investigator77
Waiting for surgery, but I'm down 6 pounds!
Aug 23, 2008
Well, I've been shopping for some of the things I'll need once I have me surgery, and some of them have been great.
I bought myself a 32 oz Rubbermaid water bottle at WalMart, with a flip top cap, and it's perfect.
I wanted to try and get used to drinking the 64 oz of water that seems to be what's recommended after surgery. I also bought a couple of fresh lemons, and have been slicing them, and putting 3 slices in my water bottle, along with a few ice cubes. It's helping me get over my addiction to Tetley Tropical fruit Iced Tea!
It's amazing when I'm carrying around a bottle of water all the time, how easy it is to drink the 32 oz's, and then refill it and drink that! I know you have to sip slowly all day after surgery, but I've never been a big water drinker, so this is really good for me. Good for my skin too!
I bought the Whey Gourmet Strawberry Banana Smoothy protein powder at WalMart too. It's a HUGE honkin' container. They also had individual packets of the Whey Gourget Raspberry something or another, and I tried it with skim milk, 2 ice cubes, and blended in my Magic Bullet for breakfast. It was sooooo delicious!!! So creamy.
If I had put 4 ice cubes in, it would have been just like a milkshake. The instructions say you can make it with milk or water, but why not get the extra protein with the milk, plus the extra calcium? Haven't tried the Strawberry Banana yet, but I have it on good authority that it is also delicious.
I have never been a mik drinker, so even drinking milk is helping me to eat healthier. I've been changing my eating habits gradually, but I have still lost 6 pounds from when I weighed myself a few weeks ago! Probably a lot of water weight, but still, it's 6 pounds of something!
I'm also eating more vegetables now. Not a huge amount yet, but more than I used to. The one thing I'm going to have a hard time giving up is crusty bread with fresh butter. Once I have that licked, I'll know I'll be unstoppable!!
My doctor suggested I take a Salmon Oil supplement because my triglycerids are a little high, so I am now taking those along with iron, Centrum Silver chewables,and B-12 sublinguals.
I can't wait to start really losing weight, and having less pain in my ankles, knees, and back. I was looking for a used treadmill on www.Kijiji.ca last night, and they're inexpensive enough, but I live in a small 2 bdrm condo, and if I got one it would have to go in the living room. I'm really anal about how my living/dining room looks, and I don't think a portable one would be tough enough to handle my weight. I looked at one, and it said the max. weight was 280 pounds! Well, I'm 269 at this point, and I'm afraid if I try running on it, I'll kill it!! LOL
I also learned something wonderful last week. When I was at the Sleep Study Center, they asked if I could come on the Friday night for my overnight stay. I made a comment about how I could, because I'm single and my social life is pathetic. One of the nurses said to me, "You should ENJOY living alone! So many people have so many other people tugging at them!"
I've thought about that all week. When I first began thinking about WLS, I was worried because I would be alone, but now I'm starting to think of it as a GOOD thing!
1) I don't have to worry about making food for a husband or kids.
2) I don't have to have "forbidden" foods in my fridge or cupboards.
3) I don't have overnight guests unless I invite them, so I have a lot of control over that stress.
4) I'm off work right now, on disability, in part because of my obesity. I have no one to answer too, and all the time in the world to look after myself once I have surgery. What a blessing that will be!
That one comment changed my entire mindset about how things will be after surgery. I no longer feel sorry for myself because I don't have a partner or kids at home "to look after me". It's actually going to be easier without any!!
Have a great week,
Nancy
I bought myself a 32 oz Rubbermaid water bottle at WalMart, with a flip top cap, and it's perfect.
I wanted to try and get used to drinking the 64 oz of water that seems to be what's recommended after surgery. I also bought a couple of fresh lemons, and have been slicing them, and putting 3 slices in my water bottle, along with a few ice cubes. It's helping me get over my addiction to Tetley Tropical fruit Iced Tea!It's amazing when I'm carrying around a bottle of water all the time, how easy it is to drink the 32 oz's, and then refill it and drink that! I know you have to sip slowly all day after surgery, but I've never been a big water drinker, so this is really good for me. Good for my skin too!
