Last nite I took THE pictures of myself I'm using as my BEFORE... When I look in the mirror at myself I don't see the weight as badly as I did when I looked at these pictures. I can't even identify myself... Where did my body shape go? Where did my bones go? In my mind I don't think of myself as being that big.. but I know I am at the same time.  I am looking so forward to my surgery. Finally I can have a healthy body that reflects my happy, healthy, bubbly personality again.

I had my surgical consult today. Wow am I pumped! I have to go through the steps my insurance requires but I guess Health Partners is one of the easiest insurances my bariatric office works with as far as the steps I have to take and their guidelines to follow to cover it. I have great coverage.. 90% and my out of pocket max is only $3000.

I'm going to have laposcopic Roux-en-Y.. It does scare me some to think about the malnutrition aspect of it but I am working closely with the dietitian in the bariatric office as well as my insurance company to maximize meeting my nutritional needs. I have to have 5 phone calls with a dietitian at my insurance company and once those 5 are over then they can submit to the insurance company for approval. I also have to have the usual dietitian visit within the bariatric office and the mental health eval.  It will be the first week of May when the Health Partners phone calls are completed (5 calls each 2 weeks apart) and that will be the last step needed for the pre-auth. I'm also moving in the meantime and I'll be doing that May 31st.. so I'm planning on moving and having my surgery roughly a week to a week 1/2 later...

I have had increased acid reflux since my weight has increased (probably in the last 20-30lbs) and my surgeon wants me to have an upper GI study to make sure I don't have any anatomical problems with my stomach before surgery. I'm also having a gallbladder ultrasound done because I've chosen to keep it rather than have it removed during the surgery.

Overall I'm so excited to be changing my life. But at the same time I am so nervous about it.. the eating, making sure I drink enough and getting enough nutrients. I'm also wondering how people at work will react to when I come back and tell them. I have a close group of people at work that are rooting for me.. the rest will be supportive.. I few will stick up their noses like they do to everything else. 

I know I've made the right decision.. I just can't wait! I'll probably be blogging once a week until I'm closer to my surgery or have a for sure surgery date. I'd appreciate any advice anyone has.. especially what you really feel like the first week after surgery at home. And what food/liquids to stock up on before the surgery too.