Karen Christ

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September 10, 2006

I am going to Butte Falls, Oregon on Tuesday to see my SIL. She just had a mastectomy and I hope she will be home by then. I will be going back to Klamath Falls, Oregon and spending the night at my son's so that I can get up and be at the Nutritionist's office by 8:00 A.M. Wednesday morning. The Psychology appointment has been set up for the same day at 2:00 P.M., which I appreciate greatly as it means I only have to take off one day of work. I am amazed they are asking all of us California patients to be their so early since the minimum amount of miles any of us will be traveling is 30 miles. Well at least it will be done and I can get on with my life. I find myself fixated on learning all I can about all the phases of gastric bypass surgery, recovery and maintenance. I know which on line stores have the best deals on supplies, food and vitamins. I have read about complications and their consequences until I will probably be able to the difference between a restriction or an ulcer. I have purchased enough supplies to get me through to the point where I can feel like going online and ordering again. One of the gals on a BB was turned down by her insurance and I am nervous because I never considered that possibility. I am going to hold off ordering the vitamins until my surgery is approved. Not that I couldn't use vitamins but without the surgery I could spend a whole lot less for the same effects. The other thing I am holding off on is joining the Wellness Center. They charge a hefty up front assessment fee and I just can't afford it this month. I should have the money next month.

August 31, 2006

I called Sara at Dr. Mirande’s clinic yesterday and asked if she had indeed been able to schedule my psychological evaluation on the same day as my nutrition appointment. Since I have to take a day off work and drive almost two hours, it would be very helpful. But I have to admit, that more than anything else, I just wanted to know that things were still going along. It seems that the psychologist had a death in her family and it will be next week before she is back to work. Sara said she would contact her and then get back to me with the time and address. She also said the place of the meeting with the nutritionist had been changed. Instead of at the clinic it would be held at the Pavilion which is just down the street from the clinic. I sure hope things work out.

August 26, 2006

The summer is over and I am back to work. I am planning my time off as best as possible. Shelly said two and a half weeks would probably be all I would need but I can't figure out how to do that and incorporate my break time with it to lose the least time at prime times. I have decided that the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas break is the least productive of the year and have planned it for that time. Now I will need to get the surgeon to agree and see if I can get a substitute for that slot.

 I am going up to Klamath Falls to see the Psychologist and nutritionist on the 13 of September. The appointment is for 8:00 AM and since it is an hour and a half drive I will go up the night before and stay with my son hand his fiancé. Then I will only have to get up at my usual 6:00 instead of 4:30 AM. What an ugly thought.

I have started collecting sugar-free products. I realize that my tastes will change and am only buying small amount of each product. I have always liked Crystal-light and will hope to continue to like that. I have substituted it for my Pepsi on a daily basis, already. I will order some of the protein drinks from Bariatriceating.com this payday to have them on hand. I assume my surgeon will have some recommendations also. I am hoping that the nutritionist will have lots of lists of things I can use.

August 17, 2006

I went in to see Dr. Parker today. He took some blood and urine and said my blood pressure, liver and cholesterol were all good. When I got back I received a call from Sara at Dr. Merande's saying that the insurance had been approved but that more paperwork would need to be submitted. I assume this is the results of the tests my doctor has just completed and those that must be done by the nut and psych divisions of the weight loss center. Those are the ones scheduled for September 13th. So I guess now it is just wait and see. I am ready.

August 16, 2006


I have my appointment with my PCP tomorrow. Nothing after ten this evening. Fasting tests and a biopsy of a strange spot on my cheek. Sara, at the surgeon's office, called today to say that the nutritionist's meeting had been moved to the 13th of September. This is a mandatory meeting at Klamath Falls at 8:00 AM. I will have to take off work and stay with the kids the night before so that I will be on time.

 Some people just like to play Russian Roulette. Someone posted on the Bariboard at SM's about testing her dump tolerance. This is like putting a piece of metal into a table saw. The first thing my surgeon said was that this was a tool. Now, I think of it as a table saw. If I feed things in the proper way and pay attention to what I am doing everything goes smoothly. I will produce a beautiful piece of work. If I get lazy, careless or cocky...WHAM! Kickback! I mess up an expensive piece of wood and have to buy another. Worse, I severely damage my tool or lose one (my fingers). Is it worth it? No! So don't misuse this irreplaceable tool.

August 11, 2006

Went to my PCP and he did what he could but said I needed to come back next Thursday for some tests that required fasting and a biopsy of a dry spot on my face. Also he will give me something for the fungus on my right foot. He is encouraging about the bariatric surgery but he is not my insurance carrier. I can’t make an appointment with Dr. Mirande without these papers and I can’t find out about my insurance without the whole package. I feel like the dog when he is chasing his tail.

August 9, 2006

Sara called from Dr. Mirande’s office and said she had received my portion of the packet but couldn’t find the insurance card copy, front and back? I could tell she was shuffling papers as we spoke and finally she found it. This was interesting as I had called her office earlier in the week and she had to listen to me do the same thing while trying to locate a green paper that was supposed to be in my packet which I couldn’t find until I got her on the phone and was shuffling papers.

August 7, 2006

My PCP’s office called this morning to make an appointment for the physical that he needs to do to fill out all the paperwork from Dr. Mirande. I sat it up for this Thursday, the 10th. I mailed off my paperwork to Dr. Mirande today.  There was an enormous amount that I had to fill out  and more that my pcp must fill out.

August 4, 2006

August 1, 2006

I made an appointment with my pcp 8/1/06 and asked him some questions about bariatric surgery. He recommended a surgeon. I called the surgeon he suggested and I was told that the center has a mandatory seminar that would be given 8/4/06. I will be there. The town that the surgeon works in is where my son and his fiancé live. (Convenient, since this is about 70 miles away) Things are falling into place. I am a very committed person, but I still like to see good omens. This sounds hard enough without the fates conspiring against you.