5 days in the hospital and Im Finally home !

I had my revision surgery on 11-14-2012 after surgery they told me the band removal went fine and they were able to repair a hiatal hernia , that was a surprise to them ( and me ) and sleeve me in one procedure. I was SO relieved to have had it done in once procedure.  The day after surgery I started throwing up water and unable to keep it down . After a couple more tried they ordered an EGD for me . They told me if the scope went through easily then and showed no obstructions I should be fine and not need another surgery , but if it did not I could have excess scar tissue from the band and I could need another surgery . WHAT !! Yikes . So they did it and it showed no obstruction some swelling around the band area ( where the band was ) they told me to take liquids slow . For several days I was still throwing up just water, in fact it freaked me out because it looked like I was throwing up some blood as well. Finally around day 3 or so the water was staying down . So finally I was able to go home today . NOT an easy process that's for sure , but I am glad its over. The doc told me to progress my liquids slowly , as long as I was keeping liquids down I was fine , the minute i started if i did throwing up liquids I needed to come back . But to just take it slow .  So here goes ! Cross your fingers everything stays down now .

The DATE ! The Numbers !

Has been set ! For my surgery !!! Next Wednesday November 14th ! Its finally here and I cant believe it !
There have been times were I felt this lap band just might kill me . There have been times where I felt like I was going to die . There have been times where I felt like I wanted to die from this crap band I have installed in me ! For the last 2 or 3 yrs all I have wanted was to get the band OUT !! After road block after road block it is finally here ! My doc is amazing , he normally does not operate on Wednesdays but is going to so i do not have to wait til after Thanksgiving to get the surgery .

Thanks to everyone who has supported me and been there for me during this process. All my "real life " friends and all my " cyber friends" you all have been great.

There are those people who I no longer speak to or do not speak to much because they do not agree with my choice to have a revision . I have " done enough damage to my body " to those people I say this .. educate yourself before you speak about what you do not know ! The revision is just as important as the removal of the band . And if you do not know then do not speak about it !! But support , if you cant support then see ya !! Im off to my new life  ! New healthy life !!!

Facts about my surgery

Today was my nutritionist appointment for my surgery . I was suppose to have my pre op today but the doc had to reschedule so i go back tomorrow. I thought for the most part today was going to be repetition from when I had my lap band , but I did learn some new things . Some of the eating habits and ways that I will have to eat with the sleeve are different . For one because of the issues I have had with my band and the removal I most likely will have to double the amount of time on the post op diet. For instance instead of being on liquids for 2 weeks I will be on them for 4 . ( Piece of cake since thats all I have lived on for months anyway lol) Also with the sleeve I will have to take supplements for the rest of my life now . ( Multi Vitamin, B-12, B-1 and Calcium I think that's it )

So here are some interesting facts about the surgery ... First off ... 80% of my stomach will be cut out . My stomach will now be about the size of a highlighter !

Second 2-6 months post op my stomach will be so small the amount of food i will be able to eat 3 times a day will fit in this ....

An Altoids container . CRAZY huh . This is MUCH MUCH less than post op with the band . But I am ok with it . At about 6 months post op my food will fit on this .

A tea cup saucer . Meals should take me 30 minutes to eat , This amount of food even should take me 30 minutes to eat , I need to chew my food slowly and take very small bites. My husband asked me if i was ready for this . I will answer that the way I did with the band. Im ready for what I know is coming. I know I cant be prepared for everything. This surgery is going to be rough I think , recovery is going to be rough but I am as prepared as I can be. Am I ready to eat very small amounts of food ? Yes . Good quality food ? YES. I am just ready to eat FOOD .

Update

Yesterday I got approval for my surgery . I had to call and ask if I was approved for both the removal and the revision to the vertical gastric sleeve .. she said YES !! I Just had to make sure.
Today I got my EKG and Blood work done. Thursday I go see the nutritionist. Hopefully by this time next week I will have my date !!

APPROVAL !!!!

I just got an email from my doctors office. My surgery for my lap band removal AND Revision has been APPROVED !!!! I could have this over with in as little as a couple of weeks !!!!

A little update .

Lets see where do I start ? The last couple have weeks have not been good actually . My stomach for some reason is getting worse, I dont know if its the weather or just my situation in general getting worse ? I am not sure what is what . But about a week or 2 ago I slowly started to not be able to eat solids . I am now not able to eat solids really at all. When I mean solids i mean the closest I can get is MAYBE ground up hamburger meat smothered in sauce and that's a huge maybe. My meds no longer go down , which means my anxiety is VERY high , luckily its the cooler months so my migraines have not acted up since my other med I take prevents migraines.
I am currently on the search for a GOOD 100% organic protein shake ( Please dont tell me some Vi Shake or something like that ) I need 100% organic NOTHING artificial in them at ALL in order for me to tolerate them . I have tried a couple from whole foods and while they do not give me migraines they taste like saw dust !
My doctor has submitted my paper work to insurance. That was about 6 days ago .. I emailed them for an update I should hear something tomorrow, even if its " no word from insurance yet " .. So cross your fingers.

Nervous , Anxious , 4 Days til my revision appoitment

On Friday of this week I will finally go see my doctor about my lap band revision . I am nervous, anxious, excited, hopeful yet ready to be disappointed too . I keep telling myself things CANT be this easy for me to do this , but wishing they will be.

I am not sure how the appointment will be . I did find out it will only cost me $25 for the co pay and that is including the upper GI that will be done in the docs office. This is GREAT news .. Why ? Because on the off chance i have to wait until next year for my surgery the less money I put in now the better. My deductible will start over January first. So the less money I put out now the better.

I hope this appointment goes smoothly though and they tell me I need surgery asap . Honestly I dont see how they cant.

I was eating dinner last night and barely made it back to the kitchen before the vomit came out of my mouth ! (TMI huh ) No idea why it happened to me that quickly this time but it did . It seems the more time goes on the worse my situation gets. I am actually TIRED of potato soup lol

Im Effective !

I got the letter in the mail today that as of September first I am insured !! WHOOP WHOOP !!!
I have never been so happy to see a letter in my life ! Im so happy ! I go to the doc in 3 weeks !