September Update

It's been way to long since I have posted here. Not that anyone was waiting, but still. Also, it's not like much has happened since my last posting... only... went back to work, was not nominated for any awards for my play, found out I actually WAS nominated for best original script, had one of the most devastating fires in Placer County history stop just hundreds of yards from our house, worked the evacuation center for one of the most devastating fires in Placer County history, got read ended, went to Cincinnati, went to Norfolk, went to the ELLY ceremony, lost at the ELLY ceremony, had a great time at the ELLY ceremony... Boring I know.

Oh, for those who are interested... 224. I am officially down to 224 which makes for 52 lbs since the surgery and 92 this year.

I plan to write in more detail about all of the above... in my spare time.

Four Weeks and Counting

Well, as I stated in my last post I was having some difficulties. I saw my local Dr a week ago and he had some ideas on how to get me through them, and they have worked. I am back to feeling good, and have even been out walking the last five days in a row. I have now lost 26 lbs since the surgery and have had to get some new clothes. I had to buy a belt that was 3 sizes smaller than my current one, and I'm already moving notches. That said, I still don't "feel" the changes.

Anyhow, I've tested myself this week and have done a small MC event and have helped out at my theater groups shows by doing the box office. They have been good test runs for going back to work. I was supposed to go back today, but due to my complications my Dr wrote me out until the 23rd, but said to let him know if I was feeling up to going back earlier. Well, I am. I plan to go back to work on Wednesday.

Not much else to report. Happy to be getting back to a normal routine, but this makes today my last night where I don't have work the next day :( Today is my Saturday now.

On a side note, my theater group provides a wonderful assortment of desserts for patrons, cakes, candies, brownies, all free. Not only could I not have a bite because of my diet, I really didn't want one because of my lack of hunger or interest as a result of the surgery. Man, this is weird...

What a Week

Week three since the surgery has proven to be quite a week. Coming off the success of the show, I have actually had the most painful week since the surgery. Now the pain has shifted to more of an internal pain vs. an at the incision pain. Overall I guess I still feel good, but as I feel better and do more, I realize what is too much.

Yesterday was my first day out of the house on my own, I drove myself to the bank then, cause I'm weird, I actually went to my office. Actually it's because I have so many great co-workers I wanted to stop by and say "hi". All in all, I was out for about an hour and a half, and that was quite tiring.

Today we all went to visit our good friends Shannon and George and their brand-new baby boy Jayden who was born yesterday (see photo of Lindsey holding). We visited them at Sutter Roseville and I drove. We were gone a total of just over two hours. When I got home, after driving both ways and the visit and a quick stop at Blockbuster, I was exhausted and fell asleep for almost three hours. Yes, I basically just woke up. I have learned that I am not as full of spunk and energy as I thought.


I have also started noticing some issues health wise that have raised some concerns. One such item is my right leg seems to be falling asleep whenever I sit a certain way, this is new, and a bit scary. I have also had some other symptoms I have been in contact with my Dr about and said to come in if they don't stop. Well, they haven't, so I have a Dr's appointment with my local Doc Monday morning. I hope he can help and I don't have to go back to SF.

On the good news side, I am 1 lb short of losing twenty pounds since the surgery! People keep saying they see it, I don't feel it, but my old pants fit now, so I guess there are changes.

My Big Comedy Show, Weight Loss

So last night was my big comedy show. I performed a 30 minute set, which took almost 40 minutes with laughter and dealing with obnoxious people, but I'll focus on the laughter. The event was a fundraiser for the Lincoln High football team. Ther were around 200 people in atendance. A lot of my jokes are about my gastric bypass surgery. It started off very well and I think ended well too. Overall I think it was a huge success. This is the first time I have ever done more than 6 minutes at one time. I was very nervous, not just about doing the show, but also about going out. I said this in my act, and it was the truth, last night as he first time I've worn real pants in two weeks. I've just been in gym shorts or pajama pants. Why not? I'm recovering from major surgery.

Anyhow, the show went very well I think, and everyone I know who was there that I have talked to seemed to agree, but boy did it wipe me out. I put everything I had in to that show, and it took it's toll. Immediately after the show I couldn't get up for 20 minutes, then we got home, and I crashed. I didn't wake up today until Noon! Except at around 9am when Kayla and Jessica came and woke me up asking me to help Kayla. Seems her tooth was loose, and bleeding, and they wanted "Dr. Daddy" to take it out. Which I did. Now, if you were there last night, you know my ending joke is all about me being the resident tooth fairy at my house. So ironic that I have to play that role tonight. Anyhow, after I removed the tooth, I went back to sleep.

It was a great experience,and I look forward to doing it again. For now, it's back to rest time. Last night showed me, I'm not ready for to much activity or excitement, yet.

Oh, and as far as weight loss goes, I am now down to 259! I haven't seen the second number in my weight as a five since I first passed it in 2000. I am officially the lowest weight I have been since Kayla was born.

