Finally post op!

Jul 16, 2011

I am home from the hospital and feeling pretty good. Trying to concentrate on getting my protein and fluids in right now and that seems to be going pretty well but my tummy does not like plain cold water...seems to spasm and such but I can drink a cold protein shake with no problems...go figure! lol! Otherwise I am pretty tired but doing well and looking forward to losing much more weight and KEEPING IT OFF! Hope that everyone is doing well! :)
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Liqud Diet Day 7

Jul 09, 2011

So, I am on day 7 of the liquid diet which (VERY surprisingly) hasn't been near as bad as I thought it would. I have lost 8lbs since Saturday and that helps with mental thing. Yes, I know that this diet is not to lose weight, per se, but to shrink our livers and I am quite certain that mine is shrinking. It has definitely been a challange and I am very much looking forward to Wednesday so that I can be on the other side of this battle! I am looking forward to feeling better, to looking better, to being able to do the things that I want to do and the self confidence to do them. It has been a hard struggle to get to where I am right now and I am struggling to get to the end of this semester in school as it is THE most difficult semester that I have had in my whole college career. The stress is almost enough to make me want to stick my face in a vat of chicken with cheese dip, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo on top! BUT..I have not done so...I am so proud of myself for that...I have carried all the stresses and am almost at the end without messing up my liquid diet and not failing out of college. I actually feel a lot better on the liquid diet than I have in quite awhile. My poor body is probably thanking me! :) 4 days to go and I am focused and yes, still a bit stressed but I am almost there...both in regards to my surgery and in regards to my fininshing the semester from HELL...O! : ) Thank the Good Lord for helping me make it this far. I miss my kids and am ready for their return home....almost there too. I received a phone call two weeks ago to set up my sons Senior portraits...I almost freaking cried...I am so proud of both of my children...I am so very lucky to have them....they are such great kids. Well...back to my homework and studying..I have an exam on Monday and really need to take some tests for my other class. 

Take care everyone! :)

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Preop craziness....long story....

Jun 29, 2011

Soooo...today I had my preop tests and boy was it an experience. 1st I show up at the hospital with a book to read because I figure that hospital=take forever. So, I wasn't sitting there 10 minutes before they called me back to register and pay my hospital co-pay.

After I did that, I sat BACK down for another 5 minutes and another lady came to take me back to go over my medical history. While we are going over this stuff another lady comes in and asks if she can steal me to do my EKG...into the EKG room I go...then back to the lady to finish going over medical history. So, the medical history lady seems quite confused as to what I am actually having done and I hand her a copy of my Dr''s orders (which she should already have a copy of-luckily my Dr figured she wouldn't have it and I took the precaution of taking it with me). So, she gets all excited and we go over what all I am having done and what meds I'm on.

As SOON as we get finished with that ANOTHER lady comes in and asks if I am ready to go back...uh..sure. So she asks me to provide a urine sample..I do that then they point me over to the blood sucker. I tell the blood sucker that she will have to use a butterfly need in the back of my hand as I have very small rolling veins and they are deep and 99.9% of the time no one can hit them. So, rather than being poked 6-7 times, I tell everyone the same thing. The blood sucker asks me if she can take a look and I am thinking great...this will suck..I give her permission and tell her good luck and she finds a vein she finds interesting....and gets the butterfly needle out...hmmm...never had anyone use the butterfly in the crook of my arm.....she said I think I can hit this one and I'm like...ok go for it...she actually hit it the VERY first time....holy freaking COW! That is so very rare...I was very excited and because it was a butterfly it didn't hurt as bad either! Double WIN!

THEN...ANOTHER lady comes in and says that I have to go BACK to admissions to sign more paperwork because I have to do an ultrasound, Xray, and upper GI and evidently that requires more paperwork. Soooo...I sign the ppwk (they had it ready for me) and they tell me to have a seat again....I try AGAIN to read some of my book and about 5 minutes later ANOTHER lady comes to get me to take me to the X-Ray/Ultrasound/Upper GI place....

I then wait in this waiting room for (wait for it.....) 5 mintues....and (wait for it...) ANOTHER lady comes to get me to take me back for the ultrasound. We talk about school and such while I am tossing and turning for her to get every conceivable angle....and pressing on my sternum which hurts like hell.....anywho...back to the waiting room I go....

After about 15 whole minutes this time I go back to change into a gown and some nipple jewelry....well....not really sure what the heck you call those things they tell you to put on your nipples to take a durned xray...I mean, seriously?? What the heck are they for?? I know that my boobs sag but do you REALLY need to have something pointing the way? WTH? ANYway...they take the X-Rays and I am then sent with two other chicks who were waiting outside back to the room to have the REAL fun....

