AundreaSmith

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

So, it's been a very long while since I've been on to post.  Since I last posted (which was 6 months ago) I have had 2 separate lab draws.  My first initial lab draw showed that I was low in B12 and Vitamin D.  I started taking 1000mg of B12 and 5000iu of Vitamin D only to have a second lab draw done 30 days later and have them up my Vitamin D to 10000iu.  So for the past 5 months I have been loading up on vitamins to get my levels where they need to be for me to be approved for surgery.

I also had to come up with the $1,000 deposit to get my surgery scheduled, and this came in the form of our income tax return.   So now I am currently on the books for surgery on Monday, 3/12/12.  I was lucky to be able to not repeat the History & Physical, which I am sure my insurance would not have covered, because my last H&P was done just about 6 months ago.  

I have my orientation meeting this coming Friday where I will get to meet with the PA, exercise physiologist and dietitian.  Then I will pick up my 2 weeks worth of food to start my pre-op diet, I am nervous and excited in the same token.  Then the week prior to my surgery I will meet again with the PA to get me prepped for surgery and have my necessary blood work.

I have a couple of disappointments in these plans.  

1.  I really wanted the surgery earlier in March.  My daughter's 5th birthday is 3/27 and I am worried that I will not be very "with it" for the party.  So I am doing as much as I can now to save me from having to do it later. 

2.   The surgery is at St. Mary's Hospital and I MUCH prefer Spectrum Health.  Everything I've ever done (health wise) has been through Spectrum.  I just like to keep all of my medical records in one facility.  If there are any issues, I don't like the idea of having to go to St. Mary's, however, I picked an AWESOME surgeon...and so where he goes, I will follow.

I will post again after Friday's meeting and just document my experiences.  I honestly don't think anyone is reading these other than myself, so it's a nice documentation for me on this journey.

I have never posted this before, but my mother hasn't jumped on board the WLS train.   Of everyone, my Mother isn't that supportive.  I have had snarky comments and she refers to my surgery of choice (the DS) as "that surgery".  She says something like, "Are you still interested in that surgery??"  It's frustrating, but I have realized that she is the one who is afraid.  She is an enabler!  She is the one who will bring over whole pies to my house knowing full well that I am the only one in my family of 4 who will eat pie!  Or she will bring over dozens of cookies, for the kids of course.  Now, I do pretty well with not eating this junk if it's not in my house, but when it's just sitting there on the counter...it's a true test of my self control.

Before my history and physical on Monday, my Mother said to me, "If you lose all this weight, I won't be able to recognize you."  And of course my retort was, "Mom, I'll still be the same person...just with a much smaller circumference!"

I told this story to Dr. Lasseter who performed my physical and he just casually said, "Well, I can always have you wear a name tag."

On Monday, 8/8 I had my history and physical with Dr. Lasseter from Grand Health Partners.  Let me start off by saying it does nothing for a person's ego to be weighed in by a stick figure who hasn't ever had to diet in her life.  I swear my thigh was bigger then her WAIST!  UGH, embarrassing, ....but necessary.  So I hop on the scale and the damn thing sounds like it's to snap and break in half.  Could I please just crawl in a hole now?   But the stick figure said it does that for everyone, so at least I didn't break the damn scale!  But I was pleasantly surprised to find I have dropped 10lbs since I was at my PCP's office a few months ago.  I wasn't even trying!  Nice, huh??

I had the EKG..normal.  Blood pressure...elevated (gee, go figure).  Everything else, just fine.  I have gotten my surgical clearance. Yea!!  So basically, I am physically healthy enough for WLS.   I do not need any additional testing, just routine lab work. 

This just leaves the psych eval.  I am not nervous, however, along with a lot of other people who are overweight/obese I deal with depression.  I have never been medicated for it, let alone diagnosed with it.  My worst time was right after my daughter was born and I broke my leg (all within 7 weeks).  I think a good portion of that was postpartum, but needless to say, I was really, REALLY depressed.  I meet with Dr. Kemmeter and the Behaviorist on 8/31/11...this is my last step before surgery.  I am anxious and terrified at the same time.

Originally, I scheduled my surgery consult with Dr. Foote.  However, after careful research I've really begun to lean towards the DS as my surgery of choice.  Dr. Foote has a wonderful reputation as a surgeon, however, he doesn't have nearly the amount of experience doing the DS as Dr. Kemmeter.  Lucky for me, they are both in the same office so it was an easy change made with a simple phone call.

The only difference is now my psych eval and surgery consult is on Wednesday, August 31st and not Thursday, August 25th.  6 days isn't such a big deal, but I think this was a key change.

I just uploaded my first photos to the site.  I have a degree in Photography, so I like to be BEHIND the camera and not in front of it.  Loading and reviewing these photos really have me take a hard look at myself.   As my weight has come on, I have found myself avoiding mirrors or looking at myself all together.  These photos forced me to look at myself, but not just to look but to see myself how OTHERS see me.  It is really depressing for me too look at myself in photos.  I have gone through my computers and removed photos of me, and by doing so...I am basically removing myself from my children's history.  That is sad for me.

I need to keep these photos around for when I am starting my WLS journey, I have a firm memory of where I have been and that I NEVER, EVER want to go back.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

On this date my Husband and I traveled to Grand Health Partners to have our first informative meeting about WLS.  It was exciting and terrifying at the same time.  I have already obtained my authorization number from my insurance company so it's a little like having a "Golden Ticket".  I FINALLY have the insurance company saying, "Yes, you are now a candidate for weight loss surgery."

My Husband and I are a bit at odds about which surgery to have.  I have ruled out the LapBand or Realize Band because of the large amount of weight that I need to lose.  I am leaning more towards the DS, but Hubby worries that it is too extreme and that a REY would be a "safer" route to go.

I have my history and physical scheduled for Monday, August 8th and my appointment with Dr. Foote and the Behaviorialist on Thursday, August 25th.  I am excited to get this ball rolling.  Now I just need to come up with the money for the surgery!