I bought the Whey Gourmet Strawberry Banana Smoothy protein powder at WalMart too. It's a HUGE honkin' container. They also had individual packets of the Whey Gourget Raspberry something or another, and I tried it with skim milk, 2 ice cubes, and blended in my Magic Bullet for breakfast. It was sooooo delicious!!! So creamy.
If I had put 4 ice cubes in, it would have been just like a milkshake. The instructions say you can make it with milk or water, but why not get the extra protein with the milk, plus the extra calcium? Haven't tried the Strawberry Banana yet, but I have it on good authority that it is also delicious.I have never been a mik drinker, so even drinking milk is helping me to eat healthier. I've been changing my eating habits gradually, but I have still lost 6 pounds from when I weighed myself a few weeks ago! Probably a lot of water weight, but still, it's 6 pounds of something!
I'm also eating more vegetables now. Not a huge amount yet, but more than I used to. The one thing I'm going to have a hard time giving up is crusty bread with fresh butter. Once I have that licked, I'll know I'll be unstoppable!!
My doctor suggested I take a Salmon Oil supplement because my triglycerids are a little high, so I am now taking those along with iron, Centrum Silver chewables,and B-12 sublinguals.
I can't wait to start really losing weight, and having less pain in my ankles, knees, and back. I was looking for a used treadmill on www.Kijiji.ca last night, and they're inexpensive enough, but I live in a small 2 bdrm condo, and if I got one it would have to go in the living room. I'm really anal about how my living/dining room looks, and I don't think a portable one would be tough enough to handle my weight. I looked at one, and it said the max. weight was 280 pounds! Well, I'm 269 at this point, and I'm afraid if I try running on it, I'll kill it!! LOL
I also learned something wonderful last week. When I was at the Sleep Study Center, they asked if I could come on the Friday night for my overnight stay. I made a comment about how I could, because I'm single and my social life is pathetic. One of the nurses said to me, "You should ENJOY living alone! So many people have so many other people tugging at them!"
I've thought about that all week. When I first began thinking about WLS, I was worried because I would be alone, but now I'm starting to think of it as a GOOD thing!
1) I don't have to worry about making food for a husband or kids.
2) I don't have to have "forbidden" foods in my fridge or cupboards.
3) I don't have overnight guests unless I invite them, so I have a lot of control over that stress.
4) I'm off work right now, on disability, in part because of my obesity. I have no one to answer too, and all the time in the world to look after myself once I have surgery. What a blessing that will be!
That one comment changed my entire mindset about how things will be after surgery. I no longer feel sorry for myself because I don't have a partner or kids at home "to look after me". It's actually going to be easier without any!!
Have a great week,
Nancy
Still waiting for approval
Aug 18, 2008
I weighed myself today on my own scale, and I'm down about 4-5 pounds from when I last weighed in. I'm trying to eat all the "bad" things in my cupboards, and replacing them with "good" stuff that I'll be able to eat after sugery. I seem to have lost my appetite, which may be psychological, because I'm so ready for my surgery.
I've found a few sugar free things, and tried the sf Carnation Instant Breakfast today. I mixed it in my Magic Bullet, with 4 ice cubes and 8 oz. of skim milk. It was great! Like a milkshake. I think I'll try it with a teaspoon of decaf instant coffee, and see if it tastes like an Iced Cappucino from Tim Hortons.
I'm going to buy some protein powder mixes, to use for smoothies. Whey Gourmet at WalMart is about $30 for a huge container, and has the protein I need. When I don't have protein at breakfast, I get the shakes later in the day, so I really need to find good sources of protein that I can have for breakfast. It's not easy!
My doctors office called me and said they need me to come in to help them fill out the OHIP approval forms. They're also making an appointment for me with a cardiologist, and I hope it's not months that I have to wait. I've got an appointment to have my pacemaker checked, but it's not until November 19th! :(
I had a sleep study done on Friday night, because my CPAP machine wasn't set high enough and I was snoring. I slept for about 3 hours. I'm hoping that was enough time for them to get the results they need, but the tech told me I didn't have any REM sleep at all, so I may have to go back. I hate sleep studies!
