Saturday, March 31, 2012
4 Days 'til My New Beginning
It's really very exciting! After work today I need to read the documents on the CD New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery gives patients to take home. It explains everything that will happen from the hospital stay to the first year after surgery and also has a few forms that I need to fill out. As the document is several pages long I think I'll print everything out and put it in a binder for easy access in the coming months. I also need to order my medical bracelet and Monday I'll drop by New Life and purchase the Post-Op liquid diet and vitamin and mineral supplements. I'll have to start taking daily Multivitamin, Probiotic, Iron, and Vitamin D supplements. Taking Multivitamins and Probiotics after Gastric Bypass is standard but I also need to take Iron and Vitamin D as well, which isn't really surprising as I've had a problem with anemia for a couple of years now. I also need to find my pill crusher since I can only swallow pills the size of my pinky nail for the first little while after the surgery so I'll probably need to crush some of the medications I'm on afterwards. I can't believe it! Just four more days!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
8 Days 'til My New Life
I wanted to take a second and make sure everyone realizes with my last post that I wasn't trying to insult or suggest that the Doctors or Nurses I've seen over the past few months were in anyway deficient. I was just trying to express that the process is such a long one that at times it can be frustrating.
My overall experience with New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery has been excellent! They are very informative and helpful throughout the whole process and have stated more than once that they will be available to us anytime through the first year after the procedure; which will even end with a session with the Life Coach on staff.
I feel very confident in the Surgeon and Staff at New Life. =)
Oh boy, 8 days until the Surgery now. This is big, my entire life is going to change. I'm sure there are people who would roll their eyes at that statement but that's how it feels. There are so many changes that I will have to make after the Gastric Bypass that I'm actually worried that I'll forget something. LOL, mostly it's the odd little rules, such as: you can't chew gum anymore after the surgery, you can't have alcohol b/c your alcohol tolerance drops 95%, not that I would ever be considered a lush by any means but I do currently drink socially. =P
Now instead of responding that I'm not allergic to any medicines when a Doctor asks I have to respond that I'm allergic to NSAIDS. Just remembering that I'll have an intolerance for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs seems as if it'll be a great challenge! Examples of these products are Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen.
This definitely isn't a change for the faint of heart, I think it's important to realize that having weight loss surgery is a major decision for anyone and just getting through the whole process takes determination.
Today, I've been deciding what meals I want to have for Phase 1 (liquids only phase) after the surgery and while I'm tempted to spurn the products that New Life suggests purchasing from them b/c they are a little pricier I decided to go with the products; after all I want to make sure that I do everything I can to optimize my weight loss after the procedure.
I admit that the taste isn't the greatest but I've tasted worse! =)
My overall experience with New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery has been excellent! They are very informative and helpful throughout the whole process and have stated more than once that they will be available to us anytime through the first year after the procedure; which will even end with a session with the Life Coach on staff.
I feel very confident in the Surgeon and Staff at New Life. =)
Oh boy, 8 days until the Surgery now. This is big, my entire life is going to change. I'm sure there are people who would roll their eyes at that statement but that's how it feels. There are so many changes that I will have to make after the Gastric Bypass that I'm actually worried that I'll forget something. LOL, mostly it's the odd little rules, such as: you can't chew gum anymore after the surgery, you can't have alcohol b/c your alcohol tolerance drops 95%, not that I would ever be considered a lush by any means but I do currently drink socially. =P
Now instead of responding that I'm not allergic to any medicines when a Doctor asks I have to respond that I'm allergic to NSAIDS. Just remembering that I'll have an intolerance for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs seems as if it'll be a great challenge! Examples of these products are Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen.
This definitely isn't a change for the faint of heart, I think it's important to realize that having weight loss surgery is a major decision for anyone and just getting through the whole process takes determination.
Today, I've been deciding what meals I want to have for Phase 1 (liquids only phase) after the surgery and while I'm tempted to spurn the products that New Life suggests purchasing from them b/c they are a little pricier I decided to go with the products; after all I want to make sure that I do everything I can to optimize my weight loss after the procedure.
