The Fitness Evaluation

I went yesterday and met with the fitness person at the bariatric center. We talked for over an hour and then I had to sign a contract saying I would start exercising as of today. I have to do a minimum of 30 minutes of planned physical activity at least 3 days a week. Within four weeks she expects me to be doing a minimum of 30 minutes 5 days a week and I am to maintain that. I also have to track it on this paper she gave me and send it in to her.

So ... I am going to a trial water aerobics class tonight. It will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays 7:30-8:15 PM. I get to go to one class free and the new session starts next week so I'm starting at a good time. They would pro-rate me if I started mid session but I'm getting in at the start. Tim is going to go with me and he can even join the class if he wants but will first have to get medical clearance from his doctor. That may take a bit so I'll start without him. She said if I don't like this class (held in cold water, whatever that means) then there is an earlier class for people with arthritis and other medical conditions held in warm water which I'm assuming is in a hot tub like environment. At least that's what it sounded like to me. She said that there are people in all stages of the surgery process and some who are only doing medically managed dieting who attend so I'm going to go give it a shot.

I also have to walk, do my exercise tapes (Leslie and Richard), and increase physical activity on a daily basis by parking farther away, taking stairs instead of the elevator, etc.

She also wants me to start doing some strength training using handheld weights and fitness bands. I got one in the box with the ball Teresa sent me a couple years ago so will start using it to stretch. Also she said using the ball is a good idea as well.

So ... there you have. Gotta get my butt moving and maybe I'll drop a few pounds before the surgery. It won't be enough to consider cancelling the surgery, but any loss would be good.

God Bless the Veterans

I just want to publicly (or as publicly as this blog may be) say thank you to all the veterans out there who have made living my life as free as it is. I have read a lot about how things are in other countries and I know I, as an American, have taken a lot for granted. It is because of the dedicated service of the men and women who have served our country in times of war and peace, that I have the life I have now. Thanks to each of them for their dedication to making the world a safer and better place to live in. I don't necessarily agree with war but oh the freedoms gained by it over the centuries.

God bless!

Testing Completed

I went for the psych testing last Friday. I think it went well. The psychiatrist was very nice. She asked me lots of background information. We talked about what I know about the surgery and life after it. We talked about support I have and how I will cope with the things that make me want to eat now. I don't have a lot of them, but still have a trigger or two here and there. I have ideas and she seemed satisfied with my answers. Then it was on to the personality test. Egads, 537 true or false questions and fill in the circle with a lead pencil, please. My eyes were a bit buggy when I was finally finished with all of that. At the end of the appointment, she shook my hand and wished me luck with the surgery so I'm guessing unless something glares out in my personality test, I got the nod from her.

I'm just back from the pulmonary function test. Tim is furious! The guy who did the testing was a mid 20s kid. He actually hit on me! I was so flabbergasted and Tim was breathing fire! It was kind of funny, actually. Anyway, that test went well and he compared it to the one I had this time last year. He said there has been minimal change so I'm taking that to mean I will be cleared for surgery on that. Woo hoo! All of the pre-op testing is now complete. Still have to wait on the appointment with the pulmonary doctor but he checked and I'm moving up on the waiting list to be called for a cancellation. Yea!

I meet the exercise gal on Tuesday and will advise her that all of the testing is done. Hopefully, they will complete the chart, send it to the surgeon and it will all go out to the insurance company the first week of June. Surgery in July is still possible. Yes!

This part of the process is nearly over and a new phase will begin. In the meantime, my weight is happily going up and down the same few pounds it has been for months now. I've tried changing up what I was eating, when I was eating, etc and so far nothing seems to make much of a difference. To continue to maintain is okay but to be losing again would be nice, too.

Sometimes Work Stinks

I think I mentioned that I went back to working overnight shift as a supervisor for the entire campus a couple weeks back. One of my job responsibilities is to visit the homes and make certain that none of the overnight staff are asleep.

So last night I go to the home I used to work in to get some paperwork and check on how things are. One of the evening staff was still there doing paperwork. One of the overnight staff was at the table doing paperwork and the other was on the couch. She appeared to be sleeping but when I asked for the paperwork, she got up and got it so I figured I must have been mistaken. She sat down and I continued to hang out for a short while chatting with the other two staff in the home.

All of a sudden, I hear snoring. The staff on the sofa had gone sound asleep. I couldn't believe it. To be asleep and snoring with me sitting right there was not good. And this where work stinks.

I call the Program Manager (PM) this afternoon to tell her and she grills me about why I didn't page her and tell her when it was happening. That person should have been fired on the spot. Well ... no one told me the procedure to follow. I was told only to "report if I ever discover someone asleep on the job". The woman who was sleeping is 63 years old and has been working there for 13 years now. I know for a fact that she has been sleeping on overnights since she was hired, but to date no one had done anything about it. I also figured with two other staff there that could verify what happened, I could wait a little while to report it.