One bit of fun news. I was shopping at a local Shoppers Drug Mart, and the manager of the makeup department told me I did a beautiful job on my makeup. I told her that I did some modelling in my teens, and I've been taking a Makeup Art course, and she asked if I would be interested in helping them out when they have special events, like 20 minute makeovers. Also, they have reps that come out from the big companies like Estee Lauder and Smashbox, and she likes to have other makeup artists there if it gets busy. I was very flattered, and said "YES!". I haven't even got my diploma yet, and someone's already offering me some work. Pretty cool I must say!
I'm also volunteering at the local tv station, just looking for something to keep me busy while I wait for my surgery. I might get a chance to practice my makeup for television there also, because they don't have a dedicated makeup artist. It would be fun, and another good way to meet new people.
Nancy
I've found a few sugar free things, and tried the sf Carnation Instant Breakfast today. I mixed it in my Magic Bullet, with 4 ice cubes and 8 oz. of skim milk. It was great! Like a milkshake. I think I'll try it with a teaspoon of decaf instant coffee, and see if it tastes like an Iced Cappucino from Tim Hortons.
I'm going to buy some protein powder mixes, to use for smoothies. Whey Gourmet at WalMart is about $30 for a huge container, and has the protein I need. When I don't have protein at breakfast, I get the shakes later in the day, so I really need to find good sources of protein that I can have for breakfast. It's not easy!
My doctors office called me and said they need me to come in to help them fill out the OHIP approval forms. They're also making an appointment for me with a cardiologist, and I hope it's not months that I have to wait. I've got an appointment to have my pacemaker checked, but it's not until November 19th! :(
I had a sleep study done on Friday night, because my CPAP machine wasn't set high enough and I was snoring. I slept for about 3 hours. I'm hoping that was enough time for them to get the results they need, but the tech told me I didn't have any REM sleep at all, so I may have to go back. I hate sleep studies!
One bit of fun news. I was shopping at a local Shoppers Drug Mart, and the manager of the makeup department told me I did a beautiful job on my makeup. I told her that I did some modelling in my teens, and I've been taking a Makeup Art course, and she asked if I would be interested in helping them out when they have special events, like 20 minute makeovers. Also, they have reps that come out from the big companies like Estee Lauder and Smashbox, and she likes to have other makeup artists there if it gets busy. I was very flattered, and said "YES!". I haven't even got my diploma yet, and someone's already offering me some work. Pretty cool I must say!
I'm also volunteering at the local tv station, just looking for something to keep me busy while I wait for my surgery. I might get a chance to practice my makeup for television there also, because they don't have a dedicated makeup artist. It would be fun, and another good way to meet new people.
Nancy
I had my first consultation!!
Aug 09, 2008
I just got back from Michigan Thursday night. I had my first consultation at the Barix Clinic in Ypsilanti, and it was wonderful!
Dr Schram will be my doctor when I have the GB, but I have a pacemaker, so he wants a letter from a cardiologist to say I'm healthy enough for surgery (well, that my heart is healthy enough for surgery!) The bad news was that when they measured my height, they said I'm 1 1/2 " shorter than I thought I was, and I was 3 pounds heavier! Yikes!! That makes my BMI close to the Super-Obese category, which I find really hard to believe. I think I have a reverse anorexic thing going on in my head. When I look at myself in the mirror, I still think I'm not too bad, certainly not as heavy as many people I see, but if I look at the numbers, I am astounded.
Once I have my own family doctor (PCP) fill out the paperwork to submit to OHIP, it's just a waiting game. Once I have the approval, and the letter from the cardiologist, they said it's usually about 6 weeks for scheduling surgery. I'm hoping I will be able to have the surgery before the winter.
