Hello California!!!

Dec 05, 2010

It's been almost a month since I've written so I figured I better update my blog.  I'm sitting here in the hotel room in Glendale impatiently waiting to begin my bowel prep for my surgery tomorrow morning 12/6/10.  I'm REALLY not looking forward to that part!

I got to CA this past Thursday 12/2.  I flew Southwest and bought two tickets for myself and one for my Mom.  Luckily neither flight was full so I should get a refund for the 2nd tickets on both flights.  We rented a car from Burbank airport and I was VERY thankful for bringing my GPS from home with me.  CA freeways are VERY confusing and I strongly urge anyone who is coming from far out of town or another state to get a GPS - it is a Godsend! 

I had my appointment with Dr.K on Thursday in which I had an "Orientation" meeting with another woman and her parents going over all viable WLS options and he went over all the standard items about pre-op and surgery and post-op and vitamin regimens..etc, etc, etc.  Then he met with me one on one and all I can say is I LOVE THIS MAN!!  He has a wonderful outlook, he's funny, he's smart and he knows his shit!  My mother also was impressed with him as well.  I feel completely confident in his abilities and bless God each day that my journey ended me here with him.  I can't say enough good things about him.  Overall I think we spent about 3 1/2 hrs at his office talking with him.  

Friday I had pre-op which was quite long.  I met again with Dr.K to go over any other questions or thoughts that came up from the day before, mine were mostly vitamin related.  He kept telling me over and over that I need to get it out of my head that I failed my surgery - he said the surgery failed me - that it's NOT my fault that I gained weight back - it was simply the wrong surgery for someone like me with such a high BMI and he personally believe the RNY sucks and refuses to perform it.  I told him it's hard to get that out of my head when EVERY single Dr I have ever had has told me it's my fault I'm fat - I need to eat less and move more.  I wish all Drs had his outlook on it!

After I met with Dr.K I went over to pre-admission and prepared all the paperwork with admissions.  I met Chett Peabody (I just love that name!)the RN in charge of getting me checked in and set up for any other pre-op testing needed and he is such a great guy.  So bubbly and sweet!  Not to mention he's smooth on the eyes if you know what I mean...lol!!! I then met Susan, the head of Bariatric Nursing and will be my head nurse Monday, she too was very nice.  I then went and had 12 tubes of blood drawn...yuck! 

Mom and I spent the rest of  Friday driving to Palmdale and then made our way back thru Angeles National Forest and the mountains.  Unbelievable scenery although the driving was trecherous.  Mom kept taking pics and telling me to look there or look here - I couldn't because if I did we would be driving off a 1500 foot cliff and needless to say surgery would be pointless at that point! :>)

Saturday I drove thru LA (holy crap, I thought rush hour on I-95 in Miami was bad!!!) - again, thanks to my GPS we made it thru safely.  We drove to Santa Monica and then to Malibu and further on the Pacific Coast HIghway - absolutely breathtaking views.  I highly recommend it if you have extra time to burn.  I got to put my feet in the Pacific Ocean - it's a hell of alot colder than the Florida Atlantic waters I'm use to!!  We came home and I had a final meal of Pizza that Dr.K told me to indulge in.  He said don't worry about the liquid diet 2 days before, the magnesium citrate will take care of it...LOL!

So here I am - getting my bag prepared to take to the hospital.  Magazines, lotions,chapstick,  Kindle, Laptop and cell phone with all the chargers.  I'm sure I won't use half the stuff but Mom is staying with me and I know she will likely use my Kindle and Laptop so it's all good.  In a few hours I begin my bowel prep...ugggh....

I will follow up after surgery with all the good, bad and I'm sure the ugly....

Until then - I've FINALLY made it and I'm sure as hell gonna enjoy the ride!!!

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