Now I'm waiting to hear from the PM who was going to talk to the Program Director (my immediate boss) to find out how we are going to proceed. She very well may be fired for this, as she should be but I hate that it is in part my fault. I hate that she put me in this position. And I could get written up for 'not following procedure' but since I haven't been given a procedure I will fight it if that should happen. This PM wants to work out a code so that if a staff is discovered sleeping on the job, I would page the PM of whatever home it is and put in the code. She would then know to come to the home because a staff is sleeping. Okay, fine but they need to make it the same for every home and not different because of how the managers want it. Ah ... work just stinks sometimes, I guess.

Another step set

I spoke with the person at my medical group utilization management yesterday. She said now that I am qualified to go through testing for bariatric surgery, she will have the claims department re-file for the surgical and nutrition bill I have been getting. That way the insurance will back up and pay the claim.

I also called the person who I have to meet for the physical therapy evaluation about exercise before and after surgery. She was very nice. I explained that my insurance is not going to cover that expense and she advised me that it rarely does. Not a big deal really. I just needed to know how much the consultation would cost so I can plan for it in my budget. I was surprised to find out it will be less than $75. I already know what kinds of exercise I want to do following surgery. I want to do water aerobics (which will run around $72 for every six week session) and they offer a basic training class to teach me how to use things like the treadmill, recumbent bike, rowing machine, weights, etc properly. I figure if I'm going to do those things I may as well know how to do them correctly. They also offer a low impact aerobics class but I'm going to wait on that one for a short while. And of course there is always walking. I meet with her on the 27th and will let you know how that goes.

All that will be left by the end of this month is my pulmonary evaluation. I called yesterday and left a message for the nurse to call me back, hoping there had been a cancellation they could squeeze me into. So far, nothing and no return call. I know she's busy and I know she will call when she can.

I'd love to finish the testing by the end of this month. The surgeon's office then needs about a week to prepare my chart for the insurance company and they then have 30 days to approve or deny my surgery. It would be nice if I could have approval and the surgery date set for some time in July. My brother is losing his job (company closing) the end of June. My sister-in-law works in the public schools and has summer off. One or both of them could come up for a day or two to help Tim get back and forth to the hospital. My brother said he'd stay until I am home and able to get around well. Both of them probably can't stay more than one night as they have a lovely dog named Bubba. I know they won't kennel him as the last time they did that he didn't eat for weeks. They could bring him with, but I don't know how well he'd do out of his own environment. Here he couldn't just be let out to run like he is at home.

So that's my timeline. I know it's not up to me. I know I may have a lot longer, especially if I have to file an appeal. But I also know I'm going to do this and will make it through each and every step along the way.

I have to agree with something Janet said recently in my comment section. It would have been so much better if I had just learned to eat healthy and not gotten so big in the first place. (Not exactly what you said, but that's the gist of it.) But I grew up learning bad habits about food. I have been addressing triggers that make me want to eat. I've come a long way and I continue to be proud of losing 130 pounds and maintaining for two years. I stress to my daughters all the time to teach their girls how to eat healthy now so they never have to worry about this. I know they are both doing a fantastic job!

Controversy

If you are offended by me posting about weight loss surgery and how I feel about things, perhaps you should be reading somewhere else. Those of you who have known me a long time are fully aware I am not a mean spirited person but will speak my mind from time to time when things don't go as well I think they should. This is my blog to post in what I want. And with that, I'm letting this whole issue about nurses drop.

One more test down

So, I went yesterday for my upper endoscopy and h-pylori biopsy. Other than the fact that the twit of a nurse tried to put an IV in right next to my wrist in the bend, I made out okay. That hurt more than anything I think I've ever had done to me in my life. Our friend Mike drove us to the hospital. Barb picked us up and carried us back home.

The procedure itself was a piece of cake. They gave me something in the IV to relax me. Being as how I'd been up all night at work, I went right off to sleep and knew nothing. I guess they asked me in recovery five times if I was ready for something to eat and drink before I finally answered them. Then I took a sip of apple juice and and ate a tiny piece of cracker. Ought oh! Looked at Tim and told him I was going to be sick. Poor baby jumped up and started yelling for help. They got me a puke thing just in the nick of time! I rested for another 20 mins or so and then felt okay to go home. Was a little tipsy and slept the rest of the day but went out to dinner with Mike and Barb late in the day.

Result was that my esophagus is beautifully normal. The stomach is normal. The results of the biopsy will be back in 7-10 days. Woo hoo! I think I passed this test with flying colors.

Got a call from the psychiatrist. She set my appointment for Friday May 16 as she's off this next week. I meet with her for an hour and then have to do a two hour pencil and paper personality test. Egads! Wonder what she'll want to talk about. Never been to a psychiatrist before.

The wheels are finally slowly rolling toward finalizing the testing phase and submitting to the insurance company. I swear if they deny me I'm gonna go postal on them! Seriously, the chit they put you through. I can understand for someone who doesn't have over 200 lbs to lose and a BMI over 65 but come on now!

Rant over. Thanks for listening. LOL