Wednesday, July 31, 2013
And we're off!
Leaving for the hospital in 20. I feel calm and excited. Happy. Hungry. Thirsty. LOL But mostly calm. Cross your fingers and toes!
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Bravery
I feel like this is the bravest thing I've ever done.
There are the risks of surgery and things that can go wrong. There are a million complications that can happen after surgery, including kidney and gallstones.
No one has forced me to do this. This is a choice. It takes guts. (pun intended) And bravery.
No one can guarantee this is the right decision. I may end up in worse shape.
But when the pros and cons are weighed, surgery wins.
Still takes bravery.
More than childbirth. (the outcome was fairly certain, and I knew she'd be adorable) More than getting married. (okay he was cute, but I had to put a dress on and walk down the aisle) More than my first delivery as a nurse on my own. This tops them all.
Diana
On a side note, it's a sad sad day when the only thing I get to eat is my chewable vitamins.
I truly enjoyed them. LOL
There are the risks of surgery and things that can go wrong. There are a million complications that can happen after surgery, including kidney and gallstones.
No one has forced me to do this. This is a choice. It takes guts. (pun intended) And bravery.
No one can guarantee this is the right decision. I may end up in worse shape.
But when the pros and cons are weighed, surgery wins.
Still takes bravery.
More than childbirth. (the outcome was fairly certain, and I knew she'd be adorable) More than getting married. (okay he was cute, but I had to put a dress on and walk down the aisle) More than my first delivery as a nurse on my own. This tops them all.
Diana
On a side note, it's a sad sad day when the only thing I get to eat is my chewable vitamins.
I truly enjoyed them. LOL
Friday, July 26, 2013
And so it begins.............
Today I start prepping for the surgery. Only clear liquids from now on. The next time I will actually eat food (and that will be pureed) will be August 11th, not that I am counting! (yes I am). I used to work with a doctor who fasted several days every month for religious reasons, and I keep thinking about him. It would have been great training for this. The hardest part so far is just remembering not to eat! And yes, I know, it's only 9 am on day one. Sad. :)
Mom and I are going shopping this afternoon. Shopping always includes lunch. I looked at her and said "Uh oh, no lunch for us." Mom came up with Plan B: lunch at Denny's. Food for her, chicken broth from their chicken noodle soup for me. Rearranging my mental attitude about food is going to be the biggest hurdle in this. My new mantra: Eat to nourish. Mantra #2 (I need extras): It's JUST food!
Today I start protein drinks three times daily to build me up for surgery. Also start injections twice daily to prevent blood clots during and after surgery. I have been taking extra vitamins and calcium for a month. This is a well-thought-out process and I get to reap the benefits of all of their years of experience at the Weight Loss Center in Peoria.
Surgery is at St Francis, and I feel at home there after roaming their halls for a few decades. It will be laparoscopic surgery, meaning several tiny incisions instead of one big one, and a faster and easier recovery. I will probably only be at the hospital 2 days post-op and off work for 2 weeks. My procedure is called Roux-en-y or Gastric Bypass surgery. There are 4 types of surgery, but this is the one they recommend to diabetic patients because it has been shown to help. This is one of the most exciting aspects to this surgery. I don't expect to be cured of my diabetes, like most Type 2 diabetics are. They get to stop all medications and insulin immediately after surgery. The cure is not in the weight loss per se, but in the lack of secretion of a hormone from the small intestine that suppresses the pancreas because that part of the small intestine is bypassed. With the hormone out of the picture, the pancreas is able to function more normally again. In my case, as a Type 1 diabetic, I am hoping for increased performance of my insulin (resistance to insulin increases with weight) and needing much less insulin due to the drastic decrease in carbohydrate intake. But I would take a cure too, if by some miracle it is bestowed upon me. Wouldn't that be sweet?
I told myself to keep these short, but it's so cathartic! I feel so calm afterwards.
Diana
Mom and I are going shopping this afternoon. Shopping always includes lunch. I looked at her and said "Uh oh, no lunch for us." Mom came up with Plan B: lunch at Denny's. Food for her, chicken broth from their chicken noodle soup for me. Rearranging my mental attitude about food is going to be the biggest hurdle in this. My new mantra: Eat to nourish. Mantra #2 (I need extras): It's JUST food!
