bamagirlee

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 What a crazy roller coaster! Just when you think it's all down hill from here...KABOOM...everything explodes. I've heard and read on hear about things taking so long, so I really don't have as much to complain about as others but GEEZ. Here I sit all fat and happy knowing that I have worked very hard to keep all my ducks in a row then the bottom falls out. I be-bop it on in to my primary care physicians office on Aug 5th thinking I'm there to make any medication changes that will be necessary due  to absorbtion issues after surgery. He comes in says, gee, I'm really concerned about this absorption issue with your meds. I'm like WHAT???? You were supposed to check all that out prior to writing a letter of approval!! Needless to say he dropped the ball, he had not done any research at all. I really think he thought I wouldn't go through with the surgery. Thats the feelingI got anyhow. While I was there he called a Pharmacologist at the hosp who informed him that my meds need an hour in my stomach and that gastric bypass would be no good. When I left I was TOTALLY deflated. I had to go back to work and cancel my nutritional counseling that was set up for Aug 8th. I also had to call Carrie Ann and tell her the prior approval she sent to insurance may be no good because I may have to switch to lap-band. I go back to Dr J next Tuesday. He will tell me then what he found out from the pharmaceuital (SP??) companies tell him. My guess is it's going to be lap-band for this chick. Will I be disappointed?? Of course. Will I accept it? Of course. It's better than what I have now. I've resigned myself to the lap-band at this point and am making plans to schedule a new education class and nutritional class after I leave his office. I have to trust God that in the end I will get what I need regardless of which it is.  

Whew! I had my psych eval today. I'm glad it's over. It really wasn't that bad at all, just a lot of testing and talking. Dr Walfish said I was psychologicaly sound (hus..I know what you're thinking!) and there was no reason for me not to be psychologically approved for surgery. Now we wait to have his office send the report to Dr Richard's office. From there the prior approval will go to insurance, then when they receive it back I get a surgery date. We're talking weeks! WOW
I came away with several recommendatations from Dr Walfish today. Here they are:
**Start my excercise program with a PT since I have back pain sometimes. (OOPS...too late!)
**Introduce myself to my kitchen and then sign up for a healthy cooking class. (seriously!!)
**Go to support group for 1 year following surgery
**See a female counselor for 6-12 months after surgery to deal wtih:  a) emotional eating and b) relationships. (He thinks I'm  co-dependent...nuff said 'bout that!)
**Talk to Dr Jones about coming off Effexor XR for depression. He seems to think there is nothing depressed about me. He said the depression was most likely a temporary issue that occured before and during my divorce. 
Pretty observent dude, huh??

Well I finally heard from Dr Richard's office yesterday afternoon. He feels it is safe to do either the gastric bypass or the lap-band, it's my choice. I was so excited! It was a no brainer, I said bypass baby!! Today I made an appointment with the psych Dr in Atlanta and then three weeks from today I'll go for my nutritional counseling. Hopefully by then I might even have a surgery date! Or at least close to it. I have a friend who is having the same surgery in Birmingham on August 21st. How cool would it be if we had our surgeries the same day? This site has been a God send. I've learned so much about the surgery and how you feel afterwards, and the people on the Bama board are awesome! They are like one big happy family who supports and prays for one another.    

 I still have not heard from Dr Richard on whether I'm a candidate for RNY. I will be calling his office tomorrow afternoon if I have not heard anything. It's been a week today so hopefully they have made a decision.
I had my first aerobics class at the gym yesterday. I did pretty well. I was not able to do the floor ab excercises but one day I will!  

Well its been a few days since I've updated so here goes. I went to my hospital and consult appointment Wednesday in Gainesville. My very sweet and supportive Mom went with me. Traffic was really not bad at all going and coming through Atlanta. Could have been much worse.
The hosp appt was very informative. Connie talked to us about the surgery, all the complications, the importance of protein and a few other things. I was like a sponge absorbing it all. It went by really fast even though it lasted a little over 2 1/2 hours. We were also talked to by the dietitian, the excercise specialist and someone from the sleep clinic. I like them all but I really like the dietitian especially. She was so energetic and pasionate about what she was talking about. I'm really going to gain help from her from here on out. Poor little young skinny thing though...looked like she needed a good pork chop meal! LOL Before we left Connie weighed me and took my measurements. She also took a picture. YUK YUK YUK. I'm sooooo looking forward to that being the big ole ugly BEFORE picture instead of NOW picture!
My appointment with Dr Richard went well. I absolutly love him. Mom even commented how much she like him when he left the room. I was a little...ok A LOT disappointed while talking to him though. He said that because of a non-weight related health issue that I have I would be a better candidate for lap-band. We talked through the process and he agreed to take my case to his practice group meeting and to also call my PCP. He will contact me next week with their decision. I know he will do what he can and if he cant do the bypass I will consider the lap band. I would not have driven 160 miles one day to see a surgeon I didn't trust. I have to keep an open mind and know that he, Dr Proctor and my Dr Jones will make the right decision for ME. And you know what? Sometimes we are strolling through life like we have a tiger by the tail, plowing our own way through and making decisions without fully considering all factors. Then God in HIS mighty wisdom steps in and turns things around just a bit, and when it's all said and done we look back and see that it was all for the best and that in our time of disappointment He had us in the palm of His hand! God's best for me will prevail!
I'm doing good at the gym. I missed an entire week because of the holiday and going to Gainesville and them closing early before the holiday but I got back in there yesterday and started all over! I wish I had a workout partner but hey...I'm still going to give it all I have! I had lost a lb when I weighed at the hospital Wedesday.  

