My surgery is scheduled for a week later than I thought, but I'm actually glad because it will give me more time to prepare.  I've been following my pre-surgical diet and am going to work my ass off to get everything ready before hand so that I can just concentrate on getting this surgery done and becoming as healthy as I can.  I can't wait!

Saw Dr. Waldrep today for my one-on-one...went really well.  He went over my medical history, I asked him a few questions about the surgery, and then he gave me a medical exam.  He cleared me for surgery and said I'll be getting the smaller sized Lap Band and small port.  

My PCP hadn't sent over the ok and EKG results, but Dr. Waldrep's staff got right on it and by the time I was ready to leave they had the stuff faxed to them!  His staff is awesome!  I then had my lap band boot camp and got information on pre and post operative diet and a lot of misc. info.  Now for the good part....my request is being sent for approval and I'm already scheduled for surgery this coming Tuesday!!! YAY!!!  Let's hope my insurance stuff runs smooth, I have a feeling it will, but you never know.  I'm going to proceed with my pre-op diet and getting last minute stuff in order as if I am going to have the surgery but I know there's always that chance of denial so I won't get too excited.

I have done so much research on this I know I'm ready, but I still want to get organized so that I won't have to think about anything after the surgery - I'll have the stuff I'm supposed to drink and then later eat, I'll have my house already cleaned so I won't have to worry about it, my husband will have time off of work, etc.  

So, now I'm just left to do last minute things and try not to worry about the surgery too much.  I have to admit I'm nervous, but I'm cutting out the cafeine which I know adds to being a bit anxious, I'm going to meditate, relax, watch comedies, and remember that this is a life change that is worth making! 

Just an update on my progress...

Now that I got the referal to Dr. Waldrep everything is going much faster.  I went to my group meeting and that went really well - I got weighed and had my pic taken and got my referals/orders for the chest x-ray, nutritionist, psychologist and blood work.  The next day I made appointments, although because of my schedule they weren't for a couple of weeks.  Then did my chest x-ray which was pretty easy - the wait was longer than the actual x-ray.  

Unfortunately my bloodwork didn't go so well - not because of the results being bad, but because I passed out.  I should have asked to lay down while they took my blood.  I've passed out twice before, and considering they were taking more than 1 vial of blood, I should have known better.  First the phlebotomist couldn't find a good vein to take the blood from, so I ended up having to have blood taken from a vein on the top of my hand.  Then after she was just about finishing up, the dizziness just sort of hit me at once - it wasn't as if I was particuarly scared or looked at the needle or anything.  I just told her I wasn't feeling well, that I thought I was going to pass out, slumped forward while saying to myself "oh s**t, I'm going to pass out." Next thing I know I was looking up at her but couldn't really hear what she was saying, then I passed out again!  Since I'm getting to be an old pro at passing out, it wasn't as scary afterwards, I just drank some cold water and started feeling better.  

Today I met the nutritionist and she was great - I learned a lot and she gave me information including tips on what to eat post-surgery.  She's definitely one of those sort of people who are just really friendly from the get go, and she was really knowledgable about bariatric surgery so I would feel really comfortable going to her again after surgery if I need to.

Next stop after my nutiritionist was my EKG - I was nervous, but there was nobody at the doctor's office so was able to do the test right away.  The test itslef was so short that I was in and out of there in a matter of 15 minutes or so.  My psych appointment's tomorrow, my PCP gets back into the office on Friday to sign off on my EKG and send out my letter, and that's it!!  

Ok, that's not really IT, of course there are those little details like getting insurance approval and the surgery itself haha!

 Wow, It's been 2 months already since  I last posted!  I had some problems getting my PCP to submit my referal but it finally worked out.  Thank goodness for Dr. Waldrep's office!  I guess my PCP forgot or the person who did referals just plain put it off because I left messages and Dr. Waldrep's office left messages yet the referal request was never submitted.  Oh well, I've been really busy with school anyway, so maybe it's gonna work out for the best.

I get to go to my group appointment next Monday and after that will try to get my other appointments done asap so I can get on with this already!

Don’t know why I’m so nervous to talk to my pcp about getting a referral.  I’m past the point of feeling embarrassed about my weight with her.  I don’t think it’s the judgment about my fat.  I think it’s that I really want this, and if she has a negative reaction it’s just going to prolong the wait even more and cause me to have to struggle even more to get this done.  I’ve gone over how I’m going to explain my decision in my head – over and over I’ve thought about it.  I know I’m over thinking this, but it’s hard not to, and I really don’t want to start over with another pcp and have to wait once again.  Anyway, just a few hours till I’ll know…