I think I am still in shock.

I had my pre-op appointment today. Went thru my pre-op tests and registration. Had labwork, EKG, chest X-ray and went over what to do the day of surgery and 24 hrs before. Got this little breathing machine contraption I have to practice breathing in prior to surgery. Got some soap I have to shower with the night before surgery and the morning of surgery. And that was it, it all only took an hour. So I headed over to my surgeons office for my pre-op meeting with him. They went over the diet after surgery, talked about my pills/medicines, restrictions, follow up appts etc. Then I met with Dr. Ferrari. I felt bad I didn't have a ton of questions for him only about my gallbladder and pills. I told him forgive me I am nervous and couldn't think of anything! He is going to take my gallbladder since I have had issues with it for years so that was a relief, told me congrats on my new life and will see me Friday morning. I was on my way home by 11am. 2 hours wasn't bad at all for doctor appointments!

I started driving home, called my husband to fill him in on everything then there was a call, it was my surgeon's office. Told my husband to hold on I needed to answer it. Instantly I thought bad news, one of my tests came back bad or an issue. Luly says to me, do you think we could re-schedule your surgery for tomorrow morning instead of Friday? I was like ummm huh? LOL She didn't really give a good reason as to why just said Dr. Ferrari's team of doctor's is there on Fridays and he would prefer tomorrow. I said I personally have no problems but let me check with work and other things. 101 things started going thru my mind holy crap no way this is really happening tomorrow! I first had to check with work to make sure I could go out a day early, they had no problems with it. I had to run out there to have my supervisor sign some paperwork and talked to the guys a bit and left. I had to call disability benefits to let them know my date had changed. Called HR to let them know but she wasn't in the office so I left her a message. Called the hospital to make sure I could just make my co-pay payment on Friday even though I am having surgery tomorrow and they were cool with it. Awwww talk about putting a person in shock!

I spent the day getting everything in order. I got my bag backed. Took my measurements and before pictures. Had a really WOW you so need this surgery moment. I was disgusted by the pictures. I looked at my husband and just said how could you be with this? He shook his head at me and said Sarah stop it. I got my jello and pudding made and have all my other "liquid" diet stuff I can have the first two weeks. Made a ton of calls to let everyone know my date had changed. My poor mom started to cry when I told her I loved her at the end of our call. We always say I love you every time we talk but knowing her oldest is having surgery and she can't be here she is just worried, she knows everything will be fine but worries. That is a mother's job. I have been drinking water all day, I did cheat a bit and have a little bit of Diet Coke. Had my last "meal" around 6pm. Just warmed up some noodles with sauce, barely could eat, my stomach is in knots. Now I am chugging as much water as I can because as of midnight I can't have anything else. I think I have everything packed I need and took care of everything. My mind is going so many ways I can't think right now!

We have to be at the hospital by 7am, surgery is at 9am. June 17th!!!!!!!!!!!! The first day of the rest of my "new" life. I have been looking forward to this for so long I can't believe it's really happening. I will be in the hospital probably till Saturday. I won't have internet access, I don't have a laptop so I will post a blog hopefully Saturday if I am feeling up to it to tell everyone my progress and what has all happened the last few days. I look forward to being on the "losers" bench! Now let me go take my shower with that lovely soap and attempt to get some sleep!

I got approved on June 9th, 2010. Surgery date was set on June 10th, 2010 for June 18th, 2010 at 7:30am! It took 4 business days to get my approval back from Cigna. How awesome is that! I am excted and can't believe it's all going to be happening next week!

.....drum roll please.....
On to my big news of the day. I called my surgeon's office this morning since Luly was back today to see my status. She said she was only waiting on the document from my OB for my weight from 2008. She received the letter from Dr. Burns. Ok half way there! I told her I was going to call and see if I could get anywhere with my OB's office hurrying up with sending it. They have had the request since May 20th, they confirmed that with Luly and also told me that as well. Well when Luly called last Wednesday to see an update they claimed to not have the request so she had to re-fax the request. Great who knew how long it would take them to actually get the records over to Luly now! Since it was almost 11:30am I was going to wait until after lunch to call my OB's office and give them a little "hell" about having to wait 11 days for a simple request of having some records sent over. 20 minutes after calling my surgeon's office Luly calls me back and says right after I got off the phone with you I got the fax from your OB's office!!!!!!!!!!! I tried so hard not to scream when she said this! She said she has everything ready and will be submitting to insurance today!!! She said insurance has been super fast with responding, like in 2-3 days so we could have an answer by Friday. If we don't on Monday she is going to call to see the latest status and go from there! I am beyond excited and happy right now. One more step to go, well actually two. Next is to hear those magic words....You are approved. And second is to set a surgery date. I am getting so close! But yet it doesn't seem real, that is so odd. My husband asked me after I told him the great news, he asked if I was ready? Really I can't say I am because it doesn't seem real and I don't think it will until the day of surgery when I am on the surgery table.

