PhatmanWalkin

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It is about time...for the surgery.  I cannot believe it has been since February since I blogged last.  I guess I found myself caught up on vlogging on my YouTube channel to keep myself distracted.  It was good for me because I lost 10kgs that is 22lbs.  I did this for my pre-op weightloss.  I have been successful in keeping it off...although on vacation I put on 2kgs, I have since lost those 2 kgs.  I have been trying to screw my head on straight and get psyched up and did my first official vlog on YT.  Glad I did too, because while filming it I got to talk out a lot of emotional things - not all of it made it to vid, but I kept it for my own records.  I am going to take pictures (bodyshots) this Friday before I am admitted to the hospital.  I will also vid the process.  My intention is to vid the day of surgery and post-op as well BUT it will be determined to how I feel.  I am reading more entries here and on TheVerticalSleeveForum.  Get my head, heart, and mind into this.  Cutting the caffine to basically nothing.  I do not even like the taste of coffee anymore, but tea I LOVE!  My doctors visit yesterday went very well.  My A1C's were down to 6.4 now.  When I moved here it was nearly 8.  Much better after the weightloss but I am still having issues with my protein in my urine...a sign of possible kidney issues? - hope not. 
Keep me in your prayers on the 10th.  I appreciate it.  Thanks - Peace and Love!!!

Ok so today I decided I was going to call the surgical ward and talk with the man in charge of setting up the surgical date...just to see when he was tentatively  thinking about setting up my surgery - or even if he had gotten to me yet.  Because Norway has a couple holidays in May, like on the 1st and on the 17th, he was not sure what it would look like with the doctors schedules.  He did say there were open days he was pretty sure he could set up with me.  So, he told me that I will have my surgery on the 7th of May.  I am SO relieved at having a DATE.  It means a lot...I know how silly I am to think it is so important.   I have been obsessing about this since day 1 and i am better now...kind of like, SIGH!

Oh my giddy aunt, I have recently had the stomach flu and at first it was me on my pity pot, but the more I thought about it, I took it as kind of a mock post op.  First, I was nauseous and could only hold down light fluids and then slowly added broth and soups.  Then, I was adding "mushy" foods and nursing my stomach.  It has taken me a few days, but now I have dropped like 5 lbs in a those days and I am ready to get back to my exercise.  I was basically trying to make a positive thing out of something negative...I felt pretty good about it, and felt that, thougth I hated the nausea, the rest of it was ok and I do think I could do it for the duration I will have to.
=)

Ok so here is a follow up on my visit to the doctors office.  He told me that since I have been crashing with my sugars I should go down one tablet - a MINIDIAB (like glipizide) - I am to no longer take the evening dose.  My blood sugar this morning was 6,4 which is equal to 117 on the AmericanScale.
I am having my surgery here in Norway at the best place here to get it - Førde Sentral Sjukehus (Central Hospital).  I am waiting for a letter telling me the exact date.  I think once I have that in hand I will feel 1000 times better.  Pray for a fast response from my surgeons planning team.
Thanks,
Rob

Ok been to the doctor this morning and he did infact take me off one of my diabetic meds.  I was taking Minidiab (like glipizide) once in the morning and once before dinner.  Now I do not have to take the one before dinner.  He is confident about the surgery's success in removing the rest of my diabetic meds.  I, too, am confident this will happen.  He was "stolt" (proud) of my ability to already try adapting to my post op meds and my current weight loss.  I am down to 118.5 kgs now from over 120.  I feel good that with more exercise added this week it will drop even more.  I will go into the operation with a toner, less chubby self.  Hopefully it means less mess afterwards. 
Peace.

Rob

Today is the day before I see my doctor since I was in the pre-op exam and education class.  I have a list of prepare questions for him.  One of my top ones is, Should I try reducing my diabetic meds now since I have been having so many lows and blood sugar (b/s) crashes?  Another question I have for him is if he, himself, is informed about this surgery.  He is a pretty smart doctor and is always up to date with the newest of new, BUT he is human, and we can't know everything.  He and I will review my current blood work, mostly the kreatinin and A1c (long term b/s).  I am confident he will be impressed with my results.  I believe I have lost weight in the past few days on this knekkebread diet.  Interesting, and good.  I will let you all know what that is about later.  For now I think I will try to think less about tomorrow and go play a bit with the kids.
Peace everyone.
Thanks for my new found friends here.  I look forward to getting to know y'all.
Rob

Hey everyone,
My name is Rob.  I am an American living in Norway with my wife and kids.  My wife is Norwegian, hence why I moved here.  My doctor and I agreed last year that I would make a go on trying to lose weight this past year (2009), with the intention that I would not require WLS.  He did apply for the WLS anyway (with my permission of course) and on the 16th of January this year I got approved and called in for my surgery education and pre-surgery exam.  Since the most of the education was in Norwegian, my wife went with me.  I do understand most of what I hear and speak pretty good Norwegian.  It was just comforting knowing she would understand it all.
The surgeon was wanting to do my surgery in March, but we had booked our trip to the USA one week prior to receiving the letter, so we had it pushed off to May. 
Now it is all I can think of.  A life chaning surgery, with life changing effects that will change my relationship with food and my social functions.  I have obsessed over this for 2 weeks now, and I am finally trying to settle into it.  I am nervous and excited both. 
My wife has suggested maybe we cancel our trip and I just take the surgery in March, but there are people in the USA that are not healthy and older that I know she and I would not want to miss seeing.  Plus, I would feel better knowing I got to spend time relaxing before it.  So, that is it.  If you all have ??s about me or my situation feel free to ask.
Also, I vlog on youtube under the same name.  I have place a link on my profile page so check it out.  I will be doing all my vlogging soon about the surgery as it gets closer and update everyone on my first doctors visit on Feb. 4th, with my main doctor, whom I have not talked to since I went through my pre-op exam.
Peace and love people.
Rob