miss.katybeth
It was time to quit...
Feb 09, 2011
...SMOKING! Today is day 2 without a cigarette! I wouldn't consider myself a HUGE smoker! Most weeks, I could get through the entire week just smoking a pack! I alway smoke on my way home from work, but then if Im just home for the rest of the night - thats it! It is when I go out and hang out with friends that I start really puffin'! The Doc said I have to be smoke free 6 weeks before surgery ... and since this looks like it is going to happen sooner than originally expected, NOW is the time! So, yesterday on my way home I did not smoke - after work I went to the smoke store and purchased an "e-cig". This product has no tabacco in it (thus no carsinagins) but does have nicotein). I bought the "med" level, with hope that within 2 weeks, I will be on the "0" pack!! I tried this over the past summer and did REALLY well (smoke free for 3 weeks) until I got drunk and the fake cig just wasn't cuttin' it anymore! Since I don't get drunk anymore - I don't forsee a problem!
In other news, I told my boss today that there was a POSSIBILITY that I was going to be having the RNY and that I might need to take two or three weeks off work. She said no problem and to let her know if I needed anything! BONUS! I was concerned to ask for the time off!
Its so relaxing that everything keeps rollin' along! I hate to say that Im waiting for the bump in the road... but I am! Im trying not to get my hopes up about ANYTHING. I just really really really hope that the insurance approval goes as well as the rest of this has!
Quick over view:
Stopped consuming caffeen -- check
Stopped drinking sodas (no cabonation) -- check
Switched from IB Prophin based druges to Acetominiphin based druged -- check
Quitting smoking -- check
Psyc Eval -- tonight
Dietician -- tomorrow morning
Thanks for the support ... I'm going to find some water!
1 comment
In other news, I told my boss today that there was a POSSIBILITY that I was going to be having the RNY and that I might need to take two or three weeks off work. She said no problem and to let her know if I needed anything! BONUS! I was concerned to ask for the time off!
Its so relaxing that everything keeps rollin' along! I hate to say that Im waiting for the bump in the road... but I am! Im trying not to get my hopes up about ANYTHING. I just really really really hope that the insurance approval goes as well as the rest of this has!
Quick over view:
Stopped consuming caffeen -- check
Stopped drinking sodas (no cabonation) -- check
Switched from IB Prophin based druges to Acetominiphin based druged -- check
Quitting smoking -- check
Psyc Eval -- tonight
Dietician -- tomorrow morning
Thanks for the support ... I'm going to find some water!
Appointments ... Appointments ... Appointments
Feb 07, 2011
Just a quick note -- things are really starting to fall into place! Psyc eval on Wednesday and Nutritionist on Thursday -- then my dr will submit to my insurance! Thats the scary party ... the waiting game! With in about 5 weeks from now, I will have a final answer! And we pray...
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Met with the Surgeon for the first time
Feb 03, 2011
Wow! This ride is sure picking up speed! I went and had my initial meeting with the Surgeon - Shana came with me! First thing, when we walked into the office we were greeted by a very soft spoken woman that threw me for a loop! She said that my group number on my insurance card didn't match the number they had in their system, and that I might NOT be covered. It freaked my out, but with Shay there, I stayed calm. They got it situated relatively quickly... then we waited. It wasn't for more than 10 or so minutes, but it felt like FOREVER!
Nurse Bette finally called my name! I LOVE HER! She took me back and weighed and measured me. She was so cute and made me feel REALLY comfortable from her first word on. My BMI is 42 (the doc last week said 41, but whatever) and said that is the PERFECT number, since their practice won't do the surgery unless your BMI is 40+. She reminded me that 5 years ago I met with another surgeon in the practice to discuss the possibility of having the lapband. I told her that at the time I wasn't ready to make the life change, but now I'm TOTALLY ready. She told me that the surgeon that I met with before had passed away of brain cancer, but Dr. Fuller, my surgeon, was great and friendly and that she really liked him. She answered a few of my long list of questions (that I printed out and put in a binder today at work) and told me that if there are any questions that Dr. Fuller doesn't answer, I can always call or e-mail her. I asked if she'd be in surgery with me and she said no. Thats ok, but I'd really like it if she was! Then Dr. Fuller came in. I think he was impressed when I told him that I'd done a lot of reserach on all of the surgies and on him (thanks to this website!). He was impressed. First he told me about the sleeve (which my insurance doesn't cover) then he told me about both kinds of lap bands - I asked a few questions, but just because I was curious. Finally he got to the gastric bypass. I told him this was the one I was interested in, and he also thought it was the best idea for me. He looked at my eyes, listened to my chest and then asked to see my abdomin! I WAS WEARING SPANKS! How embarassing! I pulled them down and he pushed around and said I was fine! He told me I was a perfect candidate for WLS! After an hour of asking him questions, we left.
Nurse Bette AND Dr. Fuller both told me that I could have the surgery as soon as 6 weeks. I just need to get my psyc eval and meet with the nutritionist. I also have to have a stomach scope. This is going so fast! I've only told 4 people - 3 of my best girl friends... the ones that I will lean on the most, and my best guy friend that lives in VA. I really only told him to see how it would feel to tell someone... now that its really happening! I'm very lucky to have such a strong support team!
WOW! Tomorrow, I will call to figure out the insurance situation for my psyc eval and see if I can move up my nutritionist appt. I will go to the WLS orientation on 2/21 and hopefully I will have my surgery at the end of March! Can you believe it? THATS 7 WEEKS AWAY!!
