Cira S.

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Tomorrow is my appointment with the gastroenterologist at GBMC at 12:30pm.  I was thinking that scheduling the endoscopy was my last exam but I had forgotten that my EKG and Echocardiogram is scheduled for Dec 16th. I am really excited about almost being done with all the testing.  Wsih me luck I hope they schedule the test for as soon as possible.  

Tomorrow is my youngest son's birthday he will be 2 years old. Time sure flies way too quickly for my liking.  

hugs,
Cira

Hey everyone I had my abdominal ultrasound this morning and they told me that DVR will have the results in 2 days.  I am so happy that I am almost done with all my testing. Just one more to go and I am done with this part of my journey.  On Friday when I meet the gastro it is just to fill out paperwork and get a history on me.  Then he will schedule my endoscopy.  I hope he schedules me soon because I want it out of the way so I can enjoy Christmas and New Years Eve without having to worry about anything.  
I am very excited and I have millions of questions to ask so I will be bombarding the forum soon.  

Thanks for stopping by.

hugs,
Cira

Finally I got the psych evaluation out of the way.  Dr.. Ranessa McNally is awesome and I would recommend her to everyone that can see her. Her office is in Pikesville, MD not from from 695.  
She made me feel at ease immediately and did her evaluation in half an hour.  When she was done she told me I passed and that she believes I am a great candidate for the surgery.  

She had the surgery 3 years ago and she has lost 175 pounds.  I must say it is awesome to have someone evaluate you that can really relate to what you are going through.  

She said DVR will have the evaluation faxed by Monday 11th and I will recieve my coy by the end of the week.  

McNally was ver attentive, compassionate and an inspiration to me. She even told me if I need to see her after surgery to contact her anytime!!  I am 100 percent satisfied how everything went today.  Hurray!!  I guess I am not as insane as I believed myself to be.  lol

Tomorrow I am scheduled for the abdominal ultrasound at 9:30 tomorrow morning.  I was told no eating or drinking after midnight tonight.  

I am getting closer and closer. Yipppeeee!

Friday I meet the gastro Dr. and then I guess he will tell me when my endoscopy is going to be scheduled.
My youngest son will be 2 years old on Friday so I will be celebrating his birthday, plus celebrating that I am almost done with all my testing!!

Thank you so much for those who jumped to cry of help last night when I started to worry about evaluation today.  Thank goodness for all the wonderful supportive friends I have here  on OH.  God Bless you all!

Thanks for listening.
Cira

Ok I had my appointment at GBMC Pulmonary lab today.  Let me tell you that Arterial blood gas was no joke.  I have always been a hard stick for even just regular blood work.  I was stuck the very first time by a very nice lady name Gina. She also did my PFT.  Anyway she dug and dug while I held my breath and squeezed the crap out of my husband's hand. She gave up digging and called someone from respiratory.  This very nice guy came in and promised me he would be gentle.  Well let me tell you he poked me near the same spot Gina did and had to pull up and push in and kept digging until I breoke out in tears.  I begged him to take it out.  See I had surgery on both hands so the scar tissue was a big factor.  Then he aske dme if he could try on my other hand I thought about it for a minute and said ok lets try and do this because this is the only thing that will stop me from getting WLS.  he even tried looking for my brachial artery but was not finding it.  
Anyway he poked me on my left I felt this excruciating pain and he told me ok don't move I got it.  I was sweating, by then I had a migraine starting and I felt like I was going to pass out from the pain. I cursed in spanish and the guy looked at me all weird but I couldn't help it,  it just came out. lol  Geesh my hand is still numb since morning.  I thank God the Almighty for helping me with this part.  Wheewww it was not easy.  Glad it is over and done with.
I also got my chest X ray done today while I was there. Now I am not looking forward to the endoscopy.  I meet the doctor on the 8th of Dec so now I am freaking about that darn scope.  I hope I am asleep when they put that in.  

Next appointment is my Psych eval on the 5th wish me luck!

Cira

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I had a great one. I didn't do so well I gained 5 pounds during this holiday and I am feeling really guilty about that since I am suppose to be trying to lose some weight during these supervised visits.  ughhhhh I am just so mad at myself. 

I have my abdominal ultrasound and x rays appointment for Dec 6th at 9:15 am.
I finally was able to get a grastroenterologist to see me so we can meet and set up the endoscopy.  The appointment is set for Dec 8th at 12:30 pm.  
December is going to be a busy month getting all these test done. I hope I can get all done without a hitch asap.

