The Final Countdown...

Apr 04, 2007

It's time... almost.  In less than 24 hours I'll have a band around my stomach and hopefully on my way to having some fat off my big belly!

I just found out that I have to be at the hospital at 9:00 in the morning.  My co-worker and band buddy Susan has to be there at 6:30.  I don't know if she's lucky because she gets it over with sooner, or if I'm lucky because I can sleep longer in the morning.

I suppose my husband will be taking me to the hospital.  If so, it's almost guaranteed that we'll be late.  He's just late... it's just him.  I've gotten used to it.  Don't get me wrong, I still don't like it.  I try to tell him that I have to be places 1/2 an hour early, so we're actually on time.

I got some bad news yesterday that my favorite aunt died.  The wake is Thursday night (tomorrow) and the funeral is Friday at 11:00.  Since I'm having the surgery, I won't be able to make either one.  I have to stay overnight at the hospital because I live over an hour away, and I know that I won't be released in time to get to the funeral, which is about 2 hours away from the hospital.  I've considered rescheduling the surgery, but I talked to my mom this morning and she had explained the situation to my cousins, and they understand that I can't be there.  My aunt knows that I love her and that she was my favorite (out of 12 aunts).  We used to joke with each other and say "I love you the most".  I think she knew it was true... that I loved her the most.

On a happier note, I had my "last lunch" today.  I had a bean burrito with cheese sauce and rice from the local Mexican restaurant.  Mmm... good.  I can probably still have the beans and cheese after my month of liquids and mushies, but knowing that the Mexican was my last lunch for a while was a little comforting, and a little sad at the same time.  I love that Mexican restaurant.  I'll be counting down the days until I can get some beans!!

I'm supposed to be on the liver shrinking diet since last week.  Considering my diet failure rate, I think I've done pretty good.  I had lots of protein and tried to keep the fat level to a minimum.  I'm still pondering what my last dinner will be... Giovanni's pizza, perhaps?  I think I had my fill of those last week, though.  I got 3 in a week.  It will be really hard to get the "fat girl" out of me... mentally, I mean.

Well, everyone who reads this, wish me luck and future success on my journey with little Bandito.

Here's the latest...

Mar 28, 2007

I met with the surgeon today for my final pre-op visit.  I'll admit that I wasn't looking forward to the pre-op diet, but the info I got today makes me want to eat perfectly forever!!  

I GOT A DATE!!!

The big day is scheduled for April 5 - yep, a week from tomorrow... can you believe it?  I can't!  I only have to do the pre-op diet for 5-7 days prior to surgery.  And, get this, I have a "fatty liver".  I thought I had a fatty everything!!  So, while the surgeon is poking & prodding in my gut, he said he'd take a liver sample for a biopsy.  No biggie, I'm assuming.  I have a liver panel (blood work) done every six months or so because of medication I'm taking and everything comes out fine, so I'm not too freaked out about it.  And... to make matters even weirder, the doc said I have big boobs!  (ok, not in those exact words, but that's what he meant!!)  Apparently my "big boobs" have some fatty tissue and were obstructing the x-ray view, and that lead to the reason for the heart catheterization.  If doc only knew how saggy these boobies are, he would have given me a plastics referral immediately!! 

Catching Up

Mar 18, 2007

I haven't written anything on this blog yet, so I have a lot of catching up to do.  Let's start at the beginning...
In November (I think) my friend Susan and I went to a seminar on weight loss surgery held by Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, KY.  Prior to that seminar, we had done some research and discovered that our insurance (federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield) would pay for lap-band beginning January 2007.  I was already enrolled in the "Basic" plan and decided to stay with that plan, as I like the copays rather than the percentages & deductibles.
After the seminar I set up an appointment to meet with the WLS staff at KDMC.  Upon my initial meeting, I had several items scheduled for the following weeks... lab work, physical therapy assessment, psych eval, dietary eval, etc.  
After a meeting with my surgeon, Dr. Wheeler, he determined that I needed an upper GI (aka EGD) and colonoscopy.  Yes, dreaded colonoscopy.  Those were completed on January 5.  The worst part of that whole experience was the "poop kit" which I had to do the night before the procedures to cleanse my colon, I'm assuming.  The result of the upper portion was that I had a hiatal hernia, but the lower end of me seemed to look good... at least thru the scope ;).
The psych eval determined that I had "binge eating issues".  DUH!  If I didn't have eating issues I wouldn't be a candidate for lap band surgery!  I don't know what genius came up with those questionnaires that I answered, but it was insane!  So I had to have two follow-up sessions with the behavioral health counselor to learn some skills to help me avoid binge eating.  
Side note:  coming from a counseling background, I am truly offended when an assessment is given to me that has a "cheat sheet" or carbon copy underneath the questions that I answer.  If someone is a true behavioral health specialist, then he or, in my case, she should have enough education and experience to be able to recognize issues without having to depend on a cheat sheet.  I am immediately on defense when I'm put in a situation where I'm on the receiving end of any type of counseling... especially from a behavioral health person, as I am not a fan of behavioral therapy unless someone is daling with dogs or small chidren that have no reasoning ability.  Anyway...
Monday, February 5, I had a kidney, liver & gallbladder scan, stress test, EKG, and various other pokes & prods.  My friend Susan, who has been going thru this almost at the same time, was scheduled for almost all the same procedures on the same day... mine were off-site at Renaissance Nuclear Imaging, hers were at the hospital (KDMC).  During the stress test I was walking on a treadmill.  I thought, "ha, this is nothing"... then the incline of the treadmill increased...and incresed... and the speed increased.  I thought I was going to fall off the treadmill and take the doctor out on my way!  Poor guy should know better than to stand at the end of the treadmill when a fat girl is on it.  I guess I completed the test satisfactorily... or maybe not... maybe that's my co-morbidity.
My BMI is over 35, but less than 40, so I had to have a co-morbidity to qualify for the surgery under my insurance guidelines.  I'm not sure exactly what led to the co-morbidity... don't care at this point.
On February 22 I had a sleep study at an off-site location in Ashland.  I was surprised that the bedroom was hotel-ish, rather than hospital-ish.  Everyone there was really nice and I slept ok considering I was hooked up to about 20 wires.
As a bright spot in the normally treacherous test-taking routine, I got to see John Mayer in concert at Rupp Arena on Saturday, February 24.  A little Valentine's present my hubby and I got for each other.  Awesome concert!!
On Monday, February 26, I had an appointment to see Dr. Zane Darnell - Cardiologist - at KDMC,  I didn't think much of the visit, just thought it was a precautionary check up, but it turns out that I had to have a heart catheterization.  I had that on Thursday, March 1 at KDMC.  Everyone involved with that whole process was really awesome, nice, friendly... I would definitely recommend KDMC for anyone undergoing this procedure.  Turns out everything was fine, no blockages, etc.
My next event is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, March 20, at KDMC.  Susan and I have the pre-op class that's required before making a final appointment with Wheeler.  I can't wait to go to the class and hear everything over and over that I know already!!  Woo hoo!

About Me
Denver, KY
Location
37.6
BMI
Surgery
04/05/2007
Surgery Date
Nov 11, 2006
Member Since

Friends 25

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The Final Countdown...
Here's the latest...
Catching Up

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