Somehow

I don't know how I managed to do it, but somehow I have managed to drop below 400 yet again. I weighed in yesterday and today (just to see if it would stick) at 399. Wow! I have changed my eating habits just slightly. I'm more active at work. I park a little farther from my front door. I guess maybe it's a combo of everything. Whatever it is, I'll take it!

Nothing new on the surgical front. Just making appointments, waiting for referrals, waiting for appointments, and living life.

Tim was in hospital last week. He was having dizzy spells and even blacked out three times, which I didn't know about. Took him to the ER on doctor orders and his blood glucose level was over 600. Most of us 'regular folk' (non-diabetics) would be in a coma at that number! He was also 'bone dry' according to his labs. The Dr said that the dehydration is likely what caused the blackouts and dizzy spells.

He was in Tuesday late evening until Thursday early evening. He is doing really well since getting home. This gave him the kick in the butt he needed to get back to checking his blood sugar (which he hadn't done since before Thanksgiving) and eating three meals a day. Sheesh! I've been telling how important that is for years now.

At any rate ... life goes on.

Bah

So today I went for the gallbladder ultrasound. That test was a piece of cake! I didn't even to undress. Woo hoo! It was over in about ten minutes.

There is some kind of issue with the referral for the psych testing. I know that one is going to take a while. Looks like my surgery date could be as late as July, easily. Bah humbug! We'll see how it goes.

I'm feeling a little better. Still have a cough, though it's now more of a cry cough. I have become incontinent when I cough, though and that's a bother! Wonder if my surgeon would be willing to tie up my bladder while he's in there poking around. *laughing*

Other than that, nothing much to report. For those of you wondering what protein drink I tried it was called Unjury. It's a powder mix that she had mixed in with the newest orange flavor of Crystal Light. (I think she called it Sunlight Orange or something like that.) It actually was pretty good and I could see me drinking it with no problems. As I find more things that I like, I'll be sure to share them here. I know a few of you are interested in the process.

Doctor Appts

I met with the gastroenterologist yesterday. He basically explained the upper endoscopy procedure and h-pylori biopsy to me. His nurse scheduled it and then called me later to say I couldn't have it done in the surgical center but had to have it done in the hospital. I'm guessing that's because of my weight and any risks that might be involved.

I met with my PCP for my monthly visit. It went okay. He put in referrals for me to see the exercise guru and the psychologist. He said that the psych one may get kicked back. He's supposed to call the bariatric treatment center to find out how to handle it. Insurance says it's not a medical issue. Psych will say it is because of it being for bariatric surgery. *sigh* Just one more hoop to get through.

Went to a nutrition group for those who are going to have or who have had bariatric surgery. It was interesting. It really was all about support. I did get to taste two protein drinks. One was so bad I thought I was going to gag. The other one, I think I could deal with.

I am sick this morning. Woke up barely able to breathe. Sinuses are draining, I guess. Got sick and feel like crap. And so ... it's off to work I go!

What's Happening?

Sorry for the delay in posting. I went down to my sister's this past weekend and kept my granddaughters (ages 7 mos and 3 yrs) overnight. They were quite the handful but I had a blast.

I also played Dance Dance Revolution with my sister and had fun. I tried to do a slower song by myself but it was a no go. So, we shared the same pad and I did the forward and right steps while she did the backward and left steps. We actually did pretty well that way and it was just as fun!

As far as the surgery process ... I have an appointment early Weds morning with the endocrinologist for a consultation. He will then need to schedule me for an endoscopy and a h-pylori biopsy. Hopefully, that will be done soon so it won't hold me up.

After that appointment, I have an appointment with my primary physician. I will need to ask if I have to do lab work again that was done in February or can they use that. I need a definitive answer. I have the order from the surgeon to have the blood work done so if I need it, I'll get it done Weds morning.

I also need to get two referrals from my PCP. I need one to meet with the exercise person. I'm looking forward to it. I think I'll suggest water aerobics and the recumbent bike for my exercise. I also need the referral for the psychological. That one can take a few weeks to get the results back from so I need it done like yesterday!

And then, in the early evening, I will go to my second required support group meeting. This one is a post-surgery nutrition group. They share recipes and talk about how to get the necessary nutrients to keep the body going. I'm looking forward to it.

Next week, on Tues I go to the imaging department to have my gall bladder ultrasound. That will leave me with just the psych, exercise, and pulmonary appts. The pulmonary appt is the most frustrating right now. I am waiting for a cancellation so I can be seen earlier than June. Once I have everything else done, I will hound them daily until they get me in. I am not going to let one consultation hold me back for a long time. I'm ready to do this now.

So, as you can see, I'm doing fine. My weight continues to bounce up and down 405-410. I hate to admit it, but I've accepted that's the way it's going to be until I resolve the surgery issue. Until then, I've joined a group online at Yahoo! Groups for additional support, horror stories, and information. I figure one can never be too informed. I want to know everything I'm letting myself in for. After all, this is a lifetime committment and one that cannot ever be changed.

Nothing new

I have nothing new to say but figured I'd check in. I did get mail from the bariatric treatment center today. It was an update of testing I have to have done for gastric bypass instead of the lap band surgery. I've added some kind of endoscopy now with a biopsy included. Woo hoo!