In two more days I go for my PFT and ABG. I am not looking forward to the ABG I am dragging my husband with me on Wednesday.  lol I know I am such a big baby and I rather give birth to another child.  he he he!

That's all for now!
Thanks for stopping by.
Cira


 

Dr. So my PCP called me to give me my sleep study result.  I have very minor sleep apnea and I will not need any intervention and he assured me it will be gone once I have surgery. Thank God!
1 down and a few more to go!

Today I had my blood work done.  I hope it was not too early to have it done. There was no specifications if I had to wait until I was scheduled for blood work.  
I was going to try to get my x-rays done after leaving the lab, but I didn't get a chance to.  I was running late and I had to come home so that my husband Gino could get ready to go to work.

As for my supervised weight loss I have stopped drinking my *beloved* drink Pepsi.  I am having major cravings and I am being good about not drinking it anymore. I bought diet Iced tea drinks made by Lipton and I am glad it has splenda.  I can not deal with aspertame because I get major migraines with it. 

I bought sugar free candies today to help me with my sweet cravings.  I hope this helps me some.  

Ok now Thanksgiving is in 2 days.  I feel like I need to enjoy this Thanksgiving. But I am afraid to gain weight for next weigh in.  I mean I don't want to eat like there is no tomorrow.  But I do want all the good stuff. lol

So much is going on in just 2 days.  I can't believe that hopefully my surgery will be sometime in February of all goes well. 

I have my Pulmonary test and Blood gas scheduled for November 29th 8:00 am at GBMC.

Then I scheduled my Psych Evaluation for Dec 5th at 9:30 am with Dr. Ranessa McNally in Pikesville. This Doctor is in my insurance plan and I only get to pay a $10.00 co pay.  Hurray!

I actually found one doctor at GBMC to do the echocardiogram on a Saturday instead. Which is better for me. So the new date is December 16th at 9am.

Then I have an appointment with Ann the counselor on December 18th at 1:30 pm

I am not looking forward to getting the endoscopy scheduled since I have never had one and I am deathly afraid of swollowing a scope. I better be knocked out! LOL I know I am such a big baby! I haven't mustered the nerve to call to schedule that one yet.  

As for my weight loss for the next three months.  I was really craving for sweets late last night.  I was hungry too and I was good for the firt time a long while.  I went to sleep with one big tall glass of water.  Boy did it take me longer to fall alseep since my stomach was talking to me.  Yikes and I will have to cut back so much and behave for the next three months.  Lord give me strength.  lol

Thanks for reading and all of your support. 
Hugs,
Cira

I had my consultation today!! I am so happy that it is finally over. I am totally sure that DVR is the right doctor for me.  I had a wonderful visit with him.  He did not rush to leave me, he answered all my questions and was very assuring.  

I have wonderful news!!!!!!
I was told by my insurance that I am required to do a supervised weight loss program for 6 months. Well today the financial coordinator told me that Aetna only requires 3 months with Dr. von Reuden!!  Hurrray!!!   I was totally shocked because I was sure that my surgery would be more for like May or June.  

Well, DVR told me if everything goes according to plan and I complete all my tests by January and not gain weight I should have my surgery for February 2007.  What a wonderful birthday gift will that be for me since my birthday is Feb 17, 2007.  

I met with Sloan and she is really nice. She showed me a sample of the amount of food I should be eating. I was ready to run out until she explained that is post surgery not now on the supervised weight loss program.  LOL  Wheewwwwwww... What a relief!  LOL  I have a lot of changes in front of me but I am ready for that change.  I will meet with Anne the counselor next month. I have to call back so I can get a date that my husband can stay home with the kids.

My second supervised visit is next month on the 12th. 

I met with Kathy and she explained everything to me about all the testing I will need to get done.

I am so psyched that I just can't wait for the holidays to be over!!!
Well, I better get going since I have my sleep study tonight and I have to leave stuff ready for the little ones.  

I want to thank all my supporters for being there for me and helping pick myself up after freaking out 2 days ago.  I promise not to read the memorials anymore.  DVR spoke to me in dept about the patient that he lost last year.  I am confident I am in great hands. 

Whoooooohoooooo I am on my way!

Cira

Oh my God I got a call from Sherry and she set me up for my consultation with DVR for November 15th at 2 pm!!!  I am so excited I just want Wednesday to be here already.  Lets get this show on the road!!!
I will keep you all posted okn how that goes.  :-)

I am doing the happy dance!

Cira