Cutting Ties

After so many years of the go between trying to lose weight, new diets, exercise plans, failures, and feeling defeated, I went for the surgery I wanted for 10 years. On October 1,2020 I had the gastric sleeve done in Tijuana, Mexico. It was paid for out of pocket and at a fraction of the cost it would have been in the USA. In the midst of a pandemic I flew to San Diego, rode across the border, and had surgery in a country I do not speak the language of, in order to regain my life. Right before moving this summer I ended up in the hospital. I was having chest pains, could not breathe, and panicked. I woke Mike up in the early morning hours to take me to the ER because I was afraid to drive. After several hours and tests, my heart was fine, but when I weighed in my weight was 393 poinds, I was a mere 7 pounds from weighing 400 pounds. Now I by no means think less of people who weigh over 400 pounds, but it has been one of my biggest fears. Although they could not pinpoint why I felt so bad, of course watch weight, see your doctor were suggested follow up from the hospital, and we were about to move back to our hometown that had its own set of traumatic memories for me...let us not forget that we were also in the middle of a pandemic in one of the worst years we ever experienced, we had 4 kids at home and a grandson with a grandbaby due within the month, and were about to leave our jobs, friends, and the life we built the last 7 years. At that moment I knew something had to change. The move was horrific, I could not help, I could barely walk across the house without having to stop for breath. Could only unpack if I was in a chair because bending was hell. I wanted to die. Thankfully Mike was amazing and the kids helped a lot! We moved i, baby girl came into our lives 2 weeks after the move, we got settled into our new way of life, new jobs, and I still needed help. One day I realoized my credit score had gone up enought to get a loan for the surgery and I figured it was worth trying. On September 3rd I got approved! Then emailed the doctor and was approved for the surgery on September 11th. I talked to Mike over the weekend, seeing I did not tell him I was even thinking about it! When he said he was ok with whatever made me happy I called and confirmed it September 14th! I put the deposit down on the 15th and scheduled surgery just over 2 weeks later for October 1st. I was supposed to have a long weekend, but due to having to make up days from hurricanes that was canceled but I was not backing out of my surgery. The 16th I had my cheat meal before beginning my pre-op diet to help my liver before surgery. The 17th calories were cut, medications were stopped, and I was on my way. I weighed in that night at 386. My son was heading to Utah for college and we were already scheduled to bring him in a driving trip there so he did not have to ship his belongings. My youngest son was turning 18 and was already away at college and my grandson was turning 2 the day I was supposed to fly out. We had a family dinner party scheduled for the 18th to celebrate and I was on a no carb, low calorie diet! It was not that much fun but I knew the end result would be worth it. A road trip with a strict diet was also not as fun! I left home September 30th, I reconsidered my decision more of those flights than I think I had since I applied in the first place. I got to the hotel and my ideas of exploring and relaxing by the pool were sidetracked when I fell asleep at 6ish and woke up at 3am when I was dreaming that I ate something and they canceled my surgery. I missed the call from my coordinator and my family because my phone was dead! I charged my phone, panicked a bit...I also missed my chance for my last meal, even if it was liquids, before surgery. Once my phone had some juice I texted my family and sent an email to the coordinator telling her what happened and set my alarm for 5:30, since I had no idea what or when my coordinator would instruct me to do when she did call! I weighed in at the hospital that morning and was 358...I had lost almost 30 pounds on the pre-op diet alone. It helped the shakes were nasty and given that was what I had to eat, many days I skipped eating to avoid it, or only had a few sips so I did not get sick from them! October 1st was a whirlwind. My shuttle to the hospital arrived at 8am, I had to pack everything and bring it to the hospital with me and would not return to the hotel until a few days after surgery. I went in, did paperwork, had blood drawn, a chest x-ray, and waited. The coordinator came down, got me and took me to the floor where all the gastric patients are held and got me settled inmy room. A tour of doctors and nurses came in, most with very good English. IV was started, directions were given, I unpacked, changed into my hospital gown, and the waiting game began. By 1:30pm I was headed to the surgical floor. I was given meds and they had me move to the operating table. I was still tired from traveling and stress so the last thing I remember was the mask going on my face...no counting backwards or anything! I woke up about an hour later with the driest mouth I have ever remembered having! I was taken back to the room after the nurse let me suck on a damp papertowel when I begged because I thought I was going to die from the dehydration. That night and the next day were a blur. I slept a lot. I got up and walked a few times. Went to the bathroom, threw up, drank what they told me I had to, and slept, then slept more! I would wake up with these awful gas pains. At first I thought I was having a heart attack but they reassured me it was gas. I brought a heating pad that had to be warmed in the microwave. Thank goodness the nurses were awesome and would go downstairs and warm it up for me. After 3 days in the hospital I returned to the hotel for 2 more days before going back home. When I left the hotel I weighed in at 356. I was on a liquid diet of broth and popsicles with water as side! I came home and went back to work the next day! To Be Continued!