JEllen
JUNE 29th, 2009- phone call from surgeon's office!
Jun 29, 2009
woo hoo! They just called to tell me that INSURANCE has APPROVED MY RNY!By This Time Next Month....
Jun 27, 2009
July 27th- I will be 4 days POST-OP! I can hardly believe it! Hopefully, I'll be home from hospital- telling you it went great with few complications!
Of course, I'm a bit nervous- when pursuing a radical, life-changing surgery only a person without a brain - would be totally free of all reservations. However, I have done my research, like so many people before me. I have considered the Benefits and the RISKS. I have tried to the best of my ability to follow the recommended course for loosing my pre-op weight. The scale, as always, remains my daunting adversary.
I am up for the challenge! I have had small victories and move toward my goal of health and well-being. From my Dec 08 appt with the cardiologist to my recent May09 appointment to have my ECHO and Stress Tests- He was happy to tell me that I had lost 15lbs! (this was done by making better small choices- nothing dramatic)
May 21- I saw my surgeon and was informed of the need to loose 27lbs pre- surgery.
As of my appt. with the Nurse at the surgeon's office I had lost 11 of the 27lbs.
So- before July 23rd I have to shed another 16lbs. (my scale at home says I've lost HALF of the 27) oh well---the scales ARE MOVING even if they don't agree with each other- by surgery I will have 42lbs OFF!
Today, I started my MediFast- and day 1 went well. Hopefully, I will continue to possess the determination that I've had and press on. I'm doing this for ME. I'm doing this for MY HEALTH. and-- if I end up looking Simply GORgeous- that's fine too!
Friendship Bridge Closed...
Jun 02, 2009
This is a bridge that spans Old Tampa Bay and is 2.6 miles across. Of the 3 bridges that span Old Tampa Bay it is the one closest to Tampa Bay & Hillsborough Bay. The others are the Howard Franklin, and the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Ok so it's 5.2 miles complete trip. Every winter when I would visit my dear Auntie- I would try to make it farther and farther across the bridge. My avatar pic is from the FIRST time i made it to the Pinellas County line. The following year- my husband & I completed the crossing. (Auntie had to come and rescue us and drive us back to the eastern shore.)
Perhaps, the memory of her driving was enough to inspire me the next year to complete the round trip!
Well, the bridge was closed nov/dec 08 for safety issues- repairs to bridge are too costly at this time- which means- It ain't happening. I will miss that old bridge. As one photo on googlemaps states- "beautiful walk, excruciating in 96*" DUH that's why i went out at 7am. oh well.
AT least - I don't regret not putting in the EXTRA EFFORT required to finish my goal!
In the end- without regrets- I can PROUDLY SAY-
"YES- I DID COMPLETE MY GOAL OF A COMPLETE CROSSING OF THE OLD GANDY/FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE! "
Success at Last!
Jun 01, 2009
right now- the condition i'm in I probably wouldn't make it from the parking lot to the first 1/4 mile marker! somewhere I have photos (not digital) of all the mileage markers on bridge 3 (?)miles across. It's been a while since i've been down to Tampa (my home away from home)
Learning along the way....
Jun 01, 2009
ok - here is what i learned- I AM GOING TO BE A DUMPER. wahhhh
I've been doing a low carb program for just under 2 weeks- we went out to lunch- ordered a good meal that fits plan- sub broc for the potato and ordered salad bar. I made only 1 poor choice off the salad bar. WALDORF salad. when i got home- i got SICK. This is pre surgery!!! well at least, I know I'll have that extra powerful deterrent to straying off course.
2nd- examining my health tracker. It shows a good drop between May 21 & 24 then levels off. ??? well the 21st weight is at the Doc office and the rest is my home scale. NO need to for me to be concerned just differences in the scales. either way I'm down from 270!
So of the 27 pre-surg lbs to loose, I've already dropped 10.5 give or take. very happy!
Thursday, May 27....
May 28, 2009
They uses an injection of cardio-lite so they could take pictures later and see heart function. don't know if i'm explaining this right. anyway all went well. Got a phone call from office and I don't have to go back for the second part of test. Tomorrow i'm having ECHO.
Oh- I've lost 15lbs since i last saw him in December. I hadn't really been working at it- just mindfull of the need to make changes. Went to an info session in January- then orientation in April. Doc appt- May 21- surgery July 23- IF I CAN GET ALL THE TESTS DONE & loose total of 27lbs from May 21st office visit.
happy to report moving in the right direction!
May 21, 2009
May 21, 2009
Just got home a short time ago from my 1st appt. @ Doctors. It went better than i could have imagined. What a relief. After panicking last night- it all came together just fine. In fact, they gave me a tentative date for surgery. I wasn't at all expecting that today.
My hub went with me, I am so glad he is being supportive. In the past he has been my Saboteur. I'm still keeping my guard up- for that so appear again. but I think he gets it. I want his support. I'm doing this for me. But it is less stressful if he is cooperative instead of passive/agressive resistant to change.
After docs we went out to lunch. I was going have just a salad- but there we were in my fav Greek Diner. I haven't had Spanokopita in a very long time and i know it will be a very long time before i have it again. So - I ordered it. It came with a cup of soup (ate half) a small greek salad (ate 3/4) the Spanokopita (spinach pie- spinach & feta cheese mixture between layers of phyllo) and 4 dolmas (stuffed grape leaves)
A short time ago i would have eaten all the soup and the bread n butter. (neither of us ate any bread). All the salad. All the dolmas and then ordered a big slice of cheesecake!!! eating most of that too!
How is this for change... I cut my dolmas(1 @ a time) into 4 little pieces- & chewed b4 swallowing. shared one little piece with hub- and Brought one home!
Ate 1/4 of the spanokopita! i even took some of the top layer of phyllo off. It still tasted wonderful.
I told him since our wedding anniversary is next month- this was our anniversary dinner! Enjoyed it- without overdoing. I will finish it off in small bites n share with him. He could have gotten a fork in his hand before if he tried to take it away. j/k
then down to the real work of getting as much off as possible before starting the dreaded shakes.
I'm off and running... heading for the loosers bench! HANG ON
7:30pm- ok so i ate the last dolmas! i only ate 1/2 of the remaining Spanokopita!
Actually - going to let the hub have it. and this is big- DID NOT drink anything with those items. I guess i can have something now- it's 9:30 here. I am a habitual ice water with dinner drinker. so this was an accomplishment!
