finchgal
October
Oct 28, 2006
My surgery is scheduled for Nov. 2nd. I feel pretty ready. I've made a lot of changes over the past few months, preparing for this big change in my life. Eating slower, smaller portions, following the 30/30 rules. I walk 3-5 miles a week...though I sprained my ankle yesterday and that will slow me down for a bit. I have concerns about my recovery period more than anything else. While I'm in the hospital I will have good pain control...and when I get home? I hope so. I have a high tolerance for pain (my shoulder surgery last year was a nightmare) I am concerned because I live alone, and while my two dearest friends promise to help me out, I'm still not sure how that is going to work. Or if it will work at all. But I tend to worry obsessively if I let myself and I have decided I am not going to do that. I have done everything I can do to have alternate plans in place.
Now its just a waiting game.
Now its just a waiting game.
September Happenings
September 9, 2006
Went to the pulmonologist...nothing interesting came out of that appointment. He scheduled the titration study, warned it might take till October to get in. Luckily, they put me on the cancellation list and I went this week. I have to say its harder than I thought it would be. Putting the mask on my face spurred some unexpected anxiety--lots of anxiety. I did a lot of self-talk, breathing, and praying. I was surprised I actually slept. The air flow stopped bothering me as much, but the mask is very uncomfortable. I had indents in my cheeks when I woke up. I think I would get the surgery just because of this. No way do I want to wear this contraption for the rest of my life!
right now I am waiting to be re-scheduled with Apria--they were the ones who were going to set it up for PCP's office, I assume they will be doing it again. Maybe it will be easier at home?
On another note, I'm adjusting pretty well to the diet changes. I've been trying to follow the post op diet now, mainly high protein and low carbs. I've lost 15 pounds since June by doing this. The cravings are lessening. I find that if I avoid carbs I want them less.
However, when I'm stressed--like I was this week with the sleep study--I tend to overeat. I'm being kind to myself about that. On the whole I'm doing very well, and after all I'm only human....
September 13, 2006--Things are happening fast...
My appointment with Dr. Clough has been scheduled! One week from today. Tomorrow I'm getting my cpap machine...it looks as if this is actually going to happen.
September 20, 2006
Saw Dr. Clough today. I have to agree with all the good things I have heard about him. He answered my questions and agreed that the risk of the surgery is less than the risk of all the other obesity related problems that I have. I stopped at the lab and gave them some blood.
On another note, I have the cpap and Nasal Pillows....way easier to adjust to than the face mask. Still not sleeping very well, my insomnia has been kicking in big-time, but this is the time of year I tend to have problems, and the continuing stress (stress? what stress?) isn't helping.
On an unrelated matter, my PCP thinks I have glossopharangeal neuralgia...pain in back of mouth, tongue, face, scalp, now in the ear and throat...
not all at the same time thank heavens...
Getting the million dollar MRI on Monday....and another med. Ugh.
But this has been going on about 9 months....I'm glad she listened.
September 30, 2006
I GOT PARTIAL APPROVAL TODAY
Maine Care approval arrived in the mail today--wow, that was fast.
Now I'm just waiting for Medicare....who knows, this may happen in October after all
Went to the pulmonologist...nothing interesting came out of that appointment. He scheduled the titration study, warned it might take till October to get in. Luckily, they put me on the cancellation list and I went this week. I have to say its harder than I thought it would be. Putting the mask on my face spurred some unexpected anxiety--lots of anxiety. I did a lot of self-talk, breathing, and praying. I was surprised I actually slept. The air flow stopped bothering me as much, but the mask is very uncomfortable. I had indents in my cheeks when I woke up. I think I would get the surgery just because of this. No way do I want to wear this contraption for the rest of my life!
right now I am waiting to be re-scheduled with Apria--they were the ones who were going to set it up for PCP's office, I assume they will be doing it again. Maybe it will be easier at home?
On another note, I'm adjusting pretty well to the diet changes. I've been trying to follow the post op diet now, mainly high protein and low carbs. I've lost 15 pounds since June by doing this. The cravings are lessening. I find that if I avoid carbs I want them less.
However, when I'm stressed--like I was this week with the sleep study--I tend to overeat. I'm being kind to myself about that. On the whole I'm doing very well, and after all I'm only human....
September 13, 2006--Things are happening fast...
My appointment with Dr. Clough has been scheduled! One week from today. Tomorrow I'm getting my cpap machine...it looks as if this is actually going to happen.
September 20, 2006
Saw Dr. Clough today. I have to agree with all the good things I have heard about him. He answered my questions and agreed that the risk of the surgery is less than the risk of all the other obesity related problems that I have. I stopped at the lab and gave them some blood.
On another note, I have the cpap and Nasal Pillows....way easier to adjust to than the face mask. Still not sleeping very well, my insomnia has been kicking in big-time, but this is the time of year I tend to have problems, and the continuing stress (stress? what stress?) isn't helping.
On an unrelated matter, my PCP thinks I have glossopharangeal neuralgia...pain in back of mouth, tongue, face, scalp, now in the ear and throat...
not all at the same time thank heavens...
Getting the million dollar MRI on Monday....and another med. Ugh.
But this has been going on about 9 months....I'm glad she listened.
September 30, 2006
I GOT PARTIAL APPROVAL TODAY
Maine Care approval arrived in the mail today--wow, that was fast.
Now I'm just waiting for Medicare....who knows, this may happen in October after all
August happenings
August 14, 2006
Had group session with nutritionist and then the one-on-one meeting. I am now cleared by nutrition.
August 22,2006
Ha! Got a call from my PCP. It seems everything did NOT go okay with the sleep study back in July, and I do have sleep apnea. PCP office was not on the same track as the surgeons office--they actually said I could wait and not use cpap unless I still had same problem post op--which I knew wasn’t going to fly with EMMC. A short time later I got another call--someone is supposed to contact me from med.supplier regarding the machine.
