justalexis

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Well, I am in the final stretch.  I completed my last test (I hope) yesterday.  I spent 4 1/2 hours at Abington but it really wasn't that bad.  I'm sure I mentioned it before but I still cannot get over how nice everyone is at that hospital!!!  I should hear from the Cardiologist by early next week so I am keeping my fingers crossed that he has good news.  Hoping for a date soon!!!

I had my EGD yesterday with Dr. Kolff.  It went well.  Everyone at Abington Hospital is so nice.  Now I have a stress test scheduled for next Wednesday.  Hopefully, that will go well and I will be soon be scheduled for surgery.

Sugar Free Strawberry Pie
1-12 oz Cool whip
1 small SF instant vanilla pudding
1 small SF strawberry jello (dry)
*I like this even better with Crystal light Strawberry/Kiwi (dry)
1-1/2 c. skim milk
1 pint fresh strawberries

Mix cool whip, pudding, dry jello and mil****il well blended. Stir in slices strawberries, leaving a few slices for garnish. Place in a graham cracker pie crust. This would also be a great way to use vanilla protein powder. This is such a simple and easy sugar free dessert. I had more than enough for the pie crust, so I put the left over in a bowl and sprinkled graham cracker crumbs lightly on top. It's just as good without the pie crust too.

Thanks to discogal for posting this!

Okay, my stress test is scheduled for 3/12.  I also had my pre-admission phone consultation with the nurse at Abington today for my EGD so I am good to go with that.  The next three weeks are going to be crazy!  My EGD is on 3/6, my stress test is on 3/12, and my daughter is having tubes put in her ears on 3/20.  Watch me get scheduled for surgery the following week...

Well, I had my consultation with the Cardiologist yesterday.  Apparently, I have a high heart rate that I was unaware of and now have to get a stress test.  I feel really frustrated like I am never going to have the surgery but I know this is for my our benefit and safety.  I have to wait until they get authorization from my insurance company before I can even schedule it.  Very frustrating!

Okay, I am a little behind with blogging but I had my consultation with the surgeon (Dr. Kolff) on 2/12.  He was really nice and very good at thoroughly explaining all of the procedures available and who would be/wouldn't be a good candidate for each.  I told him that I had already pretty much decided on getting the Lapband and gave him my reasons (i.e. not diebetic or hypertensive so don't see a real need to have malabsorption, need help to control hunger and portions).  He agreed that this was a good choice for me.  I found out that my blood work has really gone downhill since the last time I had it done.  My blood sugar and cholesterol have lways been surprisingly good for my weight but not anymore.  My blood sugar (111) is now borderline and my cholesterol (218) has finally gone outside of the safe zone.  In addition, my vitamin D level is too low so I had to start taking supplements.  How can your vitamin D levels be low when your body makes this from exposure to sunlight???  I certainly having been avoiding the sun or anything!  Anyway, my white blood cell count was also high but I think it is due to a cold virus my daughter had that I think I now have.   So, I have to go get that and my vit D levels retested.

In addition, he wants me to have a consultation with a Cardiologist because I have occassional arrhythmia.  This was checked about 3 years ago when it started with an eco-stress test.  The doctor confirmed that my heart was healthy.  I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.  The funny thing is that it ws determined to be caused by nuts.  No, not that I'm nuts but from eating nuts.  It actually made sense because I had recently started the South Beach diet around the time they started and had been eating a lot of pistachios.  Since then, I have tested the cause several times and everytime I eat nuts, it happens, so I guess they were right.  Weird, huh?

Finally, I have been scheduled for an endoscopy on 3/6.  After that, they can submit the paperwork to my insurance company for approval and I guess it will be time to schedule the surgery.  I called my insurance company and asked them about coverage.  I am covered and the most I will have to pay is $200.00 and that is only if I hve to stay overnight!  She told me, "I didn't tell you this but you have one of the best plans I've seen."  Apparently, all the doctor needs to do is call and tell them my BMI and that I have been overweight for more than five years and have tried other diets.  Awesome!!  Getting closer!!!!!

Thanks to Rose K. for posting this today.  I am keeping it right here so it will be easy for me to reference later!
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Keep away from Breads, Pastas, Fried foods and sweets.  It is hard to stay away from what you have LOVED all your life.

Follow the basic rules that most of our Lap Band Dr.'s have in their literature.

1. - Eat only small meals (6-8 ounces/2/3 to 1 cup) I have 3-4 small meals a day plus a snack and try to space them 3-4 hrs apart.