Only 6 more days until my consult, and I'm on day 8 with no Protonix. I sound like a crack addict don't I? lol  For the past couple of days I've had some digestive symptoms but I'm managing them by what I eat and when I eat it. Today for lunch I went to the Waffle House for grits and eggs. Can't get a whole lot softer than that. I've having to eat slow and chew chew chew. Sounds like good practice for after surgery. I'm feeling a little down today. I've been trying to get a referral for my visit next week and so far I have not heard back from the Drs office. Guess I'll call them again tomorrow. I hate to have to call multiple times for something but geez...I'm going to fight for this surgery! If I have to re-schedule an appointment because they couldn't get a referral done in a week I'm going to camp out on the office manager's desk and have a little chat with her. She's a sweet lady but they are just so busy sometimes it takes longer than it should for something.
I had a wonderful workout yesterday! I'm really loving the gym. I worked so late this afternoon that I didn't go. I'm going to try to get in there Saturday morning for the aerobics class. Tomorrow is when I got to the hosp for the pulmonary function test. I hope it all comes out ok. I do feel like I have some breathing issues that have not always been there. I'll be anxious to see how it all turns out.

Have I mentioned that I love NASCAR?

Well I had my 2nd workout this morning. I totally enjoy working out and feel so good afterward. While I was circuit I could sorta see the aerobics class going on. I think I will try that next week. It didn't look to bad. I'm sure it is harder than it looked but at least it didnt look IMPOSSIBLE...I'll put it tthat way.
This is day #3 without my Protonix for GERD. 11 more days to go and I'm home free as far as having the Pylori H  test when I go for my consult. I'm trying not to eat after 6-7, choosing foods that are not real heavy, and taking a probiotic to aid in digestion. Oh yea, and the most important thing, praying that it all will go well so that I don't have to have the endosocpy. I would be real upset if it was that that caused a delay in my surgery.    

June 23, 2006
Yesterday was my first workout at ShapeXpress. WHEW, I'm so out of shape!!! I did the circuit training and it just about wiped me out. Afterwards though I felt so much better. I could tell that my breathing was deeper and I had more energy. I'm going to try and go tomorrow morning as well because I'll be in Atl Monday and Tues and if I wait until next Wed to go back it will be like starting all over again. I can feel it in my legs today but thats about it.
It's sooooo hot here. It's been as high as 100 this week. So far everyone that I know that has had WLS is now cold-natured. I certainly hope thats how it is for me. I hate hot weather! I actually procratinate getting out and grocery shopping and really much of anything else when its hot weather, and let me tell you, in Alabama its only cold about 2 months outr of the year. I think I was born to live in Siberia! LOL
In addition to beginning an excercise program I'm now trying to get more water in and also make better food choices. Notice, I said TRY. At least now I am  aware of what I'm putting in my mouth. I've been on so many diets and have lost weight so many times only to gain it back and more. After all there where is the hope? Where is the incentive to deprive yourself and go on a diet if you know the suffering is only going to cost you pounds in the long run? Now I have hope, and I'm encouraged! I finally have and incentive to do better.              

YIPEE....I picked up my letter from Dr J today and it was a really great recommendation for surgery. One more hurdle behind me. Next hurdle is getting through the consult with Dr Richard. I totally look forward to meeting him. I saw him at the seminar and was impressed with both him and Dr Procter but I really really liked Dr Richard's calm demeaner. I'm thinking that calmness may come in handy sooner or later. LOL
Part of the consult with Dr Richard is a breath test for H Pylora. Thing is you have to be off your GERD meds for 14 days prior. My 14 day window starts tomorrow. I'm really going to try to do without my Protonix because the alternative is the esophageal endoscopy and I wont have an empty stomach so I might have to schedule that here or go back later. I just dont want that to delay my surgery date. I have a feeling I may also have to have a venous dopler test because I do have pretty bad vericose veins in my lower legs. I'm a little concerned about blood clots because of that but I know without a shadow of a doubt I'm in the best hands possible!!
I told my boss today about the possibility or should I say probability of my surgery. After she got over the shock of me being out of the office for a few weeks she was extremely supportive. I really appreciated that. I'm truely blessed to have the job and insurance that I have but not only that, I work with some really wonderful people.    

 
Got a call at 6pm tonight saying my recommendation letter from my PCP is waiting for me at his office. WoooHooo! What a relief. Can't wait to go to the office at lunchtime tomorrow and pick it up. I'm sure I'll tear in to it by the time I get to my car. I want to make sure it is a recomendation! LOL
I also checked out a gym today. I seriously want to start exersising and getting in better shape before my surgery. The surgeon recommends it and says the better shape you are in the better your recovery will be. One thing that I have found on this site is that there are a lot of women who weigh more than me. I am not bragging, 287 at 5'8" is NOTHING to brag about, I guess its just that we get wrapped up in our own little world and forget there are others out there suffering as much as I am. I find myself looking at obese people now wondering  if they have every considered WLS. Not in a judgemental way at all!!! Just that I'm excited about the new life around the corner for me and want to share the experience with everyone.