getsemani
Pain, Pain, Pain
May 26, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
I'm five days post op and I have gas pains that are killing me. The thing is that I don't know if it's really gas pain, or if it's something else. I have a great urge to burp, but nothing comes out, just pressure on my chest that's making me moan and writhe. I thought this was all normal, but now I don't know. My incisions are healing. I can get up from a sitting position on my own, I can cough without being in tears, I can bend and walk faster than a couple of days ago, but I still haven't gotten rid of the pressure on my chest. I've noticed that everytime I drink something I get the pain.
I was discharged from the hospital on Thursday, the day after surgery and I was still in a lot of pain, groggy and exhausted so I didn't call the surgeon's office for a follow-up visit. I still wasn't feeling up to speed on Friday and I didn't call either, and today is Memorial Day, so I have to wait until tomorrow to call and set up an appointment. I go back to work tomorrow and I don't know how I'll be able to handle it if I continue having the pain in my chest.
I'm craving for something to eat that it's not liquified. I'm sick of liquids, liquids, liquids. At this point even baby food sounds good to me, and as a matter of fact, that's what I'll be eating on Thursday. Who would've ever thought that baby food would be so appealing to me?
I'll keep you posted.
Nereida
Today's The Day
May 20, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Today's my big day. It's 5:00 a.m. and I'll be heading over to the hospital with my husband in about 30 minutes. I'm very excited and I've been up since 4:00 a.m. because I can't sleep.
I know God has everything under control and He will watch over me during my operation. My youngest daughter, Heaven Leigh, asked me yesterday if I was scared and I said no. I am sooo ready for this surgery
Nereida
Surgery Tomorrow
May 19, 2008
Well, by this time tomorrow morning I'll be in recovery from my lap band surgery, God willing. I can't even begin to explain how I feel; in a way it seems so unreal to me, but, yep, it's happening. I wish I could just fall asleep and wake up tomorrow ready to head to the hospital.
I haven't done anything as far as cleaning my house and stuff like that. I did, however, buy the things I need for my liquid diet, which I started last Wednesday and cheated to no end.
On Thursday I had about 4 spoonfuls of rice and beans, the temptation was tooo great and I was really hungry. On Friday I went to Denny's with my sister and had a chicken salad with some fruit juice and chicken noodle soup. On Saturday and Sunday all hell broke loose since I was on a camping trip with my students and it was impossible for me to stick to my full liquid diet. But, yesterday and today, I've been very good with sticking to all liquids and my cream soup is quite satisfying.
When I went to boot camp I asked what would happen if I don't stick to my liquid diet, and the bariatric nurse told me that nothing really happens, but I definitely have to be on a liquid diet 24 hours prior to surgery. If I eat solids, they will cancel the surgery. That's one thing I don't want to happen.
When I went to boot camp last Thursday, I was weighing 232 pounds. I've lost 6 pounds since December, but I don't feel or see any difference. I can't wait to start losing weight and have other people notice it as well. I haven't told anybody about my surgery, just my family, and two other people when I went camping this past weekend. I haven't even told my best friend, whom I've known since I was 15 years old. We've been best friends since forever, and she doesn't even know. She lives in California and we talk on the phone ALL the time, but this is one thing I don't want her to know only because she's such a worry-wart.
I'll try to write something in my blog tomorrow before I leave for the hospital. I'm supposed to be there at 6:00 a.m. and surgery is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. If I don't write anything, then I'll be writing as soon as I'm able to.
Nereida
My Preadmission
May 12, 2008
Today I went for my preadmission and my husband went with me. It has been raining really hard, but that has not put a damper on me. I was weighed and I weigh 236 pounds, but my blood pressure was high: 162/104.
I go for boot camp on Thursday and I want my husband to go with me. He's still not too sure about me getting this operation, but I'm determined to have it done and losing all of this weight. I even went and bought me a cute denim skirt which I can't squeeze into even if my life depended on it. It's a size 15/16 and it's one of my motivations. I'm currently wearing a size 22 and I know I'll be able to fit in that skirt in no time.
