PixyCindy
8/31/06- I recieved my psych eval yesterday and there are no speed bumps there. I'm sane, and at least marginally intelligent according to the doctor. Plus I did my last pre-op testing with the echocardiogram, and should have the results into D. Dillawn by next Wensday. AND my excercise/nurition consult is scheduled for Sept. 5th. I found out the hard way that the excercise consult can only be done at St. Davids Hospital (512-397-4263). Last but not least, my insurance request was sent out today, and I should find out by next week what the status is of my claim!!!! This is all happening so fast, and I am soooo happy! I actually prefer the speed behind the process. Now all I need is to get my questions together, get approved, and get a date. I hope the time before the appointment can be used to get ready for the surgery. I'm a little worried I might be jinxing myself by getting to happy, and expecting it to happen...but I dont care! I'm just gonna enjoy the feeling and let the rest of the chips land where they may.
9/3/06 My Tricare insurance was switched from standard to Prime, and it was unexpected. I had been told it was gonna be next month because the forms were filled out, but thats okay. Only problem is waiting for the referal to come through, but it should be only a week at the most. And this is a good thing. Prime pays for it all, so if I can get the surgery scheduled this month then it'll be paid for and I wont have to dig into my college savings to pay for it! Yeah!!
9/5/06- I did my last appointments today. The nutrition consult was fine, and I made sure to take everything in that I might have to deal with later. Jerry was nice, and he made the consultation funny, and managed to keep it very informative. The excercies psyhiology consualtation was not what I expected at all. The receptionist (nice as she is) might tell you to wear clothes you can move around in because you may do light excercise. But I actually ended up sitting for another hour going over different excerices, and what to do before and after the surgery. It was interesting that it suprised her that I had a routine that I already do...like I cant ride the stationary bike for anything less than 30 minutes unless Im sick. It feels like a waste of time, and I dont feel the excercise unless its after 15 minutes.
All in all it was nice, and though I paid out of pocket, it was good to have all this information provided.
9/6/06- I GOT APPROVED FOR THE SUGERY!!!! 
The request was just resubmitted earlier this afternoon, and I just checked the HMHS online benificary website, and it shows the status as approved for gastric bypass!!! I AM SOO EXCITEDI cant believe this is actually gonna happen...I almost wanna pinch myself to make sure Im not dreaming. My appointment with Dr. DIllawn is scheduled for Sept. 12 at 10:30 (i think its 10:30). SO I will definitly update as soon as I get a surgery date.
By the way...I started the pre-op diet today just in case I can get the surgery within the month. If not I dont mind restarting. According to what Jerry said about the liver needing to be shrunk, I dont mind dieting longer to make sure that liver is nice and small for surgery. If the liver is too large they supposedly stitch you up and send you home. And that would be a total waste of time.
9/8/06- This pre-op diet is kicking my butt. I am so hungry Ive had to talk myself into not pulling into a buffet and gorging. While Im not starving there is always an empty, hunger pain in the background of the day. I will be so glad when thats not the case. But other than that, Im all set. They thought I was going to need to be set up for my pre-ops, but I had them all done already, and the nurse was very suprised, and very nice. But supposedly all I need is to speak with an anestheologist, and come into Austin the day before for a consultation with them, and then do the surgery the next day. I have to say this is starting to get a little scary, and it would be easier if my husband were here but I think just knowing this will benefit us in the end is giving me strength enough. So wish me luck.
9/12/06- I saw the Dr. Dillawn for my pre-op consultation. It was very brief and very to the point. I think it only lasted a total of 15 to 20 minutes. He came in, answered a few questions of mine, and then had me sign some papers, then shook my hand goodbye. I jumped the gun on calling Angie the surgery scheduler, but maybe I should have called back before I fell asleep because she never called today, and I was so hoping I could get a date that I can get off this damn diet. I hate this diet. Honestly, its really starting to make me cranky, and IM always hungry, and Im starting to sleep longer so I dont have to be hungry during the day.
9/13/06- I finally got a operation date scheduled. Angie was very busy it seems, as it took me a few tries to get in contact with her. BUt Im a pest, so I just kept at it =) Now all I need is to be a pest to the anasteoligist to get my appointment before the surgery. OH the Date is set for OCTOBER 4th and I am NOT looking forward to starting the pre-op again. But maybe if I plan the diet a little better the two weeks before surgery will go more smoothly. Now I have to get everything prepared because I can tell the next few weeks are gonna fly by.