Today I start protein drinks three times daily to build me up for surgery. Also start injections twice daily to prevent blood clots during and after surgery. I have been taking extra vitamins and calcium for a month. This is a well-thought-out process and I get to reap the benefits of all of their years of experience at the Weight Loss Center in Peoria.
Surgery is at St Francis, and I feel at home there after roaming their halls for a few decades. It will be laparoscopic surgery, meaning several tiny incisions instead of one big one, and a faster and easier recovery. I will probably only be at the hospital 2 days post-op and off work for 2 weeks. My procedure is called Roux-en-y or Gastric Bypass surgery. There are 4 types of surgery, but this is the one they recommend to diabetic patients because it has been shown to help. This is one of the most exciting aspects to this surgery. I don't expect to be cured of my diabetes, like most Type 2 diabetics are. They get to stop all medications and insulin immediately after surgery. The cure is not in the weight loss per se, but in the lack of secretion of a hormone from the small intestine that suppresses the pancreas because that part of the small intestine is bypassed. With the hormone out of the picture, the pancreas is able to function more normally again. In my case, as a Type 1 diabetic, I am hoping for increased performance of my insulin (resistance to insulin increases with weight) and needing much less insulin due to the drastic decrease in carbohydrate intake. But I would take a cure too, if by some miracle it is bestowed upon me. Wouldn't that be sweet?
I told myself to keep these short, but it's so cathartic! I feel so calm afterwards.
Diana
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Normal is overrated
Welcome to my journey through the crazy world of weight loss surgery. This adventure began about 10 years ago when my doctor said "Have you ever thought about doing weight loss surgery?"
And my reply was "Are you crazy? Why would I ask someone to cut up my perfectly normal GI system?"
Fast forward to last fall, when my new liver specialist said "You need weight loss surgery. I will drive you there myself, that's how badly you need to do this." And my thoughts were "Is he crazy? Why would I cut up a perfectly normal GI system that is functioning?"
Despite my fears, I began the process. He wasn't really giving me a lot of choice if I wanted to keep my liver functioning in a normal way. So I began working my way through the long checklist of requirements: paperwork, classes, doctor's appointments, bod pod, psych evaluation, more classes, support group meetings, monthly weigh ins, and learning a lot more about the whole thing.
Finally comes the first visit with the surgeon and he asks me how I am feeling about everything. My answer? You guessed it! I said "Am I crazy? I feel like it's crazy to take one of the few systems in my body that is actually working well and rearrange it." He paused, gave me a deadpan expression, and said "Well obviously it's working too well." LOL Couldn't argue with that!
And thus, the journey truly began at that moment. I have gone from terror to excitement and everything in between. I have taken out my suitcase, packed away the guilt I felt for not being able to do this the old-fashioned way, and embraced what is to be my new life.
I am inviting you along for the ride. I debated whether to keep it all private, but decided this would be therapeutic for me. I think it will help me adjust to the many changes about to happen. If it gets too boring, just fast forward to the pictures that will surely be coming.
Surgery is July 31st!
Diana
And my reply was "Are you crazy? Why would I ask someone to cut up my perfectly normal GI system?"
Fast forward to last fall, when my new liver specialist said "You need weight loss surgery. I will drive you there myself, that's how badly you need to do this." And my thoughts were "Is he crazy? Why would I cut up a perfectly normal GI system that is functioning?"
Despite my fears, I began the process. He wasn't really giving me a lot of choice if I wanted to keep my liver functioning in a normal way. So I began working my way through the long checklist of requirements: paperwork, classes, doctor's appointments, bod pod, psych evaluation, more classes, support group meetings, monthly weigh ins, and learning a lot more about the whole thing.
Finally comes the first visit with the surgeon and he asks me how I am feeling about everything. My answer? You guessed it! I said "Am I crazy? I feel like it's crazy to take one of the few systems in my body that is actually working well and rearrange it." He paused, gave me a deadpan expression, and said "Well obviously it's working too well." LOL Couldn't argue with that!
And thus, the journey truly began at that moment. I have gone from terror to excitement and everything in between. I have taken out my suitcase, packed away the guilt I felt for not being able to do this the old-fashioned way, and embraced what is to be my new life.
I am inviting you along for the ride. I debated whether to keep it all private, but decided this would be therapeutic for me. I think it will help me adjust to the many changes about to happen. If it gets too boring, just fast forward to the pictures that will surely be coming.
Surgery is July 31st!
Diana
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