OK...so I go into this room in my lovely gown, capris and my lovely nipple jewelry on and it has a GINORMOUS machine that takes up the whole room there...so while I am inspecting this machine (can't help my curiosity and a tidbit of trepidation) the nurses are talking about what is going to happen...they are slow and methodical in explaining these things to me...then they tell me that a Dr so and so is going to come and do the actual upper GI...right after they get that out of their mouth the door flies open and what looked like some kind of otherworldly being stands in the doorway.....it's dark in the room so , there is the hall lights shining behind him...he's tall with unruly dark hair, a very long blue thingy that protects him from radiation and some goggle thingys that take up half his face....holy crap, I'm thinking what the hell does he need those for?? I am sure that they must've been some kind of goggle/glasses thing but they were BIG....anyway, I digress....so as soon as he walks in the door and while I am sitting there with my mouth open...he starts barking words out of his mouth...I'm Dr so and so and we are going to take pictures of you drinking...he gets faster and faster as he talks and more difficult for me to follow what the hell he's saying....(I can't pay attention too long most of the time as I tend to get a glazed look and zone out, if you will).

So, here is how it goes....he continues to bark fast orders..you will put this cup in your left hand and stand in the machine, I will pour this water into the crystals and they will react and you will drink it like a shot then you will turn as far left as you can and drink the drink in your left hand then you will turn to the right....so, I slowly step into the machine thinking what the hell did he just say?! I step in and they hand me the drink...ok...leeeffft hand....then he says I am about to pour the water take this like a shot..ready? um...ok....GO!!!!!!!!!! I take the shot...turn left drink chalky crap (he barks) I drink it as fast as I can...turn right...sit straight....ok. Whew...then he says this bed is going to lay down, you will not fall when the bed goes down you will turn around twice, lay on your right and face me with your knee slightly up....o....k......so the bed goes down and I did not fall...yay....here he goes with the barking again...roll twice....ROLL TWICE....I said do you want me to bark too or jump through some hoops....he was not amused but the nurses were....turn left hold your breath...turn right....hold your breath...face me....more chalky crap...DRINK DRINK DRINK...(felt like I was at a durn keg party)....turn, TURN...hold your breath.....drink ANOTHER chalky drink....YEAH....3 of those durn things YUCK!

Finally!!!!! It's over....holy cow....Dr Alien walks quickly out of the room...no goodby or anything...well...maybe he did say goodbye but I was kind of laying there still a bit shell shocked when the nurse kindly told me to lay still because they were going to get a couple of still shots of my tummy....then they leave me on this durned table that is 6 feet (it seemed) off of the floor with no way to get down...I am sitting there swinging my legs back and forth when the nurse comes back in to tell me that I am finished and that I may go now....uh.....HOW? So, she finds a stool to help me exit the space table and I go to change in the bathroom...let me tell you....that nipple jewelry HURT when I took them off!! How in the heck do strippers do pasties??

Off to work I went thinking everything would be ok...the nurse mentioned that I should drink a lot of water so that I wouldn't get stopped up from the barium...no problem....get to work, have lunch, drink lots of water...uh oh.....there's a rumbly in my tumbly......4 trips to the potty later, I tell my coworker that there won't be anything left to be stopped up!! Guess I will have to see how tomorrow goes.....wonder if my operation day will be as quick moving and crazy....I was certainly thankful that they had everything moving along well and that no one lost me! So, it was a pretty good experience as they were all nice....well, Dr. Alien was kind of short but not mean or anything....I felt like I was performing in a circus for him though and that he was secretly enjoying my confusion....well...I am tired as hell now....hope everyone has a good night!!!

Take Care!!! :))

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A date! A date! A very important date!

Jun 23, 2011

FINALLY!!! I can say that I will be having my surgery on 7/13....just 3 weeks away!!! wooohooo!!! :))))
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Yay! Approved!! Argh...Dr. going on 3 Week Vacation?! WTH?

