabetes.

May should be a good time to broach the subject with your surgeon. I'll be thinking of you.

[Butterfly]

I thought about that too!
Yet another reason not to wait.

[Girlrocker]

Apr 21, 2014 15:03:44 GMT -5 Butterfly said:

I thought about that too!
Yet another reason not to wait.

See, you're doing better and working your way through this. What happened is awful, but you will start to focus forward, think in practical, problem solving terms. Your surgeon nicking your spleen will never be your fault, and it's a complication related to major surgery. It's very good you are sussing this all out. It helped me a lot after what I went through with my RNY years ago to lock my head into doing what is was going to take to be well and healthy. Your situation is different, but I landed back in the hospital for six weeks about two weeks after my RNY, had another surgery to fix the problems. We just lock into coping skills to get through it. And you have a place to vent to, I know my support community at the time got me through the whole ordeal. Hang in there!

[Butterfly]

I thought I'd check in since this past Saturday was my one month surgery anniversary.

I've lost 8.3 kg/ 18 lbs - no complaints there.
Thanks to all the feedback, I'm doing better with the eating. I'm averaging 120 grams of protein daily which I think is too much so I'm starting to add in some vegetables to my meals. I've not gone over 40 grams of carbs in the past week which I'm really working hard at and I'm averaging 1,000 cals daily.

I've lost a couple of inches off my hips too. I've only had people notice the weight loss in my face but I can already wear shirts that are a smaller size.

And I finally started exercising again! Yesterday I walked for 35 minutes but it really was too hot so today I jumped on my elliptical machine and managed to do an honourable 30 minutes. I'm very tired but it felt great to move again.

The one thing that I'm really unhappy about is my blood sugar values. My fasting values are still too high without meds and I think I might need to keep taking the metaformin. I have an appointment with my PCP on Sunday morning and will see what she says then.

I also have an appointment with my surgeon on Sunday and will discuss with him the process of finishing the DS. I'll keep you updated!

Lisa

[Butterfly]

Last Sunday I finally met with my surgeon for my post-op follow up.  I brought up the idea of finishing the DS as soon as possible (as he mentioned the morning after my surgery) but this time he wouldn't hear of it.

He absolutely refused to even discuss anything about it!!!
He was rude and patronizing and made it out as if I wanted to have surgery for surgery's sake.  

Needless to say, I was almost in tears when I left his office but now a week later I'm ANGRY!  Very, very angry.  It's totally reasonable to do the DS in two stages and yet he won't even consider it.  

Feeling very abandoned right now!
- Lisa

[goodkel]

Can you get another surgeon? Do you have a hard copy of your surgical report? How about written confirmation that you had been approved for the DS?

I am furious for you.

Your surgeon needs to fix HIS mistake. Let's work on making that happen.

[melanie74]

Wow - that just pisses me off for you!!! I hate when doctors act like asses and treat us poorly. Are there other docs in his practice? I don't even know how to begin to help you get help. I wonder if he is a doc who tells people he will do the DS but never does. Is there a way to get in touch with any other patients of his? Does he have a support group?

Can you reach out to your insurance and see if they would approve thru another doc?

[nursemelanie]

Ridiculous! They gave good suggestions. Also was anyone else present after surgery when he discussed completing the DS?

Approved for VSG to DS end of June 2014/ Dr Boyce in Knoxville /Age 40/5'8"/HW 287/CW 282