BigDawgRider

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Sorry it's been awhile, but it's been crazy around here.  I have completed several more of the steps the Doc is needing for me to do.  I have seen and taken the psychological battery of tests and had a review with him.  My surgeons office works closely with him and they told me that they had not received my test report yet.  I asked his office and they said he had not sent it yet and was going to after my next visit with him.  That was all she said.  Well my imagination went clear of the charts. Why didn't he send it? Why is he waiting till our next visit?  I wasn't going to see him for another week.  Maybe "BUBBA" is real afterall, I thought.  Well I did see him afterall and he explained that I was alright and the test results came out good...........nothing to worry about.  He said that often times he will test someone and send it and they won't know who he was talking about as they had not shown up for the first appointment yet.  That would have been my case so I was satisfied wjth his answer.  Still wondering what the test results came up with though.

I completed my first appointment with the surgeons office and met everone but him.  First it was the dietician explaning some "Rules" and that I needed to start following the plan and lose some weight before my visit with him in 1 month.  I loooked at them and they are what I expected and easy enough to follow.  I started charting my intake etc, the next day.
I met with the Nurse Practioner and we went over my history and other stuff.  She explained to me about the band and how it actually fit with this model she had in there, and went on to explain how he was going to do the surgery, how the incisions were to be made, etc.  Very good information, I am loving this as it was a near mirror image of the information I got from the many great people on this forum site.  I now have a short list to do to get to my actual surgery date.

I still have to get to 2 of the seminars yet.  I am trying to get that done before my next appointment.  I have to do more lab work, an ECG, a Chest xray, and one more thing I am not so fond of and can't seem to rationalize why I have to have it and that is the dreaded Colonoscopy!!!! OMG!!!  I am sure there is a connection butt what could it be.  ( I crack myself up sometimes.) I was sent all the paperwork and my appointment for that is 8/2/10.  I asked about the script that was sent and basically my friend told me to be sitting on the toilet when you take the first drink.  He said it works that fast. So my Sunday will be spent at home, moving the tv into the bathroom and buying stock into air freshener. LOL

So that is it so far......I am closer to my date and couldn't be happier to finally get ahead of my weight and find the new me.
Thanks to everyone on this forum  for the inspiration to go on with this.  It has made it better.

My visit to my regular doctor was the first step. He agreed and will send my records to my bariatric surgeon.  Feeling good, yes.  Step number two....off to psychology appointment for my "evaluation and testing".  We first had a brief meeting and then I took the massive 600 question test to evaluate my ability to handle the upcoming change of life style.  I didn't have a clue as to what the questions meant but I definately could see patterns in the questioning.
 
Anyone else have any wierd feelings about the MMPI test?

He said he would get back to me after he completed the scoring.  I see him next week anyway, I'll find out then. I wonder how much more crazier I am than I think I am. LOL. 

I am finished with the paperwork and I am going to my first seminar tonight to get the scoop and turn in my paperwork so I can get an appointment with my doctor for the first . 

Maybe I can do this in August.  That would be sweet.

BRING IT ON.

Just finished talking with my Insurance and I am fully covered for the Lap Band except for the normal co-pays, etc.  That I can handle.  This morning I saw my PCP and he is going through with the referral to Dr. Davenport. and he will send over my records.  It was a good meeting and he is very pleased that I took the "plunge" to do this as it will, for the most part, stop the diabetes and bring down my blood pressure so I can stop taking the meds.  I have already thought of the name of my goals............GOING SUB 200.  YEA, THAT'S IT.  It could possibly stop the sleep apnea I have too, but mostly I will be able to get into the clothes I haven't fit into in years, and feel a bit better about myself, and maybe, just maybe, get closer to my wife.

I haven't posted in a while, but have been reading many, many posts from others to hopefully gain more insight into what my future entails.  I have gathered a great deal of info, i.e. foods you can and cannot eat, what to do and not do, and generally how I need to navigate my new life after the band is in place.  I mean to say that this site is great and so very valuable, I can't say enough about it. 

I have finally completed the paperwork and I am now focusing on the extra  stuff I need to complete the package.  I have an appointment for my Medical Doctor the end of this month.  There he will do my referral letters, physical and blood work, etc.
Today I saw my Psychologist and explained the need for a MMPI along with my normal babble of life's events.  Come to find out, both he and his wife know Dr. Davenport and work closely with him and have been for some time.  I was elated!  This may not be so bad afterall.  He said I can get my MMPI from him and save me some time and hassel ( and expense ) as I am already set up with him as far as insurance goes.  I am thinking I saved about six weeks of time, stress, and anxiety with going to him.  Made me feel a little bit better anyway . 

I also told my son that I was going to do this and gave him some different numbers to call if I didn't call him back after the surgery.  I told him that I wasn't quite feeling the same way as with my other surgeries and to make contact with these numbers if I didn't make it.  Yea I feel that way, down deep, I just can't explain it. 

I called  him for Father's Day to wish him a Good Day and to give a kiss to my grand daughter.  My other child won't call me, and didn't.  I can't seem to get through to her, her anger is really deep and she is encouraged to be that way from a mother that has went out of her way to dig at me when she could.  Of course not so bad now, everyone is grown now and little can be done, but the damage is already done.  It's a shame, I love my little girl, and my two grandkids by her.  I just wanted a phone call.  We are both bull headed and stubborn, at least I know it and have apologized.....maybe she will grow out of it.

Made my first appointment yesterday with my main DOC and it won't be till the end of the month.  I am working on the paperwork and feeling a bit better about it. He and his nurse are very confident of my success and that is encouraging.
We shall see soon enough.

Just made the decision to do the lap band and I have approval from my insurance company that the procedure is covered, however I am not so sure why ( on alot of things ) I have to do so much paperwork?  A psychogical exam? I believe I have all the necessary approvals, even from my main PCP. Why such a long road to surgery?? More whining later.

I am inspired, however,  by the many, many postings I have seen so far.  Both positive and negative, but mostly positive.  Everyone has given me insight to many things that I wondered what would happen.  Even fears of mine are a bit abated through these writings.

My main fear..........yes, Not being able to eat, and excepting that as a life change FOR GOOD.  These days before my upcoming surgery are filled with, " well, it looks like I am not going to be able to eat that either" as I go from meal to meal.

Home do you overcome that??  Simple mind over matter or is it as I have read, You just don't feel like eating at all, or as much.  Does this really change your brain's control of your eating?? 

I am anxious to do this and with some reservation, but I have started the paperwork, and this blog with hopes of not only helping myself, but maybe helping some else make the decision too.