May 24, 2011

Got that wonderful call today telling me that I have been appoved for surgery......then the call from the surgeon's nurse telling me that I need to attend the BEGIN program (which I was expecting)....she told me that after she receives my certificate from that class, she would schedule me for a meeting with the surgeon. So, excited me I say YAY and ask her what a round about date might be for my surgery...she said OHH the Dr is taking a 3 week vacation in June so probably the end of June or July. WTH??? Out of all 12 months of the year, why in the HELL did he have to schedule a 3 week vacation in JUNE??! AHHH!! Trying to tell myself that a month or so MORE won't matter but damnit it DOES! I am frustrated. 7 months to get here then told ANOTHER month...I even asked if I could switch surgeons (which sound like it takes an act of congress even though I haven't actually had an appointment with him-just that introductory class) and possibly get an earlier date....nope the other surgeons are booking at least 3 weeks out and I would have to do the sleep apnea thing and see the heart Dr and the class all BEFORE I even get to see the surgeon....I will hopefully look back and say it came really quickly.....not that it will matter at this point because right NOW it is taking FOREVER! I know that it will be ok and that it gives me another month or so to eat whatever before I crack down and change my life for the better. I realize this.....but durn it sure is hard being patient...ESPECIALLY since I am not able to take my bc pills....they keep me sooooo much calmer than I am without them and now I will have to wait ANOTHER month before I can take them again. OK...I guess I will quit whining and resume my 'normal' life.....for now.....
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Last one, I hope!

May 21, 2011

OK so the last supervised Dr's visit is scheduled for Monday...I will then get my record from that day and hand carry it to the bariatric surgeons office so that they can submit my file to the insurance company on Tuesday. The surgeon's office says that it should only take a few days at most for approval, then everything should move quickly-they will schedule me an appt with the surgeon, I have to take another class, appt with the nutritionist, appt with the cardiologist, and start the 10 day liquid diet. My kids are leaving this week to go to OK for the summer with their Dad :( and I start back to college not this week but next week. AH! :eek: I sure do hope everything goes according to plan because I have month end at work coming up and my controller is getting a bit nervous about me being out for the surgery. I was going to take two weeks off but her nervousness has me nervous about missing that much time. I have had some serious issues with my controller trying to get me an assistant....they have been more trouble than they are worth and have caused me MORE work in the end. Not sure why filing po's is so durned difficult...seriously. Anyway, while I am out of work, the payroll clerk (who is WONDERFULLY intelligent) will be helping out at my desk....I have faith that she will do fine but am still a bit nervous considering what I have had to work with the past few months (3...count them...3 assistants that totally messed the filing up!) Yes, I am a control freak...it is what makes me good at my job and I know that I have to let go of it just long enough to heal properly....but boy I sure don't like anyone messing with my stuff....the fear of having MORE issues to deal with when I get back is weighing on my mind but I am more excited about the surgery so....it'll work out! :D All in all....I should HOPEFULLY have the answer to the long awaited question of WHEN IS MY TURN TO HAVE SURGERY by Friday!!!! Fingers crossed, prayers said!!

Take care all....beautiful day down here in the south....heading outside to soak up some rays and wash my car!
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BCBS of Alabama and my almost BIG mistake...

May 09, 2011

So, I finished my last Dr's appt last Friday (or so I thought) and I was thinking today about why the surgeon's office couldn't just submit to the insurance company (BCBS of Alabama) now since I have completed everything. So I called the surgeons office and the lady that does the submitting proceeded to tell me that my last Dr's appt HAS to be at the 180 day mark (NOTHING less than that) and that I would have to schedule myself another appointment on 5/23 then take that days record over to their office and they could submit my info to the insurance company on 5/24....poop. If I hadn't called today and if I had just waited for it to be submitted I would've REALLY messed myself up! I've heard that I would've had to start my 180 days all over again!! :eek: So, really it was good news and I am happy that I am almost there with only one more thing to do! :D Thank God I keep in touch with the powers that be!! Not much longer and I will be on the losing side of this long battle I have fought for 7 months! I am SO looking forward to it! My Mom has lost 88lbs since her surgery a year ago but she is not exercising and not watching her carbs...I WILL be doing both so hopefully, I will lose more than that. I am shorter and our start weight is the same so I definitely have more weight to lose. Hope everyone is doing well!


Take Care, :D
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Stress, Hormones, and....excitement? (Crazed Rantings)