The Biggest Loss Is Time

So, here I am, six days of eating "real" food and I have noticed some big changes. One, I have a next to nothing appetite. Two, I don't miss food, I miss eating. Here's what I mean, whenever I have lunch by myself, I like to read. I almost have to read. I make sure I have my current book with me before walking in to a restaurant. I eat very slowly, even if I;m not reading, and relax and enjoy the time. Now, I don't need time. I can eat my lunch in two minutes, and as part of the eating change, you can't drink with or up to an hour after you eat solid foods. So wht took 20 minutes now takes two. That's why I am missing the physical action of eating.

I don't feel hungry though, I often feel very full, even after just sipping on water. My protein shake/drinks make me very full. Even now when I can eat more, I find myself not wanting anything to eat and have to be reminded it's time to eat. That's never happened before!

Skipped a Week!

So, here I am, one full week out, and doing great! I am recovering well and even went to the store today. I was the the groggy looking guy at Target using a shopping cart as a walker. Anyhow, I emailed my surgeon with how I was feeling, what foods I'm up to, and how my body is re-acting. As a result, he stated he did not see the need for me to come down to SF next week (Yay!!!!) and I can advance to the two week post-op diet. This is very good news! Real food! I've never been so excited to have one cracker.

I have had some similar questions from many people, so I will answer the most common ones I have gotten like, how does it feel and what are you eating, etc. How does it feel? Nothing different. I feel sore and uncomfortable and my body definitely yells at me if I move the wrong way, but I don't "feel" like I have a smaller stomach. I don't "feel" like my insides have been re-routed. It's early, but so far, I don't feel much different, just the same types of after surgery pain and discomfort I have felt before. That said, my Doctor has reminded me that though I am recovering ahead of schedule, and doing well, I still need to try to relax and take it easy to fully recover and not re-injure myself.

What am I eating? Since the surgery my meals have been minimal to say the least. Breakfast; a protein shake, lunch; a half cup of jello, snack; a sugar free Popsicle, dinner; a small bowl of chicken broth. Now I am allowed to move up to having a cracker, 1-2oz of tuna or turkey or cheese. That's about it.

Am I hungry? I'm not hungry, but I miss tastes. I'm tired of jello, but I don't want something else because I'm hungry, but because I want a different taste. I do not find myself ever thinking "damn, I'm hungry".

Oh, and the weight. When I started the program, I was at 316, today I am 50lbs lower at 266! Ten of those lost pounds are since the surgery.

I'm feeling good and ready for my big show on Saturday. I think I'll collapse and fall asleep on the way home, but I will give it my all, all I have that is.

Hope this was interesting, will update again later this week with how the new diet is working out.

Feeling It

Well, it was bound to happen, and it did. The feeling that I had major surgery, and the result of said surgery, have finally caught up with me.

Yesterday afternoon I started feeling it, and it has been worse today. It's not a fever or flu type sickness, but I feel worn down and tired as if I had the flu, without any of the symptoms. My energy has dropped in half and my pain has quadrupled. Ergh. Oh, and I'm out of my pain medication and my refill is sitting in Roseville, and it's hard for Jessica to pack up the kids and go down. Ergh again. I was doing so good, but today by far is the hjardest day since the surgery. Thank God I can sleep. Hopefully today is it and tomorrow I feel better.

"New" Body, Part Three

I can't believe it's Friday already! For not doing much, this week has flown by. It has been an interesting week. Jessica has been a great nurse, although we are both surprised that I need less help now than I did after my gall bladder/obstruction removal surgery. We both think it was the horrific obstruction removal surgery that made that horrible, not so much the gall bladder.

Anyway, here are some general observations I have thus far. One, I don't feel like I have a smaller stomach. Though I know it is the size of a really big grape, it doesn't "feel" it. I have noticed I have no hunger, but I think that may be just from the fact I had surgery, regardless what type. The first day home, I could barely drink a glass of water, let alone my all-to-important protein drinks. Yesterday I was able to finish a protein drink and had several glasses of water, and even a popsicle. That's right, a genuine sugar free popsicle. Jealous?

My second general observation is, I feel better physically than I though I would. Don't get me wrong, moving too much or twisting towards the wounds hurts. But when I think of what was done inside... well, I'm waiting for it to hit me. Whenever I get up or walk, I feel it, but laying in bed, not so much. That wasn't true on the car ride home, where I felt every pothole Caltrans has yet to think about between SF and here. In fact, I'd say I'm more uncomfortable than in pain. But if I don;t take my horrible tasting liquid vicodin on time, then the pain starts to overtake the discomfort.

