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It's been a while since I posted and so much has happened...mostly good stuff too!

To start, I feel wonderful!  I had my first fill yesterday and have been on liquids since.  Not a big deal to me anymore, I'm not particularly hungry, and I also lost another pound since yesterday,  Whoo hoo!!

I saw Heather, my nutritionist on Weds and she is very pleased with my food journal and progress, as well as my blood sugars which have come way down.  I am only taking one of my diabetes meds now, not two, and my bp, tho still taking meds has dropped to 116/68 - I cannot ever recall my BP being so low.  So I am very happy with all that..

I did have a gyno scare tho...I have been in menopause for 2 yrs but started spotting about 3 wks ago, so my gyno doc performed a number of tests...she did find a uterine fibroid and after all the tests were completed, determined that is what has been causing the spotting.  Personally, I think it has more to do with the rapid weight loss since surgery, but as long as she feels all is ok, I'm happy.  She was very thorough with her testing, so I feel ok about it all.

This week I began Physical Therapy for my torn rotator, and my therapist thinks we can solve the problem in the gym there...which is great news too, as she thinks I can get back to my trainer after the new yr if not before.  That is one more reason to be happy!

Lots of other things have been keeping me busy and not posting much lately...my son having some trouble with grades and giving him some extra help with being more organized and respinsible, Master Gardener project committe I have been on to start some Childrens' Community Gardens in 3 locations around the state, PTA responsiblilities for doing the editing, layout, and publishing of a quarterly school newsletter, and collection and counting of Box Tops for Education to get some extra money for the middle school.  Also getting some holiday shopping done, and general home and family maintenance.  Life. so to speak.

Some wow moments for me since surgery :  

I've lost 34 pounds as of today     

I've dropped 2 pants sizes and these are even a bit baggy now

Someone told me, while I was trying on a dress that I had no butt!!  NO ONE HAS EVER TOLD ME THAT!!!!

Could fit in those chair/desk things at my son's school's open house!

Walked the hills in my neighborhood to the polls on election day with my son and I was ahead of him and not huffing and puffing.

Looking forward to adding to this list soon.

No matter where you live or how old you are, you can decide to change your life.  That's amazing.   - Angeline Jolie 

Well, I'm back, and I'm on the loser's bench!  I am so happy to be here and to have made it through all my pre-op trials and tribulations!!

The pre-op diet went well.  I did great all the way, never cheated once.  I knew it was time for me to get on the right track and be ready for this thing, once and for all.  I would only be cheating myself of health and experience.  I went to the gym right up until and I felt great when I went in....really ready.

I showed up to the hospital that morningat 11. They brought me in, had me change into the johnny, took my vitals, gave me a heparin shot and plugged in my IV.  I spoke to the anaethesologist and a couple of surgery nurses....everyone was SO nice.  Then Dr P came in to see me... He was ready to go, and so was I, so they wheeled me in, put some nice massaging socks on my legs, an oxygen mask over my face and told me to breathe deep.  That was about 12:30.  The next thing I knew, they were waking me up in the recovery room,  Sweet!!

I had some abdominal pain, but they gave me something in my IV and it all went away. I think it was about 2:30 or so.  I stayed there until 4 when they wheeled me up to my roon. 

They didn't have room on the regular ward 4 central, so I was on 4 east.....no experienced bariatric nurses there.  I was lucky I had been going to see folks in the hospital and had read everything prior, so I could ASK for water, and ASK to walk.   My 3-11 nurse was not one for getting down to my room unless I called her.  But it was ok...I was leaving the next morning no matter what!!

While in the hosp I sipped water and walked a lot.  Then it was morniing, and I was up and dressed when Dr P came in to check on me around 10.  My husband showed up around 11 and I was home no later than 12.  I was SOOO happy!!  It was over and I was home.

I was a bit sore that day, and the next day was rough....I sort of felt beat up....but the next day was better and each day better than the last.  I got out and walked...was up to 1.5 miles by the time these rains hit on Fri.  I feel good, and hope to get back to the gym to walk the treadmill slowly this week.  I'm gonna call the doc to ask if that's ok.

I am not on my diabetes meds while I am still on the liquids, but my sugar is up and that concerns me...so I am also going to ask about that on Monday....can I get back on my meds, not that I don't have enough meds to take right now...I have LOTS!  But I am ready to get back to my life again.

As of today- 8 days out - I have lot 22 lbs!  Whoo hoo for me!

It's Monday.  My surgery is this coming Friday.  I am so excited and anxious! 

Saturday nite I went to bed feeling like I was getting a cold and was so stressed out!  I woke up at 4:30 Sunday morning with a sore throat, but as it turned out, it went away wth an Alavert and a cup of hot herbal I Love Lemon tea.  We've had so much rain here, and I was working in the garden on Sat, so I think it was allergies.  I am still a little stuffy this morning, but it doean't feel like a cold. 

The pre-op diet is going well.  As of this past Fri (one week on the diet) I had lost 12 pounds, but since then, nothing.  I know my body is just saying "WTF" with dropping to 800 calories a day and dropping so much weight in such a short time.  The good news is that I have continued to exercise thru it all, and the diet has become pretty easy...Actually easier than I thought it would be by a mile.  I'm truly finding it hard to get the third shake in...go figure.  And I like the feeling of my stomach growling.  I know when I'm hungry that way.  I'm sure I haven't truly been hungry in years.

