SIOBHANAKRON

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I haven't updated this blog in a while.  A lot of things have happened!  First thing is all of my pre-op testing is done.  The office girl from my surgeon's  office called me yesterday to tell me that I am approved!  MY doctor is scheduling surgeries into July, so it will be a little while for me.  I also have to pay the remaining $1400 that is due after my insurance pays.  My first quarter of school is over, my grades are good.  I got 4 A's and a B.  School takes up all my time!!  I just wanted to let anyone that is interested know that I will be on the loser's bench soon!!

Well, today was my fourth appt. during my six month plan.  I was very surprised when I stepped on the scale and had lost the entire 9 pounds that I gained, since I began this journey!!!  YEAH!!  My doctor was very pleased.  He says another 3-4 pounds at my next visit and I will be right where they want me.  I am soo excited, it is getting closer and closer everyday!  I recieved the orders for all the rest of my pre-op tests. My surgeon's office is in a medical building that has lots of different doctors and services. I was scheduled for my cardiac clearance appt.today, but two hours after the appt. with the family doctor.  I had time to kill, so I went and had some of my other tests done.  I had another order for blood, got that done ( and only had to be poked twice,,really good for me)!  I went to the x-ray department and had my chest x-ray. I had my 2-year old daughter with me through all of this, and she was soooo good, just a little concerned about mommy getting "boo-boos". I never thought I would be getting the chest x-ray that same day, so I didn't think anything about having her with me.  Duh!  I know better, she can't go in the x-ray room with me, but,,,, the office girls were so nice they let her sit in a chair outside the door, and one of the medical assistants watched her for me.  It was great, and only took about 10 mins, all of which she sat in the chair!  She is a really good girl, she gets dragged around a lot with her momma!  I then went to see the cardiologist, he said I was fine for the surgery, and he would be writing a letter to my surgeon supporting that.  I had my EKG in his office as well,,,so knocked out another pre-op test.  I now have my psych app. on the 29th of January.  I am not worried too much about that.  I have my next appt with the surgeon on the 31st, along with my breathing test and the ultrasound of the gallbladder.  They were able to fit all of these tests in around my school schedule, except for one,,,so as of right now, all is good and I couldn't be happier!!!  I wasted a lot of sleep and worry, thinking I would have to drop school in order to have the testing,,,but right now it looks like it will all work out!!!  The surgeon's office was very good about arranging my tests around my school schedule.  I also have my first appt with Robin, who will be my nut, on Feb.1st.  So, as you can see things are moving right along. My first day of school is on Monday.  I am ready,,,we had to take a general medical knowledge test today,(required for alll nursing students in the excelerated program),,,I scored a 95%,,the teacher asked me if I had already taken this class,,,I replied " No, I have just been through a lot in my life, and discovery health channel helps a lot too!"  I am excited to move on with these positive changes in my life.  Thanks to all of you that have supported me so far, I appreciate all of your knowledge and experience!

Well, today was my second appointment in my six month physician supervised diet and exercise program.  Things didn't go as planned. I didn't gain any weight, still at 234.  I thought that was good considerig Thanksgiving was just a few days ago.  The doctor didn't seem to pleased.  I told him that I was trying to cut down on the carbs, and that I had stopped drinking soda.  I now drink iced tea.  He said well I have to report your noncompliance on my notes to the insurance company, and they don't like it when people don't follow in instructions.  I am thinking I did follow the directions, I quit drinking pop, and I didn't know he wanted me to completely stop eating carbs all together.  I am now a little scared about being approved.  My next appointment is on Dec.11th, and he says he would like me to lose 3 pounds before my next visit.... we'll see. I am going to try, but carbs are one of my favorites!

Today was my first appointment with Dr. wells.  He is a family doctor that works with my surgeon.  He is the one you see for six months.( if your insurance company requires a six month physician supervised diet and exercise plan) I could have chosen to see my own pcp for this six months, but since he works with the surgeon, and knows how to word stuff to for insurance approval, I went with him. I got weighed today and I gained four pounds since the 11th of Oct.  UGGG!!  He talked to me about healthy foods, fiber, carbs and sensible portion sizes.  He also told me to quit drinking pop. I took everythig he said into account.  He also would like me to lose 20 pounds during this six months.  He says it will make my surgery easier.  He asked me what I thought was the turning point for me, ( I was always very thin, until six years ago) what I thought made me gain so much weight.  I told him I already know.  It was Paxil.  I gained over 100 pounds on it, he says I hit the nail on the head, and it can be soo hard to get the weight off after you stop taking the med.  He says doctors are just now realizing how bad that med can be for weight gain, espically for those of us that took it for anxiety, not depression because the dosage is so much higher.  Anyway I have to go for my second apt. with him on Nov. 27th.  This is five days after Thanksgiving, will I lose some weight???

I got a call today that I am approved for a biratric consultion.  My insurance company gave me to choices for surgeons.  One is at the Cleveland Clinic and the other is in my home town of Akron.  After doing some checking, I have chosen Dr. Zografakis, in Akron.  I called the office today and they said they would mail me out some paper work to fill out, and made an appointment for me to attend a seminar on wls given by the surgeon.  I am soooo excited!  I go to the seminar on Sept. 28,  YEAH!!!!