ddanderson

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things are going well.  
went to see my surgeon, they decided i didn't need a fill.  i was really dissapointed, but i guess they were right.  I've lost 40 pounds in the 3 months since surgery.  i hit the halfway mark, 70 pounds down, 70 to go!  very exciting!  i feel like i've adjusted well to my new lifestyle with eating, i actually crave exercising... how bizarre is that?  feeling very motivated.  best thing i ever did for myself.

Doing ok.  Down 58 pounds total, 25 since surgery (2 1/2 months out).  Not as much as I want, but my doctor is happy.  Had my first fill 5 weeks ago, will have another this week.  Doing well with eating except when I eat too quickly at work, don't like the "stuck" feeling, that's for sure.  Need to remember my protein shakes and to bring enough food with me to eat when I'm working.  12 hour night shifts don't always allow much time for eating, I'm finding some days that I've only eaten once in 24 hours.  Grazing can be an issue at work too.. 
Not doing too bad with holiday baked goods, my daughter and I love to bake, especially cookies, so it's been a little challenge.  I try to keep drinking while we bake because I'm doing well not drinking and eating at the same time.  A family favorite of ours is peanut butter balls (rice crispies, powdered sugar, peanut butter, butter, covered in chocolate) so I'm going to try a batch using splenda instead of the powdered sugar, or at least 1/2ing it, and using protein powder, that way if I'm induldging, it's a little better for me.  
I've finally lost enough that people are really noticing, sometimes I'm uncomfortable with all of the attention.  Feels good to weigh less, that's for sure.  Best thing I've ever done for myself. 

So, 6 weeks out from surgery, almost 50 pounds down total (pre-surgery weight loss included)...  My best buds came up for a visit and we went shopping.  I was able to buy jeans off the rack in old navy... and they were'nt the biggest size on the wall either!  Shopping has never been so fun!  
Last night my hubby and I went to a concert and I had wiggle room in my seat!  We were parked on the 5th tier of the parking garage and I didn't get winded walking up to the car.  Woo hoo!  It feels soooo good!  I got my first fill on Thursday.  They only put in 0.5cc, I don't feel any different yet, although I'm still progressing my diet back to stage 5.  So happy I did this for myself. 

Surgery went well, no problems at all.  The nurses at Portsmouth Regional Hospital were good, especially Ron.  Always wonder if I get better care because they know I'm a nurse, but I don't think so.  Ended up staying overnight at my doc's suggestion.  I guess I'm glad I did, I'm sure I got more rest than if I was at home with my kiddos.  I find it hard to let everyone else do everything with them when I'm not there.  It would've been really hard to not hold my little guy (11months).  Plenty of walking and using the incentive spirometer in the hospital.  I didn't sleep too well, but that's probably not too unusual.  Had no probs with nausea, tolerated the cib well.  First 2 weeks at home have been fine.  It's been impossible not to lift my son, but I'm not lifting at work or lifting anything else.  Stopped needing the roxicet after day 3 except for before bed on a couple of nights, including my first night back to work.  Don't need anything now.  Saw the dietician today, can progress to ground protein foods, not just shakes.  Very exciting to have so many things to choose from.  So happy to be on my new journey....

Surgery is Wednesday, clear liquids tomorrow then NPO after midnight.  I'm very excited, not nervous at all.  Had to redo all of my pre-op testing except the barium swallow because it's been so long.  No biggie, get the type and cross done in the morning in case I need a blood transfusion.  I decided to tell some of my co-workers about the surgery, I've received amazing support and well wishes, I'm glad I made the decision to share.  2 of my co-workers confided that they have had wls, one a lap band with my surgeon, the other RNY with my surgeon.  Thanks for the nice messages and support you all have sent....

So I spoke with my insurance company, they quoted me the section of my insurance plan that requires a 6 month period of a medically supervised program.  So it sucks that I have to wait, but at least I'm approved and have a date for September 26th.  I'm trying to stay positive and motivated, what's another month or two when I've been fat this long, right?  Nothing I can do about it but try to stay focused.

I saw my surgeon June 8th, was told my case would be submitted for pre-approval the following Monday.  Well, that Friday I call my insurance, they don't have any pre-approval requests.  I call the surgeon's office back the next Monday (one week after I was told it would be sent...) they say they are still working on it.  The following Friday, I get a voice mail message on my cell phone stating they need a letter of support for me to have the lap band from my pcp.  Apparantly, the referral isn't enough.  I'm really upset now, they could have told me this weeks and weeks ago and it would have been done, hell, they could have told me at my surgeon appt and it would have been done right away.  Now 2 weeks have gone by and my pre-approval packet still hasn't been sent in.  I call my pcp right away and request the letter, on Monday of course, because by the time I realize I have a voice mail message it is after business hours.   I check back in with my insurance company the following week, still no paperwork on me.  I call the surgeon again, they say they never got a letter from my pcp.  This suprises me, as the office is wonderful.  I call them, my chart gets pulled and there is apparantly a mix up, with the providers each thinking the other took care of the letter when I called requesting it.  The nurse writes the letter while talking to me on the phone, I'm in the next morning and get the actual letter.  The office staff faxes it to the surgeon, I do as well, and then I mail it just to be sure.  So I finally hear from the surgeon's office on Monday, July 23rd.  They tell me I'm approved, but I can't have my surgery scheduled until the end of September because they require a 6 month wait.  I'm soooo dissappointed.  I was never told this when I checked in prior to starting the program.  I call and speak to my insurance company, the customer service rep in benefits can't find anything saying there is a wait period.  She's trying to track down the woman who told my surgeon there is one to find out where she got that info.  So, I wait..... totally bummed out and needing a kick in the butt to stay motivated.

so, i saw our coordinator, had my physical.  down 20lbs now, excited about that.  see the surgeon on june 8th.  pretty much all set to go, have had all of the testing, met the pre-op weight loss criteria, did all of the behavior modification classes... can't wait.  my best bud is having her band put on on the 30th... so excited for her.  we took our "before" pics, alone and together.  wonderful to have someone so close to go through all of this with.

So... I've been thinking about surgery for some time now, am very excited to say that I'm close.  I just couldn't bear another year being so overweight.  I've had all of my testing done (boy, the upper gi was fun!), just need to meet with the surgeon.  The program I'm going through in Portsmouth NH is fantastic!  Wonderful support, classes on behavior modification, nutritionist is great, I feel really informed and prepared.  I'm so anxious to have a surgery date and get started.  
Good luck to everyone on the same journey I'm on.