Bimbabe

I am sitting here at work, watching the clock. I hope I don't get anymore patients. I am just really feeling tired. I think I am getting to old to work 12 hours anymore. I cannot complain, though. I do not stay that busy and I am able to get some of my school work done. But since I only have 30 minutes left, I think I will blog. I was just reading over my past postings and it makes me feel so uncomfortable to think someone besides myself is actually reading this. In a large group and superficially, I am fine with social groups. But when it comes to one-on-one discussions I just freeze. I guess sometimes I don't know what to say...oops gotta go will write more later......

I agree with everyone else. I guess it is up to your doctor. My MD wants me on Clear liquids X 2 days, the day before, I have to take antibotics and MOM. That is it!:thumbup:

Now I am conviced this is some type of marathon. It is also a test of my patience! I will hear (hopefully by Wednesday) about a date. As I apparently get closer, I am becoming a little more anxious. I have been reading the forums daily. There is an emotional component to not being able to use food as an outlet. So, I need to develop more healthy habits. Sounds good, right? Well easier said than done. I decided I may take up knitting again, something to do to keep my hands busy. At this point, I really just want to get it done and move on to the next step. I turn 44 this year, which I cannot believe! Time certainly has gone by quickly. I feel as though I need to catch up with my age. My brain is still only about 25!

Now I am conviced this is some type of marathon. It is also a test of my patience! I will hear (hopefully by Wednesday) about a date. As I apparently get closer, I am becoming a little more anxious. I have been reading the forums daily. There is an emotional component to not being able to use food as an outlet. So, I need to develop more healthy habits. Sounds good, right? Well easier said than done. I decided I may take up knitting again, something to do to keep my hands busy. At this point, I really just want to get it done and move on to the next step. I turn 44 this year, which I cannot believe! Time certainly has gone by quickly. I feel as though I need to catch up with my age. My brain is still only about 25!

:biggrin:gottaloseit- Thank you for your words of encouragement. I also have PCOS, so between my medical history and family history, I am going with the RNY. I try to blog a couple of times per week, sometimes more. I will definately keep you posted. I expected to get a date on Wednesday 09/10.

WELCOME!!!:thumbup:

Hello and welcome! You two sound just like me!! I live in Atlanta and in 2006 I went to an information session with Dr. Scott Steinberg. I told my husband and my parents and they were totally against it! So much so, that I said, okay I will try the conventional way. So in early 2007 I went on WW and lost 30lbs (still nowhere enough as I am currently 269, I went down to about 240), only to gain back 40!! So then I took a break and tried a physician assisted diet in November of 2007. She put me on that phenteramine, which made me super hyper. I managed to loose 10lbs, but that was it. I then began thinking....what is it that I want? I am willing to make the lifestyle changes, but I need a tool! I have been dieting on and off for the past 25+ years and in the end, I remain MORBIDLY OBESE!!! For me, I have decided to do things differently, to use a medically safe tool in order to loose this weight once and for all. Intially, I was 100% for the lapband. However, I went to my PCP last week only to find out I have impaired glucose tolerance....AKA prediabetes. The lap Roux en y is a CURE for diabetes, and since I have diabetes in my family (mother, grandmother all aunts and uncles, brother on my mom's side). I decided what would be best for me is the roux en y. So, just to let you know, whatever you decide to do, make sure you are doing it for yourself!!!! They do not have to carry all this uncomfortable weight around, we do!! I don't have a date yet, I hope to get one on Wednesday. One more thing about BCBS, they are very good about approving as long as you meet the criteria. I was approved within 2 days and others in this forum have had similar experiences! They really helped me while I was waiting to hear, this forum is just a lifesaver!! If you would like, feel free to check out my blog.:thumbup: I wish you the BEST!!

You look GREAT!! Congrats to u!

For my preop I will only have to be on liquids for 2 days!! WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!! If I am going to be a bypass, can I still be on lapbandtalk???

For my preop I will only have to be on liquids for 2 days!! WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!! If I am going to be a bypass, can I still be on lapbandtalk???

When I woke this morning, I had planned on doing a quick blog before I went for the procedures, but I got lazy. Anyway, the upper GI and the GB ultrasound are done. The GB ultrasound was pretty routine, I just laid there while she scanned my GB, Kidneys, liver and spleen. NO BIG DEAL. The Upper GI was fine as well, with the exception of drinking that chalky barium! So, you drink the barium, swallow it and the tech has you hold your breath. Well, then you are laid down on the xray table and you have to roll from side to side (they want to watch the barium as it goes down into the gi track). That was it. Now the warning you are given is that the barium will stick to the bowel, so you need to drink lots of water and eat a high fiber diet. I can handle that.:thumbup: So, then I go to see Dr. Steinberg, I am all ready to get a date, I have my calendar, my hubby is with me, we go over the consents and.....NO DATE UNTIL THURSDAY:tt2:. Okay so the joke is on me. I guess the surgical coordinator person has to schedule the surgery. While talking with Dr. Steinberg, we came to the conclusion, that I will be better off with a lap bypass! I have pre-diabetes and I am already on Metformin for it and PCOS, so whatever, I am just ready to make the lifestlye change. I am ready to make the commitment to a new life and a new body. So while the finish line is still in the distance, I can see it. The most anxiety for me was waiting for the insurance approval. OH! One more thing. We discussed my goal weight. For me I would be happy at 155-160. Well his goal weight for me is 136! We started to buck about it, but then I told him to let me go through the surgery first and then we can talk about it more. I never wanted to be a toothpick and I think for me 136 will be too small! That is 134lbs!!! Soooooo overwhelming. I will write again on Monday.