Third general observation, I may not be "hungry" but I do think a lot about the foods I can never have again. I was watching a show where they started talking about peanut M& M's and I got sad, realizing I can never have one again (can't have chocolate candy and can't have nuts). Then I tried to put it in perspective, would I rather miss my life or M&M's? That helped, but I still wanted one :)

Overall, things are going well. Today I move on to yogurt and pudding! It's the simple things that get me excited. I appreciate all the support my friends and family have given and feel truly blessed.

First Day with "New" Body, Part Two

Okay, actually second day. Yesterday went so well, apparently, my surgeon sent me home almost a full two days early. Got home last night (Tuesday) at around 10:30pm. A very long day indeed. I got a lot better sleep at home though. So far the pain meds are working okay, I'm uncomfortable but not in serious pain. I haven't had any of the normal complications (knocking on wood) and am walking okay. Will continue to spend most time down this week though.

So far biggest issue is watching so I don't drink too much at one time. My stomach is now smaller than my mouth, so I can't take a swig of water, have to sip.

Heading Home

I'm heading home from the hospital in South San Francisco. This is going to be a long painful car ride.


-- Post From My iPhone

First Day with "New" Body, Part One

Well, it happened this time, I now have had the gastric bypass surgery. Today is my first full day with my new anatomy and just now at 9am am able to put something in my new stomach, water of course. Next I get jello! Feeling okay, hurting but not gut wrenching pain, but they just took me off the good stuff medicine wise, so we'll see how that goes.




-- Post From My iPhone

Out of surgery...

From Brian's wife Jessica...I am so thankful to post that Brian is out of surgery and doing ok. He is in the recovery room and is resting for now. The surgery was successful and we know Brian is going to be pleased to know that.


-- Post From My iPhone

Night Before

It's 8pm the night before my gastric bypass surgery, well, the second attempt at said surgery anyhow. I find myself much more worried that the surgery will not actually happen than anything at this point, since the first experience. Boy, not many people can say they went in for gastricy bypass surgery twice! I feel I will have a hard time sleeping tonight. Thanks again to Jerry and Maggie for allowing Jessica and I to stay at their house tonight (and Jessica until I'm out of the hospital) and to Suzanne for watching the girls, who I miss already.

Today I went in for my pre-op blood work at the South San Francisco hospital where my surgery will be. After that was done, went to the movies with Jessica. We saw "The Hangover" and "Public Enemies" TH was funny, PE was long and not nearly as good as I thought it would have been.

Well, now all I can do is hope for the best and pray I actually get the surgery this time. Of course, tomorrow afternoon I may be praying I didn't. Until tomorrow...

Pre-op, again

Today, July 7th, I went down to South San Francisco, for the pre-operation consultation with my new surgeon and the anesthesiology department. Things went very well.... whew

First off, my new surgeon has a much more pleasant bedside manner. Not that the last one wasn't good, he knew his stuff, just a little cold. Second, he completely understood my desire to be the first surgery of the day, and actually made the call while I was there to move me (was on for last) to first and said to freeze it that way. THANK YOU! The sooner it's over, the sooner I'm home. That move may save me from an extra night in the hospital.

Anesthesiology was nothing, I do thank them for getting me in early so I could get out of the Bay before the big traffic rush. All they really worry about is first-timers under anesthesia, which obviously I'm not. When I pointed out I was under just a month ago, the conversation moved pretty quickly.

So... right now it's on, and for the first surgery of the day on the 13th (less than a week). Here's hoping they ACTUALLY do the surgery this time!

Nothing Really New, Exciting Huh?

So I'm writing to report I have nothing to report. Thing's are getting back to normal just as I have to start getting ready again for them not to be... again. My next appointment is in South San Francisco on Tuesday the 7th. The worst part of these appointments is they are day killers, but since it's covered under my medical, no real loss.

So Friday is a county holiday, Monday is a county furlough (no pay) day and Tuesday is a medical day, leaving me with only five work days left before I'm out again, for a month. As I write this I realize, I have a lot to do!

Not much else, hopefully Tuesday's pre-op workup goes well and I pray, PRAY, I am the first surgery of the day on the 13th. Nothing worse than the waiting, and we know I've done plenty of that.

Judging Miss Placer County, A Call from Kaiser and More

Last night was the Miss Placer County contest, for which I was one of five judges. It was a unique and great, if somewhat odd, experience. We did the interviews Monday night, which consisted of some odd, sometimes light and sometimes very serious questions.

Thursday night was the main competition, which consisted of judging a swimwear walk, evening gown walk, stage presence and ability to intelligently answer a random question onstage. In the end, a very intelligent, bubbly and beautiful young lady by the name of Meghan was crowned Miss Placer County. I feel we as judges made a great choice. I truly think Meghan will do a good job representing the County.

