Meridith H.

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Ok so I haven't posted in forever but thought today would be a good restart.  I am moving to the losers bench tomorrow and getting things ready now. I have cooked a week or so meals for Rob and the boys for when I am recovering. Made a list of people Rob should call when I am out of surgery and I am packing my bag.
I think I have gleaned the advice I will need for when I am in the hospital.
I have:
My favorite pillow
chap stick
comfy cloths to come home in
a saduko book
So I think I am all set oh and a scrunchy for my hair and my face wash.
I posted the "official" before pictures so I have something to compare to. I haven't decided how often I will do a side by side.
Other than that my day is going really slow and I want to be there now.

Ummmmm......Ewwwwww.....
I am not sure what grossed me out more the stuff that makes me feel like I had to burp and I wasn't allowed to. Or the barium that was thick and gross, or was it the seeing it in my stomache sloshing around...ick.. 
Did it taste horrible? No Was it worse than I would think? No Would I do it again? Only if I absolutly had to. Yuck. But but, it is over.

I got to the support group early and waited in the van until about 5:15. Then I went and decided to head to the ladies room before I went to find the room. It wasn't hard to find. I found it right away, it was also the room the orentation was in. 
  The group had about 10 people to it and a dietitian ran it. She is the same dietitian I am going to meet with next week so it was nice to get to know her a little bit. She seems really nice. Everyone seemed really nice. Some of the woman had lost over 125lbs after a year and they had good tips. It was a mixed group of ryn and lapband. We saw some before and after pictures and it was awesome to see how far they had come, everyone was so excited for them. It was good for us newbies to see.
    I have to remember to bring a protien bar with me though because the meeting is from 5:30- 6:30 and I was so starving when I go home I scarfed down a plate of mac and cheese with hot dogs. I don't even like mac and cheese with hot dogs, they have it when I am not going to be home for dinner because I don't like it. So I have read over and over again plan plan plan. I will be prepared now with a bar in my purse so now when I go some where I won't have to just get what is around. 
So that is my first support group. I look forward to many more. 

Wow I just got a call today fom Tina at the program, she scheduled me for an upper GI on Friday at 9:30! Friday really?? wow...yay! That is the only test they wanted scheduled before I go back to the Surgeon. The rest of the work is with the dietitian and group. I am so happy..eeerrr scared...ummm...thrilled. Tomorrow the boys and I go to the eye doctor uggh with the boys and there I will get my new glasses. I had some dental work done last month. I feel like I am doing my own little make over. 
      Tonight I go to the first support group and I will meet people who are waiting to have surgery and people who have had it already. I am excited to meet new people.
  On another note umm south beach peanutbutter bars looked good, I can get them down but ick. I think it is going to be a long ride trying to find stuff to get down. I never could stick to slimfast because I didn't like the way it tasted. I hope there is something out there, I am sure there is. On the upside I like water.
YaY

 

Today was the day I met Laura the Nurse Practitioner. She was so sweet. We went over the program and what to expect. She gave me a food journal, and a pedometer to get an idea of how much I move in a day. We talked about support meetings and I am excited my first one is tomorrow night.

She seemed overall to be pleased with my motivation and education. She was pleased to see that I already had the sleep study in progress. I have to be fitted for my Cpap on 3/25/08 and that will be complete. I brought a letter from a therapist so I don't need to see theirs and with my age and health the only thing she wants me to do for tests is an upper GI. From there I will be meeting with the dietitian next week and she will let me know how many times she wants to see me and they back to Dr. Kasper pre-op stuff and surgery and. ::whew:: I am so excited!!

 Dr. Kasper is very nice. He asked me if I knew which surgery I wanted and I told him Rny and we discussed that I was a sweet eater so this was a good idea. I may not like dumping but I do think I like the threat of dumping. So we went over the surgery and he told me once I am done with the program come back and see him
 I feel really good about him. He had to take a call while I was with him and he apologized, the nice part though was he put me on hold for a sick patient who needed something. I thought that was great!  I did not feel like a number and I saw that he doesn't treat his patients like a bother either. I am confient I have made the right choice.

 Now on to other life until Monday!!! ::sigh:: which includes 30 fourteen year olds   on Saturdayfor a birthday party!

Fourteen years ago today I was really fat and I had a reason to be! I was giving birth to my oldest son. Today I took him to buy an outfit at old navy abd then I went to Lane Bryant because Old Navy has nothing that fits me! I wasn't suppose to keep the weight!! He weighed 10lbs geesh. While we were out a message was left letting me know I will need a CPAP machine I have sleep apnea. Soooooooo how am I going to sleep with this thing on?? We will figure it out later because right now we are thinking about the fact that tomorrow I go to see my Surgeon YAY!!! I hope there is good news to follow that.  I do know I have an appointment with the program Monday so I feel like I am on my way!

That was an experience! Not really a bad one just different. I can not believe I slept with all that stuff all over me I must have had a good 10 to 15 wires coming off of me! Most of which were taped somewhere near my face or on my face. As she was taping I was thinking oh boy one of two things is going to happen; either I am not going to be able to sleep or I am going to get tangled and pull the wires out. I am happy to report neither happend and I slept for most of the night, I only got up twice.
  When it was time to get up I asked her if I had sleep apnea and I should have known my answer. I can't say, only the Dr. can give the report (sigh) ofcourse! Then she says but you do snore if that helps ummm geee thanks. 
Over all it was a nice place and the staff was nice. The beds were comfortable and the staff was attentive. I can't complain and I am very happy it is done!

Today I went to Mercy hospital's info meeting. I have an appointment with my surgeon on the 11th but I will have to go through their program, so I thought I would go to the first available meeting.  What a difference from Umass! I did't feel like a number! When the meeting was over I told the nurse in passing that I had an appointment with Dr. Kasper and she said " Oh ok well lets get you started then." WOW are you kidding??? Nope had an appointment  before I left for the 17th of this month!! WOW! Driving home I was so happy!!! I was praising and thanking God. Then I get home and my son says by the way the sleep center called, they can fit you in tonight!!! Tonight?? WOW Thank you Lord!!!!!
It gets better, when the question "How long does the program take?" 
2-3 months till surgery!!!
Oh Yeah it is a good day!!
Oh happy day ...O happy day..

I have done so for the past ohhh.....four no maybe five years. Some call me old hat, some call me a newbie and some call me crazy. Whatever you call me it has been an interesting road for sure. I say all this because I came across a website that I didn't know was out there. I have heard it is a good one, so if you homescool and read this, here it iswww.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org