2. - Cut food into small, dime-size bits. Eat one bite at a time, chew thoroughly and swallow carefully.

3. - Stop eating when you feel full. Feeling full is a different kind of feeling for each of us now. It's hard to know what that full feeling is so I try to stop eating when I have had the proper portions(6-8 ounces/2/3 to 1 cup). This can be tough sometimes, especially when you are waiting for a fill. 

Work with the band.

4. - Do not drink while eating. This is vital. Occasionally with dry foods, I have a sip only of water to help.

5. - Do not drink fluids for 45 - 60 minutes after eating. This is to allow your meal to digest and pass through the band.

6. - Eat only quality, nutritious foods. Remember, protein first. Good luck in this fast paced world! Also, just because they are easier to pass, many bandsters stay to soft, mushy foods. You need to eat well chewed solid foods because they stay longer in the stoma and give you that full feeling for a longer time.

5. - Avoid white, starchy foods and fibrous foods with stalks. After you get a piece of celery or carrot stuck once, you'll never want to do it again.

8. - Drink plenty of fluids during the day. 8 8oz glasses of non-caloric liquids (preferable water) a day. Some are lucky and can still drink carbonated liquids but I feel that that leads to too
much of a chance to distend the stoma, so I don't.

9. - Drink only non-caloric liquids. Fruit juices are good for The first 6 weeks after surgery while you heal but after tha****er them down cause of the sugar content.

10. - Exercise at least 30 minutes a day unless restricted by medical conditions. Easiest is to start walking for ten minute  three times a day and work your way up to longer walks.

On Friday, I had a marathon of consultation!  I had my psych eval, then met with the nutritionist and then went to see a physical therapist for an exercise program.  I was done everything by 2pm so not too bad.  They already have the results of my EKG, ABG, chest x-ray and the letter of recommendation from my family doctor.  I am going to check with them on Thursday to see if they have my blood work results and information from my 3 consultations from last Friday.  I do not want to show up next Tuesday (2/12) to meet Dr. Koelf to find out they are missing results and can't move forward!

I really hope I will be able to have surgery over the Easter holiday.  I am already scheduled off from work because my daughter is off from school.

Had EKG and got letter of Recommendation from my family physician.  EKG was good.  I will be getting blood work on Wednesday and finishing up with everything on Friday.  Moving right along...

I had my consultation with Paula last Wednesday (1/23/08).  I tried to update my blog that night and had a whole long thing and when I went to save, it crapped out on me and said the website was down and lost everything so I got mad and didn't come back to update it again until today.  Yes, I am a big baby!

Anyway, Paula was great!  She told me that I was eligible for all four surgeries that Dr. Bonanni does; Lab Band, Verticle Sleeve, RNY and DS.  I told her that I was interested in the Lap Band.  I explained that, based on my research of all of the WLS, this was the one best suited for me, given my history.  I do not have any co-morbities.  I have trouble sticking to a diet because I am always hungry.  She agreed that this was a good choice for me.  That made me feel better because I am really bad when it comes to making decisions.  I always second guess myself.   I also felt good when I got weight because I was less than I thought; 312.  I thought I was around 320!  Still bad but better than expected. 

I can't believe all of the tests I have to get done before my next appointment, which will be with Dr. Kolff.  He is Dr. Bonanni's associate.  I was told that regardless of who I choose, they would both be in the OR when I have the procedure done so I went with the one who had the earliest available appointment, which is on 2/12!  I got really lucky with scheduling all of my test so I should be okay.  I managed to get appointments with the nutritionist, the physical therapist and the psychiatrist all on 2/1, which is perfect also because then I only need to take off one day from work!  Also, I called my family doctor to get a letter of recommendation and weight history and they told me I had to come in to see him.  This was fine and I was able to get an appointment with him for tonight (1/28).  After I hung up, I realized that I forgot to ask where I should go for my chest x-ray and EKG and found out that he can do my EKG when I go to see him tonight.  That was great!  Killing two more birds with one stone.  All that's left is the blood work, which is done on a walk-in basis and the chest x-ray and arterial blood gas, which are also done on a walk-in basis.  So, I will do those on Friday, too.  I can't believe I will have everything done by the end of this week!  Maybe this will show how dedicated I am and will get me a quicker surgery day.  Hopefully, my insurance company doesn't drag their feet.

Anyway, I have to get to my appointment with the family doctor so I better be off.