HAD VERY DELICATE MAJOR SURGERY

I had my 10 HOUR SURGERY, 2 hour recovery room on the 14 Th of January 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pa. The team of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons had to take the scar tissue off of my major organs. The scar tissue had grown till it had pushed and made a hernia on my diaphragm wall and was pushing on my heart and lungs. It was making it hard for me to breath. My esophagus was raw and will take time to heal.  I had to have a form of Gastric bypass for my reflux also. I am on the clear liquid diet for another week. My family is taking really good care of me.

CLEAR LIQUID DIET FOR THREE DAYS

I have started a clear liquid diet today. I am on juice, sugar free pudding, milk shakes, cream of wheat, etc. I will have my surgery on Friday. My starting weight is 228 pounds. I am 5 foot 1.5 inches tall. I had gotten up to 260 pounds before my husband died. My husband had been in and out of the hospital so much and I didn't watch what I ate and the sitting in the hospital so much with him didn't help either. I sure didn't get the exercise needed for the bad junk food that I ate.

MY JOURNEY WITH GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY

I have been so tired for several months and having chest pains and trouble breathing which I thought was my heart and finally had some tests done. Beside tests on my heart. I had an upper GI with air. I found out I had GERD or REFUX again. I had surgery in 1997 for the reflux and hadn't had any trouble and couldn't believe I was having it again but this time it was different. I didn't have the upset stomach like before and the acid in my throat. I just had the chest pains and a terrible cough with hoarness. My Doctor called the next day after having the upper GI and said you need to go to Cleveland,Ohio, Columbus,Ohio, or Pittsburgh,Pa. I picked Pittsburgh because I lived close to there when I was young. That is where my husband had his lung transplant. I know my way around that area and not the other places.
I went to Pittsburgh to the Doctor that had done my surgery in 1997. The assistant went over my health history with me and said I am MORBIDLY OBESE. I knew I was heavy and overweight but was never told that before. I was told I needed Gastric Bypass surgery to help my reflux. That is the new fix for reflux. Most Insurances will cover gastric bypass for reflux. If you have trouble with your insurance covering the surgery you can appeal it.
I went home crying and very upset over the thought of Gasric Bypass. I just thought they would go in and repair the surgery I had in 1997. I did not want to have gastric bypass surgery. I was so upset about this surgery and finally I started looking at the good health effects this surgery could have on me. I could get off my blood pressure medication, diabetic medication,and hopefully it will also help my arthritis which means off pain medication.