I saw my family doctor yesterday, and she gave me the results of all the testing I had done a week or so ago. The fasting glucose test showed normal readings, so I DO NOT have diabetes or pre-diabetes, which is a huge relief. She also said my ALT & AST liver enzyme levels are fine (which had been a problem in the past), BUT, she said my GGT level was very high. This apparently comes from your gall bladder (which I don't have any more) or your pancreas, so she thinks my pancreas may be inflamed, or it could be from my fatty liver. I'm going for an ultrasound to check it out, along with the large lump I found in my abdomen. Dr. Schram thought it was a hernia, and my doctor agrees. She thinks it is too large for a lipoma, which is what the other doctor told me at the walk-in clinic last week.
When I asked Dr Schram about the lipoma, he checked it out and asked why the clinic doctor thought it was a lipoma. I said I didn't know (I mean, who questions a doctor when they tell you what something is?). Anyway, Dr Schram said that if it IS a lipoma, it may just reduce on its own once I start to lose weight, and if it's a hernia, they'll repair it during the GB surgery. Cool! So that's another thing I don't need to worry about.
My doctor tested my blood pressure 7 times, because at the clinic, and at Barix, they said my bp was high, 148/110. I have never had high bp in my entire life. It's always been perfect. Anyway, after testing it 7 times my doctor said my bp was normal 117/79, so that was MORE good news!
I am SO excited about having the surgery! I can't wait. I am so READY to change my life. The staff at the Barix Clinic was wonderful, and they gave me a lot of information to read. The doctor drew diagrams on the board showing the difference between the Lapband surgery and the GB. Both have pluses and minuses. They were very informative about what to expect, and are equally honest about how it works.
Dr Schram said he wishes there was a little dial inside that he could just set it to, say, 130 pounds, and you would just lose weight until you got there, but that's not the way it works. They say WLS is just a tool that makes dieting easier. You don't have the hunger that you experience with a regular diet, so it's easier to do it, but you still have to do the work. If you don't exercise, you'll probably lose less than someone who does. If you eat fast food, instead of healthy home cooked food, you'll probably lose less than someone who doesn't. It's not a magic pill that means everyone will get to their goal weight. You have to still eat right and exercise.
My sister went with me, and she has diabetes, is more than 100 pounds overweight, and is 57 years old. She went with me just to make it a "girls shopping weekend", and to keep me company on the long drive. We stayed two nights, shopped like crazy, and had a wonderful time. She was so impressed with Dr. Schram and the hospital, along with the information she learned in the group consult, that now SHE is thinking about having the surgery done as well, and wants Dr. Schram to be her doctor too!!
All in all, it was a wonderful experience, and I can't wait to have a date for surgery!
Nancy
Dr Schram will be my doctor when I have the GB, but I have a pacemaker, so he wants a letter from a cardiologist to say I'm healthy enough for surgery (well, that my heart is healthy enough for surgery!) The bad news was that when they measured my height, they said I'm 1 1/2 " shorter than I thought I was, and I was 3 pounds heavier! Yikes!! That makes my BMI close to the Super-Obese category, which I find really hard to believe. I think I have a reverse anorexic thing going on in my head. When I look at myself in the mirror, I still think I'm not too bad, certainly not as heavy as many people I see, but if I look at the numbers, I am astounded.
Once I have my own family doctor (PCP) fill out the paperwork to submit to OHIP, it's just a waiting game. Once I have the approval, and the letter from the cardiologist, they said it's usually about 6 weeks for scheduling surgery. I'm hoping I will be able to have the surgery before the winter.
I saw my family doctor yesterday, and she gave me the results of all the testing I had done a week or so ago. The fasting glucose test showed normal readings, so I DO NOT have diabetes or pre-diabetes, which is a huge relief. She also said my ALT & AST liver enzyme levels are fine (which had been a problem in the past), BUT, she said my GGT level was very high. This apparently comes from your gall bladder (which I don't have any more) or your pancreas, so she thinks my pancreas may be inflamed, or it could be from my fatty liver. I'm going for an ultrasound to check it out, along with the large lump I found in my abdomen. Dr. Schram thought it was a hernia, and my doctor agrees. She thinks it is too large for a lipoma, which is what the other doctor told me at the walk-in clinic last week.
