Kay's update

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

I had my first follow-up appointment with Dr. Baggs

yesterday.

Yea!!! I am now stitch free and have been moved to the Stage

III diet.

I had 2 oz. of tuna with 2 saltines for lunch and it felt

like a feast. I fixed a scrambled egg for dinner. It

tasted great, but I couldn't finish it - it was just too

much food.

I think I may have had it pretty easy so far. I had a

couple of days at the end of the first week when pain was

getting the better of me. It wasn't pain from the operation

though - it is pain from my chronically bad back. Prior to

surgery, I had been taking 800mg of Motrin 3-4 times a day -

but, of course, that is no longer allowed. Liquid Tylenol

helps, but it is not the same.

The only real problem I'm having is with cramps in my feet

and legs. Has anyone else had this problem?

My incision seems to be healing nicely. I have had no

problems with drainage, bleeding or infection. I had open

surgery, but my incision is only 4 inches long. Is this the

standard these days? I remember seeing scars that were much

longer on people who had open surgery 2 or 3 years ago.

So far, I haven't up-chucked at all. Thank goodness.

Still not getting enough water. I can manage about 40oz. a

day, but 64oz. is still not possible. I mentioned this to

Dr. Baggs and he did tell me that 40oz. at this stage is

pretty good.

I've been walking much better than before surgery. So much

better that it almost feels like they worked on my knees as

well as my innards. The other day I managed to walk to the

top of our hill and back - that's nearly half a mile. Might

not seem like far to some folks, but to me it was

monumental. I don't think I'm going to repeat that

excursion any time soon, though - I had forgotten just how

rough going down hill is on my knees. I think that being a

flat-lander for a while may be a good idea - unfornately

there isn't much flat land in my neighborhood.

Well, I guess that is about all. Oh . . . yeah . . . I lost

29.1 pounds.

Thanks for listening (reading).

Best wishes for the holidays.

Take care,

Kay

12/1/03

375 / 338 / 308.9 / ???

[Guest guest]

Congratulations on progressing and doing so well, Kay!

As for the foot and leg cramps, that is something you might want to call your doctor about. Is it on both sides or just one? It is more of a concern if it is on one side, rather than both. Might signal the beginnings of a blood clot. Also, are you on any diuretics? If so (and even if not) you could be low in potassium -- which can easily be tested via a blood test. Did you mention the cramps to Dr. Baggs?

I hope all is well!

Laurie W.

Dr. Zorn - 06/26/03 RNY

Kay's update

Hi there,I had my first follow-up appointment with Dr. Baggsyesterday.Yea!!! I am now stitch free and have been moved to the StageIII diet.I had 2 oz. of tuna with 2 saltines for lunch and it feltlike a feast. I fixed a scrambled egg for dinner. Ittasted great, but I couldn't finish it - it was just toomuch food.I think I may have had it pretty easy so far. I had acouple of days at the end of the first week when pain wasgetting the better of me. It wasn't pain from the operationthough - it is pain from my chronically bad back. Prior tosurgery, I had been taking 800mg of Motrin 3-4 times a day -but, of course, that is no longer allowed. Liquid Tylenolhelps, but it is not the same.The only real problem I'm having is with cramps in my feetand legs. Has anyone else had this problem?My incision seems to be healing nicely. I have had noproblems with drainage, bleeding or infection. I had opensurgery, but my incision is only 4 inches long. Is this thestandard these days? I remember seeing scars that were muchlonger on people who had open surgery 2 or 3 years ago.So far, I haven't up-chucked at all. Thank goodness.Still not getting enough water. I can manage about 40oz. aday, but 64oz. is still not possible. I mentioned this toDr. Baggs and he did tell me that 40oz. at this stage ispretty good.I've been walking much better than before surgery. So muchbetter that it almost feels like they worked on my knees aswell as my innards. The other day I managed to walk to thetop of our hill and back - that's nearly half a mile. Mightnot seem like far to some folks, but to me it wasmonumental. I don't think I'm going to repeat thatexcursion any time soon, though - I had forgotten just howrough going down hill is on my knees. I think that being aflat-lander for a while may be a good idea - unfornatelythere isn't much flat land in my neighborhood.Well, I guess that is about all. Oh . . . yeah . . . I lost29.1 pounds.Thanks for listening (reading).Best wishes for the holidays.Take care,Kay12/1/03375 / 338 / 308.9 / ???