The last day of the year!

I hope everyone has a blessed New Year. 2012 is going to be the turning point in my life by being a lot smaller. I have lost 60 pounds and am starting to get some of my energy back. I bought myself a mountain bike for Christmas and took it for a little spin today. I know it will take a little while before I can ride it a distance but I did ride it 2 1/2 country blocks and that was not on flat terrain. I can't wait til I can ride the trails with some friends. It has been a long time since I rode a bike but I will get the hang of it and build up the muscles that I will need to ride it uphill.

Wow, so much to look forward too and accomplish in 2012.

 May God Bless You and Your Family in the New Year.

Three week post op!

Today makes 3 weeks post op, I am losing a 1 pound a day. I have lost 21 pounds since my surgery and a total of 55 pounds. I am trying to eat all my food but boy is it hard to get down 2 ounces of food at a time. I have been so cold it is unreal, I have talked to other people and they say they are cold. I guess this is due to the rapid weight loss.

I started back to work last Wednesday, and boy oh boy, and I sure do get tired so easy. Plus, our office was in the process of moving which was hard because I could not help. Today we started work in our new office. My office looks like a tornado hit it, but I will eventually get it organized. I am trying to take a walk every day. I know that exercise is important, but I am so tired. I hope my energy comes back soon.

Okay, I think the doctor sewed my up with fishing line because my incisions has these little plastic things sticking out that looks like fishing line. They are annoying and I do not know if they are to come out or dissolve.

2 weeks post op

Well it has two weeks since my surgery. I am doing great but it sure is hard to eat all the food I need too, I sure did not think I would ever say that. I will sure be glad when my vocal cords heal so I can talk when I want too. That has been about the worse of this hole thing.

I got a pleasant surprise yesterday when one of the gals from my PCP stopped by with a beautiful vase of fresh cut flowers of carnations, lilies, and Christmas pine cones and pine greenery. They are the best at that office.

My post op appointment is Tuesday and I sure hope I can go back to work. I am not one to sit around the house. By my scales I had lost 16 pounds since I got out of the hospital. All total I have lost 50 pounds. I am so excited at what is happening and the new adventure of my life is going to be like.

10 days out from surgery!

Well thought I better get busy writing on this blog since I have to rest my vocal cords. Yes, I went to my doctor today and the vocal cords are inflamed from the tubes and from talking and laughing and my vocal cords are inflamed. For the people that know me it is impossible for me to keep my mouth shut. 


I lost 34 pounds before my surgery and now I am down 43 pounds. So since my surgery I have lost 9 pounds. That is almost a pound a day probably more since I gained 5 pounds while in the hospital. They said that was normal due to the fluids they are putting in you.


I feel good although I still have a little soreness. I want to do things but am afraid I might damage something.

Home Sweet Home!

Sorry I have not posted in a while. I am doing good. In some pain which is to be expected. I returned home Wed. afternoon. It is always good to get home from an hospital stay. I can sleep so much better and the chairs are so much more comfortable. Thanks for all the people who keeps following and wanting me to post.

Well I will try to keep up with the progress I am making. I found out I can't tolerate Cream of Wheat. When you can't just stop so you do not make yourself sick.

Day after survey!

Surgery went well I may get to go home  tomorrow.
I will post more when I feel better.

In the waiting room!

I have been waiting for an hour.

Surgery in the morning!

I am so excited to have made it this far. I just wanted to say see you on the other side. I will post as soon as I can.

The day before surgery!

WOW tomorrow is my surgery. Have a lot of stuff to do today. Today I start the pre op clear liquid diet. That means no protein shakes today and only broth, juice, jello and popsicles for the diet today. Then around five this evening I will start this wonderful drink. I am trying to share with a friend and she does not want any. Go figure! I will need to get my suitcase packed for my stay at the hospital and finish up some things here at home. This is very hard on my husband since he is not able to go to the hospital with me. I am very thankful with all the wonderful friends the lord has blessed me with.

Well I will post more today or tonight. I appreciate the comments that people are making. It is helpful to read and know that someone has been there and hopefully it will help someone else get to this point.

Happy Liquid Turkey Day!

