Weight Loss Surgery - Just a Word or Two

I'm still around. Still reading here. Not doing so great but hey, that's part of the circle of things right?

Just trying to figure some stuff out for now.

Thought I better break silence and say something.

So there ya go.

It's really great to hear from you hubs. I've been wondering how you were doing. You know... you are one of my heros in here.

Thanks Magi. I'm not feeling too much like a hero these days. But I'm working on it.

Just haven't quite picked myself up since the meeting with the plastic surgeon.

Its nice to know you're here. You and so many others.

Hey Hubs, welcome back.

Whats shakin toots? talk to us.

Hey there Hubs,

Was wondering how you were doing. Think about you often... Talk to us hon...

I'll be back in soon.

Long story short, I have finally been able to take a step in the plastic direction again and have an out of Province appointment with a surgeon EXPERT in post weight loss, post gastroplasty. He's considered the best in the country. My doctor is supporting my request for my medical insurance to provide coverage as they agreed to here. And this man has an entirely different approach surgically which allows him to address the vascularity/necrotic tissue concern. I've spoken today to one of his patients who is 53 (I'm 50 this summer), has had several surgeries at his hands and who leads a support group with 75 active members who have also been his patients. She told me to use her name when I called his office this morning and she was sure he'd get me in right away. He had a cancellation for tomorrow afternoon so I'm dropping everything else and making the 6 hour drive tonight. Fortunately, I also have clients there so I can combine some business with this tomorrow too but that's just a bonus at this point.

I'm scared to be hopeful again. Its been a long, long wait but I'm told he actually processes the paper work and doesn't believe in keeping his patients waiting for years as I have been to date.

Wish me luck.

OHHHHH Hubs !! I've got my fingers and toes crossed....saying prayers and hail mary's....whatever it takes !!!!!!

Hubs.. I am feeling optimistic about this new surgeon (based on what you said about him), I hope it all works fine for you.. But I am wondering how is your general health, the last time you posted, you were malnourished.. Are you better now? Keep us posted and good luck :)

Oh boy... GOOD LUCK !!!!!

I know your frustration only to well, but try to keep positive. If its meant to be than it will be... have faith.

Let us know how you make out when you get home.

HUGS !!!

Keeping you in my prayers. Good luck Hubs!

sending hugs and warm thoughts and the conviction that THIS WILL WORK OUT!!!!! you might have some work to do on your end, but i have a good feeling about this.

thank you for posting. you've been missed.

This may be a little long.

As many of you know I was knocked pretty hard in early April. I knew I had to eat more. Weight loss has not progressed for the past couple of months. And no surgery which meant that I was forced to look at living in this body as it is for the rest of my life. You'd think after losing as much as I have that would be ok right? But it wasn't. You know the old saying ' I might be fat but I can lose weight'?? Well, all of a sudden things seemed to have gone as far as they could and it wasn't far enough. I REALLY crashed hard into feelings of despair, and lots of anger.

So, fast forward to yesterday. When I first sat across from this surgeon and he read the letter's from the last guy who refused to do me, he flat out said I was NOT a candidate based on that information with a severe tone. But he said he'd take a look at my stomach since I was there. When he examined me, he stood there and looked, and looked, and looked. And finally said 'so where's this incision from the gallbladder?!?!' I pointed WAY down where it sits about on a par with my belly button which is below the belt line buy inches. He said 'its way down THERE?!?!' Then he said 'ok, that changes everything. I expected after reading all of that that it would be just under your ribs and right breast because they're usually very high.' It probably started out that way when I was 350 but its sure not high any more.

So after he examined me carefully we sat and talked and reviewd so many things. I'm approved for a full beltline abdominoplasty (not just the pannus removal) which means starting at the back and coming around full throttle. Believe it or not, he says he can make me quite tiny and expects to remove about 75 pounds with the lipo that runs into the hips and thighs on top of what he removes. Amazing. I mean, amazing.

He wrote me a prescription for a new medication that's a narcotic analog which he said is very effective for post op pain for those who have narcotic allergies as I do and asked me to try it right away BEFORE the surgery. I took some last night and no reaction thank God.

We talked about my concerns over the Raynaud's Syndrome in terms of the importance of doing the surgery when its hot outside so I'm not having problems maintaining body temperature and circulation.

Last time I crashed in recovery I was also still on Metformin which was not a good drug for me. I was suffering from a reasonable buildup of lactic acid in my muscles and of course the heart is a muscle. I've been off it for nearly a year now and I believe that will make a difference in terms of risk too.

I've been eating my supplements like crazy and as most of you know that means a complex mix of stuff well into the therapeutic range. I'll keep doing that, and I'm eating more too. The palpitations are still present but I'll be cutting caffeine altogether effective today.

So here's the really big news. Because I brought him all he needed to bill my insurance, I will be in possibly the week of June 5 and if not, then a firm date of July 17. But I'm thinking June will happen. I have a speaking engagement on both June 5 and 27 but if I can get in on say June 8 I should be ok for speaking again by the 27. Pushing it I know, but I want as many weeks in the summer to heal as I can possibly get.

So there you go. Your prayers and good thoughts must have helped shine some light on my path ladies. Thanks so much.

75 pounds!!! There won't be anything left of me!!!

