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Well, let's see I have had my psyche evaluation. That went well. I am now taking Paxil for anxiety. It should help with the nervousness about the surgery. I have had my nutritional evaluation. It was a complete waste of time… I seriously think if someone is going to talk to people, who like me are trying to have this surgery, they should have to understand what exactly this surgery is and what nutrition someone will need… but that will be a whole different blog. Ok, now for the big news. I met with the doctor today… and (drum roll please) I think he is wonderful. Dr. Naaman is soft spoken. Very firm handshake… he answered all my questions. He explained exactly how the procedure will go and how long I will be in the hospital. Here is some background information on Dr. Naaman

Over the past fourteen years, general surgery has
made tremendous advances due to development
of the Laparoscope. The laparoscope provides surgeons
with a magnified operating field, and reduces the
patient's pain, recovery time, scars and hospital stay.
Some of the laparoscopic procedures can be performed
on an outpatient basis, in which patient's may go home
the very same day.

Dr. Naaman has been one of the surgeons who have been
involved in the development of new laparoscopic
equipment. Surgeries that are performed laparoscopically
include: Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Roux-En-Y,
Laparoscopic Reversal of Gastric bypass, Laparoscopic
Adjustable Band, Open Gastric Bypass, Open Duodenal Swicth, Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
(Gallbladder), Laparoscopic appendectomy, Laparoscopic
inguinal hernia repair, Laparoscopic Incisional hernia, and
Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia, Laparoscopic Nissen
fundoplication, Bilateral Endoscopic sympathectomy (BETS)
for hyperhydrosis, Laparoscopic Colon resections and Right
Thoracoscopic Vagotomy for non healing gastric ulcers.
Dr. Naaman has performed well over 8,000 laparoscopic
surgeries since 1990. He has also performed about 1200
Bariatric procedures since 1995.

Dr. Naaman also performs traditional open surgery. This includes; Cholecystectomy (Gallbladder), Appendectomy, Incisional hernia repairs, Ventral hernia repairs, and Inguinal hernia repairs. Gastric bypass Roux-En-Y, Reversal of Gastric bypass Roux-En-Y, Revision of previous Bariatric procedures, Revisions of existing Gastric bypass, Duodenal Switch (Bilopancreatic diversion), Colon resections, hemorrhoid repair using a staple procedure (decreases post-operative pain), and thoracic procedures.

Dr. Naaman also performs breast surgery using state of the art imaging machines. Stereotactic biopsy is a surgical procedure that can get an accurate biopsy of a mass (even if it can not be felt during a breast exam) using a special needle and computerized imaging machine. If needed a modified radical mastectomies and breast lumpectomy can also be performed. Nuclear medicine advances has led to the Sentinel lymph node biopsies and resection of parathyroid adenomas. Some breast biopsies can be performed in the office using a specialized needle with some local anesthesic.

Now for the biggest news:

My mom went with me today… and she is behind me 100%. We had a great talk about it this afternoon. And when my dad got home from work, I spent a good hour talking about my having this surgery and why I was doing it. He wanted to make sure I was doing this for myself… and I am. I truly am. I have some reasons I have shared and some have been private. I talked about all of those things with my mom and dad tonight. It felt so good to know that my parents are behind me on this and will support me fully. For a while there I really thought they didn't support me in this. But actually they wanted more information, they wanted to make sure I was doing this for myself, they wanted to make sure I wouldn't change my mind.

So, my friends who are taking this journey with me by reading these blogs, it is full steam ahead!!! They will be presenting everything to insurance tomorrow and apparently I don't just have good insurance I have GREAT insurance. So, when I know something all of you will know something.

Well, I had my first Prep meeting last night.  It was really good. The first thing that happened was I got weighed, my blood pressure was taken and then I went to a meeting for people who are like me. They are looking to have this surgery to become healthier. There was one woman who had the surgery in December was she was extremely helpful.

The meeting was very informative. I was given this booklet that explains the Neweigh Principles and Kelly (The woman who ran the meeting) told us that these principles are rules we have to live by. They will maximize how much weight we lose and how much we keep off.  If we don't follow the rules we wont be losing weight and we wont be getting healthy.

We talked about the different types of surgery why people choose one over the other. She explained in words what I could not about why I chose to have the R-n-Y instead of the Lapband. The R-n-Y has to lines of defense one is the restrictive quality. I will no longer be able to eat more than 4cc of food at a time. Plus it has the mal-absorptive quality. I will not absorb as many calories. Now before anyone freaks out this doesn't mean it will fix the problem. I still have to change how I look at food. I still have to figure out what triggers me to go for the food. Ok, let's be honest here. I wouldn't be in the position I am if I had self control right? No one made me the way that I am. I did it. Because I just didn't care. I always thought either you take me as I am or screw you. Well, don't get me wrong I am still that way. I am just at the point where I recognize a lot about myself. I eat when I am happy… I eat when I am mad… I eat when I am sad. I live to eat… and this is where I have no control. So, having that second line of defense is going to tell me "HEY EAT TO LIVE DON'T LIVE TO EAT!!!"

