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I haven't posted in awhile. So here's a brief catch up...

After getting my surgery date 12/19/12 I had to lose 20 lbs per my surgeons request. Let me tell you...those 20 lbs in 5 weeks were one of the hardest things I have ever done. Especially with Thanksgiving and Christmas parties! But I did it! I stuck with the liquid diet and got my butt to the gym and lost 20 lbs.

Now for the fun part...surgery! The morning I went in there I was sooo excited! I couldn't wait to get going, have the surgery and get back to my life. Ha ha ha ha....I had no clue what was in store for me. Don't get me wrong, I read all the blogs, watched the YouTube videos and asked others who have had the surgery to tell me about their experience. I was prepared for the pain, but I wasn't prepared for the sense of helplessness. I am a very independent person, I hate asking for help. And I had to rely on others for almost everything the first week out because my spleen was injured in surgery and it was horrible pain. Mentally the first week was the hardest for me. 

Week two: At my follow up appointment I learned that I had lost 10lbs since surgery...yay! 30 total! My Dr let me go back to work :) which made me feel a lot less useless! I am starting to get in all my protein, vitamins and fluid. Which of course makes me feel a lot better when my body is happy. I still have some pain on my left side. And the gas cramps are still a little painful when the gas passes by where my intestine was cut. I am off all pain meds now :)

I will check in soon with another weigh in! Week 3 weight in is tomorrow! (I know I am really behind)

My surgery is set for 12/19/12 and I can't wait! I am so excited! The only bad thing is that I am having a hard time sticking with the all liquid diet for 5 weeks! This is making the holidays really hard for me, and hard not to cheat! I'm down 9.5 lbs in 2 weeks, but by the end of 5 weeks I have to lose 20 lbs before surgery. I hope I can stick with it and fight off the cravings. I know. I just need to concentrate on the future and stay motivated. My surgeon is amazing! I would recommend Dr. Mindy Lane to anyone. I also recommend Sparrow Weight Management too. They are a great team. They made sure that I was 100% ready before starting my pre-op classes. Which are weekly for a month, then surgery, then post-op classes. 

In 17 days my world will change :)

I got the news today that I was approved for the RNY as long as I pass my medical evaluation, which will not be a problem at all! I am so excited! My evaluation is on May 14th and then I begin the 4+ weeks of prep. Which means that my surgery will be the end of June or early July! I can't wait to go on the next step of my journey!

So...perhaps I am a little too excited to get the ball rolling. I called Sparrow Weight Management to make sure all the paperwork I needed to hand in was in. I was able to speak to one of the nurses (she was wonderful by the way) and she said that the team reviewed my paperwork today and they don't see any reason why my insurance would deny me. I about fell out of my chair with excitement!   This means that once I get my approval letter sometime in the next two weeks I will be given a surgical date and start all my classes and prep for surgery. Sometime in June!!! Woot!

I have to say that since I stopped focusing on all the negative things in my life and started to focus on all my blessings I have been a much happier person. I am making a list of everything I love to do but an no longer physically able to do so I can share those things with my daughter once I am healthier.

I am determined to no longer be a quiet observer in my own life...I am taking charge!

My journey began on January 9th. My insurance company requires a 3 month medically supervised diet program to be considered for RNY surgery. Yesterday, April 9th I had my final appointment with my family doctor and sent a copy of my chart to Sparrow Weight Management. Now I get to play the waiting game. Worst case scenario I have to repeat the 3 month diet at the weight management clinic before approval. Best case scenario I get approved, do the reqiored 6 week program to learn and adapt and then have surgery. I hope I hear from the insurance company within the next few weeks so I can begin one of the programs. No matter what the insurance company says I am still moving forward and will not let anything hold me back anymore! I am ready to get my new tool and move forward with my life.