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Surgeon: Dr. Dennis Smith, Marietta, GA
Surgery date: February 16, 2001
Pre-op weight/BMI: 300+/51
Current weight/BMI: 136 (as of October 23, 2003)
Most recent update: October 23, 2003
 
Left: Pre-op; Right: At 260lb., with my daughter
  
Above (left and center): April 2003 (145lb.); Right: October 2003 (136lb.)
"For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts of your welfare, of good and peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." Jeremiah 29:11(AMP)
by TJ:
2/16/01 FRIDAY
My surgery went fine. It was done as a LAP procedure and took about 5 hrs. I don't really remember much the first day or so. I mainly remember my husband kept telling me to open my right eye. We didn't know it then but there was a problem. I was in the hospital for 6 days but only because I was having severe pain in my left lower stomach and DR.Smith wanted to make sure everything was ok. He did a scan and there were no leaks. Thank God! Apparently I pulled/tore a stomach muscle in the process of trying to pull myself up in the bed.
2/21/2001 THURSDAY
I was discharged and we went to Atherton Place to stay until after my final post-op appt. on Friday before heading home.
2/22/2001 FRIDAY
I had a 3pm appt with Dr.Smith. He checked my incisions, wrote prescriptions for pain, and went over aftercare instructions.
I have not had very much pain at all from the actual surgery, just the stomach muscle.
2/23/2001 SATURDAY
We drove 6 hours back to NC from GA. I had to take phenergran to keep from feeling sick all the way home. We stopped at KFC and I ate some creamed potatoes. It tasted so good. :)
I slept in my recliner for the next week or so. Then I was finally able to sleep in my bed. It took about 7-8 weeks before I could sleep on my side again.
About the 2 week I ended up in the ER because of dehydration. I had to stop all dairy products. They gave me fluids and ran some tests. I'm ok now.
I continued to have problems with my right eye (lid drooping, blurred/double vision) and so in April I went to my eye doc. She immediately made me an appt. with a nuero-ophthalmologist. The diagnosis was Horner's Syndrome and he believes it resulted from the central line damaging the nerve that goes to my eye ( a very unexpected complication). Dr.Saunders said that there is nothing that can be done medically speaking but it is possible that it might clear up. Well...I believe that with God all things are possible so I don't plan on staying this way. More updates later.
5/07/01
My first post-op appt. with Dr.Smith. I have lost 49# and everything is fine. He wrote a prescription for ADEKs and wants me to come back in August.
5/14/2001
My first labs revealed that my iron is low and my thyroid is showing to be hypo again. My doc started me on iron and we will wait to adjust my thyroid meds because I didn't know that I shouldn't take them with other supplements.
6/2/01
Today was my daughter's wedding. WOW! I was able to walk down the aisle without my cane. I made it through the showers, rehearsal dinner and the wedding (and even managed to dance a bit...can you believe it). My dress was a size 24W. Before my WLS in Feb. I was using a wheelchair to go out and now I'm getting stronger day by day. My daughter and new SIL were absolutely beautiful :). I plan to go by my PCP to weigh this week and will update the weight loss stats.
6/12/2001
WOOHOO...Today the medical supply co. picked up my wheelchair since I DON'T need it anymore. Praise the Lord!
7/2/2001
My appt. with my PCP went well today. According to his records I have lost 70 lbs. Dr.S and his nurse were really excited for me. I have been experiencing feeling kinda weak for the past couple weeks and so he did some labs (results will be back in a day or two). I have been having "bruising" on my legs, etc. and he said that I need to start taking vit. K. (OTC). I post the results from my bloodwork later.
7/13/01
My labs show that I am low on iron (again)and calcium but my thyroid is in normal range now. I recently changed from Synthroid to levoyl .3mg.
8/16/01
I am 6 months post-op today and still holding at 234.
8/17/01
Well, I got up this AM and the scales are moving again. YEA! I am at 230 now.
8/24/01
I am feeling much better and my energy seems to be picking up. I went shopping with my husband today for several hours. I had to buy another bra (third new one since WLS) today. My eyesight is getting better. I am able to read large print now without double vision. Sometimes when I get really tired it's hard to keep my eye open like it should be and my vision gets a bit blurry but I believe I will continue to recover until I'm 100%. I still can't drive because of problems with depth perception but hopefully I will be getting glasses that will correct that very soon.
9/21/01
I went for my check-up with my eye specialist today. Disappointed in the report. Even the double vision has cleared, I still can't read very well or drive. He told me to get some magnifying glasses and gave me a prescription with bifocals to help but said that he doesn't think it will help much. I am still having headaches and sometimes sharp pains in my right temple at my eye. He wants me to come back in 3 months. I am so frustrated! I had weight loss surgery so that I could get on with life and now I feel like I'm in the twilight zone...sometimes seeing in 3-D (without the 3-D glasses). I know things will get better. They have to. I have an appointment with my PCP tomorrow. It's time for my labs and I haven't been since July. I have lost almost 100 lbs and really do feel better other than my eyes. Thank you Lord!
9/25/01
I got on my scales this morning and weighed in at 222 lbs. Praise the Lord! I don't remember the last time I weighed this much. Probably around 1984-86.
WEIGHT LOSS STATS:
(Since I'm in NC and my surgeon is in GA, I will be weighing on his scales at post-op visits, my PCP and my home scales but will make a note )
2/15/01 319.5 BMI 50.1 Day before surgery-GA
5/07/01 273 GA
6/12/01 255 Home
7/02/01 250 PCP (-70lbs)
8/05/01 234 Home
8/17/01 230 Home
8/26/01 229 Home BMI/36
9/14/01 224 Home
9/25/01 222 Home
Update October 2003:
As of today, October 23, 2003 I am doing well. My eyesight is just about completely back to normal now. I went for my check-up last week and my regular vision is now back to 20/20 and I only have to use reading glasses for really up close work (reading, etc) but have changed the magnification from 2.5 to 1.5. I have been driving for several months now. Thank you Jesus! I expect to fully recover from all problems.
I now weigh 136lbs. The only problem I'm having is with my iron levels and the usual gas issues...YUCK!
I am in my second year Bible College and my husband and I will be licensed/ordained on November 2, 2003. God made it possible for me to have WLS and WLS gave me my life back!
Even with the struggles I've had since my surgery I would do it again in a heartbeat!
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