I admit that the taste isn't the greatest but I've tasted worse! =)
Monday, March 26, 2012
9 Days 'til My Life Change
Oh boy, today hes been hectic! I needed to be at New Life today at 8:30am to go over the last paperwork before my surgery and then go to the hospital for Pre-Op Registration. TOTAL AMOUNT OF TIME:4 hours...yikes! LOL, as sick of Doctors as I am now I'm never going to want to go to the doctor again when this is done! ...and now I have to go to work :-P
I also ran out of the house without my New Life diet meals so I had soup and a salad for lunch and now I just need to find a good soup place for dinner! :)
I also ran out of the house without my New Life diet meals so I had soup and a salad for lunch and now I just need to find a good soup place for dinner! :)
Sunday, March 25, 2012
10 Days 'til My New Beginning
Oh boy, yesterday did not go well at all for the Pre-Op Diet...I'm really having a hard time with it b/c my mind keeps saying "I only have 10 days left to eat the bad foods that I can never have again after April 4th!!!" So forcing myself to already start the diet that consists mostly of 'mush' as I call it sucks. =(
Specially b/c now when I do it I'm starving because I have a huge stomach that I've overindulged for over 20 years but after the surgery I'll have a tiny 'pouch' stomach that won't be so hungry all the time... I point this out b/c I've already had someone else tell me that I'll be eating foods like the ones on the diet for a long time after the surgery so I might as well get used to it now...and if anyone else has such an asinine thought let me remind you of the point I made above! The comment was frustrating b/c clearly if I had the willpower to restrict my diet too broth, protein bars, and a multivitamin then I wouldn't be having the surgery in the first place!
Oh well, today is a new day, as they say, and I have had my protein bar for breakfast and am bound and determined to complete the rest of the Pre-Op Diet...except for the 3 or 4 restaurant meals that I am determined to have before I can no longer eat that deliciously unhealthy food! =P
Why is there a Pre-Op Diet?
Because most highly obese people have something called fatty liver and during the surgery the liver will have to be held up the entire time to get to the stomach behind it. So the idea is to lose as much weight as possible to shrink the liver which reduces the chance of damage done to the liver during the process. See? Makes sense doesn't it? ....unfortunately that doesn't make it any easier. =) *shrugs*
Specially b/c now when I do it I'm starving because I have a huge stomach that I've overindulged for over 20 years but after the surgery I'll have a tiny 'pouch' stomach that won't be so hungry all the time... I point this out b/c I've already had someone else tell me that I'll be eating foods like the ones on the diet for a long time after the surgery so I might as well get used to it now...and if anyone else has such an asinine thought let me remind you of the point I made above! The comment was frustrating b/c clearly if I had the willpower to restrict my diet too broth, protein bars, and a multivitamin then I wouldn't be having the surgery in the first place!
Oh well, today is a new day, as they say, and I have had my protein bar for breakfast and am bound and determined to complete the rest of the Pre-Op Diet...except for the 3 or 4 restaurant meals that I am determined to have before I can no longer eat that deliciously unhealthy food! =P
Why is there a Pre-Op Diet?
Because most highly obese people have something called fatty liver and during the surgery the liver will have to be held up the entire time to get to the stomach behind it. So the idea is to lose as much weight as possible to shrink the liver which reduces the chance of damage done to the liver during the process. See? Makes sense doesn't it? ....unfortunately that doesn't make it any easier. =) *shrugs*
Saturday, March 24, 2012
11 Days to Surgery
I'm excited...and a little nervous about the procedure, after all, there's always a risk during surgery for the worst to happen. Even knowing everything that I do now about life after Gastric Bypass my resolve hasn't wavered through the whole long long process. I am almost 200 hundred pounds overweight and I know that I won't live a long and productive life unless I do this. Not to be morbid...but it is called Morbid Obesity for a reason! =P
Anyways, a lot of people have asked me about the process with my insurance to lead up to this point and so I thought that I would briefly go over the past 6 months here:
First, I called to check coverage with my insurance and was assigned a Bariatric Nurse to lead me through the process. She explained the different procedures that were covered and gave me the names of local Bariatric Centers and general information about the whole process and e-mailed the paperwork that would have to be completed for the procedure to be approved.
Then I talked to my Primary Doctor as he would be the one that I checked in with every month for 6 months to prove that I had been following a diet program. My Doctor preferred Weight Watchers so I had to go to a Weight Watchers meeting once a week (this could be tricky at times since I work different shifts alot at work) and get the little stamp saying I had been there. NO, he would not approve anything if I just followed the online program! LOL, nothing worth having is ever easy, huh?
