Thursday, August 30, 2012

Pre-Op Day 3 & The Drive-Thru

I’m kinda ashamed to even blog this but hey, isn’t that what this journey is all about trying to deal with our issues with food. If I didn’t need help, I wouldn’t be having surgery!  

Here’s a little back story….I used to always pull in to a fast food drive thru in the mornings on the way taking my little man, Zach to daycare. He would get his usual hash browns and orange juice and I would get some kind of fried up biscuit treat and of course a “diet soda”. Well, for the past month I have been trying to break that habit.

On to this morning…I had a terrible time just getting to work. I have been trying to get Zach to eat a little something at home in the morning or take something in the car on the way into town, so I could avoid the dreaded drive thru situation. He has been complying rather well. So, this morning on the way in he wanted some dry cereal…no problem! He ate his Fruit Loops and drank his juice, then I make the turn into town and what does he say but….

“Mommy, I want some hash browns”.

 At that moment my mind and my stomach said “Heck Yeah!!!” I tried to convince him that he just had cereal and they would be eating breakfast at daycare in just a little bit…BUT NO that just wouldn’t do. So, I pull into the drive thru and I only get food for Zach…yay me! After I dropped him off, I had about 15 mins before I had to be at work….here is where I found out just how bad I wanted to EAT something, not drink a shake but actually CHEW something for breakfast. My mind and my stomach were justifying me going back to the drive thru

”You have 8 more days of pre-op, one time cheating isn’t going to hurt”

I know ME though, one cheat leads to another cheat and another…it’s a vicious cycle…hence Weight Loss Surgery!! I do have good news though…

I didn’t cheat!!

...But I sure as heck wanted to! Keep me in your thoughts guys…I’m just trying to make it so surgery day!! J

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Surgery Date & Pre-Op Diet Day 1

It's Official!!

My Surgery Date is Friday, September 7, 2012!

It's 4 days before my birthday and I couldn't think of a better birthday present to myself :)) I am super excited and really not as nervous as I thought I would be at this point but maybe as the time draws nearer. I was also glad to see that I had lost some weight since my last appointment with Dr. T...hey, I'll take it!! .

I asked him when I needed to start my Pre-op liver reduction diet, of course he says....Right Now! So, here I am with my protein shake this morning. I'll be averaging about 600-700 calories a day for the next 10 days...it's a little scary. I'm not looking forward to the headaches. However, I hoping if I keep hydrated enough, it won't be too bad. I'm just going to stay positive and look at the BIG picture...or better yet...think about looking at a smaller me in a picture ;)

Friday, August 24, 2012

Support Rocks!

LOVED Support Group last night!! It made me feel so much better. Researching all you need to do and not do had become very overwelming, but being able to sit down with a group of ladies that have had the same surgery I will have and by the same group of surgeons was like a breath of fresh air. I met some really great ladies and I think my mom enjoyed it as much as I did. So....

I know I can do this!!

To top it all off...Dr. T's office called as I was leaving work yesterday....My results visit is Monday morning!!!! YAY!!! I will find out Monday a surgery date. I couldn't be happier this morning :))

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Support Group and Misc Ramblings

I was finally able to get my sleep study report faxed to the surgeon's office. So, I should be hearing from them anytime. Another thing checked off the list....Yay!!

I ordered some sample packs of  protein powder from Vitalady. I am hoping the Nectar fruit ones will taste good or at least tolerable. I'm obsessing about my clear liquid week, making sure I get enough protein. I know that my Dr. preferred I use the Bariatric Fusion powder for the pre-op 10 day "liver shrinking" diet...not sure about post-op.

I bought some items this past weekend that I will need post-op...
A little retail therapy never hurts ;)

Chewable Multivitamins and Liquid Multivitamins
Biotin
Small appetizer plates and bowls
Small Appetizer spoons
Measuring cups and spoons
Blender Bottle
Water Bottle
Cytomax Whey Isolate Fruit Juice...32gm of protein for 20oz bottle

Still have to get a blender and food scale...

I also need another set of scales for myself...any brands recommended???

I also started gathering items to take to the hospital...I'm getting really excited and really nervous too.

I am going to a support group tonight that my surgeon's office offers every month at the hospital where I will be having surgery. My mom is coming along...she has been such a GREAT source of support during the entire process so far. I've been kinda feeling down over the past week or so...just the waiting part I guess but I am really looking forward to tonight. Hoping it can help me get out of this funk.

