mymeow

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I can't believe the day is almost here!!!  Right now I am just trying to make it through my 3-day clear liquid diet.  That has not been fun!  I have lost 7 lbs so far, so that's a plus I guess.  My surgery isn't until 1:30 tomorrow, so it will be a long morning, not to mention I can't drink anything after midnight tonight.  That's going to be very hard because I get sooo thirsty during the night and especially first thing in the morning!!  I am getting a little nervous, mostly about the general anesthesia as I have never had that before.  I don't know what to expect.  I'll just be happy when it's all over and I am on the road to recovery and a new me!!!!  I can't wait to get me back!

My surgery is 3 weeks from tomorrow, April 15 @ 1:30 p.m.  I actually thought the closer I got, the more nervous I would be, but I am actually getting more and more excited!!  It may hit me in another week or so!  I meet with Dr. Chae on Wednesday.  I have a list of questions ready to ask, so hopefully he has a big block of time set aside for me!  LOL!  The nurse who scheduled me said it's an overnight stay and set up an appointment a week later for a drain removal.  I didn't know you had a drain with the Lap-Band and I thought it was just day surgery, but that's okay.  I'll ask him about that on Wednesday.  I'm still also a little uncertain about the postop diet as the one given to me in my classes was directed more towards bypass patients.  Anyways, I am getting very excited about starting this new phase in my life!

I went MIA for a little bit.  I was sick with the flu for almost 2 weeks and lost 12 lbs, but unfortunately once I started feeling better it came back pretty fast, along with my appetite!  I also admit I was starting to have doubts about the surgery and my decision, but as of now I'm back on the Bandwagon and anxiously awaiting my surgery.  I know a few people who were in my class who have either had surgery or have upcoming dates, so that gets me excited as well.  I am hoping by this summer I will be in clothes that I haven't been able to get into in a couple years.  I have also started taking water aerobics classes a couple nights a week and am really enjoying it.  I'll miss not being able to do it for awhile after my surgery, but I know once I am able to do it again afterwards, it will really help me with my weight loss. 

Not too much to really talk about, but thought I'd update anyways.  I did finish my required 8-week Kaiser class back on Dec 17.  I lost about 5 lbs during the class, but gained it back during the holidays.  My New Years resolution was to give up pop, which has been challenging, but I have done good with that for the most part.  I don't expect to hear anything about a surgery date until late March or early April, so I still have about 3 months to go until surgery, I am guessing.  I am trying to take advantage of this time to break bad habits and increase my exercise, or I guess I should say start exercising.  I would love to lose 20-25 before surgery.  At the same time it has been hard to break my bad habits because I want to "enjoy" them while I can, if that makes sense, but I am taking baby steps to change that negative thinking.  Since the beginning of the year I have been meeting with my weight management specialist every 2-3 weeks.  I met with a postop group on Jan 7, which was very interesting, but they were all GBS patients.  I guess Shannon, one of my class leaders, has a postop LapBand group that meets monthly, so even though it's an hour drive to the class, I think it's something I will pursue after my surgery.  I meet with my weight management specialist again this Thursday, along with another preop patient.  I also had my other appointment with the behavior health doctor on Jan 8, and I guess I am sane enough to have the surgery!  LOL!

I went in for my consultation with the nurse as well as my evaluation with the mental health doctor.  I guess everything went well.  My vitamin D was a little low, so they put me on some calcium with vitamin D supplements, as well as a specific multivitamin I have yet to find.  I think I'll just have to make a trip to Kaiser's pharmacy where she said they have it (just forgot to get it on the way out from my appointment!)

My surgery connections 8-week class with Shannon & Barb starts on Monday, Nov 5.  I am actually pretty excited for this class!  I then have a re-evaluation with the mental health doctor on January 8.  

I was also told that I am probably looking at surgery in Feb/Mar.  I have a trip planned in March, so I am looking at postponing it until the end of April, after my anniversary (Apr 20).  It seems like forever, but I'm sure it will go fast, even though that's still 6 months away!! 

It's been awhile since I've updated this, but there hasn't been too much going on.  I finally got a call today from Rita in the weight clinic to start everything!!  I have to go at the end of the week to have a fasting blood sugar done.  I then have an appointment on October 18 to go over my medical history (I think that's what she said), then the following week I'll have a mental health evaluation.  She said my 8-week classes should start in November.  So by the sounds of it, I'm guessing my surgery will be in January/February............so, sooner than I anticipated!  Getting a little nervous, but still excited.

I was approved for weight loss surgery!!  It wasn't easy, however, and I admit there were times when I didn't think it would happen.  Kaiser is not the easiest place to get approved.  Because my BMI fell between 45-49, I needed to major health complications as a result.  I have PCOS and was able to use that as one, but I am lucky enough not to have hypertension, diabetes, etc.  I do have asthma, but they didn't consider that to be a factor.  I convinced my DH to have a sleep study with me and sure enough I have borderline sleep apnea, just enough to qualify!  My DH on the other hand had severe sleep apnea, but that's another story.  

So now I am playing the waiting game.  I have to take an 8-week class through Kaiser, but that won't start until after the first of the year.  I am also required to have two visits with a behavioral health therapist and two visits with a weight management specialist, not to mention a surgeon visit.  

Oh, and just in case anyone is wondering, the surgery of choice is Lap Band.  I have done lots of research on the different kinds of bariatric surgery and just feel more comfortable with this.  The risks of gastric bypass just scare me too much.  Plus, I want my weight loss to be gradual as I am telling very few people about my surgery.  This is just a personal choice.  I don't want to feel like every move I make is being watched, and that's how I will feel if I tell a lot of people, even if that is not the case.  

Anyways, I'll try and update when my journey starts moving forward a little more.  As of now, I am just waiting...........