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Had my consult with Dr. Suh on Thursday.  He said that I am definately a candidate for WLS.  Now I have to do all of my pre-op stuff.  He told me no potatoes, rice, pasta or bread.  Blah!  It's really hard to eat without eating those things.  I'm trying.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.  Hoooray!!!!~mo

Well, we made it through the Thanksgiving trip to visit my parents in Georgia.

While we where there, I told them about my impending surgery plans.  The both said the same thing "I just wish you wouldn't do this."  Later my mom apoligized for not being supportive.  My dad never spoke of it again. Actually, my dad really didn't speak to me that much at all after I told him.  It was kinda weird.  It was also weird when my 5 ft 7 in, 175 pound Mom asked if she should have WLS too?  OMG!  I told her she wouldn't qualify.

I found out that out of the eight siblings of my mother, six of them has or has died from diabetes-type I and type II.

I noticed something interesting while I was there.  My mother eats ALL of the TIME!  She just grazes and grazes.  She eats while she is cooking, then eats the meal, then snacks on the clean up and then states, "I really need something sweet to eat."  I also realized that there are literally more obese people in the area I grew up than there are healthy weight people.  It has to be the fact that everything they eat is fried!  My mother says that my dad will not eat meat that isn't fried.  I told her that if she doesn't make it (and this is a fact!), he won't eat it.  He scoffed at my green beans and broccoli that I made with a pasta dish while I was there.  He walked off only with pasta in his belly.  Frankly, he'd starve at our house.

So now we are on our way home.  I feel like I've had a huge mental set-back because the longer we where there the more I ate.  I did good on Thanksgiving day but it was the following days that didn't help me.  It's time to get back to reality and get myself in order. 

It will be easier a coast away from my family.
~mo

I finished my Nut class on the 12th.  PCP called me on 13th that they had received the info and where going to submitt for the Med Group.
PCP called me today (the 18th) and said they approved me for my consult with Dr. Suh.
I am super excited!!
~mo

So it's been a while since I've checked in here, I see.

I have two classes left for my nut class.  It has been pretty much the same as all the nutrition and WW classes I have been to.  I really wish they dealt more with the psych issues.  The support groups are better for that, it seems.

I'm starting to get nervous.  My daughter said she is worried that I will die in the surgery.  I tried to explain to her that I am going to die from being overwieght if I can't fix it.  She said "but Mom, we love you the way you are."  I told her I'm gonna be a better me.

So Nov 12th I have my primary dr appt.  He will submit me for surg consult then.  I'm taking a deep breath and looking forward.
~mo

I have finished my first week on the nut diet.  I still can't eat the full 1800 calories.  Today is the first day I even came close and that's because I ate at Mimi's Cafe and finished my left over Claim Jumper sandwich from last night for dinner.  So anyway, I have GAINED 5 pounds.  How is that possible?  I have been following along.  I have been checking off the portions on my sheet and entering all my foods on the DailyPlate.com.  My DH says it's because I'm not exercising.  It's weird because I'm eating healthier but it seems like I'm eating more and now to find out I haven't lost weight but gained!  I'm a week away from my next visit from the nut.  I don't know what she's going to say.  I have about 30 days left before my PCP will re-submit to the medical group.  I'm going to try and start walking about 5 minutes every hour.

BLAH!!

I went to my first support group meeting last night.  My DH went with me.  There was a plastic surgeon there, so it was interesting.  Much of the other information was the same as I have been recieving on OH, Dr. Suh's site and from a friend who had WLS.  I guess I'm just one of those people who wants to know stuff, so I have been researching for some time.  It has taken me two years to even ask my doctor for a referral.  I was surprised at the pre-ops who where there who had no idea of what to expect.  Many of them stated that they are "ready to have surgery" but they were not armed with many facts.  I asked my DH as we were leaving, how can you commit to having such a major life-changing operation, when you have no knowledge of what it entails?  It scares me to think that there are surgeons who will do WLS on people who aren't ready to "give up pasta" or make other life changes.  You can go on any computer and google "weight loss surgery" and get a huge listing, including the names of surgeons in your area.  If you have insurance, they will tell you what surgeons they cover.  Then you can check out their sites.  There is really no excuse to not know if the surgeon expects you to attend a seminar, a support group meeting and patient education meeting.  One had completed everything else and was trying to complete these three things so she could get a surgery date.  Now, how can you get this far and not know that you needed those three meetings?  (She did say she had no idea.)  I'm not sure what surgeon she was using becuase it seemed like not everyone has the same one.   I can really understand why insurance companies may not want to cover WLS or the medical groups make you wait 6 months while you become educated. My friend, who had WLS six years ago, told me that this is the reason that some people are not successful.  They don't understand that it is a life-changing commitment.  They think it is a one-time fix for all of their problems. 

