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How do you cram 7 months into one post?  Ok, I guess I'll just hit the highlights otherwise you're going to get bored and not read the whole thing even though I am so fascinating.

October 8, 2007 - Surgery Day!!  According to Dr. Nagle, everything was "textbook perfect".  Who could ask for more?  Not moi.  I spent the evening of surgery in intensive care because that's just what they do with patients with sleep apnea.  The next day I was moved to a regular room and was discharged 2 days later.  Everything went as smooth as could be.  No complications in the least and I have not taken so much as a Tylenol since the day after surgery.

Diabetes.  My first day home from the hospital I checked my blood sugar and it read 74.  Holy crap - 74?  I was used to 150 on a good day.  Fast forward a month or two and I was off my diabetes medication.  YAY TEAM.  Accomplished one of my main goals for having surgery...no diabetes.

Sleep Apnea.  A couple months down the line I noticed my cpap machine was giving me a little trouble.  I'd wake up and my mouth and nose would be so dry and I'd feel just yuck.  Could it be the pressure on my cpap machine was too high?  Good God, could it be I didn't need that blasted machine anymore??? Well, went to the doctor, he ordered a sleep study and sure enough, no more cpap!  Another goal reached.  Now if I can just get off my medication for high blood pressure I'd be thrilled.  Actually, I'm already thrilled...that would make me thrilleder!

Doctors.  I have truly hit the jackpot.  I have 5 doctors and they are all the best of the best.   This is the first time in my life I actually look forward to my doctor appointments!  I get so much support and good advice from each and every one of them.  I am one lucky patient.

Good Times - traveling to LA for a work related trip in January.  By that time I was probably down about 40 pounds and I got to see a lot of people I had not seen for over a year.  Got lots of nice compliments and comments - but the highlight of that trip was the plane ride and fitting into the seat so much more comfortably and actually being able to buckle my seat belt without having to suck in my gut or having to use the dreaded seat belt extender and being able to use the tray table.  I was so excited about it that I almost told the complete stranger sitting next to me but then decided that was probably a little tmi for her.  But I came close!

In February I went to Aspen for a week for another work related trip and saw a whole other group of people who I haven't seen in a year.  Got even more compliments and comments.  What an ego boost!  

Exercise.  I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my exercise program.  It has saved my life!  A year ago right now if someone had told me I'd be exercising on a regular basis and loving it I would have told them they were nuts.  But guess what?  I DO!!  I started an exercise program before surgery and really got into the swing of things.  I worked out with a trainer twice a week and then on my own one or two more times a week.  After surgery I had to wait 8 weeks before I could go back to the club and I couldn't wait!  I resumed my 2 workouts a week with my trainer and on my own once or twice a week and have been consistent every since.  I really attribute my troublefree recovery to the fact that I started an exercise program before surgery.  I love going to the health club and feel very lucky to have found a trainer who works so well with me. 

Friends and family.  Before I sign off I have just got to say that I've met some incredibly wonderful women during this little journey who have become a very important part of my life and whose friendship I value more than I can say!  My friends and family have been extremely supportive and have cheered me on from day one.

There's so much more but I'll continue this little story at another time.  I want to be better at keeping up with this blog, but there never seems to be time.  I'll be better (famous last words I know, I know).

Ok, that's it - TTFN - later!

I've been reading the message boards long enough to know that a lot of people do a lot of bitching and moaning after surgery.  I REFUSE to be one of them.   After all, I'm doing this of my own free will.  No one is holding a gun to my head.  I have decided that...

I promise that I WILL NOT whine and I WILL NOT complain...

I promise when I wake up after surgery I WILL NOT say:  "OMG what the hell have I done to myself?????"  That's annoying.  Ya know?  What did you think BEFORE surgery?  I mean seriously...c'mon people.

I promise while I'm in the hospital I WILL NOT call any of the medical students Doogie Houser or A-hole or be mean to them.  Or maybe I will.  Sounds kinda fun.

I promise when the nurse tries to get me out of bed for the first time I WILL NOT say:  "Go away, bitch".  Instead I will smile sweetly and say, "Whatever you say, I've been waiting all day for this...gee thanks!  WOW, you are a GREAT nurse, I bet you graduated at the top of your class."  (You know, lay it on REALLY thick so I get the really GOOD Jello.)

I promise I WILL NOT drive my brother and sister-in-law crazy while I'm staying with them after surgery.  Now if I could just get them to promise me the same thing....(just kidding)

I promise I will sip sip sip and chew chew chew.  Actually, I HAVE to do this so I don't puke puke puke.

