I Have New Friends

Hi guys:

I feel so good! Did you see my weight? 288.8 WOW!

I'm feeling great. Besides yesterday I went to my first OH support group, my first one in life and I enjoyed it very much.

All the members of the group were awesome, very nice people, and all of them had an amazing weight loss, and a lot of advices for me. I'm so happy I went, Thanks Little Michele for telling me. I will go to the following ones for sure.


Christina

My First Visit to Dr, Pehrsson's Office After the Surgery

Today it's been two weeks since my surgery

I feel great! and I'm very happy because Dr. Pehrsson told me that I'm doing great, that almost all the patients loose 30 lbs in the first month and I lost 20 in two weeks.

I hope I can keep this pace because if I slow down I'll get frustrated.

Dr. Pehrsson said that everything is good, Pam his nurse, said that it is very important to drink all the proteins because the weight loss depends on it, maybe that is why two days ago I didn't loose an ounce, because I didn't drink all my proteins.

Now I am into the proteins mood, LOL I'll drink all of them instead of all that water.

Today I'm going to my first support group reunion, I'm excited, I can't wait to meet new people with my same problem.

Wish me luck


Christina

I Got the Flu

Oh my.. I feel terrible.. My son got the flu last week and I have been taking care of him with high fever etc. two nights in a row without having a good night sleep, so I guess my defenses or something got me, and I got the flu too.

Now I feel terrible, soar throat, stuff nose, coughing a lot... I haven't get any fever yet, but I just started feeling bad this early morning.

I lost another pound though. Wish me luck going through it.

On Tuesday I'll see Dr. Pherrson. and on Wednesday I'll start "Phase III"
that means vegetable cream soups, yogurt, and something else that I can't remember now, but I'm looking forward to the soups, those are my favorites.

I'm getting to the point that I hate the shakes, I don't know if that happens to everyone, or it's just me. I re-order them and this time I'll try the chocolate one, let's see if that helps a little bit.

I'll be back soon.

Christina

How I Feel

Today is the 9th day after the surgery and I'm 292.6 lbs, I'm still wearing my same clothes, they are not looser or anything, they might be a little, but not much.

I can see a small difference on my belly and also on my face, and my friends at Ryan's school said that you can see the difference in my face. It's also my mood, now I feel happy and fine, but most of all healthy.

Every day is easier to follow the diet, it's like I'm getting used to it, the last two days I haven't had any cravings.

My son Ryan is right here sitting on my lap and reading what I type, now he is laughing out loud. LOL

I'm back to my full day activities, they are not that many though, but I'll start going out on walks with my friend Maria and I'm back at my scrapbook classes.

I already finished one container of the protein drink, I re-order them, that will be a little too expensive because I finished one and a quarter container in 9 days and they are not cheap $54.95 each plus tax plush Shipping, so you can imagine.

I hope I won't need them for the rest of my life. I don't know. I have a bunch of doubts, I hope to clarify them on Tuesday that I'm seeing my surgeon.

My stomach is fine, still some cramps but not very many. I think most of the air is out because it doesn't look bloated anymore. My wounds are still licking a little bit of fluid, it's a pain on the neck to go out because I need to put a small towel on top of the wound that is dripping, otherwise I will get soaked.

That is another thing that I want to ask Dr. Pherrson, Is this stopping soon? I can't wait for June, on June 11th my 5 phases would be over and I hope a lot of my weight gone, and then the summer, swimming suits, pool, etc. etc. I can't wait to see myself thinner. I dream with it every night. I will keep dreaming until the day is finally here.

Thanks for Reading!

Chris

I'm Driving !!!!!

Hi:

I decided to call Dr. Pherrson's office to ask about driving and I'm happy I did, I talked to Shannon, one of the girls in charge of the patients and she said that if I'm not taking my Vicodin anymore and I'm feeling good, there is no reason to refrain from driving.

So guess what... Yes I went out, shopping of course (hey I'm a girl) and I drove straight to Mitchael's. I don't want to buy new clothes yet, besides I still can wear mines, so I went to get some glitter that I needed and a few other things that got on my way LOL.

