beemerbeeper

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I was quite suprised to receive my application packet and seminar on DVD today from Dr. Smith's office.  The timing is excellent because I can take some of it to my appointment with my pcp tomorrow.

It doesn't look horrible to complete at all.  I was afraid it would ask a bunch of questions that I can't remember the answers to.  It does ask some specifics about when my weight was what...and I'll be doing some guessing about that.

So hope to get this back in the mail within a couple of days.  I have to send photos which will mean going to walmart of wherever to get them developed.

This is an exciting day!!!  I can actually be DOING something towards reaching my goals.

Nothing I can do now except wait.  There is going to be a lot of waiting in this process.  I am reading posts on the OH forum, but that is just making it difficult to keep waiting.

I figure it will be 6 months until I get to go under the knife so I guess I should get USED to waiting.

Waiting is so boring.

I had a long convo with Dee at Dr Smith's office.  She is going to send me the seminar on video and also the application.  My step to see Dr M is the right one as she has to agree to provide non-surgical follow-up (blood pressure, and other routine stuff).  I can't imagine that she won't agree.

I know Drs Harwood and Hamblin would have been very very supportive so we'll have to see what I get out of the current pill doc.  Since she appear to be super obese herself.

Dee said that Dr Smith does not allow use of any NSAIDs although much of the literature says it i ok with the Switch.  Not all my pain is from carrying weight around.  I still have a lot of tingling and discomfort in my shoulders and neck so it will sbe interesting to ee if Dr M thinks i can live the rest of my life without useing nsaids.  this may be the stumbling block.

I'm looking forward to getting the application and video but Dee said it takes a long time to get mailed and i won't get it for up to 2 weeks.  i hope she is just saying that because occasionally things get delayed and she doesn't want/need to deal with phone calls saying they haven't received it yet.

So now, I have the weekend ALONE!!!! and I have to get a plan of what I want to accomplish and get off this computer.

I think today was an EXTREMELY productive day.

I've re-read the descriptions of the DS procedure.

I've found out that there aren't that many surgeons to choose from, but the one in Marietta is considered to be very good.

I've found out that this surgery runs somewhere around 25,000 so if I have to pay 30% of that I can swing it.

I've become more convinced that this is the surgery I want and I am hopeful that my gallbladder will get yanked whether it needsto or not.

I'm also hoping that laproscopic surgery is a little easier to bear, but that pain relief if covered in the hospital.

I'm hopeful I don't have to jump thru the 6 month diet crap.  I've been dieting my whole damn life.  I'm SICK of dieting. 

So I feel one day closer to being healthier.  That's a good day.

me

Today I called and made an appointment with DrM.  I guess that is the first step on this journey.

I also found out that the surgeon in Marietta requires payment in full upfront and then they will bill Medicare for me.  I have no idea how much that would be, but I guess I'd better find out.

I went to Walmart and got my stop smoking supplies.  I'm suprised that stopping smoking prior to surgery is not discussed somewhere on the OH forums but then again, maybe I just haven't found it as it is a HUGE forum.

The pain from Sunday's Death March is not totally gone, but I was at least able to do the shopping.

I'm wondering about how people feel energy wise after surgery and how long it will be before I can get back to dog training.  I guess I'll post that question, but I feel like I've posted so much already.

Tomorrow this time I'll be without my nicotene so I hope I can post here about that.  It IS part of the process for me after all.

Today is June 2, 2009.

Sunday I took the girls (Lou and Vamp the dogs) hiking with Kathy.  It was about a 45 minute walk, mostly flat, to a beautiful reservior with two waterfalls.

I am still in pain and haven't moved really since, two days later.

I am not going to spend the end of my life on a couch. 

Tomorrow will be my last day of smoking.  And I am calling for an appointment with Dr M to start the process to have surgery.

I know this is a process and a journey and I am going to learn from it.  Hopefully it will make me a better, stronger, healthier person.  And hopefully one day I will be able to give back as so many people on this OH site are already giving to me.

I need to post a current photo so I'll get someone to take one of me with my camera on Monday with Vamp.

I hope I can use all the support here on OH and that I can take the steps I need to take.

I look forward to reading this blog in the future.

Becky in NC