Another bump in the road for me..........

Oct 19, 2009

Well, lots of things have went on since my all day appointment with my surgeon.   Since my preop xrays taken the week prior to my surgeons appt date, showed a poor pulmonary return........I was required to go back to the hospital on the same afternoon as my all day appt with my surgeon.....for more respitory testing.  I was so nervous about the lung testing that I ended up having my neurocardiogenic syncope symptoms for the first time in 3 years.  I had these symptoms similiar to panic attacks for 2 solid days, Sunday & Monday.  Due to the nature of the symptoms, I was afraid I was having a heart attack, since my left arm & entire face was numb....so I ended up in the ER for the regular 4 hr minimum trip....(no heart attack...thank goodness....just the neurocardiogenic syncope symptoms).   So when I went to the surgeon the next day,  I mentioned that I had been in the ER the night before with these "Panic Attack like" symptoms....and .that led them to require me to see the Psychologist.......which ended very well .......after explaining to her that I thought the attacks were generated from the fear of the lung test results.....(which by the way, were also excellent after retesting in respitory that same day).  She already knew that I had not been on medication for my condition since we had discussed this previously that my family doc wanted to see if I could get off of the medicine.  She didn't agree with it at the time....and now it proves she was correct.

My family doc had agreed for me to try to go off of my medicine for the neurocardiogenic syncope unless it came back & to start the med again....Well, I had been off of the meds for about 3 months....& I guess being nervous over the lung xrays brought the attacks back on.   I have been back on the meds since last Sunday & will stay on them thru the rest of this wls journey.   Thus far, no more attacks, this is the 8th day of being back on them.......it usually takes 14 days to get in my system really good.    So.....over that hurdle and it was time for the education preop class later that afternoon............

Class was informative, received my Owner's Manual, spirometer, pedometer, pill organizer, and other paperwork.  Great.....then I mentioned that I was going to try the Egg White Protein Powder bcs of all of my "food allergies"........lol........oh boy......opened my mouth.............oh boy.....

Next day, I received a message from the bariatric office to call them that it was important.......so I called & was informed that I was being removed from the surgery date until I could go to an Allergy Specialiist to have a food allergy panel done.  After getting the results, I was to make an appointment with the Nutritionist again to work out what I would be able to do about sufficient protein intake.  Also they wanted me to have all records faxed to them from my Gastro Specialist & colonoscopy results.(which are good).   Then after that, I would be able to make another appointment with my surgeon to get a new surgery date if applicable & discuss the type of surgery for me.  (I'm only doing the RNY surgery, I won't accept the LapBand....instead I will find a surgeon that will do the RNY if necessary.)

OK......I went the next day & picked up the colonoscopy records & notes....faxed them to the bariatric office......then I got an appointment the next day with an Allergy Specialist in Lexington, he called the results in to my bariatric surgeon, gave me a copy of them, ........I drove that same morning to Georgetown to take a hard copy to my surgeon's office, got an appt later that same day with the Nutritionist  (she told me to start introducing lots of foods back into my diet that I thought I was allergic too prior to testing)........and now waiting on the surgeon's second appt this Thursday.  This was all great & grand to check me out for the allergies....I needed this, plus the nurse that does these pre op classes is "on the ball".....I really like her alot.   However........the test did not include Aspartame, Gluten intolerance, Whey (protein shakes), Lactose Intolerance, etc.....or any other kind of intolerance........I learned that what I have are intolerances, not allergies...according to the Allergy Specialist......but you better believe I'm not opening my mouth & he promised me that he wouldn't mention anythng either...........let the show continue...........the technical "food allergies" that I've been saying I have are "intolerances"...........but I won't be adding any information to the pie.....MUM is the word for now.  I just want this thing over with.......so I can move on to the next stage & start losing.....

This WLS is a long journey & the hills & valleys are ridiculous sometimes........I know its for our own good, but it doesn't make it any easier......its nerve wrecking just waiting & waiting....and then getting up to the plate & being told to sit down again..........its almost torture.........lol.  Although, I must admit, my surgeon's office is being very careful to make sure all is well before surgery.  No animosity on my part, because its all to protect my health & I realize that.......

I ask if I could keep the same date since everything checked out ok......but was not promised the same date of Oct. 30th.....I was told I have to see the surgeon again.   So at this point, I don't have an exact date.......????   I should know Thursday after seeing the doc... I'm faithfully doing the spirometer exercises daily & hoping to keep the Oct. 30th slot.  Just praying that nothing more is required before this surgery ..............

Still Waiting after 11 months.........

Bariatric Contessa

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