When I asked Dr Schram about the lipoma, he checked it out and asked why the clinic doctor thought it was a lipoma. I said I didn't know (I mean, who questions a doctor when they tell you what something is?). Anyway, Dr Schram said that if it IS a lipoma, it may just reduce on its own once I start to lose weight, and if it's a hernia, they'll repair it during the GB surgery. Cool! So that's another thing I don't need to worry about.
My doctor tested my blood pressure 7 times, because at the clinic, and at Barix, they said my bp was high, 148/110. I have never had high bp in my entire life. It's always been perfect. Anyway, after testing it 7 times my doctor said my bp was normal 117/79, so that was MORE good news!
I am SO excited about having the surgery! I can't wait. I am so READY to change my life. The staff at the Barix Clinic was wonderful, and they gave me a lot of information to read. The doctor drew diagrams on the board showing the difference between the Lapband surgery and the GB. Both have pluses and minuses. They were very informative about what to expect, and are equally honest about how it works.
Dr Schram said he wishes there was a little dial inside that he could just set it to, say, 130 pounds, and you would just lose weight until you got there, but that's not the way it works. They say WLS is just a tool that makes dieting easier. You don't have the hunger that you experience with a regular diet, so it's easier to do it, but you still have to do the work. If you don't exercise, you'll probably lose less than someone who does. If you eat fast food, instead of healthy home cooked food, you'll probably lose less than someone who doesn't. It's not a magic pill that means everyone will get to their goal weight. You have to still eat right and exercise.
My sister went with me, and she has diabetes, is more than 100 pounds overweight, and is 57 years old. She went with me just to make it a "girls shopping weekend", and to keep me company on the long drive. We stayed two nights, shopped like crazy, and had a wonderful time. She was so impressed with Dr. Schram and the hospital, along with the information she learned in the group consult, that now SHE is thinking about having the surgery done as well, and wants Dr. Schram to be her doctor too!!
All in all, it was a wonderful experience, and I can't wait to have a date for surgery!
Nancy
A little scare!
Aug 02, 2008
Well I've been a little lax about posting, as I'm waiting to go for my first consult at Barix in Ypsilanti. To be honest, I've been feeling terrible lately. Sooo tired all the time. Soooo much pain. Over the past 2 weeks, there have been at least 4 days when I have slept over 14 hours straight. With my fibromyalgia, if I overdo it, even just a tiny bit one day, the next day or two, I'm basically useless.
Well yesterday, I was supposed to be going out for dinner with a girlfriend after she got off work at 5:00. About 4:00 I noticed I had this very large, deep mass, on the lower right of my belly button, about the size of a baseball, but softer and flatter. I had noticed a smaller lump there before, but always thought it was just a hernia, or maybe just a lump of constipated, hard stuff. But today I noticed it was quite a bit larger, so I called my friend and told her I was going to go to the walk-in clinic before we went out for dinner. Being the Friday afternoon of a long weekend, my doctors office was closed, and I'm leaving at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning for Michigan. I thought it was best to get it looked at before I leave on Tuesday. I don't want ANYTHING interfering with my chance to have WL surgery.
I figured it might be hours before I got to see a doctor, but to my surprise I walked right into the clinic, only one other person was there, and they took me right in!! The doctor who saw me was very nice, and she said my blood pressure was high (which it has NEVER been before in my life!), but the lump was nothing to worry about. She said it is a lipoma, which is a benign tumor composed of fat cells. It can be surrounded by a thin layer of connective tissue (encapsulated), or diffuse without the capsule.
She said it has smooth edges, is NOT cancer or anything serious to be worried about, and most lipomas do not need treatment unless they become bothersome, or start pressing on nerves or other organs, (which would of course, be uncomfortable). THANK GOODNESS!!! What a relief. She said I could have it removed in Michigan or here.
The doctor was more concerned with my blood pressure, and I told her I have an appointment scheduled with my family doctor next Friday after I get back from Michigan. I did tell her I have never had high blood pressure in my life, and she said it could be that I was just nervous about what this lump was all about, and so my bp was higher than normal. At any rate, I can check it out with my doctor next week, and she would send her a copy of all her notes about today. I was in and out of there in 5 minutes. Perfect timing. I'm glad I got it looked at right away, instead of putting it off for another week until my regular doctors appointment next Friday. I would have been worrying about it all week.
