New Hope, New Life - My DS Journey

Parousia

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Messages
401
Location
Adelaide, Australia
My life has been on hold until now. I have 3 sons who are 20, 19 and 2 1/2 yrs old. I have Fibromyalgia, High Cholesterol, PCOS, GORD, Sleep Apnoea and 3 bulging discs, in my neck, upper back and lower back (probably due to my BMI of 50), and I'm in constant pain. I am close to being bed-ridden, which has put a lot of pressure on my marriage.

I've been on a public waiting list at a hospital in Melbourne, Australia, for a Duodenal Switch by A/Prof Peter Nottle. Finally, yesterday, I received the call which will change my life: I am scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, 19 Feb 2014. Yay! :cheer:(Couldn't find a happy dance smilie, so this will have to do!)

After I received the call, I was in tears of relief! I suppose that's because even though I knew it was going to happen, until there was a specific date set, there was a sense of unreality about it, and a subconscious belief that it wouldn't really happen. I'm very used to failure in my life as I have ADD, which makes what are normal things for most people so much more difficult for me. Then, of course, on top of that I've had a lifetime of weight-loss failures, including a gastric band a few years ago, which had to be removed a year later because of constant problems and finally, it slipped, strangling my stomach.

I admit that I'm going into the DS with an underlying expectation of failure, but oh, so much hope for success! At a logical, rational level I know I have no reason to believe it won't work for me. But at an emotional level, it's hard to believe it will. I need this to work so much! I need my life back!
 
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Congratulations!! Your new life is getting ready to begin-- can't wait to see you experience it. :)
 
Your surgery date will be here before you know it. Go in with a positive attitude and believe you can be successful. It's not the number that makes you successful it's better health and living life. Get ready for a wild ride. :banana:
 
I'm very impressed by all those who were able to post within hours of their surgery. 5 Days post-surgery and I've just picked up my iPad for the first time, and of course the first thing I wanted to do was to post here :).

My surgery went smoothly or was a disaster, depending upon who you're talking to. My surgeon told me everything went smoothly - there were some adhesions, but nothing too serious. According to the lung specialist who visited me (!) my lungs didn't cope with the surgery and I had a partial collapse of my left lung. That would explain some of the multitude of tubes attached to me when I came out of surgery. I'll have to finish this later, as I feel like I'm about to lose the contents of my stomach, such as they are!
 
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Oh @Parousia !!! Sooooooooo happy to see your post! Sorry to hear about the lung collapse! Ugh! Hopefully your all sorted and feeling a bit better now? That first week is rough, no matter what. Keep comfortable and rest...I'm sure you're getting stir crazy - by day 4 I was bored out of my mind but with the attention span of a gnat. I made hubby take me in the wheelchair around the hospital for a view and just a change of scenery. ((((Hugs)))))
 
Yay! So glad to see a post. Take care of yourself and recover quick. Can't wait to learn more about your journey!
 
So, what I was about to say last time, before I had to leave in a hurry, is that I had just discovered that in addition to the partial lung collapse during surgery (perhaps because of it?). I developed metabolic acidosis and went into respiratory failure in recovery, which is why I ended up in ICU. It seems it was touch and go for a bit there. I'm just glad I made it through! Now I have the chance at that new life that I needed so badly.

I've had a pretty bad week, with my bloods tanking pretty much across the board (unless they were meant to be low - then they went up!). I think they're getting on top of that now. I'll see when the results come through from this morning. I'm feeling better, at least.
 
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