 about photographing heavyset people, which is NEVER photograph from the chest down! I was so disgusted when I saw it, that I just can't even enjoy the content. I suppose it can go on my list of things I will use to motivate me to use wls surgery as the tool it was intended for! If I ever figure out how to post pictures here, I'll add it. What the heck, right?
FINALLY! I have my appointment in the morning to see the surgeon's nurse to get the ball officially rolling, then I see the surgeon on Tuesday. From reading other's posts, I can see many have had a much longer journey to this point than I have, so I am thankful it has only taken a month so far. I realize there is still much to come, but I'm ready for it. At this point, I'm just hoping to have my surgery before October is out. Who knows, it may be November or December, but oh well. I'd really like it to be this year since I've already met my calendar year deductible on labs, etc.
I was just reading about Jessie, a fellow OH'er who passed away early this morning. She died from complications due to a gallbladder removal surgery. Apparently, she went in to have her RNY and it was discovered her gallbladder was much worse than originally thought, and as they were removing it (apparently had about 17 stones), one ruptured, filling her body cavity with poisons. She has been in a coma for the last few weeks, and finally her poor body just gave out. She leaves behind a fiance and a 5 year old son. My heart really goes out to her and her family. I know she is in Heaven now, and feeling as light as air, so I will keep that thought close. I am thankful I had my gallbladder removed in 2000, about 3 months after my first daughter was born. I weighed about 198 at that time, and was 29, so everyone thought it odd that I would be having problems with it, but I had been for several months prior to my pregnancy. Amazingly, I had no problems with it whatsoever during my pregnancy, but shortly after my daughter was born, it came back with a vengeance.
It's just another strong reminder of how serious of a thing having this surgery really is. I'm trying to keep a positive outlook on the long run, primarily better health and an increased life span. Of course being thinner and actually enjoying shopping for and wearing clothes will be a welcome "side effect". Well, wish me luck tomorrow!
Here is a picture of me with my sweet daughter, taken this spring 2006.
Well, I had the consultation appointment with the doctor's nurse, Anita. I found out I'm actually scheduled to see Dr. Kevin Fisher, not Dr. Katsis as I was led to believe. They are both very kind and capable surgeons, so it doesn't put any wrinkles in my plans. She went over the "Bariatric bible", which outlines quite specifically what I will be able to eat starting the day of surgery through the first six months. She went over all the "do's" and "don'ts". Some of them are rather strange. No chewing gum again, EVER. I suppose it could be life threatening if it gets stuck in the new anatomy. She also gave me a list of the appointments I need to make, so HA! Been there, done that! They are already scheduled, so I don't have to wait 3-4 weeks to have them done. I'm rather anxious and nervous at this point. On my way to the appointment, my stomach was actually upset. I haven't felt like that since when I was in college. My stomach would always get upset on the first day of every new semester. I met another nice lady while I was at the doctor's office, and she is considering having the Gastric Band surgery. I might have just found my first "fellow surgery buddy". My head is really swimming with everything right now, and I have work to do, so I'll add more later!
I met with my surgeon today. Dr. Fisher seems to be a very warm, sweet person. He made me feel comfortable right away.  He went over the information I provided on the papers I had been given to fill out ahead of time, and we talked about the type of procedure I was considering, which is the Roux-en-Y. He explained the procedure to me in detail, showing me a chart all the while he talked. He answered all of my questions very patiently, and seemed to be supportive of my decision. He said he does not accept everyone as a surgical candidate, but he did agree I would be a great candidate. This is primarily due to a liver condition I have, called Focal Nodular Hyperplasia. This causes benign lesions on the liver, as well as a fatty liver which causes it to be larger than most. This is a long term threat to my health, as there is always a slight chance the lesions can become cancerous, and liver cancer never has a sunny prognosis. He seemed to think the WLS will help my liver in the long run. I'm so happy to hear it. I would really rather avoid a liver resection (removal of part of the liver) in my future! He said he would fight for approval for me on the basis of my liver alone! Thankfully, my insurance does not require pre-approval, but it will go a long way toward proving medical necessity.
Since I have the majority of my pre-tests scheduled for the first week of September, he said I may be able to schedule my surgery as soon as about 8 weeks after they are done, so I may be looking at late October or early November. That seems like a long way off now, but I know it will just speed by. On the one hand, I'm anxious to have it done right away, but on the other hand, I'm freaked out about it and in no hurry at all! I think that only demonstrates that I am sane (most of the time anyway)!
Not too much has been going on the last couple of days. Just living life and waiting for the first of my appointments to begin. I had a message from the hospital today, calling me to schedule my Cardiology exam. Of course, they called me at home (early in the day), and I was at work, so I didn't get the message until I got home from work, right before 6:00 pm, and wouldn't you know it, they close at 6:00! It ALWAYS seems to happen on a Friday, and then you have to wait the whole weekend! Oh well, it's not that I'm impatient, I'm just really curious to see how soon it will be, since my others are now only a week away. I'm hoping it isn't going to be too much past that!
It's been so hot this summer. We've been in the 100's ever since the weather started getting warm. That just isn't typical weather for Oklahoma. I mean, we are usually in the high 90's with plenty of humidity tossed in to make the air feel like you are breathing through a marshmallow, but lately, it's just been too hot to even enjoy being outside. We've begun to have some rain a couple of times in the past 2 weeks or so, and it has really been welcome. Our yard was getting so brown it was beginning to look like someone set fire to it. My poor little evergreen trees aren't so evergreen now either. I'm really hoping they aren't dead!
There hasn't been a whole heck of a lot going on around here lately. I did get a call from the hospital today to schedule my Cardiology appointment. They told me the first date they had available was October 11th! I could NOT believe it! I groaned a little and said "Oh no, I need it before then". Then she asked me if I minded going to a branch of the hospital which is actually closer to my home. I said no problem, and she said "Okay, then we can see you Wednesday". WOW, I couldn't believe it. I scheduled my other appointments over two weeks ago, and they aren't until 9/5 and 9/7. I thought she was going to tell me my appointment would be sometime after that in September. Needless to say, now I'm all happy about it. I hope everyone is doing great today!
Well, I saw the cardiologist last week, and they tell me my heart looks great. I saw the pulmonologist yesterday, and my lungs and breathing are also great. I see the psychiatrist tomorrow, and they will probably tell me I'm crazy.
I am doing a pretty good job of being patient while I wait for this whole process to run it's course. I don't particularly find myself overly anxious for the surgery date. I'd like to know when it is, definitely, but I don't feel like I'm in a rush to actually have it done. I guess since I know a change is in the works, I feel at peace with my current situation. I have met a lot of really great people through OH, and gotten so much support I never expected. I want to thank everyone for that so far.
I attended the wedding of two close friends today. It was held in her parent's backyard, poolside. It was such a beautiful day, the weather was warm with a slight breeze. Of course afterward, there was a pool party. I was the only "big girl" there. All the other girls were talking about where they got their cute new swimsuit, and I was thinking to myself how I've had my swimsuit for at least 6 years or more. I'm looking forward to next summer, when I can buy a cute