I wish my fellow pre-ops well.  I hope that I was misreading some of the questions that they asked.  If I wasn't, I certainly hope that they will seek out the full information and not get into something they are not prepared for.  I'm just going to keep gathering information so that I can be successful.

Just my opinion.
~Monica

Nut has me on 1800 calorie diet.  I can't seem to force myself to eat that much during the day.  As crazy as that sounds, right?  How come I have all this fat on me if I didn't eat more than I needed.  No way, unless I drive down to the DQ after dinner to fill out the rest of my calories.  I'm following the map for the kinds of food she has given me but it's still not working.  Most I can get is 1400 in a day so far.  I guess I should eat more in my snacks.

My son has Asperger's Syndrome.  He eats very little and only what he wants and when he wants.  I've been watching an exchange on FB today by one of my friends who did not want her daughter to eat a popsicle for breakfast.  One mom on there said "I would win that battle.  It prepares them to win the war when they move out."  Good grief, we take ourselves very seriously don't we?  If I had to fight that battle everyday with all the other battles I fight about education and hygenie, I would never get anything else done.  My son eats what he wants to eat and that's that.  It is more difficult for my DH to understand than for me.  We just make sure we have that food in the house for him.  If we don't, he will not eat any thing else.period.  It's his Aspergers.  I accept it.  Which brings me to the fact we were talking about his birthday party in which he will be 10.  I'm thinking cake, water bottles, carrot chips, goldfish, apples, grapes and graham crackers.  That's what he likes.  Why would I spend money on something for HIS birthday that he won't eat anyway?  Others may think it's weird but it is his party.  He goes to their parties and they don't have what he will eat.  So there you go. 

Guess I'm a little pissy with all this food sitting in my gut.

~Monica

Went to first Nut class today.  It's just about the same as WW class.  Monday is the class that the surg holds.  She gave me 1800 cal. plan.  Met nice lady there from my area.  Hopefully, we can support each other.  I also told her about OH.com. 

I have lost 4 pounds in last 2 weeks.  Now I can add that to my ticker.  I think that's because I have cut out the soda completely.  I'm gonna have to really start thinking about food now.  I really don't do well because I skip a lot of meals.  Then at night I'm not hungry or I just go through drive through.  Blah.................

~Mo

The field trip today went well.  We had all those kids there with all those chaperones and nobody got lost.  Only one kid got sick and her dad came and got her.  It seemed that all had a great time.  Now it's the foot pain time.  I did a lot of walking with my best shoes on but my feet are really hurting.  I did make sure that I was in a few pictures that I can have for "before" shots as was suggested in the book I'm reading.  I didn't feel comfortable going on some of the rides, so I didn't do too much of that.

Tomorrow is my first NUT class.  I'm really excited.  I'm not sure what I will be doing but I'm still excited.

I bought a book called "WLS for Dummies."  It has a ton of information in it.  Some I had already read on the internet but also other things.  I'm glad I bought it.

Still no soda since May 12 or 13th.  That's a long time for me to go with out soda.  Big HOOOORAY for me!
~mo

Just hanging out today, helping Andre'e with some school work.

I have my list of phone calls to make for tomorrow.  I've been making a lot of notes from some of the OH posts.  I'm really glad I have this site because there are so many questions that they have been able to answer for me.

I have noticed that over the past 2 weeks I have lost my appetite.  I don't know if it from all of the talk about WLS or an addition of medication by my doctor.  I will have to research and see what is says.  I don't think I've heard anything about cholesterol meds causing you to lose your appetite?  I did wake up several times last night with my stomach growling.  That just sounds crazy to me.  Also, my psych had told me to increase my Lexapro when I feel like I need it.  Well, I have felt the need over the past couple of weeks.  So it could be because I have increased it, too.  I do not feel as depressed as I did a few weeks ago.  Of course, I haven't been to the school since Friday at lunch time.  I'm really ready for school to be out.  I really took on too much this year.  I will never do that again.  I feel like I have neglected myself and my family this year.

I did go to fitday.com and make an account to start tracking my food intake.  I don't have any activity to track.  Everytime I try to walk any length of time, my feet hurt so bad the next day that I can hardly move.  I don't know how I am going to do it on Wednsday, we have a field trip to Legoland.  We shall see how I feel on Thursday and Friday. 

I need to add to the forum about the 100 Mile Club.  I think it might be something that people might be interested in.  It's on my mind right now because we are getting ready to have our medal ceremony and I know that I need to get it going for the homeschool program next year.  I think it would be good for some post ops to do in their hometowns too.

Back to the CC 600.  Speaking of CC....I haven't had soda since May 13th.  Woooohooooo!  That's a major deal for me.