Now on to a surgery update, a friend of mine who happens to work for Kaiser heard about my less than excellent experience three weeks ago. He was kind enough to call and apologize and ensure me that Kaiser agrees that is not how they do patient care (which had always been my experience before this as well). I truly appreciated his call and feel that Kaiser as an organization truly cared that someone had this type of experience and will strive to prevent it from happening again to me or anyone else. Time will tell (July 13th is my next surgery date), but after today, I do feel better and once again feel Kaiser cares.

This weekend I will be performing my last show at the Sacramento Comedy Spot until my big July 25th show. If you would lke to come see tomorrow's show, go to www.SacComedySpot.com for more information on when and where. For tickets to my BIG July 25th show go to www.KeeslingGroup.com

Placer County Fair

So, I was originally asked to be a judge for the Miss Teen Placer County contest, but just this last Monday was moved to be a judge for the main competition, Miss Placer County. There are five very intelligent and beautiful contestants. Monday night I had the opportunity to interview them all. This Thursday (as in tomorrow) is the main show. I will be judging them based upon physical appearance in both an evening gown and swimsuit, their poise and their ability to own the stage and answer a question (no I won't ask about gay marriage).

Anyhow, I am very excited about this opportunity. I have never done anything like this before.

Please come out and see the pageant (if you are local) at the Placer County Fair Thursday night at 7:30pm.

Performing Tonight

I'm feeling well enough, so, I'm going to go ahead and do a comedy performance tonight at the Sacramento Comedy Spot www.saccomedyspot.com at 9pm. If you would like to see clips of my stand-up, you can go to YouTube.com/brianscottjagger

-- Post From My iPhone

Back at Work: Day 1

So today, Wednesday the 17th, I went back to work. Many seemed very surprised to see me back so soon, but seemed pleased I was. It was a great welcome back, even though my absence was not really long at all... this time. Conveniently, the amount of emails I had received over the last week and a half was minimal, which made it easier than I would have thought to catch up. Though I'm sure much of this was due to the fact that so many people knew I was out, but still, it made for a smoother day one.

Tomorrow will be a little more difficult, as I will have the longer drive down to Roseville (seat belt kinda hurts) and have an evening event that will put me at a 12 hour day. But, since Roseville is my main office and I have more of my files and paperwork located there, it will be nice to start diving in to some of that stuff.

I have been fortunate enough to have so many great friends and co-workers (often one in the same) who have continued to read this blog and share their warm wishes for me. I will continue to update this blog, though less often, between now and July 13th, and will then ramp it back up as I go out for the "big" surgery on July 13th. Thank you for your support.

New Surgery Date

I have been re-scheduled for my gastric bypass surgery. July 13th. This time with a different surgeon. I hope this one doesn't find anything else wrong! I don't know if I could handle two "just kidding" surgeries!

Morbid vs. "Regular" Obesity

So, gastric bypass is defined as a medical procedure for the long-term treatment of morbid obesity. For someone who is 6', as I am, the weight considered morbidly obese is 278 pounds or more. I weighed m self today, and between the removal of a small organ, and not eating solid foods for four days, I am now down to 279 lbs. A reminder, I started the gastric bypass program at 316.

The question this raises, do I still need the surgery if I am able to loose weight? The answer I, and my Doctor's have come to, absolutely yes. The surgery is NOT to loose weight, it is to a) loose weight and more importantly b) keep the weight off for long term health. Both my primary care doctor and my gastric bypass doctor agree, I should still get the surgery. In fact, they said "there is no weight you could drop to where we would not still do the surgery for you." They said this is because of how I have not always been heavy, but have for so long, they feel that the primary purpose of keeping weight off long term is still a very beneficial reason to go forward even if I lost another 50 pounds. By the way, someone 6' is still considered obese if they are anything over 221lbs. I still have a LONG way to go before I am below that mark.

I will put this in a separate post, but I have been given my new surgery date, July 13th.

Visitor's

"Nurse Jessica" and my kids not counting, I have had my first couple of visitors to the house. yesterday my good friend Lori came up from Rocklin, gave Jessica a break, and hung out for a few hours. She even brought me lunch! It was a very nice visit and was a nice break for Jessica too! Thank Lori.

My second visitor wasn't really visiting today but dropping something off, and plans a full visit tomorrow or Tuesday. That said, since I only see my Dad a few time a year at best, it was nice to see him, even if only for a moment. He challenged me to fight saying it's the first time in years he's though he could take me. Funny, real funny.

Besides that, not a lot going on. They said my bandages should fall off on their own after a few days at home. They haven't. My main big bruise/cut from the second surgery seem to have plateaued in it's healing. I won't worry unless it still shows no improvement by the time I am supposed to go back to work.

The overall pain is going down, and I'm taking far fewer pain meds. The Doctor put me on a new sleeping pill that I can't stand. It just makes me feel groggy, not sleepy, so I stopped taking that one.

Until later...

