jennifer M.

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Well, it's less than 24 hours until surgery. I just started the  bowel prep (yippee). I'm starting to get kind of nervous. If it doesn't get worse than this, it'll be OK. The pre-op diet got much better around day 5 or 6. I got to the point where I only got really hungry when it was time for a meal. Hopefully, that will be how I am after my appetite returns in a few months.

I'm excited to be on this journey. I have no doubt that it will work for me. I'm not sure I would have gone through with it without the information and support that I've gotten from this website.

Started the pre-op clear liquid protein diet yesterday after I saw the surgeon and the nutritionist. I am allowed to have a piece of lean meat and a salad with FF dressing every night, but I'm still starving to death! At least it feels that way. Everyone says the first 3 days are the worst--I hope so. I feel lightheaded, headachey and slightly nauseous. I just keep reminding myself over and over that I'm doing this for my health, and I'll be very glad when it's done. Sometimes I still can't believe that I'm actually doing this in 11 days!!!!

I just heard from Jennifer at Dr. Kennedy's office that I was approved. My surgery date will be Jan. 22, 2007. I'll go in on the 10th to sign consent forms, see the nutritionist, and start clear liquids then. YIKES!!! I'm mostly excited and a little scared. I know this is the best decision I could possibly make for myself and for my family and I can't wait to start my new, healthy life.

Well, I should find out either tomorrow or the next day (Dec. 4/5) whether I'm approved or not. I called UHC last week and was told that they had to make a decision by Dec. 5 and that I should call back Mon. or Tues. I get so nervous and afraid to make the call because I'm afraid it will mean the end of my journey. Or that I'll have to figure out how to proceed. Once I get approved, Jennifer at Dr. Kennedy's office said that they could schedule surgery within 2 weeks. So---I could be starting my liquid diet in the next few days!!!!

Well, I think I'm through with all of my testing, so I'm now waiting for the insurance co. My surgeon's office has handled absolutely everything. All I've had to do is show up for appts. I really don't want to tell a lot of people until I know I'm approved. 

I just started a new job in August and I had to talk to my two supervisors. They were both great and very supportive. I have no idea how much time off I'll need, I'm hoping for 1-1/2 weeks plus 1 week half-time. I've never had any surgery. I even had my three children without anesthesia, so I'm clueless about how I'll recover.

These are my statistics that I'm using as my starting point:

Height:      5'7"
Weight:     265 lbs.
Bust:          49-1/2"
Waist:        42"
Hips:          53"
Upper Arm:  17-1/2"
Thigh:         29-1/2"
Neck:          15-1/2"

I haven't had a lot of the problems that obese people sometimes have. I've never had to ask for a seat-belt extender, but there are older theater seats that are very uncomfortable. I get around OK, but it's not easy lugging around 120 extra lbs. I haven't weighed below 200 since 1991. I have high blood pressure, GERD, arthritis in my knees. I haven't heard the results from my sleep study, but my husband will attest to my snoring.

Things I'm looking forward to:
Having a "normal" relationship with food.
Sitting with my legs crossed.
Bending over from a seated position to pick things up off the floor.
Tucking in a shirt.
Buying anything from Victoria's Secret.
Going to the beach I've been avoiding like the plague.
Getting whistled at (even if it's just my husband).
Buying cute clothes in regular sizes.
Being excited to try on clothes instead of dreading it.
Sleeping well.
Playing with my future grandchildren.
Not being afraid all the time of having a stroke.
Feeling sexy (or at least sexier).
Being treated with more respect in stores.
Not having strangers peer into my grocery cart.
Sitting in lawn chairs fearlessly.
Sitting on my husband's lap.

Now that I've finally made up my mind to have WLS, I've decided to journal my journey. I've read so many profiles on this site which have helped me make the decision, that I hope I can help someone else along the same path.

I attended the informational seminar in N.O. on 9/14/06. As usual, I got a little impatient with the questions people were asking, and I wasn't too impressed with the personality of the surgeon (Dr. Richardson), but Ken and I came away feeling like we had at least enough information to begin. The thing that surprised me was that I went to it thinking that I wanted Lap-Band, but left it thinking that Lap RNY would be better for me.

My first appointment with Dr. Kennedy was 10/13/06. I just loved her immediately! There was so much caring and concern coming from her and her staff that I felt at ease right away. She said that it would be crazy for me not to be nervous, but that I should be sure. She started the ball rolling on all the pre-op testing and they even arranged for a lot of it to be done up on the north shore. I decided that it wouldn't hurt to have the tests even if I decided against the surgery.

The appt. with the psychologist really turned the corner for me decision-wise. She explained that this was another way for me to take control of my health and my life. She also recommended that I see someone before and after surgery to make sure that my food "issues" are addressed and not ignored.