We talked about how you are not supposed to drink before or after you eat. We talked about how important 4/6 small meals a day are and how in every meal you have to get your protein… PROTEIN, PROTEIN, PROTEIN…  As I am sure you can tell protein is important.

I have another meeting next Thursday. I have two appointments next week also and then I meet with the Surgeon on January 30 at 9:00 am…

Well, I went to my first appointment at Neweigh on Friday. I am completely impressed with how nice everyone is. Everyone that works there has had a type of weight loss surgery. I met with Debbie who did my intake and can I just say she is wonderful. We started off getting my vitals and weighing in. Ok let me just tell you the weighing in is the worst part. Their scale is probably the most accurate scale I have been on in years. I have had to really look at where I have gotten. After weigh-in and vitals she measured my neck, my waist, and my hips. We went and spent about an hour talking about my history, what my expectations are, we talked about my family, and their medical history. She explained how the process works. And that taking the first step and calling is always the hardest step. From now on I have an entire team helping me.

I have been smart in the fact that I have researched this greatly over the last almost 7 years. And once I knew who my insurance carrier was I researched their process to get approved for this surgery. I already have an appointment to meet with a Psychiatrist on January 22nd. I am going to make my appointment to meet with the dietician today. I am on top of everything… I have started a low calorie, low sugar, and low fat diet to help me get ready for my surgery. If I can lose even a little weight it will help me greatly. I want to do this surgery laproscopically and to be able to do that the more I do pre-op the better chances I have that this will not turn into an open surgery.

The next step is I will receive am email sometime today from Debbie and it will tell me when my next appointment is. The next appointment will be with Dr. Naaman. I have to get 1 test run and it is to check bacteria in my stomach. Other than that Dr. Naaman doesn't believe in putting his patients through a lot of testing. Now between the time of my first appointment and seeing Dr. Naaman I need to attend to pre-op meetings at Neweigh. And I need to set up for my after-care meetings. I am not sure what to expect at these meetings yet. But I am pretty sure that it will be people who are like me getting ready for surgery and are in need of support. Or people who have had the surgery. I am attending my first meeting This Thursday at 5:30 pm. Then I will attend the Saturday meetings they have.

Now if you read the first blog I posted you know that Faith went with me to my first appointment. She was great about it. Especially since she got off a plane and then went running around with me. Now if you ask Faith I am a crazy because I was signing a bunch of paperwork without reading it. Well, I actually read it in their website so I was well, prepared. Faith and I looked at a very nice photo album that showed before and after pictures. Poor Faith sat in the waiting room for almost 2 hours waiting for me. The photo album showed me that this will be a life changing process and that if I don't change my lifestyle - then don't do this because it will not work… 

After the appointment of course Faith got to spend the next hour not only driving in circles trying to get out of traffic, but listening to me go on and on. She was of course completely supportive about this whole thing. It was nice to have a friend who is close enough to go with me, and who understands why I am doing this…  My mom is going to go with me for the rest of my appointments. I know my mom doesn't fully agree with what I am doing but she is being super supportive… 

FAITH'S VISIT:

Now as for the Faith/Tracy Take Over The World Weekend!!

Well, ok you have the fill on Friday once she landed… let's see Friday night we had dinner with the 'rents. It was horrible Chinese food… Lauren was painting her room so, Faith got to meet Kim (cause Kim helped Lauren) after dinner we all (Lauren, Faith and I) decided to go to Molly's for a drink. Well, the MSG made Lauren sick so she left as soon as we got there. Faith and I went in and waiting for Brandon. (Cause of course Brandon was late as usual)… Brandon came with his friend Misty from work. By the way Misty is a really cool chick and it was fun to meet her.  Brandon being Brandon had to give Faith a hard time about her new relationship. It was cute because Brandon is as fickle as they come.

Well, Brandon called Chris his cousin and then Chris showed up! Well, Chris was "off the hook"! Ok, let's understand I have met Chris a lot over the years here in TX. That boy is quiet! Usually I get a hi and that is about it. Well, not Friday Night… That kid was all over the place… I have never heard him talk so much since I have met him… Well, let's just say by 11:00 both Faith and I were tired…

Saturday we started the day off right! A pot of black coffee and no plans… well, we decided to go to world market. I found a bunch of really cool things but of course I didn't buy them… Faith had her "Freebird's Cherry" popped… and we went to The Chocolate Bar. Now let me explain something about the chocolate bar. This place is like chocolate heaven. I ended up getting a cake to take to my mom's house and a couple of slices of gluten free truffle cake for Lauren. We head to my mom's house and oh low and behold everyone is still painting. Kris has started painting his room RED… We now call his room REDRUM… well, we hung out there to watch the Ravens choke and lose to the Colts… Yea that game. The one with no touchdown… how is that even possible. SO, after that we went to CVS and KFC for comfort food. We went back home and watched movies.

Sunday Faith left at 11:00 so, she could make sure she got back to Dallas before the sun set and the weather got really bad… Over all I would say it was a good visit. We got to hang out and it had been a long time since that. We had some outside factors for example, horrible weather in Dallas that affected the visit. But things like that can not be helped. Hopefully next time we visit either in Dallas or here in Houston there won't be problems like that.

Well, I will update after my next appointment.