I walk through the store twice, (that was my daily walk) and to be honest when I got out I was feeling really tired, besides the walking inside the store, I parked the car the fardest I could from the entrance, that way I force myself to walk (before I tried to park right in front of the door).

This are some of the old habits that I want to break, I need to start living a new life in all senses, and I'm willing to do it.

Today I'm 293.6 and I feel great, next Tuesday I'll start with phase 3, and that is a little less hard, they incorporate vegetable cream soups, yogurt, custard, and thing like that, some new flavours, everything will still be blended and strained but it's ok.

I need to order new protein supplements already, it's amazing how fast the containers got empty.

If you keep reading, I'll keep posting so see you soon.

Christina

Wow!

It's been a while since the last time I was in the two hundreds!!!! I'm so happy, and it hasn't been so hard. Not at all. It's really worth it.

Let me clarify that I didn't lost 5 pounds in one day (I don't think I did) What happened is that I finished with my monthly girls issue, and I'm not retaining that water, besides the air that they pumped in for the surgery, is almost all out.

Today the Nutritionist from Dr. Pherrson's Office called me for the first week check up and guess what, I'm taking only half of my protein, (it is complicated) I supposed to drink 80 to 90 grams of proteins a day that will make 36 ounces of the protein shake, and I was only taking hardly 16 oz. a day. Now I will be drinking that most of the day, no wonder why I had head aches all day.


Next week on the 29th I will be seeing Dr. Pherrson, and I hope he will let me drive, my poor David (my husband) has been working really hard. He goes to work at 7, comes back at 11 to take Ryan to school, comes back at 3 to pick the kids from school, and he goes back to work. Besides he has been working really hard in the house and with the kids.

Now I feel a lot better. The licking of my wounds almost gone for good, they just itch a lot, I guess they are healing. I need to start doing some exercise, I wish the weather were a little hotter, and I'll be swimming all day LOL.

I'm trying to walk, keep forgetting though, it's hard to break with old habits, I used to spend my days on the computer, or doing cards, always sitting down, I WAS (Oh God it sound so good) so heavy that it was hard to walk. Now only 18.6 lbs less, I feel a lot better.

I wonder how would I feel after loosing all the weight. Would I feel like flying?? LOL

Thanks for reading my blog!
See you soon!!!


Christina

Yepeee !

Oh my God. I can't believe it, it's happening, I'm already in 300.4 lbs. On the date of my endoscopy I was 314. I'm so happy and excited.

Something scary happened yesterday; I went out to my scrapbook class, my friend Nancy came to pick me up, because I can't drive, it was necessary to take my car because hers was too low for me to get in. I was so happy of going back to my activities, doing my cards is what I like the best.

So I finished my class and to be honest I was feeling very tired of being sitting down for almost 3 hours. Before leaving home, I noticed that one of my wounds was liking fluid, it was like water with a little bit of blood, nothing to be scared about I thought. I went to the class, and when we came back I noticed that my pants were a little wet, I call the doctor's office and the nurse was busy, I was really freaking out, I didn't know if it was because it was getting infected or what. I call the nurse again and finally she answer, she told me not to worry that the fluid supposed to come out like that. She just asked me to take it easy and not overdue, and put some hot compress on top of the wounds.

This morning when I woke up, I was soaked, all wet, I guess from 3 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. it was dripping all the time. I'm not worried anymore, but it's nothing comfortable.

I'm getting a little tired of not having anything to chew, sometimes I need something crunchy to chew. I'm not hungry but it's just the necessity of chewing. LOL

Keep coming to read my progress, I'm proud of what I've accomplished already.

Chris

A good Day

Hi everyone:

Today is my 5 day post-op and I'm feeling better every day. I just can't get rid of this head ache. It's not that strong but it bothers me.

After going out yesterday, I slept like a baby, still on the couch because my bed is not as comfortable as it used to be before the surgery.

Today my friend Donna and her kids came to visit me and I was great, we chat for hours and while we were talking I got to finish almost all my protein drinks, today for the first day I could drink them all....

After Donna left, I went out to the pool and walk around it 6 laps, it's a regular size pool so I think that it was a good walk. And after the good walk I went to my scrapbook room and made two cards. It was a productive day don't you think? LOL

Tomorrow I'm going out again to one of my scrapbook classes. My friend Nancy is picking me up because I still can't drive, I hope that I feel good enough all the time. I'll see you guys tomorrow.