I promise while I'm home recuperating I WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO  NOT get addicted to some stupid day time show.

That's enough promises for one day.  No need to get carried away!  Tomorrow's another day.

And a good one it was!  I had my pre-op physical today and things could not have gone better!  How groovy is that??  My lab work from last week came back great!  My A1C was 5.8.  5.8!  Less than a year ago it was 10.something which is awful...but 5.8, now that's what I'm talkin' about!  The best part is my doctor could make a notation on the file that my diabetes is no longer uncontrolled...it's officially under control and things will only get better after surgery.   That appointment was over 10 hours ago and I don't think I've quit smiling about it all day!  I've been eating about the same so I can only conclude that all my exercising has paid off in a big way.  Last time my labs were done in July it was 7.4 and it went down to 5.8 during the time I've really been concentrating on getting on a good exercise program.  Well whoop-de-doooo!!

Oh...and did I mention that I dropped 2.5 pounds since last week?  I didn't?  Oh, sorry, I meant to...

...and I thought I'd be so good at it, too!  Wrong!  I thought I'd be one of those obnoxious posters who felt the need to share every minute detail, when I got a hangnail, blah, blah, blah.  The truth of the matter is I spend so dang much time reading other people's blogs and reading practically every post on the main board, I'm left with little time to do anything else.  I need to get a life, for pete's sakes.

Well, the exciting thing is I have a date and it is just 14.5 days away - Monday, October 8.  Wow, how did that happen?  A year ago I was a mess who had let her diabetes get out of control and now a year later I'm 2 weeks away from hopefully saying farewell to that crappy disease forever!  Thank goodness I am so lucky to have a new, wonderful pcp who helped me get on the straight and narrow and back on track.  I'll never forget how good it felt to finally have a doctor who seemed to give a rat's ass about me and how I'm doing.  Shout out to Dr. Bowers.  You rock, Toots!  You gave me the push I needed when I needed it most and I'll never forget that.  OMG I just called my doctor Toots.  Is that bad?  Can I do that???  I've never called a doctor Toots before.  Hmm...oh well, I know I'm old enough to be her mother so I could probably call her "Sweetie" or "Honey" and get away with it!  I think I'll call her Toots tomorrow when I see her and see what her reaction is.  I wonder if I can pull that off.  I'll have to see about that one.

I had an appointment with my sleep apnea doctor a couple weeks ago.  I told him I was having surgery and he asked me if I was mad at him...since he feels pretty strongly that within 4-6 months I'll be off my cpap machine and will no longer require his services.  He's a nice doc, one of the nicer ones I've had in my lifetime and I'll miss him, but hey, life goes on.  The bottom line is I'll be happy to kiss that flippin machine goodbye!

Anyway, since my last post I have finished all my pre-op classes, had my pre-op testing done just 2 days ago, so all that is out of the way.  I now just have an appointment with my pcp (a/k/a Toots)tomorrow night and what I hope will be my final doctor appointment before surgery with Dr. Roth at the Wellness Institute on Wednesday when she will give me my pre-op physical.  I'll be so glad to have that out of the way and just sit and twiddle my thumbs until surgery.

I went to a support group meeting last week.  They actually let me sit in even though I'm technically not eligible since I haven't had my surgery yet.  It was nice to be part of the group and I'm looking forward to participating after surgery.  This will become a very important part of making this whole thing successful and I'm lucky to be surrounded by a bunch of really great peeps.

Everything is going pretty good and falling nicely into place.  I have my paperwork in for my short term disability.  I plan on taking 4-6 weeks off, probably 4 since I'll be going nuts sitting around home (maybe, anyway).  I have a great support group in place - wonderful family and old friends who are very happy for me and excited for this experience and new friends who are patiently answering all my questions and easing my fears.  Right now I'm flipping between being extremely excited and going nuts.  Right now I'm excited and if you check with me tomorrow I'll probably be in the going nuts phase.  All I can say is I cannot, cannot, CANNOT wait to get this show over with.  It will be good to be on the other side, eating my teeny tiny portions with my itsy bitsy fork and spoon.  I went to Crate and Barrel and bought the cutest little spoons and forks - I think they are technically for appetizers, but they will definitely work for this purpose.

I've really been getting into exercise and feel so much better!  I joined the health club at Good Samaritan Hospital right here in town and go there 3-4 nights a week straight from the train.  I have to go right after work - if I went  home I probably wouldn't leave to go back out.  Anyway, I hired a personal trainer to work with me 2 times a week and that's going really good.  I can definitely feel a difference in my stamina and what I'm able to do.  When I work with Ami we do strength training and on the days that I work on my own I do the cardio machines, so I'm getting a good combination of exercises.  I'm so glad I started this program before surgery...I'll miss it when I have to give it up during recuperation and knowing how much I like it should really help me get back in the groove.

