January 4, 2007

Excited about attending the Lab Band seminar scheduled on 1-9-07.  Keep praying for me...

January 10, 2007

Attended the seminar, turned in my medical history paperwork, and called today for a consultation which is scheduled for 1-19-07.  A little discouraged r/t Insurance coverage (up to 10,000 Lifetime), the price for paying cash (15,000) and price for using any insurance (23,000).  The finance dept. indicated there would be a $5000 deposit required to the hospital (prior to surgery), and the Surgeons office indicated there would be a $2500 deposit required to their office (prior to surgery).  Grand total of $7500, then I would also have to pay the balance of the operation through payroll deduction.  Keep praying for me, I struggle with using my savings and having nothing left.  My husband doesn't have an insurance yet.

January 19, 2007

Went for my consultation, Dr. Avara okays me for the lapband surgery, and 10-15 pounds down prior to surgery.  I'm still saving to cover my deposit expenses ($7500), and plan to be ready by the end of March.

January 25, 2007

$2700 saved; $4800 To go.

January 29, 2007

Heard insurance is in process of possibly changing to be much better.  Keep praying for me...Hoping I don't have to wait for beginning of 2008...

February 12, 2007

$3200 saved, $4300 to go.  Also beginning to feel down about the wait (which I hope won't be much longer) in addition to problems with DH, and kids' grades.

February 15, 2007

Just spoke with BCBS-MS  who indicated they needed a "credible coverage" form from my previous insurance...and that any "pre-existing" conditions (obesity) may not be covered until September 2007 due to the "pre-existing" conditions clause in my insurance...getting more frustrated...DH not making matters any better with other problems.

February 22, 2007

$3700 saved, $3800 to go, half way there.

March 6, 2007

Will have taxes done this Friday...praying to have deposit fees complete by then...better yet, praying that insurance will change and cover 100% by next month.

March 14, 2007

$4200 saved.

March 23, 2007

$4700 saved.  Keep Praying all.  Going to final day of a 3-day revival tonight--gonna pray harder.

G     O     D     'S            Y     E     S .....

March 30, 2007

I can hear the Lord saying "Get Ready"! The last time I heard those words, I received Job offers from 3 prospective employers! (Hallelujah!).  When He says get ready, just start to prepare the best way you know how.  I am off shopping for my baby spoon, measuring utensils and some type of blender or magic bullet.

April 4, 2007

$5200 saved...hope to hear something r/t insurance coverage change this month.

April 10, 2007

Surgeons office called and said to schedule my Psych Eval....OMG, Hallelelujah!!! 

April 11, 2007

Appointment with Dr. Massong (Psych) scheduled for Monday April 16, 2007 @ Noon.  The person I spoke with said he was going to call the insurance company and call me back.  He called within 30 minutes and said just to bring my co-pay of $20....Hallelujah!

April 11, 2007

Someone else from the surgeons office called to schedule me for Labwork this Friday (on my Birthday) April 13th.  OMG, when God says get ready he means it! Hallelujah.  Now I'm beginning to feel those butterflies you all begin to feel....

April 12, 2007

Admissions called to start the admission process over the phone...Hallelujah!

April 13, 2007 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME...)

Went for labwork today...wow, I forgot how that barium solution tastes...uck, and they made me drink some fizzies with it so they could see best.  Well, I scheduled my Eval with my PCP for Tuesday, and should have my surgery date by next week.  Hallelujah!

April 16, 2007

Completed my Psych Eval and Test today...I had a flashback to when I was a court reporter "Don't talk unless you're spoken to" LOL  Well anyways, he encourages his clients (including me) to start the post op diet now...Hallelujah anyway...(smile).  I also started another diet today to try to lose the weight I've gained since my first visit to the surgeon.  It has been challenging for me--work 12 hour shifts vs. 8hours and finding a balance with eating and/or just not being hungry.  What the heck, I'll starting the post op diet now (1200-1500 cals with protein shakes), no starches, sweets, junk, or soda--(altered a bit)

April 17, 2007

Went to my PCP for his Eval and approval for surgery--and to my surprise, he had all the labwork, etc that I just took 4/13 for the surgeon bundled in a packet to sign off on with paperwork to submit to the surgeon.  whoohoo (hallelujah)

He also decided to do an Echocardiogram...well, the technician told me if it was something serious I wouldn't be able to walk out of the office--I WALKED OUT OF THE OFFICE --Hallelujah!   But, she indicated it would take the cardiologist one week to review my results and that it appeared that I have a congenital (from birth) heart defect called ASD or Atrial Septal defect, and that it just looked like a little flap, not large.  Well, I have been asymptomatic of this and pray to continue to remain asymptomatic Amen.  I have read my little nursing school books and they indicate that they usually do surgery to repair--I'm just hoping I can have my band on before then.  Pretty upsetting to know only 1 in 100,000 people have ASD, and I may be one--I'm not confirming that Echo...Hallelujah!