Did you see my weight meter? I will check my weight every 3 or 4 days because with an every day, it's not enough to make me scream....

Christina

I Went Out for the First Time

I did go to my kid's game. I took a hot shower first to feel better, I wore loose clothes and I went out, decided to have a great time...

It was good, I got to see my friends and that helped me with my mood, after being sitting down on the grades for more than an hour, my belly wounds started to hurt a little, and my back was sore, other than that I even drank two ounces of water.

I passed my first test. Everyone was chowing goodies that I love and I was ok. I can't tell that I didn't wanted to try them like they told me on the first seminar I went to. (per the surgeon) but I was ok, cuz my stomach was full of liquids.

I don't know how hard would it be in the future, but I know that I will survive.

I Miss my Mom

I slept last night on the couch, I went to bed around 11 p.m. and woke up at 6:30 to go to the bathroom. I was comfortable most of the night. I have other Lady issues (your now my monthly visitor) so I'm a little more sore but I will survive.

Oh God I miss my Mom so much! She couldn't help me this time because the poor thing broke her ankle and she is on crotches.

I'm taking my shake (protein) now and I will have a jell-o. Dr. Phersson's Office gave me a schedule for the way to drink my liquids and I discover that it's easier if I just take most of the proteins together, then the jell-o then some water, etc. instead of one ounce of protein, one of water, one of jell-o, etc.

I want to go out, I think I can. I have to walk to be able to release the gasses so I think I'll be going to my son's t-ball game and I'll write my experience later today.

Bye for now
Christina

The Second Day at Home

The first picture is before the surgery and the other one is today

In some aspects, today was a little better, I woke up with the same problem on my back and so upset because all night long I had to sit down every hour to relax my back or my side, and I hardly slept. Oh my God! I miss so much the hospital bed.


After waking up and starting to take my medications one by one (I mixed half pill with one zip of protein drink that was less awful) I went to sit down on the family room, I had a bad head ache and nothing works to get rid of it.



I started registering every sip that I take because I have to drink still 2 oz of liquid every half an hour. That is hard! you can't stop, you have to be drinking all the time in little sips.

Thanks God now I have a little more variety; The protein drink (banana or vanilla), jello (sugar free in all the flavours I could find) chicken bouillon, juice (apple and cranberry) and water. So I can't complaint that much.

I weighted myself yesterday. Before the hospital I think I was 311 lbs, now I am 304 lbs and I still have all that air inside, I hope that the air is giving me some extra weight.

My belly is still very bloated, and the bruces are worse, it hurts inside when I don't have my medicine on (vicodin) but I can survive without it. Yesterday I took it until around 9 p.m. to go to sleep and I was fine all day.

I'll be right back

Christina

Finally At Home

Yes Yes Yes! I'm at home!

And I'm not sure if that is better or not. At the hospital I was feeling good, of course I was on Morfin all the time, but since I got here I have had pain and I feel so weird. I was ready and waiting for my husband at the hospital and when he got to my room we started taking and he showed me a picture that Dr. Pherrson gave him right after the surgery. It's a picture of one of my ovaries that has a big "huge" tumor. Dr. Pherrson told David that it can be benign, but that we need to check with my gynecologist.

Dr. Soldo said the same, but he said that whatever it is we will need to

wait for a while to have any procedure.

My Time at home hasn't been very good, at night my bed seems to be harder than what I thought (it is a soft matres) and I have to be all night in one position (facing up) because if a turn to one side my stomach hurts, so I stayed facing up and then my back hurts a lot. Of course I have the problem of my broken ribs during the Heart Surgery, maybe that is why I am so uncomfortable. You have to consider that I also had the Heart Bypass only three years ago, and believe it or not, I'm still recovering, so it's harder for me, but for any of you will only be the gastric bypass, so it'll be easier.

I just woke up from my first night at home and I'm all sore, taking my medications (for my heart) has been a pain, because I think that with the breathing tube they hurted my through and it's been really hard to swallow the pills. I smash them but they taste terrible, I will need to find another way to take them.

