Leia from MN
1/19:
I've had my first meeting with Barb, the bariatric nurse. She's wonderful. I think she gave me some of the best news I could have heard since I started even thinking about WLS. I don't need approval from my insurance! Woo Hoo! Some things are small miracles. I still have to go through the whole assessment, but I don't have to wait for any approvals. I go in for my 4 hour assessment on 2/20.
2/20:
The assessment wasn't all that bad. It took quite a while, but I respect that they are very thorough. On top of the psychologist, MD, physical therapist, and nutritionist, I had to have an EKG done and some lab work. But from what I heard so far, everything is going very smoothly and I shouldn't have to worry about anything before surgery. I believe that I'm ready, and I think they see that I'm ready too.
2/27:
Barb called me today. I'm a green light and ready to go! Yay me! Since I don't have wait for an insurance approval, she just needed approval from the assessment team. They found that my iron levels are a little low from the lab work that I had done, but that's fixed with a couple of pills each night. I can handle that. They also want me to have a sleep study done to see if I have sleep apnea. It's possible, so that will just be one more interesting and new experience. She now has me scheduled to meet with the surgeon and get a surgery date! This is just moving along so quickly. I thought it might take longer. But I'm not going to argue with getting on with the rest of my life sooner.
3/1:
I had my surgeon appointment today. What a great experience! This is the first time that I've met Dr. Svendson, and he is a good person. He's easy to talk to, very calm, down to earth, yet honest. Just what I want in someone who is going to have my life in his hands. Now I have surgery scheduled for May 2nd. They were going to do it a week earlier, but there is a 10 day clear liquid prep that I wouldn't be able to do because I'll be on my honeymoon until April 17th. I have the pre-op physical scheduled with my regular doctor too. I'm sure that when I see her she'll be really exicted for me. She's been seeing what pain I've been in over the last few years and will glad to see me on the way to pain-free. Now I just have to schedule an appointment with an OB/GYN to get my yearly done and go over some birth control options. Since they really want me to be on two methods, I need to find something that won't make me moody or depressing but is still effective. I'll see what their suggestions they have for me.
3/19:
Yesterday I got married! Woo Hoo! One less thing I have to stress over before my WLS. I think it's going to be a big WOW moment when our one year anniversary comes around and look at the pictures from yesterday. I'm sure that I'll be half of the person that I am now. Just the thought of that amazes me. But I'm so glad that I've gotten to make this commitment to the one person that I love so much that I'd go through all of the stress, pain and heartache of wedding planning again if it meant that I could be with him. Love you Don!
4/4:
So, now it's been a while since I updated. Guess I should say something. I'm going on my honeymoon next week. I'm very excited. It's going to be 8 days of wonderful Florida sunshine for this very cold Minnesota chick! Actually, I've been very lucky so far. I have all of my paperwork into my employer for the FMLA leave. Barb, wonderful Barb, has me penciled in for 3 weeks off. She said that I might not need it all, but at least it will be there. She's one funny woman. Keeps me laughing every chance she gets. She has a new title now, she's my "Rockstar Trainer"! I know that there's a Rockstar in me, and she's going to be the one to help me bring it out. She's my own personal owners manual for the tool I'm about to get. I am getting very excited to get this all off the ground. I have 17 days until I start my liquid diet, and then 28 days until surgery! Oh my, that's less than a month! Can't wait to be on the losing side!
4/24:
Liquid, liquid, liquid. Blah. I'm on day 3 of this 10 day liiquid diet. It's not nearly as bad as it could have been. The first day was rough. It didn't help that it fell on a Saturday. I got to watch the kidlet eat ALL day long. Man, for being so little, she can really pack it down. She is grazer. No doubt about that. But now I'm getting into the swing of it. I still get to have my coffee. Then I choke down some CIB. I sneak in water everywhere inbetween to help me keep that "full" feeling longer. Then I move into a small glass of straight milk, a protein shake here and there, and soups/broths. I think it's the protein shakes and broths that are keeping me alive. Well, that and the coffee. Who would really want to see me without my daily dose of wake-me-up juice? I would think not. Anyway. I'm getting more excited every day to get to the next phase of my life. I'm a week and 17 hours away from the losing side. Who would have thought I'd get this far this fast?
5/4:
Well, I am home. And I feel good. I'm tired, most likely from the anesthesia and other drugs, but I feel good. The walking isn't a problem. And I'm sipping like it's going out of style. It's the eating, I'm already never hungry. It's so odd to look at the clock and realize that I should take in something other than water. So odd. That never happened before. Also, suddenly I have the most vocal tummy ever. It has so much to say to me. I have no idea what exactly it's trying to communicate, but it keeps piping in it's two cents worth. I'd like to thank everyone again for all of their support, kind words, and prayers. They are all greatly appreciated as I move on with my life into the next chapter.
5/15:
Wow. What an amazing 2 weeks. I'm already down 35 pounds, 2 pant sizes. I'm so shocked. I've started to see it in the way my clothes hang on me, especially my shirts. I'm so glad that I made the decision to have this surgery and that I'm sticking with the program. It's made so many positive changes in my life. I no longer need caffeine! Who would've ever thought that could happen?!?!?!?!? I have so much more energy. And I want to get out and do stuff. Being stuck in my house drives me nuts. I've come back to work a week early because I wanted to get back into life.