August 23, 2006
Today--I called med. supplier, found out they did not have all the needed information. Phone calls in progress between them and PCP. Good thing I've seen all the potential complications from other members on OH and called to check things out.
August 28, 2006
Now I'm confused. According to the SWLC, I need to see the pulmonologist first...as they did not use the cpap on me during my study.
And I may or may not need treatment, as they didn’t collect enough data during the first study, or I may need to go back again to have it repeated...
Why does this feel like a Keystone Cops cartoon? My docs office has me confused!
Luckily, I only have to wait two days for my appointment with the pulmonologist.
Had group session with nutritionist and then the one-on-one meeting. I am now cleared by nutrition.
August 22,2006
Ha! Got a call from my PCP. It seems everything did NOT go okay with the sleep study back in July, and I do have sleep apnea. PCP office was not on the same track as the surgeons office--they actually said I could wait and not use cpap unless I still had same problem post op--which I knew wasn’t going to fly with EMMC. A short time later I got another call--someone is supposed to contact me from med.supplier regarding the machine.
August 23, 2006
Today--I called med. supplier, found out they did not have all the needed information. Phone calls in progress between them and PCP. Good thing I've seen all the potential complications from other members on OH and called to check things out.
August 28, 2006
Now I'm confused. According to the SWLC, I need to see the pulmonologist first...as they did not use the cpap on me during my study.
And I may or may not need treatment, as they didn’t collect enough data during the first study, or I may need to go back again to have it repeated...
Why does this feel like a Keystone Cops cartoon? My docs office has me confused!
Luckily, I only have to wait two days for my appointment with the pulmonologist.
Sleep Study
July 14, 2006
Had my sleep study night before last. As far as I know, everything went okay. That's what they said when I woke up during the night. I was in such a hurry to leave in the morning I forgot to ask again. But I do know that if I was having bad problems they would have woke me up for some O2. That's one step out of the way and a weight off my mind.
Had my sleep study night before last. As far as I know, everything went okay. That's what they said when I woke up during the night. I was in such a hurry to leave in the morning I forgot to ask again. But I do know that if I was having bad problems they would have woke me up for some O2. That's one step out of the way and a weight off my mind.
Finally!
Oct 05, 2006
October 5, 2006
IT'S OFFICIAL!
November 2, 2006 is my date.
There are reasons why November is not the best month for me, but I have decided that all things happen for a reason, and I'm taking this date. If all goes well, I will be feeling lots better by Christmas. Besides, if I delayed a month, I would only have 4 more weeks to drive myself crazy by worrying.
I've decided not to read any more 'bad news" on the boards--or try not to at least. I just get too emotionally involved, and I drive myself crazy thinking, "what if that happened to me?" Although I know that statistics are in my favor, and every person is different, and no one knows if complications will strike or not, that is head knowledge. My heart ends up in turmoil. And for the moment, I need to channel my energy towards a positive outcome, for me.
IT'S OFFICIAL!
November 2, 2006 is my date.
There are reasons why November is not the best month for me, but I have decided that all things happen for a reason, and I'm taking this date. If all goes well, I will be feeling lots better by Christmas. Besides, if I delayed a month, I would only have 4 more weeks to drive myself crazy by worrying.
I've decided not to read any more 'bad news" on the boards--or try not to at least. I just get too emotionally involved, and I drive myself crazy thinking, "what if that happened to me?" Although I know that statistics are in my favor, and every person is different, and no one knows if complications will strike or not, that is head knowledge. My heart ends up in turmoil. And for the moment, I need to channel my energy towards a positive outcome, for me.
June 2006
Jun 29, 2006
On June 14,2006 I went to EMMC's surgical weight loss program's educational meeting and started the process. I was initially disappointed to find that because of my insurance situation, the only procedure available is open RNY. But, in a way this is good. I was not certain lap-band would work for me because I am a sweet lover. I hope I am one of those people who dump on sweets. I'm a firm believer in negative conditioning! The support group meeting afterwards was very encouraging. I plan on going back as often as possible before my surgery.
June 19th--got letter with dates for appointments for NUT, PT and psychological testing. Sleep study will follow--I flunked the screening questionnaire. Same day, got a call from SWLP that I need a new referral from my new doctor. Frantic phone calls follow.
June 25th--thats where I stand at this point. The only thing I'm faintly concerned about is the psych--however, since my bipolar stuff is well controlled and I'm on a minimal amount of medication, and my therapist is very supportive of my decision--I'm not really worried.
That isn’t to say I don't have my moments. At every point in this process when I had to make a decision, I became anxious. I've had bad dreams, sat reading the message boards on this forum and cried. For the longest time I haven't even been able to IMAGINE what life could be like for me after WLS. That is slowly changing.
June 19th--got letter with dates for appointments for NUT, PT and psychological testing. Sleep study will follow--I flunked the screening questionnaire. Same day, got a call from SWLP that I need a new referral from my new doctor. Frantic phone calls follow.
June 25th--thats where I stand at this point. The only thing I'm faintly concerned about is the psych--however, since my bipolar stuff is well controlled and I'm on a minimal amount of medication, and my therapist is very supportive of my decision--I'm not really worried.
That isn’t to say I don't have my moments. At every point in this process when I had to make a decision, I became anxious. I've had bad dreams, sat reading the message boards on this forum and cried. For the longest time I haven't even been able to IMAGINE what life could be like for me after WLS. That is slowly changing.
About Me
Clearwater , FL
Location
30.2
BMI
Surgery
11/02/2006
Surgery Date
Jun 20, 2006
Member Since
