ItsAllAboutMe

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Why is it when I get a little pissed off it seems like it's such a big deal to those around me?  

Maybe it's because I'm so damn laid back all the time.  "It's all good" is my motto.  Or maybe I just get too intense when I am hacked off.  

I was upset with something at work today and sent a strongly worded email to him about it.  To my surprise he shared it with a collegue and then the colleague told me he'd seen it.  Not exactly sure I'm happy about this email being shared with others.  I didn't think the wording of the email was THAT interesting!  

But I am in a funk today.  I'm feeling a lot of stress right now and it's heavy on me.  Well, I feel stress everyday...who doesn't?  Some days we just don't carry it well.  Tomorrow will be better.  

Not to mention another day closer to surgery!

Talked to Lynda at Dr. Davidson's office this morning and I have a surgery date!

November 6, 2008

Guess I can update my profile now, huh?   

Hot damn that was FAST!

My case was just submitted a couple days ago and Cigna has already said yes.  Kathleen was so wonderful to call me this evening with the good news instead of making me wait til Monday.  

I squealed, scared the kitties, jumped up and down and am calling and texting and emailing everyone!  And yes, I do have a bottle of champagne chilled and ready to go. 

Monday I will talk to the scheduler at Dr. Davidson's office and we'll get some dates on the calendar.  I can't wait to find out what my new birthday is gonna be.  

I'M SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Somehow my doctor's letter didn't get faxed or received by Dr. Davidson's office last week.  I wasn't real happy to discover my insurance coordinator still didn't have it today.  

But I got home from work and found that my doctor had sent me a copy of what they faxed!  So I'll be able to fax it  tomorrow and my insurance coordinator will then have all the paperwork to submit the surgery for approval.  It starts this week baybee!

A gal I met in my nutrionist class sent me an email and said she'd just had her surgery with Dr. Davidson.  She's doing great and had a lot of compliments for the staff at Dallas Presby.   That's very reassuring to hear.  

Ordered some more protein tonight.  My sugar levels have leveled out but the damn meds I'm taking...Januvia...has given me a mild head cold.  Ugh.  The scale shows I'm down 2 pounds in the last week.  And all after a huge dinner Saturday night with chocolate cake at Buca di Beppo.  

I hope to hear something in the next few days.... 

Okay, it's official.  I'm diabetic.  

After getting that confusing letter from my primary doc and stressing out all weekend I finally got some answers.  Called Monday and talked to the Dr.'s nurse who said I HAD to come in for another fasting blood test to confirm the diabetes.  She said the doc wouldn't give me the approval letter unless I did.  Even though I don't have any time off to spare, I made arrangements to get off work to do that this morning.  

So here's the deal.  After watching my diet carefully all weekend  my fasting blood glucose today was 138.  That number won me a free Contour blood glucose monitor, a prescription of Januvia diabetes medication and other stuff.  

I also was able to set the doc straight on what I needed from her as far as an approval letter.  She thought I needed a pre op clearance.  All I need is a letter saying I'm a good candidate.  Once she learned that, she signed off and her PA told me she would get it to Davidson's office today.  

So the very best news of the day is that my case is being submitted to surgery this week!

The doctor is not making me take the Pravachol, but they do want me on the Omacor which is a high grade pharmaceutical fish oil to help my triglycerides.  I also have to take the Januvia and watch my diet and check my sugars twice a day.  Oh, and I get to see a "diabetes educator" and go back at the end of October for another follow up.  

I feel defeated.  I really wanted to get control of my health before something like diabetes developed.  But while I feel badly, I also KNOW that it will go away once I start losing weight after surgery.  And being diagnosed means they'll keep an eye on it during surgery, I'll be healthier keeping it in check and it will probably make insurance approval a slam dunk. 

So I did my last nutritionist appointment but I also discovered my primary doc hadn't sent her approval to the surgeon for my procedure.  

Then I get home and find a letter that says my cholesterol and triglycerides are high as well as my blood sugar.  This really isn't news.  But they enclose two prescriptions for cholesterol meds and say it's important to have my blood work in guidelines before surgery!  WTF?  

My stress echo is normal.  They tell me my heart is fine.  They've neglected to give me meds for cholesterol for years but now all of a sudden they want to?  It feels like they're pushing drugs.  One line of the letter says "I suspect you will not need the medications after the first 30 pounds."  So then just let me get the damn surgery and we'll see what happens after the first 30 pounds!  

