brenlee1965

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I ended up weighing in at 332 pounds. I was thrilled to have lost 25 pounds and been able to keep it off! So proud of my hard work (and it was HARD). So the surgeon asked if I had any questions and I asked about the surgery....confirming that she's taking out my gallbladder and fixing the hiatel hernia. NOPE, not unless she has time; will she take out the gallbladder. The hernia she said doesn't need to be corrected because it doesn't come into play with RNY. My sister had hers fixed because she had the LapBand and it's a MUST fix thing. She said she will have me sign papers to remove the gallbladder also; so if time permits, she will remove it. Went to Pre-op appt and Sheila the NP said that because I have HBP and a heart murmur and am on a CPAP and I had a EKG that was abnormal; that someone should have caught this sooner and I had to go get a STRESS Test. So I went to the hospital the next day and did that; other than being out of shape; no problems were found (the doc said he could tell that I have been using my treadmill.....I took that as a compliment!). 

One of the things that my Healthcare facility requires is for each person to watch the EMMI video. Explaining the surgery and what to expect and gives you a refresher on the importance of the vitamins and protein and fluid intake. It has to be done before you can get surgery. I finally got the thing in the mail. Went to town and picked up someone's WIFI to watch; since all I have is dial-up. One more things completed.

Now the Last meeting with the Surgeon and final weigh in and the pre-admissions physical and schedule time of the surgery is on Aug 20th. Then Pre-surgery meeting on Aug 24th, where they refresh what to expect from the time you get to the hospital on the day of surgery up to going home. Then they cover your eating/drinking/vitamins and give you more paperwork to take home with you. 

THEN it's SURGERY DATE on August 28th! 

It's been a long haul for me and I finally feel like I am informed enough to actually make this tool work and for me to be healthy and to live longer. I am excited, anxious, nervous, worried about the pain, scared about potential problems (ok, my whole family worries). The worst of the whole process so far is the losing weight and keeping it off! That has been so hard for me. I have gained it back and lost it again over & over; since I met my pre-weightloss goal.

Now it's countdown time and I am scouring my home, getting everything in one place (easy reach for me, so no bending required). So I can just concentrate on sip. sip, sip.....walk, walk, walk. 

I thank God every day that this tool is available too me and that I am lucky enough to have found OH to help me get educated.

 Heather just called....AUG 28th if the date of my surgery....Aug 20th is my last weigh-in date! Still waiting for the EMMI video and the pre-op appt (but as long as they are done before surgery, we are good). Today she said she will be submitting the paperwork to the insurance company.  

I met with the psych lady & she said I can tell that you are "determined" and we talked about many things. She was very nice and you know I was scared because she had the power to stop my process. But she didn't and said that she will send over the "approval" for me to move forward in the process.  

 So the PA that I see told me all I had to do was wait for the surgery date......LIAR! I called to check on the EMMI video that they make ALL bariactric patients watch (cause I hasn't received it yet) and the secretary told me I needed an Xray, to see the therapist and then if the head doc sends paperwork with her approval; then they will schedule the video to be sent and then the pre-surgery appt and then a complete physical and then schedule surgery & send paperwork for approval. OMG...I was so MAD!!!! Good thing I called to check on this!!!! So bumming out that this process takes so freakin LONG!!!!

 I was anxious & worried all week. I went there today and weighed in less than what they wanted me to lose! Yippee. 
So excited about that. I have no more appts to go to; I am to wait around 3 wks before I will get a surgery date. HE stated that with the coordinator for the Surgical team no longer with Bassett; and no one to replace her, it will take a bit longer for their meeting (which should have been tomorrow). They schedule the surgery (which can take a month or two) and then submit my paperwork for the insurance approval (he said that will be approved without question) and I should be looking at October or November time frame for the surgery! So anymore weight lost from today forward is a BONUS for me! 

I didn't lose the 18 pounds (that are required) BUT I did lose 15 pounds. Yippeeeee. I am weighing myself here at home and I am at the 338 pounds. Each day I am actively making healthy choices and you know, it's not that hard. Just different. I think I am finally in a state of mind that I want this and I need this and I will do whatever it takes. Do I go to bed with my stomach growling? YES, I do. But I drink a glass of water and just go to bed.