April 19, 2007

$5900 saved...$1600 to go. Unsure of exact surgery date, hoping for somewhere around the 18th, but have taken time off from May 17th through 28th.

April 24, 2007

I may have my confirmed date soon...My consent appointment is May 18th, and Surgery is May 21st.  Why am I getting nervous and anxious now...Hallelujah!

April 29, 2007

I cheated on my diet I started on 4/16--I ate 1/2 c of corn (a starch)...otherwise I've been doing well. Hallelujah anyhow!

April 30, 2007

I'm down 16 pounds as of today woohoo! Hallelujah!

May 17, 2007

Went for my consent visits and pre-admit today.  I started at 10am and ended with everything at 2pm.  They said they'd call tommorow to give me my exact time.  Oh yeah, and I opened my big mouth to my surgeon and told him I'd gained like 30 pounds from January to April, then went on a diet again--boy was that a big no no, regardless of being 4 pounds within my last weigh in during my January visit.

 May 21, 2007
Today is my surgery date.  I had to be at the hospital for 7am, and arrived at about 6:40am.  I went to my room, which was equipped with a drawer, a table, 2 chairs, and one electric lazy boy chair (nice).  When I originally arrived, I was disappointed to see the lazy boy chair, after a while, I began liking it, especially post op.LOL.

They took me to the holding area with nurse Cobby (we'd teased each other about last names), nurse Chris started my IV, they agreed that I appeared a little nervous and told me they were also going to give me something to help me relax...versed...I laughed, because I didn't think they were going to give something that potent, but in to la la land I went.  I remember Dr. Avara coming to my bed side and saying "hey!", being rolled into the surgical room, my IV stinging really bad because they were rushing an antibiotic into me before surgery, then a guy told me he was giving me something to make to go to sleep.  I was so relaxed from the versed, I couldn't even get nervous enough to tell him wait a minute (so I could absorb all that was going on in).  Next thing you know, I was in recovery, and the first thing I heard her say was "take some deep breaths"  (not good--that's what we tell our patients many times in SICU who we stand over keeping our fingers crossed until the pulmonologist arrives to entubate them).  She asked if I was nauseated, I told her just a pinch, and she informed me that she didn't want to give me anything right now (really not good).  Usually that means one of 3 things your respirations (the amount of breaths you take) are too low, heart rate is too low, or blood pressure is too low.  Well, I later overheard her giving report to my post-op nurse and saying my breathing was shallow because they had given me 10mg of Morphine (Wow)--I was still in and out, but evidently I got upset enough for my breathing to pick up.  Each time I awakened, I took a deep breath--they were laughing at me.  Then my recovery nurse told me I was done with surgery and everything went well.  (That was the best thing I'd heard).  I went to surgery about 9am and my husband said Dr. Avara came to speak with him a little after 10am.

I went back to my room with my lazy boy chair, was in and out, taking deep breaths still...I got up to go potty at about Noon (no foley catheter used), then I went to walk (no nausea/vomiting or pain)  I had 60cc's of ice chips (yummy), my discharge paperwork was completed, I got dressed, and I went home around 2pm.  I stayed on the couch the rest of the day, and took my lortab syrup just in case.  I sipped on clear liquids the rest of the day.

May 22, 2007

My first day post op, I moved on the full liquids, (keeping my caloric intake at approx 700 calories).  It was challenging doing 700 calories with those high caloried creamed soups.  I was drinking 4 ounces per sitting.  No nausea or vomiting.  Oh, I learned a new trick from my recovery nurse.  She said to sniff an alcohol swab to decrease nausea.  It worked.  Oh yeah, one more thing...I am up 10 pounds (surgical fluids/shifts) bummer.  I went walking in my backyard (never thought I'd do this) it went well.

June 6, 2007

I know I wasn't supposed to until after 6 weeks, but I resumed my dance aerobics DVD (mildly) it went well.  My energy level is great.

June 7, 2007

I forgot to add one important thing.  My band is positional.  Depending on how I'm sitting, I can get full quicker or not so quick.

November 10, 2007

Gee..I know I haven't posted in a long time.  I've plateaued, went through soft food syndrome (eating starchy items b/c anything else would get stuck quicker), and am back on track now.  Been going to the gym instead of doing my dance aerobic and leslie sansone dvd's.  I've learned to set a day aside and cook veggie enchanced meals, put them into small serving containers and grab them and go just like the meals in the freezer section at the grocery store.  It works..it really works, to have it ready to grab and go.  I'm extremely sore all over from going to the gym with my husband (ouch)...in his words "start out at the highest weight, then go low"!...whatever!