The letter also says "Two fasting glucoses of 126 or greater can confirm a diagnosis of diabetes".  Well I've only had one.  The letter makes it sound like I'm diabetic and this makes me mad.  

I really need to talk to the doc.  I need this weekend to hurry up. 

All I need is the final nutrionist visit next week and then it's on to insurance approval time.  

Today I did my annual physical and had a final pow wow with my primary doc.  She's a good lady who is thorough and has a gentle bedside manner.  Unless there is something odd in my blood work she's put in her notes that she declares me fit for surgery.  The documents are on their way to my surgeon's office.  

I'm also reminded of another reason to choose Dallas Presby over Vista.  Ten years ago I had that ruptured appendix.  If they find adhesions inside me they may have to go to an open procedure.  My doctor thinks Presby is the wiser choice and I think so too. 

So I'm accepting November as the date.  

My doc also said she wants to do regular tests for iron and B12 levels.  Everyone seems to be looking out for me and help me do this right.  

I can't put my finger on it, but I have been nervous and anxious and irritable for 3 days now.  It's not a "time of the month" issue...maybe it's just knowing I'm getting down to the wire on the surgery.  I know one thing's for sure; it's making me want to eat everything in sight.   

My last weigh in had me up 1.5 pounds but the breakdown showed I had lost fat and gained muscle and water.  

My sister's wedding continues to throw kinks into my plan.  I'm hearing insurance approvals are turning around quickly, but it'll still be 3-4 weeks to get on the schedule at Dallas Presby.  I'm told, however, that if I have my surgery at Vista I can get a date much quicker.  I could possibly get it done by the 5th of October like I want.  

But sister tells me there are showers being planned out of town in September and she wants me to go.  

Vista isn't on my insurance but they tell me they'll take whatever the insurance company will pay them.  I've read lots of great reviews of the place but damn that place is creepy.  And if something goes wrong, do they have the people in place like they would at Presby?  

Do I really have the guts to stand up to my sister and say "It's All About Me" when she's finally getting married at the age of 38?  Can I be comfortable with Vista?  Will my boss be ready to replace me for 2 weeks in September or will it take him til November?  Does a one pound Hershey bar have the answers?   

Oh well, I'll figure it all out eventually.  Six months ago the end of August seemed a million years away too.  If I do wait til early November it will be here before I know it. 

Did my stress echo test yesterday and what a slice of Heaven that was.  Hooked up like a cow to a milking machine with all kinds of wires, getting smeared with ultrasound jelly, hiking uphill on a treadmill to a heart rate of 175 til my muscles were about to explode...but they say the EKG was good.  I'll get my echo results later.  

Next week is visit number 5 of 6 in my medically supervised weight loss and I'll get my PCP approval at the end of the month. (Or I should.)

Had a WLS nightmare the other night so I MUST be getting close.  Dreamt I had the surgery and went home and ate a sub sandwich.  

And I found out another gal at work just had a RNY.  ::: waves hi to Mary :::  The only way I found out was someone came to me asking about it.  This one person knew I was having surgery this year so I guess they just assumed I knew everyone else who was having it.  Wierd. 

Today I feel like I was off to see the wizard...

I went to Dr. Hecht for a cardiologist consult.  My primary doc wanted me to meet with him and have him check out my heart before she signs off on the surgery.  He was a terrific guy and while he doesn't see any reason why he'd throw up a red flag, he still wants me to do a "stress echo" test.  So that'll happen in two weeks.  

What I find odd about this test is that I had knee surgery last year and I didn't have to see a cardiologist before that.  Hmmm.

Then I went off to do my psych eval.  What cracked me up is that before I got out of the car to go to my appointment I listened to my voice mail and the lady psychologist in Plano that a lot of people here on OH spoke highly of and that I had called nearly 3 weeks ago about the psych eval FINALLY called back and said she was ready to see me.    Can I say her "customer service" and communication left a lot to be desired?

I do still want to find a psychologist to discuss issues with, but it sure as heck won't be her.  I want someone who won't take 3 weeks to call me back.  

The psych eval went really well and he says he sees no reason not to sign off on my surgery.  

So I have a heart and a brain.  Lord knows I got courage.  I don't have ruby slippers, but my toes are painted red.   Follow the yellow brick road, follow the yellow brick road....