As the saying goes eat, drink and be merry so with this being Thanksgiving Day I think I will drink a spot of chicken broth and have a wonderful protein shake and be merry because Monday is approaching fast and it cannot get here quick enough for me. Yes Monday is the big day and that is less than 4 days away (3 days 20 hours) the anticipation is growing within. I am looking so forward to being healthy. People are starting to ask if I have a goal weight and to be honest I have not even thought about the ideal weight I want to be. I just want to be healthy and get off oxygen and the CPAP machine at night. I was on the verge of being a diabetic and other health problems were creeping up on me. So as far as the ideal weight who knows what that might be and I will cross that bridge at another time.

The doctor wanted me to lose 20 to 40 pounds before surgery and this morning I was down 34 pounds. I have 6 pounds to go by Monday. I have been losing about a pound or two a day since I have been on the Bariatric Advantage protein shakes from the doctor.

I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Thoughts

I just wanted to express how thankful I am that god is giving me the courage and will power to do take this step in doing something for me. I am just thankful he is on my side and all of this is in his hands. We do not give him the praise he deserves but we all need to remember he is a loving god.

I am also thankful for all the support I am receiving through this life saving adventure. I have a lot of support from family and friends. I can't believe how supportive people are that I have never even met. With my job I talk to a lot of vendors and some are just so great to deal with. Yesterday I was speaking to one that was so excited about what I was doing and could not wait to read this blog and then to even share it with someone else that it might give them encouragement in their life. This is one of the reasons I was inspired to do this blog was in the hopes of helping other people.

So please remember that sometime in life you have to take care of yourself and do something for you.

Day 7 on Liquids!

Well I have been cooking all weekend for my husband and done great on my liquids. I know that this is the ultimate test for me and I am so determined at wanting this that it is not bothering me (okay maybe a little). I am staying focused on being healthy because that is what I want more than anything is to get off of oxygen at night and not become insulin dependent. Both my parents died at an early age and they were both overweight and I want to live a healthier life.

Seven more days to go!

Day 6

Well I am on my 6th day of my liquid diet so far so good. This morning was a test because my husband wanted biscuits and gravy with fried potatoes and I had my protein shake. It was easier than I thought it was going to be to not eat. I am wanting this so bad that nothing is going to get me down. I am so eager to be healthy that nothing is going to get in the way.

I have 8 days, 17 hours and 28 minutes. It is getting closer and closer.

Day 3

Well here it is at Day 3 of liquids and am doing okay on them. I have 11 days, 15 hours and 30 minutes left until surgery. I am so looking forward to this surgery. I will be starting a new journey in my life so yes this is very exciting. I have a doctor appointment in the morning, so I will post more tomorrow.

Day 2 of liquids!

Well today was day 2 of liquids, I had no caffine yesterday so I woke up with a terrible headache but had a little coffee and it went away. I am still very excited and can't wait til the 28th.

First day of liquid diet!

Well I have made it through the first day of liquids and no caffeine.It has not been too much of a challenge just wish the protein powder had a better taste but I will make it.

Early Thanksgiving!

Well this is my last weekend to eat and we decided to have and early Thanksgiving. We went to camping at a friends house and smoked a turkey and had some of the fixings. I have ate so much persimmon pudding it is unreal but that will be the last so I say goodbye to an old lifestyle and hello to a new one. It was good to get away and enjoy the friendship. We came home late and will worry with unloading the camper in the morning.

Pre-Op Testing

Well I have been poked with needles and had to drink the nasty white stuff and swallow this stuff that was similar to the Pop Rocks candy. What an experience this has been for me. I have never had any test like these and hope I never have anymore. I am counting down the day until I have my surgery so I can be healthy. Being healthy is what I am striving for because I am on the verge of so many things starting to happen.

Pre Op in the morning!

Well I have to be at the hospital in the morning at 9 am for pre op testing. It is getting closer and closer by the moment. It is 19 days, 16 hours, and 59 minutes until the day of my surgery. I really don't know what I am feeling today.

Wondering!

Well it is less than 21 days now, I am very excited. A part of me keeps wondering how this will change my Life.  Questions keep going through my mind like: How will people treat me once I have lost the weight? What kind of person will I be afterwards? How will this change my personality? Maybe I am just wondering to much!