I'm feeling surprisingly calm about the surgery.  I have a few nerves, but I am ready to go.  I just keep thinking about all the things I want to do when I am physically more comfortable and able.   I want to practice Tai Chi, get back into my yoga, take ballet classes, and country line dance, and maybe even take a hip hop dance class.  All things I am looking forward to.  I also know that once I get hooked up and ready to go, I won't know anything else except waking up in the recovery room, if that's where my  place in the universe is supposed to be.  I have to leave it up to Dr Pohl and his place in the universe on Friday. And I feel as comfortable as I can with that.

There is usually one small step we can take in the direction of a dream.  When we do, the universe often takes several more. - Julia Cameron

Well, I started my pre-op diet.  Dr Pohl told me not to take my diabetes meds when I started because he thought it was better for my sugars to be higher rather than lower during the no food process. I tested my sugars twice yesterday and they were 91 and 119.  I am doing well, even tho it has been one day....well actually today is my 2nd day, I started yesterday on the 5th.  It doesn't seem to be a big deal. I am not really hungry until that stretch between lunch and dinner,  but I had a cup of hot tea and that really worked to curb my appetite.  Anwyay...

I went to the hospital for my pre-op tests.  First I spoke to the nurse who told took my medical history.  She told me she was a recovery room nurse and saw many patients after their Lap Band surgery.  She said they did very well, and were not in a lot of pain, just some discomfort.  She said they give good meds, and that walking relieves the gas pains.  She also said Dr Pohl was very good.

Then I saw the anesthesiology team member.  He told me about the process, and said he shared the same cardiologist as me.  He said he would get in touch with him regarding my surgery to have all records sent to that team.  He also said Dr Pohl was awesome and that if he needed surgery, it is who he would choose.  He told me I would be out, and wouldn't recall or feel anything except that maybe my throat would be a little sore from the intubation.  He also told me to only take my one BP med that day and no other meds.

Afte that,  I had blood drawn, EKG done, and chest X-rays.  Then I was out of there.  Whole process took about an hour.  So barring any issues from these tests, I guess I am on my way.

I am feeling very emotional.  Been shedding a lot of tears.  I'm not scared of the surgery, just anxious and nervous about life post surgery.  I don't know how to live as a non-fat person.  I'm sure it is much more life than what I am used to.  Lots of changes getting ready to occur.  I just hope I  can see it thru to the end.  Food has been a fickle friend..There are some big relationships changes coming with letting go of that fickle friend.  A little worried about how that will all shake out.

Well, I saw Dr Pohl yesterday and signed all the paperwork.  I am sooo excited.  Today when I didn't hear from the office by 4pm, I thought I wouldn't get my date until next week, but Carol called at 4:30 and gave me my beautiful date of Sept 19, 2008 at 11:00 in the morning.  I go on the 5th for my pre-op consultation at the hospital.  VERY excited and ready to get this show on the road.

Well, I've got my 2nd appointment!!!!!! I found out yesterday.  There was one last glitch..no letter from my pcp that I am fit for surgery, but they faxed it and even tho Dr P is on vacation for the next two weeks, Cheryl went ahead and scheduled me.  So I see him on Aug 21st!!  I should get my surgery date that day.  I'm SOOO excited and happy and nervous and anxious and excited and HAPPY!!!
My day is coming.....

Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it. - Eliza Tabor

Can't leave well enough alone.  This morning I called Dr. P's office and spoke with Cheryl about making the appt for visit number 2.  She said she had given the file to Dr Pohl, but he had not given it back to her yet.  She told me to call back tomorrow morning and she would see if she was able to set up my next appt.  Dr. Pohl will be on vaca the first two weeks of Aug, so it will be after that before I can see him.  I can live with that.  Maybe I'll have my surgery in the beginning of Sept?

It takes a certain maturity of mind to accept that nature works as steadily in rust as in rose petals. - Esther Warner Dendel

I was on my way to the bank and Cheryl called my cell phone to say she had just heard from Aetna and I HAVE BEEN APPROVED!!!   She told me Dr P will be on vacation for 2 wks in Aug, but she was going to pass him my file and call me about my 2nd appt.

I'm SOOOOO happy!!!             

OK, I cried last nite and ate some Haggen Das, then cried some more.  But this morning, I called Cheryl and just got off the phone with her.  She told me she was able to FAX the info to Aetna (I gave her the number of the woman in Pre-cert that I spoke with a few months back).  Then the nurse who reviews the info called her back and asked Cheryl to FAX it to a different number, which she did...so it is FINALLY in the hands of Aetna!
Hallelujah!  No Haggen Das for me today! Huggs to Cheryl!

ARGH!!!!!!!   I just called Cheryl at Dr P's office to find out how things were going, has she heard from Aetna yet?  That answer would be NO, because even tho she called me last week on July 22(more than a week after I dropped off the last of it)  to tell me she was sending the package to Aetna that day, she has not done it yet...so she is going to call them today to see if she can FAX it instead of mailing it.  Sigh...I could cry right now.  I am feeling so defeated here.  I don't even know if Aetna will approve me after they get the package...i am sure they will come up with something I am missing, which will delay things that much longer.  Today, I am back to feeling like this will never happen.