So far I have been average nervous about the surgery and life change... My gag reflex still continues to be the biggest concern... and last night I learned about hair loss... I really want to grow my hair for Locks of Love....
And I guess I am starting to get nervous... I know it is the right decision... I have thought about it for years... I just need to calm down...
Tomorrow is my class to learn how to eat and what happens post-op... I am excited... nervous... not sure....
Ahhhhh....
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Me... Drink that?
So today I took my FMLA paperwork to the surgeon....It was odd... like they were expecting me, and no... I did not call. However, when I went in she said oh are you Megan? We need the dates of your pre-op class and history and physical.... Thankfully I had just scheduled my pre-op class in the lobby of the building on my way up!
Anyway... I did find out that I have to do the barium GI test.... I have to tell you that I am PETRIFIED..... I need someone to tell me my surgery either hinges on it or not.... not that it will make a difference... I hope they have a bowl available when I give it back.... I know I need to "keep my eye on the prize" and am probably amping myself up more than necessary... but I keep remembering the glucola I never could keep down....
Today has been emotional... Friday I thought 3.5 weeks was a long time to wait... Today I do not think I want to wait 3.5 weeks! I am sure by now I am driving people nuts... I can say for certain I am getting on my own nerves!
Anyway... I did find out that I have to do the barium GI test.... I have to tell you that I am PETRIFIED..... I need someone to tell me my surgery either hinges on it or not.... not that it will make a difference... I hope they have a bowl available when I give it back.... I know I need to "keep my eye on the prize" and am probably amping myself up more than necessary... but I keep remembering the glucola I never could keep down....
Today has been emotional... Friday I thought 3.5 weeks was a long time to wait... Today I do not think I want to wait 3.5 weeks! I am sure by now I am driving people nuts... I can say for certain I am getting on my own nerves!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Big Order's Decision
Well... this is my first post. I am writing this to depict my surgical weight loss journey. The name of the blog is reminiscent as to how I became obese. A friend and I went through the drive through at a fast food stop and ordered a lot of food for two people... We pulled up to the window to pay and the lady asked if we had one thing... we said no... and her comment was... oh you had the big order! So is the saga of my obesity!
I also have a deeply personal reason for wanting the surgery. I saw my father struggle with weight and acquire Diabetes. What happened when he got healthier? He was diagnosed with stage 4 Lung Cancer- a lifelong non smoker- and lived slightly over a year beyond his diagnosis. I promised him I would get healthy and lost weight!
I have always said I would never have weight loss surgery. I have tried to lose weight the normal way and have exercised. However, I always get to a certain point and it stops. After seeing a couple of people go through the surgery with positive results, I started researching. My research online, via pamphlet and then in a seminar lead to the decision to have surgery.
I attended the seminar in early September. Met with dietitians... office manger... a success story... and the surgeon. I was ready. However, I soon learned the waiting room was the most interesting place......
The day of seminar people were speaking about cooking with butter and not liking turkey based meats. They understood why they were there... I remember thinking.... I am a drive thru junkie because I am out and about a lot.... It is not that I eat a lot... I eat the wrong food....
So after the seminar came the gathering the health records. I have not always been vigilant about annual physician appointments. Knowing I needed 5 years of medical records I was PETRIFIED! I found records from childhood that said I needed to lose weight. I called the weight loss clinic in Goshen where I went until I "fell off the wagon". I called my current clinic... then I called a clinic I went once prior to relocating to South Bend.... After bugging people to dig through historical files.... I typed a statement of weight loss attempts and sent what I could to the surgeon's office.
Thankfully the office manager is amazing. She worked diligently with her assistant to submit everything to my insurance company. I also called the insurance company to check the progress. I was approved really fast! October 5th... Although I did not find out until the weekend... It was amazing... almost surreal....
Then came the OH NO moment.... I was told initially I would not have surgery until 2010... That would be fine except for the high probability that my insurance would change. I spoke with our wonderful HR department and was told there were changes... but it depended on my plan.... I tried very hard to get the surgery date moved.... The amazing office manager gave me a 99.999% chance this would happen....
Last Friday... the call came.... My surgery date is November 11th!!!!! Holy guacamole! I am now scheduling the pre-op appointments and seminars! It is nuts....
Today I went out and bought items to prepare for surgery and post op. I bought some fabulous new jammies... I just do not think I can wear a hospital gown... and want to be decent at home! Knowing 2 weeks I have to puree food... I bought a chopper.... tiny pinch bowls.... baby spoons... lots of measuring items too!
I really hope I am ready.....
I have two big fears right now....
1- The pre-op medical appointment... I hope I do not have to drink anything for a test... If I do... we are in trouble... I will gag and just pray I can keep it down enough for the test of that I do not have to do the test!
2- The time off of work... I am hoping I can be working from home after a week or week and a half.... and back to work by Dec 1.... I am just not good bored at home!
I believe that is it for now... I will update this as things pop into my head....
I also have a deeply personal reason for wanting the surgery. I saw my father struggle with weight and acquire Diabetes. What happened when he got healthier? He was diagnosed with stage 4 Lung Cancer- a lifelong non smoker- and lived slightly over a year beyond his diagnosis. I promised him I would get healthy and lost weight!
I have always said I would never have weight loss surgery. I have tried to lose weight the normal way and have exercised. However, I always get to a certain point and it stops. After seeing a couple of people go through the surgery with positive results, I started researching. My research online, via pamphlet and then in a seminar lead to the decision to have surgery.
I attended the seminar in early September. Met with dietitians... office manger... a success story... and the surgeon. I was ready. However, I soon learned the waiting room was the most interesting place......
The day of seminar people were speaking about cooking with butter and not liking turkey based meats. They understood why they were there... I remember thinking.... I am a drive thru junkie because I am out and about a lot.... It is not that I eat a lot... I eat the wrong food....
So after the seminar came the gathering the health records. I have not always been vigilant about annual physician appointments. Knowing I needed 5 years of medical records I was PETRIFIED! I found records from childhood that said I needed to lose weight. I called the weight loss clinic in Goshen where I went until I "fell off the wagon". I called my current clinic... then I called a clinic I went once prior to relocating to South Bend.... After bugging people to dig through historical files.... I typed a statement of weight loss attempts and sent what I could to the surgeon's office.
Thankfully the office manager is amazing. She worked diligently with her assistant to submit everything to my insurance company. I also called the insurance company to check the progress. I was approved really fast! October 5th... Although I did not find out until the weekend... It was amazing... almost surreal....
Then came the OH NO moment.... I was told initially I would not have surgery until 2010... That would be fine except for the high probability that my insurance would change. I spoke with our wonderful HR department and was told there were changes... but it depended on my plan.... I tried very hard to get the surgery date moved.... The amazing office manager gave me a 99.999% chance this would happen....
Last Friday... the call came.... My surgery date is November 11th!!!!! Holy guacamole! I am now scheduling the pre-op appointments and seminars! It is nuts....
Today I went out and bought items to prepare for surgery and post op. I bought some fabulous new jammies... I just do not think I can wear a hospital gown... and want to be decent at home! Knowing 2 weeks I have to puree food... I bought a chopper.... tiny pinch bowls.... baby spoons... lots of measuring items too!
I really hope I am ready.....
I have two big fears right now....
1- The pre-op medical appointment... I hope I do not have to drink anything for a test... If I do... we are in trouble... I will gag and just pray I can keep it down enough for the test of that I do not have to do the test!
2- The time off of work... I am hoping I can be working from home after a week or week and a half.... and back to work by Dec 1.... I am just not good bored at home!
I believe that is it for now... I will update this as things pop into my head....
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