I feel bad, I don't know what I need to do, I want to go to bed and at the same time I want to drink something, I'm so uncomfortable. I think I will go to the rest room, I'll write more later, I'm not good now.

The pictures are nurse Valerie, and the Volunteers that took me to the car.

Starting Phase Two

I'm so much better now, even when I didn't sleep very much because my sleep apnea was bad last night, (usually I don't even notice it at home, I know I have it because I was diagnosed when I visited the pulmonologist for the pre-surgery tests) but they took out the blather catheter that by the way wasn't painful at all (I was afraid of it), and believe it or not the best part is to be able to wear my underwear again.

I'm also starting phase two, I'm drinking 4 ounces of clear liquids an hour; that means JUICES!

and after 24 hours of drinking only water they taste great.

I have to dilute it with water, but still it has a great flavour.

One of Dr. Pherrson's Staff Doctors came to see me and she said I might be going home today. I thought I will need to have a bowel movement, but they told me is not always like that, anyway I took a second walk around, and that made me feel like going, so I'm waiting...

The pain has been mild, of course I'm on "Morfin" and as soon as it wears off the pain gets bad.

I took a picture of my wounds, they are not bad, don't freak out ! and the best part is that they don't hurt at all.

The only pain is the one inside, it's like the feeling that you have when you are bloated, just like that; It is just a little harder but that's it.

Of course this is with the pain killer medicine. I really haven't try it without the meds.

Thanks For Reading

Christina

I Made It !

It's 6:58 p.m. on the surgery day. I made it!! I'm feeling good a little stomach soreness though.

We got to the hospital at 4:40 a.m. and after registering in the admission department, they sent me to a room where they put the IV and made me sign a few papers. My husband and my poor babies (5 and 13) were there with us because I couldn't get there a baby sitter because of the hour.
My stomach is really sore, it feels like full of gas, and I can't pass it. It is because of all the air that they pumped in during surgery to be able to work in the stomach.


Today wasn't that bad, I didn't eat again, after the surgery they started giving me water. One ounce every hour, and I had to drink it with little zips, I needed to take a pill and I had too much water, my stomach feels like if I ate a hole big dinner, and it's not a pleasant feeling, and I only drank one ounce and a half because I also needed to take the potassium (half ounce).

So I think I will succeed this time. Now I'm going to go to sleep, I'm tired.
Christina

The Surgery Morning

Hello: It's 3:59 a.m. and I'm all ready to go, I showered and didn't use any lotion or anything , I haven't even drink anything since last night at 12 a.m. and I feel good.

I was a little nervous yesterday and my colon got a little swallen, I guess it'll be better in a few hours.

I have to be at the hospital in one hour, the surgery is programmed for 7 a.m., they said it could be delayed a few minutes.

My Husband took pictures of me wearing only my underwear, sorry guys too ugly to show them to you. LOL

Today I'm 311 pounds, I'll try to record my weight every day.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

Christina

I had the chance to acces internet at the hospital this are pictures of the surgery waiting room, I was ready to go, from there I went to the OR.

Still a few hours before the surgery

I think I made it through the day, but it's been hard. They asked me to be only in clear liquids and it's been very hard, all day long I have been with a bad head ache and really hungry. Thank God it's 8:50 p.m. almost time to go to sleep.

Tomorrow I have to be at the hospital at 5 a.m. and today I can't even drink water after 12 p.m.

I'm starting to get nervous, I think it is normal, they gave me too much time to think about the surgery.. LOL

Ok I will try to play on the computer for a little bit and then get in the shower and go to bed... Wish me luck...

Christina

The Day Before the Surgery

Hi again, Dr. Pherrson's Office call this morning, he said he will do the surgery. I'm so happy, I was feeling so guilty because I didn't read the instructions. It won't happen again.

I'm on clear liquid diet now, it means...

• Apple Juice sugar free
• Cranberry Juice sugar free
• Grape Juice sugar free
• Crystal Lite
• Sugar Free Jell-O
• Sugar Free Popsicles
• Fat Free Bullion (cubes) or Broth (in a can)
• Water

I can't have...