Doctor Visit Today

Today I had my post op with my primary care doctor in Roseville. He walked in and asked "so, how do feel with no gall bladder and a baby sized stomach?" I of course responded that I could only answer for one, and then I explained what happened. As I explained he dialed in to the Kaiser system and read the notes from the SSF Doctors. It all matched what I was saying, the notes even said I asked to not be on my stomach for Tuesday's procedure! To bad they did it anyway...

He looked at everything, all looks good except for the one large bruising around one of the incisions that he agreed is most likely the result of laying on it Tuesday, but it will heal okay. All in all everything is healing fine and I'll only be down one more week, unless they get me re-scheduled for the gastric bypass surgery. So, we'll see!

-- Post From My iPhone

Rescheduling of my Gastric Bypass Surgery

I am still waiting on a call from Kaiser on when they think they can get me in. Good news I learned today, since this leave I am on now, and the leave I will go on when I go to get my surgery, are medically connected, they count as one medical condition/instance for County disability purposes. What this means is that even if I go back to work after healing from the surgeries I've had and then go out again in a couple months for the gastric bypass, the clock doesn't start over and I qualify for my disability. Without this, unless they squeezed me in by the end of this month (which they still might) I wouldn't have had the financial coverage or ability to do the surgery for at least a year. This is very good news.

Nurse Jessica

So, as you may have read earlier, some of my care was less than superior. I didn't even begin to talk about the nurses who took care of me while I was in my room or in recovery. I want to be honest here, I had some great nurses like Lourdes, Johmil and Katie and one other whose name escapes me. They were quick to respond and always did it with a smile. Then there were the ones who when I called asking for help getting up said "we're busy, call us back at 9pm" It was 7. There were those who said "I'll be right back" and came back 20 minutes later. I had one who actually said "You sure are asking for a lot this time" and my honest response "I'm afraid if I call again you won't come." I had one nurse in immediate post surgery ecovery (first surgery) get mad when I said out load "I didn't even get the surgrery I came in here for". She said please be quiet, you'll scare the other patients. Whatever.

Okay, it's all behind me (until the next surgery, God I hope none of those nurses read this and torture me when/if I go back for the gastric bypass... I mean more than they already did) and now I'm home, and what a difference a wife makes. Jessica has moved herself to the guest bedroom so I can sleep in the nice big comfy bed without her disturbing me, she has created a little corner of stuff for me where I have my laptop/DVD player (yup, using my laptop to watch movies while in bed), my iphone with speakers and other misc. items. She is also made it so her cellphone is always on and makes a special tone when I send her a text message. Which is how I communicate with her, I send her a text with what I need and she comes in with it. Another pill, glass of water, latest copy of Maxim, whatever it is, shes on it. So, I want to give a big thanks to "Nurse Jessica" who has done nothing but further show the extreme contrast between care and obligation.

Oh, and she doesn't wake me up every 20 minutes to take my damn blood pressure!

The Horror Story That is My Tuesday (second) Surgery

Monday I was supposed to have gastric bypass surgery and my gall bladder taken out.

Today I am minus one gall bladder but my stomach is still in-tact. This because the surgeon saw, after removing the gall bladder, an obstruction that would have to be operated on first, by a different Doctor. So Tuesday, in for the obstruction removal "procedure" I go. This ended up being one of the hardest most stressful and painful things I've ever gone through.

What the procedure was was to stick a camera/tool down my throat, through the stomach and intestines to get in to where the obstruction was and either pull it out or cut the area to allow passage (they were thinking the obstruction could be gall stones that got out before the gall bladder was out). So here's how that went down...

First, Monday early afternoon, was they told me about the procedure and that it involved sticking a camera and tool down my throat to which I would need to be sedated for. But here is what actually happened.

Between 11am and 12pm on Tuesday a nurse shows up at my room saying she is there to take me to my surgery. No heads up, no warning, jut "lets go". I hadn't had any pain medication for over 2 hours at this point and would have had some had I known this was coming. Okay, so they take me to the other side of the hospital to this procedure area. I sit in a wheelchair for half an hour before a nurse comes over and moves me to a bed. Treating me more like a veterinarians patient than a human, she starts talking with another nurse, who she is training, about me as if I am not there. Okay, I am a very anxious person. I will even state I take xanax to calm me down in tense situations. I will also say, I had no xanax before going down to the surgery room on Tuesday. Mostly because no one communicated when the surgery would be. Anyway, as I am sitting there being talked about by one obviously senior nurse and one newer nurse, the senior one mentions the procedure I am having I have to be on my stomach for. Umm... excuse me? I just had my gall bladder taken out yesterday, and they want me to lay on my stomach? Are they nuts. So I speak up "um, are you talking about me?" The senior nurse, visually frustrated that I knew how to talk, "yes sir". I replied, "I just had major abdominal surgery yesterday, there is no way I'm going to be able to lay on my stomach." Her response "Don't worry, the Dr. will explain it all." The the senior nurse asks the junior one to connect my existing IV to some saline. I watch her do it, she doesn't connect it right. I see this and make a comment, she ignores me then open up the saline. Guess what, it leaked! Duh! I just told you. Now she has to re-do it and clean up the spilled saline, which isn't a big deal, but make me concerned for my care. I'm now down here for an hour and a half with junior being taught how to enter in my info and being given no pain medication even though in my room I'm on a machine that gives it to me as much as 10 times an hour, so needless to say, I'm hurting.