Hubs this is so great!!! I am so happy for you :) :) :)
Finally, the light at the end of the tunnel :)

Good luck with everything :)
D.

oh hubs. i'm so happy for you - you're getting what you want and with someone who actually knows what he's doing and can help you!!!!

ya GOTTA keep us posted. right?

WTG ! WHOOT !!!!! take ooodles of pictures so we can see please. I'm glad things are working out for you.

I have some before pics that I took before the breast reduction that include my belly, but I'll take more of the belly. Then the after ones at stages of healing. He told me something interesting. Keep in mind this man specializes in weight loss revisions, but before that he specialized in helping serious burn victims. Anyway, he tells me the reason they don't concern themselves with whether or not a person has lost ALL the weight has to do with the way capillaries and such are damaged by the obesity in the first place and as the average person loses 100 pounds it seems that the ability of those vessels to both deliver nutrients to the skin and underlying tissue, and to carry away toxins (including fatty tissue biproducts) is greatly compromised. He said it actually gets harder and harder to lose remaining adipose tissue if it gets really concentrated in one area like it is in my belly. That's why I'm so stuck at this weight I guess. Because its all more or less concentrated in one spot. When I had my breast reduction, they were nearly down to my navel, but you could literally role them up. There was virtually no breast tissue or fat. Just skin.

I thought this was very interesting.

I talked to two my sons today and told them I'm going ahead. They are scared as can be of course. DH is kind of in this state of petrification too. But I've told them all that I have no intention of becoming this doctor's first mortality.

I'm just feeling so, so ready. The knot I felt in my stomach with both other doctors is NOT there with this one.

Congratulations!! I know this is a huge step towards what you want for yourself. Please do keep us updated. I know I'm not the only one who views you as an inspiration!

Great News Hubs !!! I'm so glad for you. 75 lbs !!!! WOW... you're right... there won't be anything left of you LOL

pssst. hubs. if my plastic surgeon for some reason can't do mine [and he also trained as a burn surgeon!] can i borrow yours? he sounds like he's just exactly what you need - smart, well informed, capable, confident.

of course everyone's nervous about this - but with his track record, and the fact that he knows everything about what you've been through and is well prepared to deal with it [rather than being scared off!], you're in good hands here.

This is simply amazing. Prayer works! I'm so happy for you. You really deserve all the happiness you can stand! Congrats and keep us posted!

Wow, that's great hubs! So soon! I pray that everything goes well for you.

Well. I have a date. July 17 which is really, really good for me. Optimal in fact.

I do have to pay the difference between what my home province insurance will cover and what the cost is, about $4000 but I'm ok with that. Difference between a full beltline abdominoplasty that actually starts around my back and comes all around, lipo along hips and thighs and some on the stomach as well. An optimal procedure and since I only intend to get cut once, it needs to be done RIGHT!

The head of the medical approval committee called me personally this morning with the decision about payment and was very apologetic over the fact that he couldn't get full coverage. But... he said to me 'you know, I speak to doctors literally all over the world, every day. I just want you to know I've NEVER encountered a Dr. more confidence inspiring, more willing to advocate for their patient, so prompt in responding or so willing to be accomodating then this Dr. and his staff. I feel you are in VERY good hands and wish you the best.' Now that felt good I tell you!

I also woke up the other morning from a lucid (half in this world half out kind of texture if you kwim) dream. In the dream, all of those people involved in my care through this procedure were standing in a circle and one nurse was holding a very luminescent stone. The stone reflected my 'life energy'. Each person had focused intensely on my prognosis for surviving this surgery (since it IS elective) and had agreed I would survive the surgery and they were all focused on caring for my 'life'. Wow.

Then I met a client of mine, a retail client and when I looked at her face I knew in a moment she had that stone. I didn't speak to her about it. But I not only knew she had it, I knew exactly where it was in her store. I could actually 'see' it.

So yesterday, when I told DH that he agreed we should go to her store right away (she is about 2 1/2 hours out of town btw) and the moment I walked into the store the stone was right where I 'saw' it. I picked it up and it was like it was totally in line with me. I know this sounds strange to some. DH thinks he's officially with a nut who talks to stones lol. But so does the woman who owns the store! Anyway, I held the stone for about 5 minutes and then, still without saying anything to her about why I wanted it, I put it in her hands. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head!

As I was leaving the store (she actually gave me the stone as a gift) she said 'you're going to be fine with your surgery. The stone told me.'

So. I'm feeling so, so good about this. I feel I'm about to be set free I tell you.

Still struggling with the part of me that is freaking out over my eating as much as I am. I've gained back about 4 pounds this past month so I'm wanting to be careful. But I also know I have to be well nourished. So I'm telling the voices to be very quiet for now.

Wow huh?!?!?!

oh hugs. oh hugs. stop making me cry!!!! there IS a lot of positive energy in this world. and you're tapping into it. may i suggest trying QiGong? it's a centering exercise/meditation. brings the energy into your core, helps you breathe and relax. let me know if you want more info.

it's been a POWERFUL help to me over the past few months, as i struggle with the alzheimer's mom and not gaining weight and other assorted stress and image problems.

Hubs....that is beautiful and amazing. Thanks for sharing it. My mentor for over 25 years taught me to always pay attention to my dreams. I'm so happy for you. When you told us what the first doctor said I just couldn't believe it was the last word for you. There had to be something else. You just keep eating to be healthy. You're going to be so beautiful when this is all over!!!

Thank you for sharing this Hubs... amazing!