• Caffeine
• Citrus Drinks
• Milk Products
• Alcohol
• Carbonated Drinks

And I cant eat or drink anything after midnight tonight so I can have the surgery tomorrow.
I won't be able to write for a few day, I will try my laptop from the hospital, but I'm not sure it will work.

See you in a few days...

Christina

Two Days Before the Surgery

Today is Sunday April 13th, my surgery would be on the 15th. on Friday I went to the Huntington Memorial Hospital to do my pre-ops (Blood test and paper work) and when I was filling the papers with the nurse and talking about my medications, she asked me if I stopped taking my daily aspirin and... oops! I didn't, I didn't take it that morning on the 11th but that was it.

Dr. Pherrson's staff, gave me a paper that clearly said

"10 TO 14 DAYS BEFORE SURGERY YOU MUST STOP ANY BLOOD THINNING AGENTS UNLESS OTHERWISE ADVISED, SUCH AS COUMADIN, ASPIRIN, AND OF COURSE ANY ANTI-INFLAMATORY AGENTS SUCH AS ALEVE, ADVIL, IBUPROFEN, MOTRIN, EXCEDRIN, AND LODINE. PLEASE RECHECK Y OUR DRUG WARNING LIST AT THIS TIME."

... and I didn't read it, so the nurse called Dr. Pherrson's office and told them what had happened and they called me back. they said Dr. Pherrson was gone for the day, but he might want to CANCEL my surgery, they will call me on Monday to let me know what he decided because it can be very dangerous to just go ahead with the surgery and then my bleeding won't stop.

So today is Sunday the 13th and I'm still without knowing what is going to happen.

I'm all ready to go, I bought my protein drinks (https://www.bariatrxessentials.com) and got all my tests, I organized my life (in case I don't come back)"just kidding" and got a baby sitter for my kids. I hope everything will be as planned.

Let's see what happens. I will write more as soon as I have any news. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask, I'll be happy to answer it if I can.

Thanks for reading.

Christina

Pre-Surgery Testing

After the Seminar, I had an appointment with Dr. Pehrsson at his office, I talked to him about my fears and more or less what the procedure would be, of course everything was clear from his seminar.

I was still pending with my insurance, nevertheless, I started with the pre surgery testings.

They gave me a bunch of papers with all kinds of prescriptions;

• Fasting Labs
• Endoscopy
• Abdominal Ultra Sound
• Mammogram
• Chest X-Ray
• EKG
• Sleep Study
• Pulmonary Clearance
• Nutrition Consultation
• Psychological Clearance
• Cardiac Clearance

Of course they gave me a prescription for each one of them and I started right away...

The Endoscopy

To be honest, everything sounded easy for me, I'm used to have doctors around me all the time. The only test that was giving me a little bit of chills was the endoscopy, for that reason I left it to the very end. I didn't wanted to have the endoscopy until my insurance said a 100% yes and I was completely sure that I was going to have the surgery.

Dr. Pherrson's office sent me to Dr. Shirish C. Patel, he is a general surgeon and specialized Gastroenterology and Endoscopy

Dr. Shirish Patel is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at USC in Los Angeles. His specific interests are in laparoscopic surgery, colorectal surgery, breast surgery, and gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Dr. Patel has been in practice in the San Gabriel Valley for the past 29 years and is on staff at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center, Arcadia Methodist Hospital, and Huntington Memorial Hospital.

When I made my appointment with Dr. Patel, I told the lady that I wanted to be put to sleep no matter what. I had a reason for that.... I won't be able to do it without gagging or chocking. She said that if I pay for the anestesiologist I would be put to sleep.

The day of my appointment on Saturday March 29th, I got to Dr. Pattel's office with my husband David, I was really scared but inside of me thinking that I was going to put out to sleep, until I double checked with the nurse and she said that she didn't understand why but that it wasn't going to be like that. She said "don't worrie" but I really got worse, now I was freeking out!!

Dr. Pattel came to see me and he has such a sweet face that he made me feel better. Finally they took me inside the "operating room" and they made me lie on my left side, they told me they put a medicine in my vein and that I would get asleep, Dr. Pattel told me "Don't worrie, I won't start until you fall asleep" and he started talking to me about Hawaii and I couldn't even answer his first question, I felt asleep, and when I woke up everything was over. I didn't feel a thing. I was so happy, and everything was over!