I wish the center would send me a list of things my doctor sent so I'd know what I really still need to have done. I know I need psych eval, endoscopy with biopsy of something or other, gall bladder ultrasound, meeting with exercise guru, and pulmonary eval. (The last one is going to take a long time. My pulmonary office seems to booked until sometime in June. I pray I won't have to wait that long. I'm supposedly on the list for a cancellation. Keep your fingers crossed!)

I wish all the testing was done and I had a surgery date. I feel I'm ready for this now. It's going to be a HUGE change but one that I welcome.

Later ...

The Journey Continues

Last night I attended the first of at least two support group meetings for those who are considering bariatric surgery at the treatment center I'm using. I went to a general support group. Most of us there were pre-op patients. Only one person was there who has had gastric bypass surgery. No lapband patients were there, but they have their own support group which I will attend the last Monday of the month. It was informative and nice to talk with someone who has been through the surgery. I enjoyed myself and learned a little bit.

The next meeting I go to will be a nutrition support group post surgery (not after my surgery, but that's who mainly attends this group). I hear they share food there and also exchange recipes and ideas. I was told to check it out as there are a lot more who attend that group than the one I went to last night.

I talked to Blue Cross today. It was an interesting conversation and I'll be repeating it tomorrow to make sure I'm told the same thing twice as it wasn't what I expected. I asked about the surgeries being covered and was told that both are. I asked about criteria for approval and they said it would be up to my primary care physician and the medical group. HUH? I was told they had things I had to do like be on a medically supervised diet for 6-12 months among other things. I definitely need to make sure that was correct info.

The next step is to call for a psychological referral and then go for an evaluation. I also have to set up a gall bladder ultrasound. I think that will just about do it for the testing as most of the other testing I just had done at my physical last month. They said they can use those test results so we'll see.

I think the only other thing I will have to complete will be a meeting with the exercise specialist. Once that is done, everything is submitted to the surgeon's office for approval and they send it all off to the insurance company. I've been told to expect to be denied the first time around. Seems that's what happens to the majority of patients trying for bariatric surgery. I will then have to appeal the decision, with the help of my PCP and surgeon and fight for it.

Other than that, nothing much new for me. Work is pretty wicked right now but I'm hanging in there. Hope everyone is having a good week. I'll check in again soon.

Oh my ... Thank YOU!

As I read through everyone's comments last night I was in awe and wonder at the love I felt. Thanks to each of you for commenting. I know I read many blogs and never leave a comment and I wasn't asking for them, but I do treasure them. As Jamie said in my comments, this seems to be a very emotional time for me right now. I know the day I posted about not posting regarding surgery was one of my darkest days yet.

I do have people I talk to. Tim (the hubby) has been as supportive as ever. He is my rock and without him I honestly don't know what I'd do. As always, he supports me 150% on this and that means the world to him. He goes with me to all appointments and he knows the risks as well as how much this will change not only my life, but his as well. After all, I cook all the food. I take him out to eat. I doubt he's going to want to eat the things I am finding I will be eating, especially for the first 8-12 weeks post surgery if I do this.

And I do believe I'm going to do it if I can get insurance approval. I met with the surgeon and a dietician who works with bariatric surgery patients already. I have had some of the necessary testing done by my doctor at a physical the end of January. The bloodwork is out of the way. I had a sleep apnea test last fall and they can use those results for that. I do have to have a gallbladder ultrasound and a psych evaluation. I'm waiting to hear from my insurance company if they will even cover bariatric surgery but the treatment center my surgeon is at believes it will, I will just have to jump through all the hoops. Lucky me! I still have to attend two support group meetings. I will go to one for lapband patients and one for gastric bypass patients. I may go to more than that but that is a requirement of the treatment center I'll be going to.

I was dead set against the bypass but have been reconsidering after talking to my surgeon. I realize I will never be skinny. I wouldn't want to be. As much as I love my younger sister (who has lost about 90 lbs and kept it off for a year now and was never as obese as I ... she weighs about 107 right now at the age of 43) I would not want to be as thin as she is, ever. She doesn't look healthy. She lost her weight on her own post cancer. She's just too bony for me.

Statistically, lapband patients lose 40-60% of their EXCESS weight over 2-3 years. Gastric bypass patients lose 60-80% over the course of 18 mos. to 2 years. At least those are the statistics I've read in more than one place. My surgeon and I did the numbers. MY goal is to be right around 200 lbs when I'm done. To get there, gastric bypass is my best option. I have not made the final decision. He said he would do the lapband surgery on me, but would recommend bypass due to where I would like to be.

I do know that surgery is a tool. I do know that it will drastically change my life and not just the number on the scale. There are the vitamins, the 'dumping', the eating habits, and of course EXERCISE. And let's not forget that bypass is irreversible and changes how my body functions forever. I know all of that. I also know that being thin will not solve any problems I have other than the inability to do the things I WANT to do right now. As I go through the testing phase and the gathering of info phase, I am gathering more and more knowledge. I will not make a decision based upon fear. I will learn and make an informed decision.

Thanks for being here. I will share this journey with you all. I am thankful to have you gals and guys along for the ride. Knowing I am not alone makes it a little less scarey.