Well I'm officially cleared by all powers that be! The vascular and pulmonary appointments were easy. The cardiologist was a different story. 

While doing the medicated stress test, I got sick which sent my heart into an irregular heart beat. Thankfully it converted back to normal on its own before they admitted me into the hospital. The next day the cardiologist called saying the test results showed some slight abnormalities and wanted to do a cardio catheter to make sure that there wasn't any blockage. Did that yesterday... and there's no blockage. I'm good to go.... even though I had to do bed rest for two of my last four days at work. Oh well. It's a good group and they'll survive without me.

Tomorrow I start the liquid diet. Thursday I drink the nasty stuff. Friday I report to the hospital at 5:30a. It's finally here!!! I met someone at support group who is having surgery on the same day. We'll be walking buddies. She's very nice.

I pulled my suitcase out Sunday and started loading it up. Still not sure of everything to take, but I guess I'll figure it out. Oh well... I'm off to get some work done.

9/28/06:
Well I had my psyche evaluation last week and Dr. Shina's office received it yesterday. Everything was faxed to insurance this morning and now I wait. To make things even better, I had all four of my wisdom teeth pulled Tuesday which hurts so bad. So I guess I'll wait in pain!

9/2/06:
The waiting begins! Dr. Shina's seminar last week was great. He calls it like he sees it and I appreciate that. I'm so ready to have this surgery. He wants me to see a vasucular surgeon and discuss having a filter for the surgery since my sister has recently had blood clots. I'm all for it if it will make the surgery safer. I had labs drawn on Thursday and they should be sent to Dr. Shina's next week. Now I have to wait for my info to get into the system before I call the bariactric center to schedule my psyche eval and nutrionist appt. ugghhh!! The thought of having this surgery has consumed me. I can't wait!

8/8/06:
I go to Dr. Shina's seminar on Aug. 29. I'm so ready and can't wait. I've scheduled an appointment with my PCP for Aug. 15 so that I can get her reco and copies of my files. Hopefully my husband can go to the seminar with me but he might not be able to take off from school since he's a teacher. However, my three half-sisters are visiting KY (from CA) and two of them have had the surgery. I'm going to try and visit them when he can go with me. This will give him an opportunity to ask any questions that he has. I'm lucky because he is totally supportive, but I want him to understand everything involved. This surgery is all that I can think about. I can't wait until Aug. 29!!!