Nereida
I've Been Approved!
May 08, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
I just received a voice mail message from the surgeon's office where they tell me that my surgery was authorized by Local 54. I'm soooo happy. If I would've known this back in December when my own insurance company denied my surgery, I would've immediately told the doctor that I had secondary insurance, but because I was so frustrated and tired of the whole process, I just gave up.
My husband is not supportive at all, and I wish he was, but I really, really, really don't care. I'm the one who needs to lose all the extra weight and I'm doing this because of me and for me, not because anyone else.
I go for my preadmission on Monday, boot camp on Thursday and my surgery will be the following Wednesday. So far, neither my husband nor my son are happy for me.
Nereida
I Have A Date
May 06, 2008
I have a date, again! I went to my appointment yesterday only to be rescheduled because my last appointment was just a week before. The good news is that I'm scheduled for surgery on May 21 and I'm supposed to be at the hospital at 6:00 a.m.
My preadmission is on Monday, May 12, I go to boot camp on May 15, and surgery the following week. I'm not excited and I don't have my hopes high, at all. I already went through all of this back in December and I'm taking it easy. If it's approved, praise God, but if it's not approved I'll still praise God because He's in control.
I really, really, really want this surgery but if it's denied I won't be crushed because I'm still going to complete my 6 months of supervised diet (which I think is totally useless). All they do is weigh you, that's all.
Nereida
Walking On Pins And Needles
May 02, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
All the paper work is supposed to have been submitted yesterday for approval. I can't wait to receive the phone call I so desperately want. If the insurance approves the surgery, I'll be elated, but if it doesn't, I'll still be on the right track with my supervised diet plan. I have my next appointment on Monday, May 5.
Nereida
I'm Happy
Apr 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Today I went for my first supervised diet plan session and it turned out better than what I thought. To make a long story short, I might be having my surgery in May.
It turns out to be that when the papers were submitted for my approval back in December, they submitted it to my insurance which is Horizon BCBS of New Jersey. I was only 2 weeks shy of having the surgery when I received the call from the surgeon's office that it had been denied. Well, the surgeon's office didn't know that I also have a secondary insurance which is BCBS under Local 54, which is my husband's work union. They're submitting the papers to them and I was told that they are much more easy to work with than with Horizon. I'm going to receive an answer next week.
The nurse told me if I wanted to wait until after school's out to have the surgery and I told her no. I want it done ASAP. The good thing is that all of my tests are still good and I don't have to do anything more except see the anaestheologist (sp) when the time comes.
If my husband's insurance denies it, then I'll still be okay because I went to my first supervised diet plan session. I was ready to pay for today's session but all I had to pay was the $10 copay. If my insurance won't pay for the session, I know I have to pay for it, which I was ready to do today.
I'll keep you posted.
Nereida
Bummed Out
Apr 28, 2008
I feel so bummed out, but I know God is with me. We've been having serious issues with our 14 year-old son and my husband and I are at our wit's end, but I know this is going to be over soon.
I have my first supervised diet plan appointment on Wednesday and I'm looking forward to that. It's also going to give me a chance to distract myself from the problem we have at home with our only son, if only for a little while. My husband is not supportive on me actually pursuing my desire to have the lap band surgery, but I'm determined to go ahead with it whether he supports me or not.
Nereida
Supervised Diet Program
Apr 21, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
I decided to give the lap band another try. After months of not doing anything after my insurance denied my surgery in December, I went back to the doctor's office and made an appointment to start the supervised diet plan for six months. The insurance will not pay for these visits but I don't care. I have my first visit on April 30 and I'm determined to have this surgery done. I think I've gained some weight since December and I feel miserable with all the excess weight I'm carrying.
I hate to take pictures and I hate to look at myself in the mirror. I know there must be an attractive "me" behind all the fat and blubbler I'm carrying. I want my children to say I'm pretty instead of "mom, you're fat." Let's see what happens.
