Rita Lucero

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I am a little stressed, more so earlier.  There was a hard part of today that I just about broke down crying.  I am just stressed waiting to find out if I am approved for surgery, when I will have it.. and the list goes one.  I finished the 2nd portion of the PSYCH EVAL that AETNA REQUIRES and I believe it went well.  It had to have!  It was hundreds of true/false questions and took an hour.  I went to the nutritionist and still am meeting wtih her one more time, plus my counselor, pcp and exercise physiologist before submitting for insurance approval around June 15th... approximately.  I CANNOT WAIT!

I saw a Nutritionist yesterday, did part 1 of Psych Eval last week, visited my therapist today and tomorrow is part 2 of the Psych Eval- to do a test.  I have to see the following people all up to June 10th that is lastly required by Aetna for insurance approval of WLS - Duodenal Switch: Nutritionist, PCP, Exercise Physiologist and I am seeing my therapist once more too as she helps me with a lot and we are goin to start working on changing my thoughts about food and what I will be doing. 

I am so anxious to get the date set, the approval.. well.. approved.  I will feel so much better.  I am having a hell of a time losing weight, of course, but I still am doing my workouts which nearly kill me, increasing my protein and cutting the fats.  So, hopefully next time I blog it will be talking about the date being set.  HURRY CLOCK!

So, we are getting closer and closer to applying for approval.  I am goin to see my nutritionist/dietician this week and went to my Exercise Physiologist this past Saturday.  I did lose a few pounds in a month, however, I have been uber sick with Laryngitis and possibly more.  I am not at 100% yet but hopefully getting there.  Its just a pain when seeing so many specialists and they all have different scales so I want to put down what their scales say I weigh but I am ... idk... not sure that I should on my counter cuz it makes it all off.  Ugh.. whatev'... lol.

My last visit to my Exercise Physiologist is the 7th of June and hope to have the paperwork submitted to Aetna very, very shortly thereafter. 

Tomorrow is my required Psych Evaluation.  I am going to be happy to have that checked off the to-do list. 

Well, about five more weeks before I will be applying for insurance approval... I cannot wait!  I have been sick with Laryngitis and something else... and I did lose some weight, I am sure it is only because I am sick... Starting taking Zpak the other day so I am getting better.  Going to see Nutritionist and Exercise Physiologist within this next week.  Went and did another month follow up at my PCP on Friday.  I can't wait to feel 100% better with the weight off.  I want to run, jump and be merry, lol.

Still keeping busy.  I am really anxious yet in a cloud about having surgery.  I just don't believe it is going to happen until I have the date scheduled.  I am kinda thinking about it yet not... It's weird, when you want something so bad, something so life changing then you think it is only a dream and you couldn't be so lucky but I think this time I will be.  I am going to start a business by the time I am recovered from surgery in Home Staging, organization, color coordination... etc... and I am super excited.  It is going to be the new career of the new me.  I have been working on my house and my sisters and I am feeling so fueled although my sleep schedule is pretty much flipped.  But I sweat doing so much work plus my regular routine.  I am losing very little weight but a little.

I have been so busy moving, painting, packing, cleaning... all that jazz.  I am soooooo tired.  I have no more energy, not even on reserve.  OMG.  I went to the personal trainer (exercise physiologist) yesterday and we are going to do that for the next two months and attempt approval.  I am so tired and my weight keeps inching up more and more.  I need this surgery and fast.  I am wasting away.  I can hardly type as I am soooo tired and feel crappy.  I am double the size I should be, I just realized that.  F*, I just wanna curse.  SIGH....

OMG, I gained weight on my first month diet with my physician.  A few told me on here that is what happened to them and it happened to me!  I do exercise, eat protein bars and Slim Fasts and still no downward spike on the scale.  I am not giving up.  My nutrutionist did say that with PCOS it is a matter of not being able to lose weight so that would make sense.  I am going to keep doing what I need to do. 

I did the Nutritionist consult today and it went absolutely great.  I cannot believe how close I am to actually making this fantastic yet challenging change in my life.  I knew most of what we discussed due to my extensive research on this site among several others, however, the info I was given regarding post-op diet was new to me.  It's really surprising that it will be necessary to eat each and every hour and such tiny amounts.  I am just so excited.

I went in the wrong door and had to walk so far trying to find the suite I needed and my knee started hurting, started getting tired and hot and a little grouchy.  Once I got into the Nutritionist's office I started to liven back up.  I was quickly reminded that things are going to be so much better for me once I can do more physically. 

I went to one Physical Therapy appointment last week (PT) and am going again tomorrow and many more times due to the chronic pain in my back, neck and hip.  There is something going on that is being aggravated by my weight gain.  I moved my Psych Eval because I couldn't make it but that is going to be the 23rd of Feb. 

I move in 5 1/2 weeks then less than a month later I will be filing for approval and cannot wait to get to that point.  I am so ready and so excited.  I just want to be me again.

           "Healthy Dining Tips"    

• Call ahead and ask about healthy menu choices.
• Drink water, diet soda, or unsweetened tea or coffee instead of regular soda or alcoholic beverages.
• Eat slowly.
• Share an appetizer with the table.
• Choose soups with clear broths over cream based soups.
• Order white meats: chicken, turkey or fish.
• Ask how the food is prepared: grilled, baked, or steamed are best.
• Tell your server that you are conserving calories and ask if they will tell the chef to make lower calorie substitutions when preparing your meal.
• If you don't know what's in a dish or don't know the serving size, ask.
• Request dressings or sauces on the side. Use them sparingly.
• Order steamed vegetables as a side dish instead of starch.
• Choose foods made with whole grains. Examples include whole-wheat bread and dishes made with brown rice.
• Order sandwiches with mustard rather than mayonnaise or "special sauce." Mustard adds flavor with virtually no calories.
• Stop eating when you are full - listen to the cues your body gives you.
• Request low fat dairy products: milk, creamer, sour cream, cheese.
• Share your meal or ask for a doggie bag and enjoy part of your entree the next day.
• If you are craving dessert, opt for something low-fat, like sorbet, fresh berries or fruit.
• The restaurant industry is one of hospitality and they aim to please so don't be afraid to speak up with your healthy requests.
• Consider taking walk after your meal if time permits.

I have been diligently making my necessary appointments needed for the approval of DS by Aetna.  I have my Physical Therapy appointment set for tomorrow.  I go to my nutritionist in a week from tomorrow and had such a great talk with her today that made my day.  I have my Psych Evaluation set for the beginning of February and also my physical and 1 month follow up with my PCP the 7th of February.  I am just chuggin' along the route of approval.  Whoo Whoo!

The Nutritionist I am using said great things today that truly helps me believe that this is really going to happen.  She has never done a nutritional eval for anyone that wasn't approved so that makes me so excited!  The timeline I am looking at is as follows: :-)

Jan. 7 Visited PCP and started diet that will last three months
Jan. 22 Physical Therapy consultation
Jan. 29 Nutritionist
Feb. 3 Psych Evaluation
Feb. 7 -1 Month Follow Up with PCP

and also the other follow ups I will be scheduling in the future... I am so stoked!