May 03, 2011

So thank God I found out that I have to quit taking my birth control pills 30 days prior to surgery. My hope is to have surgery the first week or so of June so I stopped taking my pills on Saturday.....called the surgeon's office first thing Monday morning and yep....his nurse confirmed that I do indeed have to stop taking them due to the risk of blood clots. :rolleyes:Thing is, I don't take the pills for actual birth control (my tubes are tied) I take them for my PCOS and it has been like a durn miracle drug for me. No more feeling of the ice pick sticking in my side every month to where I have to take 3 days off and just lay on the heating pad eating ibuprofen like they are candy. It actually made me feel so calm inside...ahhh...unfortunately today was NOT a good day and I can feel the anxiety creeping up on me again...sigh...I keep telling myself that a few months of hell again now and years of great things afterwards.....ugh...I am NOT looking forward to getting my 'friend'. :( Work has been very crazy lately....after working there for almost two years we had not had any turnover until this past Dec...now it seems like everyone that I worked with on a daily basis (except for two people) are leaving or have left...I mean what the hell? I have finals next week at school, month end this week, AND we have to look for and train ANOTHER receptionist/A/P assistant....this is the 4th one in as many months....my (hopefully) last Dr's appt with my regular Dr is on Friday and I hope to find out then when my other appointments are...you know the one with the bariatric surgeon, nutritionist, cardiologist, and don't forget the seminar's. 180 days should be up on 5/22 so they should submit the paperwork to the insurance on 5/23....hopefully....I am excited but stressed and worried that everything won't go the way I want it to. Positive thinking...POSITIVE thinking...I will be SOOOOOO glad when this whole durn process is over...6 months of BS to get to this point....while I can admire the reasoning behind the 6th months of supervised visits and trying to weed out those that aren't serious or whatever it is they do it for, I am tired and I want my BIRTH CONTROL....lol! That sounds really odd but I felt SO freaking much better with them....I went YEARS with horrendous PMDD (seriously crazy) and cysts in my ovaries so bad I would actually vomit...and this coming from someone who had her daughter naturally with absolutely no pain meds and pitossin on top of it which make it SO much worse..I didn't scream, I didn't cry but I did say a very foul word when my daughters head hit my tail bone! I can take pain....but that stuff...wow...nothing like it...not even child birth. Just gotta make it the next 2 months....because I hear you can't take it for 30 days after either. THEN....during the active weight loss phase....more hormonal issues....it'll be worth it in the end...I can do this durn it! I have done everything else they have asked of me so far! I WILL do this! I am NINJA HAH! :ph34r: Well...not really a ninja....but will THINK like one....I will be one with the ninja and use my mind over matter....I. CAN. DO. IT!!!!! Sorry you guys had to witness my temporary mental break down....:wacko:Tomorrow will be one day closer to fulfilling my requirements for surgery! :D
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5th Supervised Dr's Visit...

Apr 08, 2011

So..had the 5th Dr's appt today and gained back 2 of the few pounds that I have lost. <_< It is not really a surprise as I have been stressed as hell and eating too much bad stuff....luckily my insurance does not require that I lose a certain amount of weight. So, that's good. I went ahead and had him test me for H-pylori so that I can get that out of the way. I certainly didn't want to go through everything just to have to wait two more weeks if my surgeon found that I had it. So, figured I'd have my GP test me for it and get it cleared up before seeing my surgeon! Hopefully, I won't have it though. School is going fine...doing pretty well...work is stressful as usual so nothing new there. The kids are growing older and taller and mouthier...ugh...don't you just love teenagers?! I really do love mine but they SO have diarrhea of the mouth just like I did....that durn curse my Mom put on me is coming to fruition...you know the one where they curse you with kids that are just like you were as a teen...:huh: Good part about that is they are MUCH more loving and tenderhearted than I was....though the tenderhearted part can be quite tricky....especially with my daughter.

In other news...I think that I really need to see a dentist as my jaw has been hurting quite badly today..I know that I grit my teeth because it wakes me up at night so I need to get a mouth piece of some kind to protect my teeth. I probably have TMJ so will need to check on that.

On to other boring things, I am ready to have the surgery if just for the durn time off...I haven't had a vacation in two years and it's about to do me in....oh pretty pretty please let me be able to have the surgery in early June....that would be AWESOME! I will keep my fingers crossed and hope for the earliest possible surgery date. Well...guess I will go search for my phone because as usual...I have lost my memory and have left the durned thing somewhere. Hope everyone is doing well!

Take Care!
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A sigh of relief!

Mar 17, 2011

So, I have been so worried about the 6 month diet and the amount of days required between each visit....even though I have called the insurance company 3 times to make sure they don't have a specific amount of time between the visits and they stated that they don't have a specific time...just once a month. But, for some reason, I just couldn't trust them. Anyway, I went ahead and called my bariatric surgeons insurance rep to see what she had to say as she has been working there for 3 years and this is a center of excellence....she said that I didn't have anything to worry about in regards to the days in between. As long as I went once a month...I am good! So, I am finally starting to get excited again! She told me that my surgery should be in June but may roll over to the beginning of July at the earliest...I was figuring late July or August so that is GREAT news! I have decided that I will be asking my primary doctor to check me for h pylori so that I can get that taken care of before I see my bariatric surgeon again. My Mom had it so I want to make sure I am clear before seeing him to save time. Well....more later...off to eat dinner!

Take Care All!
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