blkbutterfly
Three more days!!!!!!!!
Jul 05, 2007
It is hard to believe that in three days, I will have my RNY! I have been preparing since October 2006. I have to be at MUSC at 6 am, so I will leave home at 4 am. Surgery begins at 7:30 am. I am happy that I am the first patient!
My mother has been my biggest supporter outside of OH. She is truly amazing. I honestly don't know what I would do withour her.
I have two Angels.
They are lea2be and Julie P. These ladies are wonderful and I am very fortunate to have them in my life.
I will go shopping tonight for my hospital and post op necessities. I am not as nervous as I was; I have left it all in God's hands.
I am very grateful that I am able to have this surgery. I have come up with some WLS goals for myself:
Once I have WLS, I would like to do the following:
1.) Lose weight successfully
2.) Manage my lymphedema
3.) Walk without crying; Walk without hurting
4.)Take my daughter to the park, beach, zoo, etc.
5.) Go shopping without the use of a motorized shopping chair
6.) Wear a pair of shoes (not house slippers)
7.) Teach special education again
8.) Model
9.) Shop in a store other than Catherine's
10.) Improve my health and overall quality of life
11.) Eliminate my social anxieties
12.) Lose 100% of my excess body weight
13.) Stand up for more than 5 minutes without hurting
14.) Feel good about my appearance
My mother has been my biggest supporter outside of OH. She is truly amazing. I honestly don't know what I would do withour her.
I have two Angels.
They are lea2be and Julie P. These ladies are wonderful and I am very fortunate to have them in my life. I will go shopping tonight for my hospital and post op necessities. I am not as nervous as I was; I have left it all in God's hands.
I am very grateful that I am able to have this surgery. I have come up with some WLS goals for myself:
Once I have WLS, I would like to do the following:
1.) Lose weight successfully
2.) Manage my lymphedema
3.) Walk without crying; Walk without hurting
4.)Take my daughter to the park, beach, zoo, etc.
5.) Go shopping without the use of a motorized shopping chair
6.) Wear a pair of shoes (not house slippers)
7.) Teach special education again
8.) Model
9.) Shop in a store other than Catherine's
10.) Improve my health and overall quality of life
11.) Eliminate my social anxieties
12.) Lose 100% of my excess body weight
13.) Stand up for more than 5 minutes without hurting
14.) Feel good about my appearance
Pre-op work up.....
Jul 03, 2007
Today I had my pre-op work up at MUSC. The first thing that I had done was a gallbladder ultrasound at the main hospital. Next, I went to Rutledge Tower to meet with Dr. Morgan. The dietician came in and reiterated what I needed to do post-op (i.e; four week pureed diet, daily vitamin, calcium, B12 intake, importance of protein, etc.) She also gave me measuring spoons and cups and a food scale. Dr.Morgan came in next and discussed what will happen on the day of surgery. She also answered any questions that I had. I completed all of my consent forms as well. Next, I went downstairs and registered for surgery, had an EKG and blood work done, and met with the anesthesia nurse and anesthesiologist. They both discussed what would happen on the day of surgery and answered any questions and concerns that I had. ( My mom accompanied me; she mentioned the importance of prayer and the anesthesiologist prayed for me; it is unexplainable how I felt about this. I have so much faith and trust in God and the medical staff at MUSC.....Five days remaining...
WLS process for me....
Jun 30, 2007
I started my WLS process in October 2006. I went to my PCP and discussed my weight with him. In the midst of our conversation, gastric bypass surgery came up. I told him that I had an interest in the Lap-Band three years prior, but thought noting more about is since my insurance wouldn't cover it. I had just started getting Medicaid in July 2006 so I did not know that WLS was covered if it was a medical necessity. He asked me if I would consider having gastric bypass if Medicaid paid for it - without hesitation, I said that I would. He gave me a referral to the Bariatric Surgery Program at MUSC and the Weight Management Center at MUSC. I received an information packet from the bariatric surgery program to fill out. I found out that Medicaid required a six month supervised diet before approval or denial of WLS.