Oh, and while I'm off on my leave I'm really going to try to figure out how the heck to post pictures.  I'm sick and tired of being called a question mark head by Jessica!

Anyway, if I'm not too freaked out before surgery maybe I'll post again, otherwise, my next post will hopefully be a message that surgery is over and done with, was a great success and I have dropped an insane amount of weight!  I'm going to be on an office trip the last weekend of January and I'm hoping to have dropped enough weight so that people from our other US offices who I see only every 12-18 months will not recognize me.  None of them know about my surgery so it should be fun to see their reactions!  I'm also hoping my plane ride to LA will be more comfortable than what I'm used to and I won't have to sit and suck in my gut hoping the seatbelt will click shut!  That will be a great feeling.

Ok, over and out.  I'm pooped.  I worked today (Sunday) from 7:30 to 6:00 in a effort to get my desk all nice and neat for my leave of absence.  Don't want any phone calls while I'm off looking for something that can't be located.  Wouldn't enjoy that at all.  Ok, now I really am signing off!

I knew I'd regret not updating on a regular basis, and here I am, over a month later trying to think back on all the stuff that has transpired.  Ok, I think I'm going to have to do a "Cliff"s Notes" version, otherwise I'll have to call in sick to work tomorrow because I'll still be at this.

Ok, since last time I have taken two of the 4 pre-op classes at the Wellness Institute.  The 3rd one is next week and the final one is at the end of September.

I met face to face with Dr. Nagle for the first time on July 18th.  It went well and I feel like I really did make the right decision in my surgeon.  I have all the faith in the world in him.

I have really lucked out and have met some really fabulous people both on the OH site and thru the informational sessions and support group at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.  Wow, did I ever get lucky!  I have some really great people on my side always willing to answer my questions and just be very supportive of me.  I can't wait till my surgery is over and I can finally actually join the support group and learn their secret handshake!

Ok, this is where the drumroll comes in....I have received approval from Blue Cross Blue Shield of CA for my surgery.  Can we say YAY????  I'm very excited and just waiting for Dr. Nagle's office to call to set the date.  OMG, I can't believe things went so relatively simple.  I mean really, approval within 3 weeks of my first visit with Dr. McDreamy..uh, I mean Nagle.  Now that the approval has come thru, it looks like surgery might actually take place in October instead of November or December like I originally thought it would.

I really am so grateful for all the good things that have happened so far and I can't wait to get the surgery over with and move on with my soon to be exciting life!

Oh, I forgot to mention the health club.  I actually joined a health club and love it!  It's affiliated with a local hospital, and is a very nice facility and like it because there are people of all ages and fitness levels who go there.  I'm glad I'm getting into the swing of getting regular exercise because I know that will be so critical to the success of my surgery going forward.

I think that's about all I can do right now.  I'll be back as soon as the date is set or sooner if something else exciting happens!!

I said I would check back next week, but I was so excited to find out I have a friend, I just had to come back on to give a shout out to Candy!  Thanks, Candy!

Getting ready to start this wacky wonderful journey.  I have my consultation appointment with my surgeon on July 18, 2007, 2 days after my 57th birthday.  I cannot wait!  I've been doing some research on this dude and by all accounts he is top notch.  So far I've heard nothing but positive things about him, so I find that very comforting.  Today I received a questionnaire in the mail from his office and I've spent the last hour or so filling it out.  I hate questionnaires - sometimes they make me feel so darn stupid. Do I answer 0 or 1?  2 or 3?  Why don't they give you the option of 2.5?  What if you're not a true 2 or 3, but fall somewhere in between?  It could happen!  I'm afraid of answering the question wrong and turning into a reject!  "Sorry, Pat, you answered 3 to question #750.  We were actually looking for 2.  So close, yet so far.  Better luck next time".  Kind of weird, I know, but as you'll find out, that's me!  I guess there really isn't a right or wrong answer, it is what it is.  Right?

Next week I have my first pre-surgery class at the Wellness Institute in Chicago and I'm really looking forward to that also.  It's a one-on-one session with a nutritionist and from what I understand, there will be 3 more sessions in a group situation.  I'm really wondering what the others in my group will be like.  Time will tell.  My final class is September 28 and my hope is that my surgery can take place in October.  Not sure that is realistic or not.  There's so much to do, it kind of makes my head spin at times. 

I'll probably check in with you after my appointment next week and let you know how it went.