Finally they decide to wheel me to procedure room. There is already a nurse/technician in the room waiting, she seems very nice, can tell I'm in pain and wants me to just sit for now as comfortable as possible. The a new nurse/technician walks in saying she'll be the one operating the computer monitoring system today. A few minutes later a guy walks in who works for Kaiser IT. The first nurse says "You can't be in here, this is a clean room for procedures and you don't have scrubs, booties, or a hat on." The nurse who is doing the computer monitoring replies "But I've never assisted with this procedure before and need him to show me how to use the machine before we start." Read that last sentence again. I am in serious pain with no medication for over two hours, I am very anxious and I hear this lady has never done it before so they let someone not in the proper clean clothes (which they have the rule for a reason) come in and show her how to use the machine.

Half an hour goes by, the Dr. finally comes in. I tell him right of the back that I'm very anxious and there has to be a way to do this without me laying on my stomach. Nope. But don't worry, he says, we'll make you comfortable and sedate you to where you don't feel a thing. Ha! Okay, now he wants to do what they call a time-out and everyone review what we are doing. He's pissed because the staff from radiology that are supposed to help are not there yet, oh here she comes, with her community college student in tow that shes teaching too. Is anyone in here not using me as a ginnie pig?

Nope, even the Doctor is, as guess who walks in the door next? A vendor who sells a part of the equipment used in my procedure. I don't realize it until halfway through the procedure, but he is showing him how their new upgrade works BY USING IT ON ME FOR THE FIRST TIME! Now I'm not saying I;m the first human or maybe even Kaiser patient that new equipment has been used on, but I'm the first one this Dr. has used it on!

But how did I know any of this was going on? I was supposed to be sedated to the point where I wouldn't even know where I was right? I was going to be so heavily medicated because I had to lie on my stomach just operated on the day before that I would be in la-la land right? WRONG! They gave me plenty of medicine, and I did what I was told, I laid down on my fresh surgery wounds with all my weight on them. And it only hurt at like a 5 on the pain scale of 1-10... for about 3 minutes. Then he stuck this machine down my throat. That brought me out of it and now I felt every pain in my stomach and every pain in my throat, for an hour. I am not ashamed t admit, tears were streaming from my ace while I hear the sales guy in the background "see how that cuts the vessels smoother?" They sedated me more AFTER the procedure, I guess to shut-me up.

So I stay awake the whole procedure, which was successful and removed the obstructions (sludge left over from my toxic gall bladder), but was top 5, no, top 3 most painful things I have ever been through, and may possible take the top spot. But then I'm knocked out, you know, after the surgery. I wake up, and since I have still had no true pain medicine, and am hurting I beg to be taken back to my room where I have pain medicine at my control. This take an hour, while I'm waiting the recovery nurses are very nice, except when they hear my original surgery was supposed to be gastric bypass, then they start telling me horror stories. Well ladies, nothing could be worse than this, so just get me to my pain meds please.

I FINALLY get back to my room, nearly 6 hours after I have left it. Yay! Jessica has driven down and is here. I tell her the story, she doesn't believe what I just went through. Upon this reflection, neither can I. I LAID ON MY STOMACH THE DAY AFTER MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY, and not on a soft bed bud on a hard mat. Looking back, I think I should have refused. Before the Tuesday surgery, my wounds were small with minimal bruising, the picture below (sorry for gross pic) this is one of them after Tuesday's procedure. Oh, and my pain meds I was waiting to get back to, since I was gone so long, they removed them. It took them another hour and a half to get them back! Yesterday was so bad, I am seriously considering not going back for the gastric bypass surgery. We'll see how I feel when they offer me a new surgery date how I feel then. Just a reminder, this all happened at Kaiser SSF NOT Roseville. I have had nothing but good experiences in Roseville and wanted to clarify that.

Discharged

The nightmare is over, for now. On the road with Jessica and Lindsey.


-- Post From My iPhone

4:30am Wednesday Morning

I'm slowly but surely working on a blog post about my surgery/procedure that happened Tuesday. Sneak preview, NOT WELL. Tuesday was one for the record books, but in a bad way. Details forthcoming, but for now here's how things are going.

I can't sleep very well, but better than Monday. I'm in a lot of pain (a lot from today's procedure) but that's getting better too. Doctor plans to discharge me today, and that would be great. I'm so done being in this room.