**It was my intent to have the Lap-Band.**
In Novemer, I went to the Weight Management Center to discuss their programs. I was told about the PREOP progam (Patient Readiness and Education for Obesity Surgery Program). I started the program on December 19th. The six month program offered a supervised diet which consisted of me being put on a 1200-1800 calorie diet as well as monthly visits with a doctor, psychologist, nutritonist, and or exercise physiologist. On visit seven, I was put on a pureed diet for six weeks to determine if I could handle the four week pureed diet that was required post surgery.
On May 3, 2007, I attended an hour long risks and benefits lecture at MUSC. The lecture was very informative and beneficial. Dr. Byrne even passed around an actual lap-band. Before the lecture was over, I decided that gastic bypass, not the lap-band was best for me. After the lecture,I had my consult with Dr. Morgan (my surgeon), a dietician and psychologist. The consult went very well mainly because the psychologist and dietician worked with me in the preop program. Dr. Morgan was extremely nice, professional, and thorough. My lympedema was cause for concern, so she will have a vascular surgeon place a greenfield filter to prevent blood clots. At first I was nervous; however, I knew that it was for my benefit.
I contacted Lisa (the patient coordinator) and got a tentative July 9th surgery date!!!!!!!!!
On May 31, I met with the vascular surgeon. The meeting was to discuss my greenfield filter placement. The doctor will go in through the right side of my neck and insert the filter with a needle. He will then use X-ray to watch the filter until it gets to where it needs to get. Once it is in place, Dr. Morgan will begin my RNY. Thank goodness it will be done lap.
On June 13th I called Lisa to check on my approval status. She had not heard anything, but told me she would call to check. On June 14th I called her back and she said that she left a message for an insurance rep to call her, but she hadn't heard back from her as of yet. We hung up and Lisa calls right back and tells me that I am approved!!!!!!!!!!!!
On July 3rd, I have pre-op testing which includes a gallbladder ultrasound, bloodwork, EKG, visit with the anesthesiologist and Dr. Morgan.
I am anxious, nervous, excited, scared all in one. Did I mention scared? lol.
**It was my intent to have the Lap-Band.**
In Novemer, I went to the Weight Management Center to discuss their programs. I was told about the PREOP progam (Patient Readiness and Education for Obesity Surgery Program). I started the program on December 19th. The six month program offered a supervised diet which consisted of me being put on a 1200-1800 calorie diet as well as monthly visits with a doctor, psychologist, nutritonist, and or exercise physiologist. On visit seven, I was put on a pureed diet for six weeks to determine if I could handle the four week pureed diet that was required post surgery.
On May 3, 2007, I attended an hour long risks and benefits lecture at MUSC. The lecture was very informative and beneficial. Dr. Byrne even passed around an actual lap-band. Before the lecture was over, I decided that gastic bypass, not the lap-band was best for me. After the lecture,I had my consult with Dr. Morgan (my surgeon), a dietician and psychologist. The consult went very well mainly because the psychologist and dietician worked with me in the preop program. Dr. Morgan was extremely nice, professional, and thorough. My lympedema was cause for concern, so she will have a vascular surgeon place a greenfield filter to prevent blood clots. At first I was nervous; however, I knew that it was for my benefit.
I contacted Lisa (the patient coordinator) and got a tentative July 9th surgery date!!!!!!!!!
On May 31, I met with the vascular surgeon. The meeting was to discuss my greenfield filter placement. The doctor will go in through the right side of my neck and insert the filter with a needle. He will then use X-ray to watch the filter until it gets to where it needs to get. Once it is in place, Dr. Morgan will begin my RNY. Thank goodness it will be done lap.
On June 13th I called Lisa to check on my approval status. She had not heard anything, but told me she would call to check. On June 14th I called her back and she said that she left a message for an insurance rep to call her, but she hadn't heard back from her as of yet. We hung up and Lisa calls right back and tells me that I am approved!!!!!!!!!!!!
On July 3rd, I have pre-op testing which includes a gallbladder ultrasound, bloodwork, EKG, visit with the anesthesiologist and Dr. Morgan.
I am anxious, nervous, excited, scared all in one. Did I mention scared? lol.