Thanks so much for the new followers!!!! Any advise or comments you can throw my way is greatly welcome and appreciated!!!


Also...thought I would share, just reading this made me feel a bit better....


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The Waiting Game


I hate this game...it's killing me! Everyday I am more and more anxious. I mean, can I get an appointment please!?! These sleep study people are ticking me off, its been over a week, just fax the stupid report!

Guess it's not helping that I am crabby from being incredibly hungry! I'm trying to do these Slim Fast shakes to loose a few pounds before going back to the doctor. Pretending this shake is a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit from Bojangles is NOT working today!!

Hoping to hear something today before I go bat shit crazy!!!

Friday, August 17, 2012

APPROVED!!!!!

YAY!!! I'm approved!! I'm so glad I didn't have to go all weekend wondering. I find out next week when I go back for my "results visit" to get my surgery date!!!! :))

Slowly but surely ;)

Well, got the call yesterday from my surgeon that everything had been submitted to my insurance for approval. I should know something from 48-72 hours!!  I’m so excited and anxious at the same time…please, please, please let them say “APPROVED”!!

So, in the meantime I’m going to continue to do my part. I have cut out caffeine and carbonated drinks…that was a big change for me and took me several weeks to do it…since I am (or was) a diet soda junkie! Now I mostly drink good ole H2O or G2, very seldom some tea sweetened with Splenda. One thing that I have not been trying to practice is not drinking while eating. You are not supposed to drink 30 mins before or after a meal….Yikes!! That is so you don’t flush what you do eat right thru your sleeve and you stay full longer. I think that’s going to be a challenge for me, I drink a lot when I eat now. Baby steps though...

Monday I am going to start on a diet prior to going to the surgeon for my last appointment…that’s when they will go over the battery of tests and my surgery will be scheduled. I spoke with a lady last weekend at a birthday party I attended (she had gastric bypass) and she told me she did Slim Fast before her surgery to help her transition into getting used to shakes, etc. I thought that was a great idea so, I bought the Special K Protein shakes and protein bars. It will also help to start shrinking this fat liver of mine before I go on the 2 week “Liver reduction diet”. I don’t want Dr. T to have any problems on surgery day! ;)

In the meantime, thought I would throw in a picture of what my stomach will look like after surgery…

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Oh Happy Day!!!

Yippee!! All of my pre-qualification testing is OVER!!


I feel like I have spent the last 6 weeks living in doctor's offices. Now we wait....hmm there's that patience thing again.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Patience is a Virtue…so they say

For anyone that knows me...patience is not one of my strong qualities. However, I do believe that during this journey, I will have to embrace it. So, I keep reminding myself....


Having my sleep study tonight and ready for the next step...insurance approval and a SURGERY DATE!!! :))

Monday, August 13, 2012

Blogger newbie

I’m new to all this blogging stuff but I’m gonna give it a try….

Hi, my name is Christy and I wanted to start a blog not only for others to read but so I could look back at my journey and never forget where I came from. I decided a couple of months ago to have bariatric surgery. No, I didn’t just decide overnight either. Been thinking about it for years but way to scared or even ashamed to tell anyone. I decided after attending the seminar with a surgeon to go for what’s called a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. Since my consult with Dr. T, I have been in the process of completing all the testing you have to endure. Slowly checking them off the list and tomorrow is my last test!! Yay!!! :0) A sleep study…hopefully it will go well.

I haven’t told many people about my decision to have weight loss surgery, but mostly everyone I have told has been very supportive and excited for me. I have been overweight most of my life. Now that I am 33, not only am I overweight but I’m considered “morbidly obese”! That just sounds disgusting! There are a lot of days I feel disgusting. Due to my obesity, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Type II diabetes and oh the back problems.

A lot of people think that surgery is the easy way out and I was, at one time, one of those people. I have found over the past year or so researching everything about WLS (weight loss surgery) that in no way is this easy. It’s a tool to help you control what and how much to eat. I NEED that tool!
I am married and have a three-year old little boy. I want to be around for him. I want to have the energy when he says “Mommy, come play with me” to do it. I don’t want to be the fat mom. So here we are, super excited and still scared to death, not so much about the procedure but about having the strength mentally and physically to be successful.

This is me and my little guy...