As far as getting the gastric bypass surgery, jury is still out. May be this month may not even be this year. Stay tuned' :)7

-- Post From My iPhone heft

Get Well Cards

I am very touched by those who have asked where to send "get well" cards or flowers. I ask if you feel inclined to send me anything more than a nice email or blog comment, it be an iTunes gift credit. Watching shows on my iPhone has been helping me stay sane. Our itunes email is jaggerfamily@gmail.com

Otherwise, comment on my blog so I know you stopped by.

Many thanks to you all!!!!




-- Post From My iPhone

Didn't Get the Surgery I Went in for

So, upon opening me up this morning they found an internal obstruction that a) Had to be removed for my health, period. b) Needed a different type of surgeon to remove it c) Had to be removed before the gastric bypass could be done. The good news, my life may have been saved by this discovery. The bad news, didn't get the surgery I came here for. :(

So, I woke up from anesteshia minus a gall bladder, but with the same stomach size and internal digestive tract I went under with. I now have to have another surgery tomorrow to remove the obstruction, the gastric bypass will be a month from now.

This new development may force me to be on medical leave for almost 3 months! Besides the "it may have saved my life" part, this REALLY sucks and I am not happy!

-- Post From My iPhone

Last Minute Thank You's

Had a second while I waited or my pre-surgery wash stuff to dry so I just wanted to say thank you to the many of you who have commented or sent emails, text messages, smoke signals, etc. wishing me well. It means alot and I will be thinking of all of you as they ask me to count backwards from 10 this morning.

Oh, my ride is ready, here I go.

Tomorrow is the Big Day

It's 10pm, I have to stay up for another 30 minutes to complete a pre-op scrub as directed by my surgeon (take shower, wait an hour, scrub with some special crap they gave me). So, anyhow, posting my final blog entry before the surgery. Feeling very anxious, but having some great family to talk to sure has helped this evening. I got to talk to both my daughters at 8:30 and they wished Daddy well. I let them know temporary pain for long term life for them, I actually think they get it.

Haven't eaten at all today, just a protein shake for breakfast. Boy, If could keep this up I wouldn't need the surgery! Funny thing, I'm not even hungry, to anxious.

Well, of to do my cleansing wipe thingy and then to bed, where I won't be able to fall asleep for a couple of hours. I have to get up at 5:30am tomorrow and we leave here (Aunt & Uncles house) at around 6. They only live a few miles away, but better early than late!

Okay, done rambling. Hope everyone has a great Monday and I will update once the drugs wear off and I feel up to it.

On The Road

On the way to South SF. Getting some pre- op bloodwork done then going to relax the rest of the day, at least as much as I can.


-- Post From My iPhone

Final Preparations

Well, tonight is my last night at home and my last night with my family for a better part of a week. I told Lindsey (my 5 year old) today is the last day I can pick her up for a couple months, she keeps coming over to me almost crying asking me to pick her up and give her "Lindsey ups" and hugs. Whew, this is going to be hard. Kayla's a little heavier and will take even longer before I can pick here up again, that is making her sad too. It's been a hard day.

The good news is, I have some great friends who have either commented on this blog or sent emails in support, that has really helped.

Tomorrow, my good friend Bryan will pick me up at 8am to take me to the hospital for my final pre-op testing. Then we'll hang out for a little bit before he drops me off at my Aunt & Uncles house where I'll stay tomorrow night. My Uncle Jerry will take me to the hospital Monday morning. Thank God for them, and not just because they happen to live only 5 minutes from the hospital. They have been very supportive and have made sure to be available this week. It sure does help they are the closest family to the hospital. Thank God for great family.

Getting Ready

Went to GNC yesterday and got all of the post-op vitamins I need. Vitamins weren't too bad, except there is one I have to take EIGHT times a day, so if you see me popping pills, that's why, I swear! Then I got to the protein shake I have to drink, OMG that crap is expensive! The protein powder mix alone will cost me nearly $80 a month, and that's if I get it on sale! I did taste it, it actually was surprisingly okay. Don't know that I'd say "good", but not "bad".

Today (Saturday) is being spent reviewing all the material and getting ready for my return. I'm packing and Jessica is out shopping for my sugar-free popsicles and jello. My immediate two week post-op diet. How exciting.

Got My Surgery Time

Kaiser let me know today I'm the first surgey of the day on Monday, 6:30am. Good, less waiting! Also, some have asked what hospital, I'll be at the Kaiser in South San Francisco. That's the only place Kaiser does the gastric bypass surgeries.

"Second" Surgery

Just a quick note, as a result of some pain and pre-op testing, my surgeon has decided my gall bladder is bad so, as he put it, "While I'm in there anyway, I'm going to go ahead and remove it". Umm, sure, what do I care? Only bad part, it will increase my recovery time. Better than having to have a second surgery. Funny thing, he said if I wasn't already having surgery, I would have to about now anyway because of how toxic my gall bladder is. Thank you God for timing.

