Hello (new)

[Guest guest]

Hi, my name is Christin, from Colorado Springs, Colorado. I'm 36 years

old, overweight until my teens, then turned into obesity.

I've been married for 17 years to same man (applause), he met me when

I was 270 and loves me regardless. I couldn't ask for more. However,

in the last few years I've become a frequent visitor to ER's and

doctor's offices due to pain that is supposedly related to my weight.

In 2001 I had a car accident with a back injury, but surgery was

denied by me after I was told due to my weight I would be in rehab for

at least 6 months. Who could afford to do this? I know I couldn't.

So, I've been dealing with back pain, knee, hip and foot pain, not to

mention high blood pressure and other problems. I tried to get the

RNY surgery then, but was told that my insurance would only pay for it

if I went through a diet program sponsored by the military, meaning i

had to attend work-out classes for 8 weeks, 3x a week during the hours

of 8-5. Yeah, that wasn't going to happen as we were still trying to

recover from the financial disaster my car accident put us in.

Fast forward...

My husband went to his provider in May of 06 and was told that our

clinic (we're former military but still have the insurance) now

performs the RNY and he should check it out. He got a referral and

was seen 3 weeks later and given the requirements he had to fulfill.

I saw my doc as well who was NOT as open to this as I hoped, but I

pushed him for the referral. I had my approval before my husband did

thanks to good-luck and good timing.

On June 21 I was approved by the general surgeon for the surgery, but

he went on vacation and training in July so I didn't hear a thing.

Golly, patience is NOT one of my qualities!

On August 2 I got the phone call that I will see him again on the 8th

for the physical and scheduling the surgery. Yeah! Finally!

A day later I got another phone call telling me that I will have my

surgery on August 15!!!!!!! I was sooo happy. Finally!

Hubby will have his 6 weeks after mine, that way we're ready for it.

Both of us have looked forward to this soooo long. Hubby suffered

from a back injury as well and add to it his asthma that is work-out

triggered... so, he couldn't lose the weight either.

Well, next weekend will be my last weekend before the surgery. I plan

on cooking some special meals that weekend in order to celebrate my

impending new life. I am so excited. I know what's going to happen

and what it takes. That's the scary thing, but if I wasn't scared of

what's needed I wouldn't respect the surgery.

I was told I'd be 5 days in the hospital, so I will be off work for 3

weeks total. Leaving on August 14 and returning after Labor Day.

Hopefully....

My questions:

How long after the surgery did it take before you were able to go back

to work and function? (I'm a bookkeeper, so I SIT all day!)

How do you deal with the medications you were taking? I HAVE to

continue taking Premarin (I'm on HRT due to a hysterectomy last year

and I cannot take the patches as I'm allergic to the sticky stuff),

Synthroid for my underactive thyroid and trazodone for the horrible

insomnia, as well as Paxil. How do you managed your regular oral

medications?

What should I keep an eye out for, or remember after the surgery that

is typically not mentioned?

I appreciate all the help and ideas you can give me. I've read and

studied just about everything there is written out there, go to

monthly support group meetings but there are always suggestions that

can be used.

Thank you in advance!

Christin in CO