Waiting is harder than I thought

Jan 21, 2010

Well, I know it has not been a long proces in the grand scheme of things but waiting is harder than I thought.

So far this is what I have done:

So far I went to Dr Pender’s office on Nov 20, 2009 for a consult interested in Lap-band surgery. After talking with him he really peaked my interest in the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG). The same day as that appt I went over to the hospital for a chest x-ray, a ekg, and blood gas test. I was told they would be sending me a letter with other appts.

 

I got my letter on Dec 12, 2009 with tests on Dec 23 for blood work, upper GI, and anesthesiologist consult. It also said that I would be contacted directly by ViQuest for a Nutrition consult and ECU Physicians for a Psychological evaluation.

 

Dec 14^th I got my appt/ paperwork for my Psych eval. It was scheduled for Jan 12^th.

 

On Dec 23^rd I went back to Greenville with Gary. My first appt was scheduled for 9:30. We got there at about 8:50 and because we were early they sent me for my blood work first. After my blood work was done I went for my upper GI. The Dr I saw there was very interested in the VSG and had not heard about it so after my appt when I was changing he went into the lobby to talk to Gary because I told him I had paperwork about it with Gary. When he was out there he mentioned to Gary that I have a hiatal hernia. That was the last I have heard about it but I have checked and since obesity is partially to blame I am assuming it will be controlled when I have the surgery. But is explains to me the belching. Anyway, after the upper GI I went to the anesthesiologist. He asked me a bunch of questions and measured my neck. He said on a 30 point scale that they use for surgery with my slender neck and good history I got the lowest (best) score he had ever done. I got a 1. So onward we go.

 

On Dec 30^th I got a call from Cathy in Dr Pender’s office. She said my blood work came back and I have a vitamin D deficiency. It should be about a 30 (they must like that number) and I was at 19. So, she called in a prescription for 50000 unit vitamin D pills to take 1 a week for the next 8 weeks. I will be finished with them on Feb 17^th. In the mean time I told Dr Wilding, my Chiropractor, about it is he said with is being that low there may be genetic factors and that I may need to be on a prolonged vitamin D regiment. I will be asking Dr Pender about that.

 

On Jan 8^th I finally got my nutritionist consult scheduled. They asked me when I would already be in Greenville. I told them Tuesday so they scheduled me.

 

Jan 12^th, yesterday, I had an 8:30 am appt with Jenny Biggs, the nutritionist, the short version was that she spent the majority of the time talking to me about what to expect for a pre and post-surgery diet. She gave me some hand out and I want to say the appt took a total of 30 minutes. Since I have 51/2 hours until my next appt I went back to work until 1:15.  At 3:00 was my psych eval. I met with Teresa Edenfield. She took the paperwork I had already completed and had me fill out 2 more questionnaires. Then we had a conversation/ interview. Basically she said she would have to review my file but she saw no reason not to move forward with my surgery. When I left her office I called the Bariatric surgery office and let them know I was complete with my appts per their instructions.

 

I got a call from Cathy this morning. She said she got my message and that it would be about 1 ½ to 2 weeks before their office gets the write up from the psychologist and when they do they will call me to set up my next appt. My next appt will be the “decision” appt. Gary will need to be with me for that one as Dr Pender says it is important he meets my primary caregiver. This is the appt when I will say yes, I want the VSG and they will tell me the details. They will then submit my paperwork the insurance company. I see no reason they should deny it but you never know. I will get a prescription for Optifast that I will start after I get my approval and surgery date. I will be on a full optifast diet of 5 shakes a day (about 800 calories) for 2 weeks before my surgery. The nutritionist said they aren’t great and they aren’t filling. I will be hungry. She said that is a miserable two weeks. After the surgery I will be on optisource. It is a higher protein version of the optifast for another 2 weeks to allow my stomach to heal and then got to stages of food from there. She said the optisource doesn’t taste as good as the optifast. I will most likely be out of work for at least 2 weeks after surgery.

 I just wish I new a step by step of what I have left and how long it will take. I am like a kids a Christmas waiting for them to call me. Hoping it is closer to the 1 1/2 instead of 2 weeks and really hoping it is not longer.

 

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