2 comments
Nurse Bette finally called my name! I LOVE HER! She took me back and weighed and measured me. She was so cute and made me feel REALLY comfortable from her first word on. My BMI is 42 (the doc last week said 41, but whatever) and said that is the PERFECT number, since their practice won't do the surgery unless your BMI is 40+. She reminded me that 5 years ago I met with another surgeon in the practice to discuss the possibility of having the lapband. I told her that at the time I wasn't ready to make the life change, but now I'm TOTALLY ready. She told me that the surgeon that I met with before had passed away of brain cancer, but Dr. Fuller, my surgeon, was great and friendly and that she really liked him. She answered a few of my long list of questions (that I printed out and put in a binder today at work) and told me that if there are any questions that Dr. Fuller doesn't answer, I can always call or e-mail her. I asked if she'd be in surgery with me and she said no. Thats ok, but I'd really like it if she was! Then Dr. Fuller came in. I think he was impressed when I told him that I'd done a lot of reserach on all of the surgies and on him (thanks to this website!). He was impressed. First he told me about the sleeve (which my insurance doesn't cover) then he told me about both kinds of lap bands - I asked a few questions, but just because I was curious. Finally he got to the gastric bypass. I told him this was the one I was interested in, and he also thought it was the best idea for me. He looked at my eyes, listened to my chest and then asked to see my abdomin! I WAS WEARING SPANKS! How embarassing! I pulled them down and he pushed around and said I was fine! He told me I was a perfect candidate for WLS! After an hour of asking him questions, we left.
Nurse Bette AND Dr. Fuller both told me that I could have the surgery as soon as 6 weeks. I just need to get my psyc eval and meet with the nutritionist. I also have to have a stomach scope. This is going so fast! I've only told 4 people - 3 of my best girl friends... the ones that I will lean on the most, and my best guy friend that lives in VA. I really only told him to see how it would feel to tell someone... now that its really happening! I'm very lucky to have such a strong support team!
WOW! Tomorrow, I will call to figure out the insurance situation for my psyc eval and see if I can move up my nutritionist appt. I will go to the WLS orientation on 2/21 and hopefully I will have my surgery at the end of March! Can you believe it? THATS 7 WEEKS AWAY!!
Blood work tomorrow ... ugh!
Jan 31, 2011
Well, I guess this is step two. When I went to get my referal the other day, the dr wrote up some blood work he'd like me to have done before I have my first meeting with the surgeon on Thursday afternoon (OMG... THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING!). So, tomorrow at 8am I'll go get some blood drawn. I don't think I've ever been so freaked out about getting bloodwork in my whole life! What if they find something that prevents me from having my surgery? What if ... I dont know ... just WHAT IF?!
With all that being said, I understand that I'm going to be nervous about a lot of different things each step of the way. I'm glad that Im feeling ANYTHING - I think it means that this is all sinking in... and really happening!
With this tool, I will change my life!
UPDATE: My labs came back in 24 hrs... all normal except my white blood cell count was a little high! I have to go back and get it re-tested in 2 weeks!
0 comments
With all that being said, I understand that I'm going to be nervous about a lot of different things each step of the way. I'm glad that Im feeling ANYTHING - I think it means that this is all sinking in... and really happening!
With this tool, I will change my life!
UPDATE: My labs came back in 24 hrs... all normal except my white blood cell count was a little high! I have to go back and get it re-tested in 2 weeks!
Blood work tomorrow ... ugh!
Jan 31, 2011
Well, I guess this is step two. When I went to get my referal the other day, the dr wrote up some blood work he'd like me to have done before I have my first meeting with the surgeon on Thursday afternoon (OMG... THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING!). So, tomorrow at 8am I'll go get some blood drawn. I don't think I've ever been so freaked out about getting bloodwork in my whole life! What if they find something that prevents me from having my surgery? What if ... I dont know ... just WHAT IF?!
With all that being said, I understand that I'm going to be nervous about a lot of different things each step of the way. I'm glad that Im feeling ANYTHING - I think it means that this is all sinking in... and really happening!
With this tool, I will change my life!
UPDATE: My labs came back in 24 hrs... all normal except my white blood cell count was a little high! I have to go back and get it re-tested in 2 weeks!
UPDATE #2: My second set of labs came back normal. No need for further monitering.
0 comments
With all that being said, I understand that I'm going to be nervous about a lot of different things each step of the way. I'm glad that Im feeling ANYTHING - I think it means that this is all sinking in... and really happening!
With this tool, I will change my life!
UPDATE: My labs came back in 24 hrs... all normal except my white blood cell count was a little high! I have to go back and get it re-tested in 2 weeks!
UPDATE #2: My second set of labs came back normal. No need for further monitering.
The first step - get the referal!
Jan 27, 2011
Today is day one of the rest of my life. Today is the day I saw my general practice doctor to ask for a referal to the bariatric surgeon. We talked a lot about WHY I'm fat. I come from a fat family, I love to eat, my caloric intake is greater than my caloric output... the reasons go on and on. But he understood that I don't want to be the girl that struggles with her weight for the rest of her life!
I understand that this is not an easy fix, and nor is it a fixall ... it is, however, a tool that I can utilize for the rest of my life.
My appt with the doc is next Thursday. I'm scared and excited all at the same time - Its starting to sink in that in 4 -6 months my whole life will change. I'm ready for this - I will be a success story!
WI: 257.2
0 comments
I understand that this is not an easy fix, and nor is it a fixall ... it is, however, a tool that I can utilize for the rest of my life.
My appt with the doc is next Thursday. I'm scared and excited all at the same time - Its starting to sink in that in 4 -6 months my whole life will change. I'm ready for this - I will be a success story!
WI: 257.2