9/17/06- Tomorow I start the pre-op diet again...and this time Im ready. I got the meals all planned out, sprung for expensive tasty foods that I can eat everyday, and have all my meals cooked for lunch for the next week. Hunger kiss my butt! AND I have to say I lost 6 pounds after one week of the pre-op diet and Im sure Iput it all back on, as I have had a nice little run of last meals. Ugh, my pants are tight again. But, since Its gonna be awhile before I can have serious bready meals like Im used to I took advantage of the oppurtunity. But Im back on the wagon as of tomorow, and then after the 4th Im gonna be on liquids and proteinpowder.
9/22/06- I am still on the pre-op diet, however I ran into a little snag. I was looking on the internet for the equivalent of what cabbage was in grams of carbs and the one site I could find said 1.1 grams of carbs...but I was shopping today and read on the vegetable bin at Krogers that 1/2 a cup is 4 grams of carbs. Thats a huge difference. I ate 3 cups of cabbage (cause I was starving), and now I realize I went over the carbs.But Its only one week so at least I found this out now. I have a butt load of jello, and even sprung for some ice cream sandwhiches that are 10 grams of carbs, which isnt that much considering its ice cream.YAY ATKINS DIETERS AND THEIR SWEET TOOTHS! By the way, I figured out a way to hopefully get around the dumping syndrome and drinking too much liquid at one time. I was looking for baby food to stock up for post-op when I saw sippy cups. I figured that maybe with a sippy cup where it only allows you to suck a sip wihtout feeling like a vacuum, would help me estimate and regulate my sips. Just dump the broth in and sip! Sounds like it might work. So ill keep my fingers crossed that feeling like an idiot sucking on a sippy cup wouldnt be for nothing. 9-26-06- one more week till I go to Austin and meet with the anastesiologist. Wow, time is moving by fairly fast. I still have so much homework to catch up on before they drug me up...Im so excited.
10/2/06- Okay, so tomorow I go to Austin and meet with the anastesiologist, and then on wednesday I have the surgery. I cant believe its finally gonna happen! Im just so excited, and I just cant hide it...but Im not about to lose my mind, unless its about being behind on homework and the hospital stay might not be all that helpful for studying. So we'll see. Next time I write, hopefully, I will be post-op and sucking down chicken broth! YAY ME!! 10/6/06- Well, Im back from the hospital and all went well. I was so nervous about the surgery and I had no reason to be. They wheeled me into the operating room, and before I could get too nervous I was out like a light, and then next thing I know Im in a recovery room. I have had slight problems with the chills, but other than that I have just been trying to get in as much broth and jello as I can. Dr. Dillawn has been excellent, he was very informative, and when he came by to see me after surgery he answered all the questions that I had and advised me to stick to the guidelines they had given me(and not follow the steps of some people who are eating mashed potatos only one week post op). I think I will stick to that plan more...he's gotten me through this all dump free so far. Everyone has been very supportive, and my husband has been so unbelievably supportive ...just knowing that he cared enough to call me every day really touched my heart. Plus the hospital staff was outstanding! I have to say everyone was very helpful, and informative, and sweet. If I ever had to be hopsitalized again I would want the staff to be that great. They were so very kind to me when I was at my lowest. Well, Im tired. Ive been walking around the house wrapped in blankets becuase when I get the chills it really wracks my body.
10/13/06- I just went back to the gym today because I can walk now for 30 minutes wihtout my incisions hurting too bad, and weighed myself on their scale and found out I am at 344. So I have lost about 24 pounds. I am feeling really good, and the amount of water I can drink has gone up from 11 ounces a day to about 30 ounces a day. Im still working on getting in all my protein cause it upsets my stomach, but I switched from protein powder (which hurt my tummy) to the zone shake which...hurts my tummy. So i got some atkins advantage and we'll see how that goes. For some reason all the protein things are upsetting my tummy big time. But I will perservere. Im sure I can find something, and in the meantime a little gas and belching isnt gonna hurt me too much. Thank god Im married already though, lol.
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