So, next Wednesday, August 6th is my initial consult in Michigan, and my sister is going with me to keep me company. She doesn't drive, and it is about 5 1/2 hours from here to Ypsilanti, so it will be a very long drive for me! We are going the day before the appointment, and not coming back until the day after, so we are staying 2 nights at the Holiday Inn in Belleville. This will be the first time in decades that I have spent 3 days alone with my sister, no kids, no husbands, no pets. Just the 2 of us. It will be awesome!! I plan on doing some grocery shopping, to try and stock up on some things I learned about from Diminishing Dawn! Groceries and things that I can't get back home, or that I'll want to have when I get back from surgery.
The same fantastic sister, and her husband, are going to bring me to Michigan for the surgery, and stay for the 3 or 4 days there, while I'm in hospital. How lucky am I? Then they'll drive me home, get me set up, and my girlfriend Louise (who I went out for dinner with last night), is going to call me during the day, and stop buy each night after work for the first few days (or however long I need her). She also offered to help me get some meals pre-made and put in the freezer for after my surger, but I explained that I probably won't be eating much so that won't be necessary. How lucky am I to have such a good friend? I was so worried about being alone during and after the surgery, and somehow everything is working out.
I am SO ready to have the surgery!! 3 days to go until we leave for Michigan! Wooo Hooooo!!!
Nancy
Well yesterday, I was supposed to be going out for dinner with a girlfriend after she got off work at 5:00. About 4:00 I noticed I had this very large, deep mass, on the lower right of my belly button, about the size of a baseball, but softer and flatter. I had noticed a smaller lump there before, but always thought it was just a hernia, or maybe just a lump of constipated, hard stuff. But today I noticed it was quite a bit larger, so I called my friend and told her I was going to go to the walk-in clinic before we went out for dinner. Being the Friday afternoon of a long weekend, my doctors office was closed, and I'm leaving at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning for Michigan. I thought it was best to get it looked at before I leave on Tuesday. I don't want ANYTHING interfering with my chance to have WL surgery.
I figured it might be hours before I got to see a doctor, but to my surprise I walked right into the clinic, only one other person was there, and they took me right in!! The doctor who saw me was very nice, and she said my blood pressure was high (which it has NEVER been before in my life!), but the lump was nothing to worry about. She said it is a lipoma, which is a benign tumor composed of fat cells. It can be surrounded by a thin layer of connective tissue (encapsulated), or diffuse without the capsule.
She said it has smooth edges, is NOT cancer or anything serious to be worried about, and most lipomas do not need treatment unless they become bothersome, or start pressing on nerves or other organs, (which would of course, be uncomfortable). THANK GOODNESS!!! What a relief. She said I could have it removed in Michigan or here.
The doctor was more concerned with my blood pressure, and I told her I have an appointment scheduled with my family doctor next Friday after I get back from Michigan. I did tell her I have never had high blood pressure in my life, and she said it could be that I was just nervous about what this lump was all about, and so my bp was higher than normal. At any rate, I can check it out with my doctor next week, and she would send her a copy of all her notes about today. I was in and out of there in 5 minutes. Perfect timing. I'm glad I got it looked at right away, instead of putting it off for another week until my regular doctors appointment next Friday. I would have been worrying about it all week.
So, next Wednesday, August 6th is my initial consult in Michigan, and my sister is going with me to keep me company. She doesn't drive, and it is about 5 1/2 hours from here to Ypsilanti, so it will be a very long drive for me! We are going the day before the appointment, and not coming back until the day after, so we are staying 2 nights at the Holiday Inn in Belleville. This will be the first time in decades that I have spent 3 days alone with my sister, no kids, no husbands, no pets. Just the 2 of us. It will be awesome!! I plan on doing some grocery shopping, to try and stock up on some things I learned about from Diminishing Dawn! Groceries and things that I can't get back home, or that I'll want to have when I get back from surgery.