Counting Down 21 days, 19 hours, 49 minutes

I have been so exited about this surgery and yesterday was the pits. I seemed very depressed and do not really know why today has been better. I am not having any second thoughts but don't know what is going on. I have 21 days, 19 hours, 49 minutes until my surgery and get so excited when I talk about it.

I have been overweight all my life and it was very hard as a child to be teased and called names. Even as an adult people still call you names and look at you with disapproving glances. But I have always tried not to judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes. There are all kinds of addictions in life and who can really say which one is worse.

I know with this surgery will change my way of life. Sometimes I would wonder what it will be like to lose a hundred pounds because always before I could not get past eighty. Now all I can think about is getting rid of the CPAP and oxygen machine that I really do hate. So my main goal is to become healthy and be able to enjoy my life and do things that I really want to accomplish.

27 days to go!

I can't believe how great and supportive people are when I tell them about having this surgery. I can't believe how excited  I am about this surgery. It will be such a great life style change and I can not wait to become healthier.

28 Days to go!

Wow! I did not know that I would ever be so excited to have surgery! I can't wait to have this gastric bypass surgery. 28 days till my life saving surgery, I know that this is not a quick fix it is a lifestyle change. I will be sooooooooooo happy to get healthy. I do not like having to sleep with oxygen and using the CPAP machine. 

I will continue to diet until my surgery, they recommended I lose 20 to 40 pounds and I have already lost 20. I have been eating 1200 or less calories a day. Today I consumed 975 calories. This is getting me prepared for my 2 weeks of a liquid diet before surgery and after my surgery of limited eating.

Try to get all the results to schedule the surgery!

Well today has been a rat race to get everything to Bridges Center and to Dr. Juarez's office. Well today is kinda what I have been waiting for besides waiting for the surgery. Well after numerous phone calls I now have a surgery date: November 28, 2011. I go on November 9th and do all the pre-op and class that is required for the gastric bypass.

Cardiac reports!

Well today has been great and I do mean great. It was about 4:30 p.m., and Dr. Rizk called and said all the test were good and gave me the clearance to have the surgery. I was so excited.

Pulmonary Dr. Visit in Phoenix

Well today I am taking the day off and going to get the last clearance I need for the surgery. The doctor was a great guy and gave me the clearance to have the surgery. He told me I will do great. I am so glad that all the appointments and people I have talked to are so supportive in the new adventure in my life.

More Testing

I have been taking tests and waiting for results it seems like forever. But it has not been that long. I have taken the nuclear stress test and the scheduled for the echocariogram. The worst part of all this is the waiting game that goes along with each test.

Dr. Lea Way what an AWESOME doctor!

I am so happy to have such a great doctor like Lea Way, today was may appointment and I had lost 19 pounds since last month when I got my lecture or as I would call it a good ole ass chewing that I really needed. She was so happy at the results that I had since the last visit. I had been working really hard and it paid off and this is only the begining of what results I will be having.

Cardiac appointment!

Well, I received a phone call and they had an opening so I went to see the cardiologist on October 4^th and it was not what I wanted to hear. Well the nurse took me back and done the EKG and then the doctor came in and examined me and asked if anyone had told me I had a heart murmur and I said no. He proceeds to tell me I had a heart murmur and need to go through more test before he will release me for the bariatric surgery. Well I figure here is another bump in the road. So now I have to take a Nuclear Stress test and an Echocardiogram.

So now I have a Nuclear Stress test on October 18^th and the Echocardiogram on October 25^th.

The Waiting Game!

It always seems that everything you want in life you have to wait on. So I am playing the waiting game to get bariatric surgery. I am waiting to see doctors, to take tests, and most important getting insurance approval. Everything is complete except for the cardiac and pulmonary clearance and the insurance approval.

As time ticks on the nerves get worse, I hate to wait but I have to. Finally I get a call from the Bridges Center and told me that I had been approved for surgery. WOW that was a relief but still have to take a few tests to get cardiac and pulmonary. My appointment is for Oct. 18^th unless they get a cancelation earlier. I am hoping for that.

While waiting I decided to write this blog to give others hope and encouragement. Eventually I will start posting on a normal basis but until then I will try to get things up to date.