I also had to attend a Weight Loss Surgery Seminar at the Hospital, where Dr. Williams from New Life Bariatric Center explained the different procedures before I could make an appointment for a consultation with the Surgeon. Luckily, everyone else that I needed to see, with the exception of my primary physician, was located at New Life's Bariatric Center at Parkwest. This included the Nutritionist and Psychologist, both of whom you have to see once during the process. Seeing the Nutritionist was relatively painless as she just briefly went over what I would be able to eat after the surgery. The Psychologist visit was a little more painful though because I had to spend 2 hours filling out a personality questionnaire to make sure I was mentally ready for the major life change I was about to make. =( ...I clearly am =P
Then I didn't see anyone from the Bariatric Center again until after I FINALLY walked into my Primary Physicians office with my 6th stamp! And he was so nice that day that he didn't even take anymore blood!!!
Oh yes, you better be prepared for blood tests during this whole process! One day, after spending hours running from my Doctor to see the Surgeon for a consult I went home tired and bruised on BOTH arms from blood testing.
After, the 6th visit I called the Bariatric Center and faxed over the papers that my Doctor filled out, which included a signature for each month I proved I was trying to lose weight and he also had to send a letter saying that he thought I was a good candidate for the surgery and the past few years of my weight history while seeing him.
The insurance lady at the Bariatric Center sent the paperwork to my insurance and within 48 hours I received the call from the Bariatric Nurse assigned to me in the beginning that I had been approved!!!
So here we are on the last leg of the process, this week I sat through the required 4 1/2 hour "Diet Class" at New Life where they assigned my Pre-Op Diet and went over every phase and person that I would undergo and see for the first year after the Surgery. Oh boy, there was even a test at the end to make sure I understood everything! LOL, plus a DVD to take home, read and print forms off of...my "homework"
Now, I'm down to the Pre-Op appointment with the Hospital on Monday which is supposed to take a couple of hours before my Surgery next Wednesday!
Like I said in the beginning- I'm mostly excited and just a little nervous so wish me luck! =D
Anyways, a lot of people have asked me about the process with my insurance to lead up to this point and so I thought that I would briefly go over the past 6 months here:
First, I called to check coverage with my insurance and was assigned a Bariatric Nurse to lead me through the process. She explained the different procedures that were covered and gave me the names of local Bariatric Centers and general information about the whole process and e-mailed the paperwork that would have to be completed for the procedure to be approved.
Then I talked to my Primary Doctor as he would be the one that I checked in with every month for 6 months to prove that I had been following a diet program. My Doctor preferred Weight Watchers so I had to go to a Weight Watchers meeting once a week (this could be tricky at times since I work different shifts alot at work) and get the little stamp saying I had been there. NO, he would not approve anything if I just followed the online program! LOL, nothing worth having is ever easy, huh?
I also had to attend a Weight Loss Surgery Seminar at the Hospital, where Dr. Williams from New Life Bariatric Center explained the different procedures before I could make an appointment for a consultation with the Surgeon. Luckily, everyone else that I needed to see, with the exception of my primary physician, was located at New Life's Bariatric Center at Parkwest. This included the Nutritionist and Psychologist, both of whom you have to see once during the process. Seeing the Nutritionist was relatively painless as she just briefly went over what I would be able to eat after the surgery. The Psychologist visit was a little more painful though because I had to spend 2 hours filling out a personality questionnaire to make sure I was mentally ready for the major life change I was about to make. =( ...I clearly am =P
Then I didn't see anyone from the Bariatric Center again until after I FINALLY walked into my Primary Physicians office with my 6th stamp! And he was so nice that day that he didn't even take anymore blood!!!
Oh yes, you better be prepared for blood tests during this whole process! One day, after spending hours running from my Doctor to see the Surgeon for a consult I went home tired and bruised on BOTH arms from blood testing.
After, the 6th visit I called the Bariatric Center and faxed over the papers that my Doctor filled out, which included a signature for each month I proved I was trying to lose weight and he also had to send a letter saying that he thought I was a good candidate for the surgery and the past few years of my weight history while seeing him.
The insurance lady at the Bariatric Center sent the paperwork to my insurance and within 48 hours I received the call from the Bariatric Nurse assigned to me in the beginning that I had been approved!!!
So here we are on the last leg of the process, this week I sat through the required 4 1/2 hour "Diet Class" at New Life where they assigned my Pre-Op Diet and went over every phase and person that I would undergo and see for the first year after the Surgery. Oh boy, there was even a test at the end to make sure I understood everything! LOL, plus a DVD to take home, read and print forms off of...my "homework"
Now, I'm down to the Pre-Op appointment with the Hospital on Monday which is supposed to take a couple of hours before my Surgery next Wednesday!
Like I said in the beginning- I'm mostly excited and just a little nervous so wish me luck! =D
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