The same fantastic sister, and her husband, are going to bring me to Michigan for the surgery, and stay for the 3 or 4 days there, while I'm in hospital. How lucky am I? Then they'll drive me home, get me set up, and my girlfriend Louise (who I went out for dinner with last night), is going to call me during the day, and stop buy each night after work for the first few days (or however long I need her). She also offered to help me get some meals pre-made and put in the freezer for after my surger, but I explained that I probably won't be eating much so that won't be necessary. How lucky am I to have such a good friend? I was so worried about being alone during and after the surgery, and somehow everything is working out.
I am SO ready to have the surgery!! 3 days to go until we leave for Michigan! Wooo Hooooo!!!
Nancy
Off to the doctors!
Jul 22, 2008
Today I'm off to my doctors office, for a fasting glucose test, liver enzyme levels, and what ever else he has asked for. I'm feeling a little more comfortable with the idea of the surgery, and I'm going to start looking for sugar free things while I'm out shopping today. I'm going to start checking those lables too, for protein content, and I'm going to try and pick up some B-12, and a multi-vitamin. It's not too soon to start getting used to taking them, so it can't hurt, right?
Another day alone
Jul 20, 2008
July 21, 2008
Well, I spent another weekend alone with my cats! LOL Being single can really suck sometimes. I don't mind being on my own, but sometimes I can really get in a rut. It's helpful to have someone else around to suggest things to do.
Well it's 1:25 a.m. Monday morning, and I'm sitting here researching, trying to find out as much as I can about the GB surgery. I'll likely end up having the RNY because OHIP pays for it, and I can't afford to pay $17,000 for the lap band.
My doctor is the one who suggested the GB surgery for me, because although I look pretty good on the outside, my BMI is over 43. You can hide a lot with great hair, clothing and makeup, but eventually you see yourself in profile, in that department store window, and think "Who is that?" I barely recognize myself any more. I can't believe I am so heavy; that I am carrying around the equivalent of another whole person on my back!
I have fears about the surgery, the normal fears you have when having ANY kind of surgery. I'm afraid of losing my comfort foods, of not being able to medicate myself from lonliness and boredom with food. I'm afraid I'll have the dumping syndrome and won't be able to go anywhere. I'm afraid of the vomiting. I HATE throwing up! I'm afraid of all the family celebrations that are centered around food, not to mention dates! Not that I've had many since my marriage ended 3 years ago. Don't ask! LOL
I also have excitement about being able to move more freely; to have the energy to walk or exercise. I want to live as long as I can, to be there when my daughter gets married, buys her first home, has children. I want to be the fun grandma, not the one who sits in the chair and watches the kids play.
I've made a list of my fears, and another list of ways that I can address each of them. I'm going to start going down that list tomorrow, and find out as much as I can. I find that action relieves my stress, so I need to do this. I just wish there was a support group in Oshawa!
Oh well, I can only do one day at a time. Hopefully each day will bring me closer to getting a surgery date. I have an appointment on Wed, Aug 6th at the Barix Clinic in Ypsilanti. My sister is going with me for company, and support. I think she is interested in the surgery too, but will probably wait and see how I make out before she pursues it. So we're making a sister's weekend out of it, and we're staying for two nights in a nice hotel when we go to Michigan. A little shopping, swimming, hot tub, it will be fun, and the first time we've spent time alone together (for more than a few hours), in probably 30 years or more.
I live alone, and was worried about how I would get to and from the hospital after the surgery (it's a 6 hour drive), and how I would care for myself here at home. My sister and her hubby offered to drive me to Michigan and stay there while I'm in the hospital, so they can drive me home! Depending on the dates, I may stay with them for several days afterward. That's a HUGE relief! One less thing for me to worry about.
Well, I spent another weekend alone with my cats! LOL Being single can really suck sometimes. I don't mind being on my own, but sometimes I can really get in a rut. It's helpful to have someone else around to suggest things to do.