I forgot to post last night so here the lastest for my surgery.

I called my surgeon's office yesterday to see where we are at at this point. Since I have completed all requirements as of May 17th I have been anxious ever since. I called around 1:30pm and the one assistant said Luly would have to call me back because she is the one working on my case. I was antsy at work the whole time waiting for a call back. No call.

I left work got home and around 4:40pm she called me back. Basically she has all my test results back in and we are only waiting on two things. She wanted me to call my doctor and have her write a more further note. I guess in the monthly medical notes only a few notes mention about the diet program and exercise program she had me following. Luly wants to be safe with insurance and asked if I could have my doctor re-write a letter stating she seen me from November 2009 till May 2010 on a supervised 1500 calorie diet and exercise program. I had monthly follow-ups and it basically failed and she is recommending surgery. Just so it shows that I was on a diet the full 7 months and it doesn't give insurance a reason to deny me. She is also waiting on my weight results from 2008. They requested it from my OB, Dr. Peterson and are waiting on her to send those back. Also with my test results I do have gallstones and will need my gallbladder removed when I have surgery. After doing much reading I guess that is pretty common. She said once she receives those two pieces of paper we can submit.

I called my doctor's office right after I got off the phone with her to let me doctor's assistant know I needed another letter. Told her what I needed and she said she would call me as soon as it was faxed. I will give it till Monday and if it still hasn't been faxed I will do a follow up call.

This morning I called my OB's office Dr. Peterson to see if they had received a request to send some files to my surgeon. After checking she said they just received the request yesterday and as soon as Dr. Peterson gets to it they will send it over. I tried to ask for a timeline but she didn't give me one. I told her I would give them till next Wednesday and if it hasn't been turned in I would call again as I am waiting on this for surgery.

So this is where I stand. Two pieces of paper until submitting for approval. Glad it's the weekend so I can keep myself occupied hopefully enough not to have this on my mind all the time. It still doesn't feel real at all that I am doing this. I am trying to come up with "rewards" for every X amount of weight I lose. I have things like get my nails done, pedicure, hair done, bicycle,rollerblades but I know I can think of more or better rewards. Plus trying to get my support system in place. I joined Obesityhelp.com and hoping to meet some people in the area.

Have a great weekend all!

is not a word a fat person wants to hear or say. But I'm going to say it! With surgery getting closer and closer it got me thinking plus I got some advice from some people. That I should enjoy some of my "favorite" naughty or bad food prior to surgery. Kind of like a drug addict getting one more fix is how I see it. Which makes it sound like I am addicted to food and I'm not. But the more I got to thinking about this yesterday the more I agreed that I want to take some of my all time favorites and indulge one last time because after surgery more than likely I will never be able to enjoy those foods like I did. Enjoy some of those sweets, junk food or favorite restaurants etc.

I already told my husband prior to surgery I want to go to Golden Coral one last time to hog out LOL that sounds terrible I know but hey it's the truth. Not that I will never be able to go to Golden Coral again but I won't be able to eat like I can now. I am still drinking soda along with my water. Get my soda fix in now because soon it's coming to an end. Chewing all the gum I can get my hands on because that's soon coming to an end. I am getting the sweets in now, even though I'm not a HUGE sweets fan but I do crave it once in awhile. I really need to find a healthy alternative after surgery to give me that sweet satisfaction. I am sure I will think of other last things I want to have. My farewell to my fat life. I am sure some doctors or my nutritionist would tell me not to do this but I am going to. I am going to have to sacrifice a lot after surgery so let me have my glory prior!

I am so trying to be patient and not call my surgeon's office for an update. I am trying to hold off till Thursday because I doubt they have my psych evaluation yet anyways. Hopefully by Thursday they can tell me something on the progress because last week when I had called one of the ladies was getting my case all together. Then you know once they submit to insurance I am going to be calling every other day asking if I am approved. HA HA. I am just so ready for this. Anyone that has struggled with weight or has gone thru this surgery I am sure can relate. For once in my life I am not in one bit of denial about my weight and health. In the past I knew I was over weight or needed to lose but always told my self just eat this, work out this way, I can do it on my own. In the last two years I have slowly realized I can't do this on my own anymore and if you know me well enough you know that is a very hard thing for me to admit to is needing help. I have too much pride to ask for help with anything. But I can't do this by myself. My body has given up on me and doesn't want to work with me anymore. It's crying out for help. My heart and mind is crying out for help. I just want to be healthy. I want to feel good about myself. I am tired of this damn weight holding me back in the simplest things in life.

I just keep praying everyday that things continue to run smoothly and that this surgery is the tool I have needed my entire life to help me on the road to happiness once again.