My Surgery: Referral to Now

In December of 2007, at a routine doctors visit my doctor asked me what I have done about my weight. I told him of the different exercise programs, routines and eating habit changes I have tried. He asked me if I had every considered gastric bypass surgery. I was almost offended, I mean, that's for fat people! Then I realized, that's the point. I am fat. When he made this suggestion, I was 316 lbs.

I had two responses, one, does kaiser cover that? yes, if you are deemed overweight enough to be considered a health risk.

Two, do I qualify? Unfortunately, yes, and then some.

So now what? Well, the next step was to take a class and learn more about the procedure. I took the class the first week of February 2008. I learned a lot, not just about the surgery potential but about how to eat better and be healthier. I stopped drinking soda because I learned it is the #1 cause if stomach size increase and hunger. (By the way, when I say I stopped drinking soda, Jack & Cokes don't count!)

So after the class, I started exercising daily, eating better and said "I don;t need that surgery, I can lose this weight." And I did, 6 pounds. I kept working out, for awhile, and I ate better, for awhile, but cared less and tried less when all I could get down to was 310.

Kaiser makes you go through a long series of courses with nurses, Doctors and dietitians to even get to a surgeons office for a consult. So, they kept having me come to SF for classes and appointments after February, and I kept going "just in-case" I decided to do the surgery.

Fast forward to 2009. I've taken all the classes I have to before I can talk to a pre-surgery doctor (not even the surgeon) and I decide "no". I can do this on my own. No success, even with true effort. February 2009 roles around, its been a year and I weigh about the same as I did a year ago. Something has to change, I decide to accept an appointment with the pre-surgery doctor once my play was over (that's another story if you don't know it). So in late March 2009 I meet with a very nice nurse practitioner (like a Doctor, but don't get paid as much :) ). He was great. He did a full physical on me, reviewed all the bloodwork I had done and tests and said,"Brian, part of my job is to tell people when or if they should have this surgery. You need this surgery, and you need it now." His reasoning? I'm young(ish), in great health beyond my weight and am not losing the weight. He basically said "You already lost your 20's to obesity, don't lose your 30's". Then he really hit home when he said "And the rest... well they may not even be an option if you have a heart attack and die". Good point. I am anti-dying. It may be a controversial stance, but I'm willing to stand by it. He said doing the surgery now will add twenty years to my life. Doing it in five years, only five. That's a 15 year loss. I have two beautiful girls who I want to see grow up more than anything in the world, I want those twenty years. I said okay, let's do this. Since then, I have not looked back and have progressed.

He gave me a goal weight of 298 pounds (I had naturally gotten myself down to 310 by this time, all the stress of the play I guess, but it was worth it). Yes, they make you loose weight to qualify for surgery. Ironic isn't it? They put you on a version of the diet you will be on after the surgery (not as extreme, but helps give you the idea). The diet is designed to show commitment to the changes, and help you get ready. I had to be at 298 by the time I met with the surgeon, otherwise, no surgery. I hit 296. That was about a month ago. he gave me my surgery date, June 8th. Now, here we are, only three days away.

Background

Okay, so a few have requested this, others, well, you don't have to read it if you don't want to. This is the pre-now story of how I came to being told I need gastric bypass surgery.

So here's what's up. On June 8th, 2009 I am scheduled for gastric bypass surgery. As those who have know me for some time know, I have not always been this heavy, but have for some time now. In 2000 I was a little overweight, but in good shape. I was even a part-time fire fighter with the Newcastle Fire Department and had pretty good physical agility scores. Then I injured my knee playing basketball (it was more fun telling people I did it saving a baby from a burning building, but no, it was a stupid pick-up game).

Anyway, it wasn't your "normal" knee injury, I actually injured it to the point where my knee cap was no longer attached to anything else, plus other tears and rips. The damage was extensive and required an "internal reconstruction". So, after the surgery I couldn't walk which meant I stayed home and was on disability. While at home, I sat in my recliner and watched TV, all day long. I went so far as to have Jessica leave the door unlocked when she left so I could order a pizza and have the pizza guy just come in, since I couldn't get up and all. I didn't leave our apartment for almost three months, straight!

I finally got out of the house and had to get around via a wheelchair for about a month before I worked up to crutches. All in all, I didn't walk on my own for almost six months. There were some good parts, like my year long disability placard. Parking was awesome! (Did you know with a disability placard, you don't have to pay parking meters?). Kayla was born at the end of the year (right as I was walking again) and we couldn't be happier that we had her. But that year I gained 70 pounds. Is that the only reason I'm overweight? Nope, but it sure was a big kick-starter. So here I am, 9 years later and weigh a little more than I did at the end of all of that.

So this is where I am today, almost 100 pounds overweight and not having any success in 9 years of losing the weight. So...