Primary Care Physian Appointment

Well today I received a good ole talking to that I really needed since I had gained weight. I think it was a mixture of playing the weighting game and worried about getting all the pre-approvals. After leaving the doctors office I became focused on what I wanted. I knew that I definitely wanted to have this surgery, so I got my ass in gear and started preparing to get ready to learn to eat slower and do protein smoothies.

Next appointment with Primary Care Physician!

Well at this visit she has received all the reports from the Dietitian and Psychologist. So after talking to her she has already faxed her letter and other documentation to the Bridges Center. She will compile another report and send it also. About two hours after I left her office I received a call from my patient advocate and telling me she has received all the paperwork and will be submitting it to my insurance once she looks at it all. Wow I thought this is great news.

The Dietitian

So I found a dietitian that was in my PPO. I made the appointment and that she was great to talk to. She gave me some book titles to read. The titles of the two books are: Strong Women Stay Slim and Your Body is Your Own Gym. She also told me of a support group that meets in Prescott Valley.

I came home and researched and found the website of the support group and found a lot of information. I printed off a lot of information to read and reread.

The MMPI testing!

Okay so this was my first visit to a psychologist and I was a bit nervous. Especially knowing that I am a little on the crazy side. So I arrive early and am in the waiting room the psychologist came out and took my insurance cards and told me it would be a few minutes. So she called me back to her office and I walk in and decide to set on the couch and that was my first mistake. She is setting in her chair and had her feet propped up on a little stool. So things are going pretty good, she is asking me questions and taking notes. Then a damn mouse runs over the back of the couch and under her chair and I have mice with a passion. So here I am trying to hold my composure and finally I say a mouse ran under your chair and it would have ran across the top of your foot if they had been on the floor. She looks up at me from taking notes and says “Are you hallucinating?” well I have to admit this was a bit awkward especially knowing where I was at. She finally gets up and starts moving her bags she has sitting beside her chair so the crazy person that I am spouts off maybe you will take it home with you. She just looks at me and says “Do you want me to write a good report for you?” wow what an adventure. So we make it through the mouse incident and now it is time to take the MMPI test.

So the MMPI test is over 500 questions and the questions are asked in various forms that are tricky. So she sends me back out into the waiting room to take this test. Well there is two kids running in and out and playing on the floor and a woman on her cell phone and people trying to talk to me about the computer I am taking the test on.

What a day this was, so now it is a waiting game to see the results.

The beginning steps to Weight Loss Surgery for me!

So my primary care physician which is Dr. Lea Way sent me to Bridges Center for Surgical Weight Loss and I have to admit I was a little nervous, the reason for this is meeting a new doctor. First off I had a friend go with me which helped me tremendously. We set down with a woman from Bridges Center and she was going over everything I would need for my insurance and then watched a movie about the surgery. Also, while watching the movie I talked to a woman who had the surgery and she was just so wonderful to talk to and have now made friends with her on Obesity Help.

So my insurance requires:

·         5 years of medical records

·         6 months of dieting documentation under doctors care

·         Meeting with a dietitian,

·         Psychologist evaluation and MMPI test

·         Pulmonary clearance

·         Cardiologist clearance

·         Classes at the Bridges Center

I then went and meet with my surgeon and he has been doing the surgery for many years and was very amenable to answer all my questions. So now I am okay since I set down and talked with him. He is very nice and I asked when I would need to see him again and he said the day of my surgery. Since I was his last patient we rode the elevator down with him and his nurses and we talked about the how hot it was and on that day it was in the triple digits.

So after I got all the information, I made an appointment with my primary care physician and went over the list of what was needed to begin the journey.

At the visit with my primary care physician we went over the list and we split some of the items of required insurance items and I signed all the paperwork for her to obtain my 5 years of medical records. And my job was to make appointments for a dietitian and get my MMPI testing. So the journey begins.

The beginning!

My whole life I have had a weight problem even at birth I weighed over 10 pounds. So there has never been a time in my life of me being a normal weight. During my teen years I started dieting with losing a few pounds and never being able to keep it off. After turning 40 a few years ago I have tried numerous diets and had some success with Weight Watchers losing 70 pounds and not being able to lose anymore no matter what I tried. So this year I turned 44 and switched to a wonderful doctor who has helped me to the point to have weight loss surgery. So this will begin the best journey of my life and I am so excited to get this surgery.