Well it's 1:25 a.m. Monday morning, and I'm sitting here researching, trying to find out as much as I can about the GB surgery. I'll likely end up having the RNY because OHIP pays for it, and I can't afford to pay $17,000 for the lap band.
My doctor is the one who suggested the GB surgery for me, because although I look pretty good on the outside, my BMI is over 43. You can hide a lot with great hair, clothing and makeup, but eventually you see yourself in profile, in that department store window, and think "Who is that?" I barely recognize myself any more. I can't believe I am so heavy; that I am carrying around the equivalent of another whole person on my back!
I have fears about the surgery, the normal fears you have when having ANY kind of surgery. I'm afraid of losing my comfort foods, of not being able to medicate myself from lonliness and boredom with food. I'm afraid I'll have the dumping syndrome and won't be able to go anywhere. I'm afraid of the vomiting. I HATE throwing up! I'm afraid of all the family celebrations that are centered around food, not to mention dates! Not that I've had many since my marriage ended 3 years ago. Don't ask! LOL
I also have excitement about being able to move more freely; to have the energy to walk or exercise. I want to live as long as I can, to be there when my daughter gets married, buys her first home, has children. I want to be the fun grandma, not the one who sits in the chair and watches the kids play.
I've made a list of my fears, and another list of ways that I can address each of them. I'm going to start going down that list tomorrow, and find out as much as I can. I find that action relieves my stress, so I need to do this. I just wish there was a support group in Oshawa!
Oh well, I can only do one day at a time. Hopefully each day will bring me closer to getting a surgery date. I have an appointment on Wed, Aug 6th at the Barix Clinic in Ypsilanti. My sister is going with me for company, and support. I think she is interested in the surgery too, but will probably wait and see how I make out before she pursues it. So we're making a sister's weekend out of it, and we're staying for two nights in a nice hotel when we go to Michigan. A little shopping, swimming, hot tub, it will be fun, and the first time we've spent time alone together (for more than a few hours), in probably 30 years or more.
I live alone, and was worried about how I would get to and from the hospital after the surgery (it's a 6 hour drive), and how I would care for myself here at home. My sister and her hubby offered to drive me to Michigan and stay there while I'm in the hospital, so they can drive me home! Depending on the dates, I may stay with them for several days afterward. That's a HUGE relief! One less thing for me to worry about.
Thursday, July 10th, 2008
Jul 12, 2008
Well, I was at my doctor's today, and he recommended me getting the lap band or by-pass surgery. My weight has been high for many years, and I have several health problems that would be helped by losing weight.
I tried Weight Watchers (I'm actually a Lifetime Member! LOL) about 4 years ago, and lost 52.8 pounds in 18 months. It was so hard to lose that amount of weight, and it took so long. I wan't even close to my goal weight; not even halfway there!
Then I had several major setbacks in my life within less than a year. My marriage ended, my mom died, and I had to move. I had never lived alone before in my life. The depression and the weight started piling back on. It took me a couple of years to gain it all back, plus another 5 pounds.
I've been off work on long term benefits now for over a year, and I'm so tired, weak, and bored. I want to get back into the land of the living! I'm tired of missing out on things because I know I can't do them, or I'm afraid to try and then be embarrassed.
It's been 3 years exactly since my marriage ended (or as I like to say, "I politely asked him to leave"). I'm turning 50 in October, and I can't face another year of being so tired. I've been lucky so far that my health problems haven't been more serious. I don't want to push it. I know that the weight could be a deadly issue for me some day, and then it will be too late. I need to drastically change my lifestyle, but I need help to do it. Exercise is so hard on my body, that it puts me in bed for 2 days (and that's just cleaning the kitty litter! LOL)
I dream of the day I go back to Italy, and can hike and walk all over Rome, Florence, Taormina, Capri, and the whole Amalfi Coast! I was going to go again this year for my 50th birthday, but decided I didn't want to go until I could enjoy every single minute of it. I didn't want to spend even one day in bed. If I can do that, I feel like I will have won the lottery!!
About Me
Oshawa, Ontario, XX
Location
28.8
BMI
Surgery
02/10/2009
Surgery Date
Jul 11, 2008
Member Since
