Ginger Snaps

I thought I was just getting older (joint pain, back pain, hip pain, bowel issues, GERD), but it turns out I'm obese!

At least 2-3 pounds the day of here...

My NUT recommends almonds -- because they are so much harder to chew, it's hard to put more than 1-2 in your mouth at a time and you have to chew forever.

I met with my own psychiatrist April 22nd for my psych eval... this is the guy I've been seeing for 8 years now. I called my surgeon weekly to see if they had received the clearance and they hadn't. I called the psych weekly to see if there was a problem and he said, no, that he was going to send it. Fast forward to last Saturday, May 24th (a month later), and I met with my psych for my regular 90 day med followup. He told me he was working on the letter and just needed the fax number from me (which he had before April 22nd -- on the script he made me get from the surgeon requesting a psych eval). I gave him the fax number again and he said he would send it off. Monday, Memorial Day, he called and asked me for the fax number again. Tuesday, when I saw the surgeon, he said he hadn't received a fax. The office staff contacted the psych asking for the letter and he said he had faxed it twice but something must be wrong with their fax machine because his fax machine showed the fax had gone through. Today, Wednesday, I called my surgeon and they still don't have the letter. I called the psych and he said he's going to scan the letter and email it because something is obviously wrong with their fax machine. The surgeon wanted to get the letter into the entire package to ship out to the insurance company on Tuesday and now is afraid my surgery won't get authorized in time for June 9th. Do you think if my surgery gets delayed for this and I harm my psych that it might be difficult for me to get another psych to approve the surgery???

@@pxinaz --- I agree -- rat him out to his docs. Especially a psych doc or therapist -- I'm assuming he would expect you to drive him to appointments, so I would and then in front of the doctor, start bringing it up. Have it out in front of the doctor if you need to. They need to know he's not being compliant with the program. I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this. Sounds like the surgery just exacerbated a situation that was already downhill... hoping you find some peace and figure out what to do to take care of yourself. Long days out of the house in a beautiful park or beach with a good friend sound like a good idea for you!

I did the online form and when I was at the doc's yesterday he saw the request for an rx in my file from them and he asked me what it was. I told him it was a way to get insurance to cover some shakes and he said "oh" and closed my file. So, I'm guessing he never sent them anything signed. Oh well -- looked at the site and it only covered a few of their shakes -- I'll just buy my own.

@@Alex Brecher -- looks like your son is learning from your experiences to consider what he's eating / drinking and the health benefits -- good for him. I'm preop -- love tea but need to find some that's caffeine free and not sweetened with sugar. Do you have any ready to drink / grab and go brands that you like?

@@moonlitestarbrite --- thanks for reminding me that at 48, according to pop culture, we are dead.

Call your nutritionist and talk specifics with them.

@@James Marusek -- I had seen your posts about BIo Oil and went and found some -- CVS even has their own brand knock-off of the name brand. It's not as greasy as some other oils so I use it on the arms and legs and neck area before bed.

All liquid in, all liquid out -- it's not uncommon... sorry you're struggling...

Wow... did he discuss any alternative meds you might can take? I'm bipolar, too and I take Lamictal for it and it doesn't have any restriction like that. I'd say contact your psych and talk to him about alternatives... you're right, it's going to be hard (impossible) to eat 350 calories in one sitting. Best wishes!

Oh no... did your doctor try appealing or has it been denied? How disappointing...

Woot Woot!

Have you done the bowel prep before? If no, you may not realize that it will be almost impossible to make it to the bathroom... I sat on the toilet most of the time I was drinking it -- had NO control. If you've had it before, you know what to expect. But, if not, I'd suggest really considering taking that one more day off because you don't want to go through the bowel prep at work and possibly have a very embarassing experience. Ginger

@@Mrs.RRn Will you pack my lunches for me please??? Looks great!

@Fiddleman with part Springer and part Border collie, I'm guessing your cats have been herded into a corner somewhere and that's why there aren't any pics of them! Sweet dog!

Wow -- I bet you could use a vacation right now!!! Sounds like you took it all in stride and even lost some weight for the effort but I bet next year there will be some SERIOUS discussion before a weekend like this happens again! Ginger

My trainer has me doing planks -- 2-3 times for 30 seconds each. I'm on the elbows and I'm currently doing them with the upper body on a bench. It's harder to do them on the floor, so if that's too hard, try doing them on a bench first and work your way down to the floor.

@@Sharon C. I'm happy you've gotten so much support and encouragement. I just went and read your former friend's blog. From her writing, it sounds like she is very insecure about herself and she would rather hide her head in the sand and say she's healthy and happy at her weight than have someone around who might topple that giant house of cards. She says she's fighting with compassion and science but her post about you doesn't do any of that. She believes in fat acceptance but won't accept you if you don't. She spouts all this stuff about being healthy at any weight while science proves exactly the opposite. I think it's really sad you got dumped on this way but you can surround yourself with people who will support your health. Best wishes!

I'm the 9th -- had a preop class at the hospital last Thursday night. It was great. We met a pre/post surgery nurse and they went over everything to expect... what will happen before surgery, the recovery room, what they'll do with your personal stuff, what monitors will be on you when you wake up... Then the pharmacist talked to us about our medications and what pain meds the doctors routinely leave orders for. We talked to the charge nurse on the floor we'll be on -- she talked about the room, getting us up to move around, etc. Then the dietician described the diet they'll bring up on the second day. Like a bottle of Crystal LIght with Protein in it. Lastly we talked to the bariatric coordinator who took us on a tour of the floor and let us see what a room looks like (all private). This morning I had my presurgery doctor's appointment -- went through all the paperwork, had to take a little true/false quiz and go over any answers I missed -- just to be sure I have realistic expectations. As I was leaving the doctor shook my hand and said "I'll see you at the hospital" and that was that! Thirteen more days... Excitement builds!!!

@ranchbrat Just wondering how you are doing? Are you feeling better?

I'm dying to fit into Ann Taylor... I went to Avenue and bought a couple of soft waistband shorts to help just after surgery but I'm planning on that being the last time I ever go in that store! Congrats on the success!

So I had my presurgery visit today -- doctor went through all the paperwork to be sure everything is in place. Of course, the psych eval hadn't been sent over yet even though I saw him a month ago and have called weekly to ask him to fax it over. The office staff is calling him and getting that taken care of. Doctor gave me a true/false quiz -- I was shocked I actually missed one -- UGH! I wanted to be a straight A student! lol It had questions like "After surgery I will be able to eat as I did pre-surgery" and "Protein shakes are essential early post-op to get nutrition". I missed the one about him taking out the gallbladder. He doesn't routinely take it out -- only if you have some existing gall bladder disease. I thought the question was saying it MIGHT be taken out. Thanks to you all on the boards for helping me pass that test -- I've learned so much. Now I have to go do the treadmill test on Thursday and do the preop testing next week and June 9th -- I'll be there! Getting so close now!

My doc said he requires a pre-op diet for patients with higher BMI's but I only have to do one day clear before surgery. And he said I'll get the anti-clotting shot presurgery and then the 2 days I'm in the hospital but not after that. No bowel prep either. Glad I'm getting a break on some of the hard stuff!