What are the Guidelines for Patient Selection

The patient should have a BMI of 40 kg/m or above, or be 100 lbs (45kg) or more above ideal weight.
That put me on the "Yes" I am today 51 BMI so I'm a good candidate. I also needed to do a lot of tests and assist first of all to a seminar that Dr. Pherrson gives to all the prospective patients.

In this seminar, I met Dr. Pherrson himself and his partner Dr. Lamar, they are the two more qualified Bariatric surgeons in South California and part of the California Bariatric & General Surgery Associates. If you want to check Dr. Pehrsson's Curriculum go to http://www.obesityhelp.com

Bengt F. Pehrsson M.D.
300 W. Huntington Dr.
Arcadia, CA 91007
Phone: (888) 388-2838
Visit Website

Taking the Desition

Dr. Stephen J. Soldo talked to me and told me I needed to loose the weight or I will be in big problems. I tried making the insurance cover the procedure, but it was always considered a cosmetic procedure. Dr. Soldo sent letters and letters to the insurance explaining why I needed the procedure and they kept denying it.

We waited for a few months and we decided to switch insurance.

Thank God, I was in my husband's office group, otherwise no insurance company would have insured me. LOL

Our insurance covers the 70% (Blue Cross) and we will pay for the rest. so the next step was to see the surgeon.

Dr. Soldo sent me to see Dr. Pherrson, he does the Laparoscopic procedure (3 or 4 small incisions on the abdomen and that's it.

My Previous Story

Hello: My Name is Christina and this is the story of why I decided to take the chance of having a Gastric Bypass and how the process was since the very beginning.

I hope that this will help the people that like myself are going through the process and are nervous of what is it coming next.

I come from a family with a lot of cardiac problems, almost every member of my mom's side family have had something , my grandfather and grandmother died from heart problems, my mom and two of her brothers have had triple heart bypass; my father died from a massive heart attack too.

I always struggle with my weight, I was able to loose some pounds and then I gained them again. The years went by and when I reached 34 I had my first problem. A huge heart attack. The doctor said I was lucky of surviving it, because when you are young, the heart gets crazy without knowing what to do after a heart attack and most of the time in gets so crazy that it breaks apart. That is in clear English what the doctor told me in medical terms. LOL

I kept living with a bunch of medications every day, and of course taking care of myself. On 1998 I moved to America (L.A. California) and got married here. After a couple of years of waiting my husband and I decided that it was time to have a baby, and of course knowing my heart condition we needed the Cardiologist authorization. My Cardiologist is part of a group (South California Heart Specialists). Dr. Stephen J. Soldo who has been not only my cardiologist but also my friend listening to all my sadness and worries. Anyway, Dr. Soldo ran a few tests to see if I was going to be able to carry a baby and after a while he said what I was afraid to hear; "NO". My heart was too weak to handle a baby. So after a big depression we decided to go for adoption. But that's another story.

On 2003 I had pneumonia and while in the hospital the doctor said I was almost becoming diabetic. To be honest I didn't paid attention to it and I did became diabetic. By that time I was about 270 lbs already. They sent me home and I kept living with some extra pills on daily basis.

On October 2005 I was about 290 lbs, I started feeling some chest discomfort. Knowing how that was because my own experience and my mom's I call Dr. Soldo right away, and he asked me to go to see him the next morning. He sent me to the Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, Ca. to have an angiogram, he needed to see what was going on inside of my heart.

Dr. Soldo did the angiogram (or he tried) but my arteries were blocked and he couldn't get in. That was bad news. He came to my hospital room and talked to me and my husband and he said I needed a bypass surgery, three of my arteries were totally blocked, I could have died any minute.

I said ok, I'll come back next week LOL, but Dr. Soldo said it will have to be the following morning. To be honest I didn't even think about it, I just trusted him and said ok go ahead. He introduced me to the surgeon. Dr. Robert Gottner.

Dr. Gottner practices Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, and Thoracic Surgery and he is famous for doing heart transplants. Anyway, I had my surgery, I recovered from it and gained a lot of weight since then because I have been mostly sedentary. now I'm 314 lbs. and ready to go for my Gastric Bypass.