When I woke this morning, I had planned on doing a quick blog before I went for the procedures, but I got lazy. Anyway, the upper GI and the GB ultrasound are done. The GB ultrasound was pretty routine, I just laid there while she scanned my GB, Kidneys, liver and spleen. NO BIG DEAL. The Upper GI was fine as well, with the exception of drinking that chalky barium! So, you drink the barium, swallow it and the tech has you hold your breath. Well, then you are laid down on the xray table and you have to roll from side to side (they want to watch the barium as it goes down into the gi track). That was it. Now the warning you are given is that the barium will stick to the bowel, so you need to drink lots of water and eat a high fiber diet. I can handle that.:smile: So, then I go to see Dr. Steinberg, I am all ready to get a date, I have my calendar, my hubby is with me, we go over the consents and.....NO DATE UNTIL THURSDAY:tt2:. Okay so the joke is on me. I guess the surgical coordinator person has to schedule the surgery. While talking with Dr. Steinberg, we came to the conclusion, that I will be better off with a lap bypass! I have pre-diabetes and I am already on Metformin for it and PCOS, so whatever, I am just ready to make the lifestlye change. I am ready to make the commitment to a new life and a new body. So while the finish line is still in the distance, I can see it. The most anxiety for me was waiting for the insurance approval. OH! One more thing. We discussed my goal weight. For me I would be happy at 155-160. Well his goal weight for me is 136! We started to buck about it, but then I told him to let me go through the surgery first and then we can talk about it more. I never wanted to be a toothpick and I think for me 136 will be too small! That is 134lbs!!! Soooooo overwhelming. I will write again on Monday.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference Robert Frost

Sometimes I feel like I am in some sort of weird race. Really a marathon. There is so much prep work before having surgery, it gets to be a little overwhelming. Tomorrow I go for an upper GI and GB ultrasound. After that appointment, I will see Dr. Steinberg and get a date. I have been on the forum reading daily and it seems as though most physicians put you on a diet. A liquid diet. Okay! I obviously have food issues and so I am going to be challenged if I am placed on a diet. It seems as though the diet is to prep for surgery (attempt to make the liver less fatty). But I also see it as an oppertunity, albiet challenging, to start my new more healthy life style. There are so many unknowns. 2 weeks out of your life may not sound like much, but for me, a liquid diet for 2 weeks sounds impossible. I must focus on this as an oppertunity to change my eating habits. I need to become more aware of not only when I eat, but why. I have read some blogs in which people are greiving the loss of their previous relationship with food. It seems as though there is some emotional pain with it. I can understand. Food is always there for me. If I am happy, sad, angry, celebatory, bored, enthused, food has always been there. Things are going to be different. My relationship with food needs to change from an emotional buddy to a tool. A tool which gives me energy to live to breathe...energy to develop other realtionships. I am an introvert. This entire experience, blogging, posting my pictures online, is so different for me. I am not comfortable with people looking at me, knowing who I am and how I am feeling. If someone is actually reading this, , that scares me. However, I think it is therapeutic for me to do this. I need to become more open with myself and others. So, tomorrow, I will get closer to the finish line. I will have my testing done, get a date and possibly a 2-week diet. "sigh". I will write more tomorrow after the testing. I am feeling pretty good right about now.:thumbup:

Sometimes I feel like I am in some sort of weird race. Really a marathon. There is so much prep work before having surgery, it gets to be a little overwhelming. Tomorrow I go for an upper GI and GB ultrasound. After that appointment, I will see Dr. Steinberg and get a date. I have been on the forum reading daily and it seems as though most physicians put you on a diet. A liquid diet. Okay! I obviously have food issues and so I am going to be challenged if I am placed on a diet. It seems as though the diet is to prep for surgery (attempt to make the liver less fatty). But I also see it as an oppertunity, albiet challenging, to start my new more healthy life style. There are so many unknowns. 2 weeks out of your life may not sound like much, but for me, a liquid diet for 2 weeks sounds impossible. I must focus on this as an oppertunity to change my eating habits. I need to become more aware of not only when I eat, but why. I have read some blogs in which people are greiving the loss of their previous relationship with food. It seems as though there is some emotional pain with it. I can understand. Food is always there for me. If I am happy, sad, angry, celebatory, bored, enthused, food has always been there. Things are going to be different. My relationship with food needs to change from an emotional buddy to a tool. A tool which gives me energy to live to breathe...energy to develop other realtionships. I am an introvert. This entire experience, blogging, posting my pictures online, is so different for me. I am not comfortable with people looking at me, knowing who I am and how I am feeling. If someone is actually reading this, , that scares me. However, I think it is therapeutic for me to do this. I need to become more open with myself and others. So, tomorrow, I will get closer to the finish line. I will have my testing done, get a date and possibly a 2-week diet. "sigh". I will write more tomorrow after the testing. I am feeling pretty good right about now.:smile:

NurseKY: I really don't get it! A person who is overweight and is having Angina certainly should qualify for this procedure, no questions! The insurance companies still don't get it. This is a procedure that, in the end, will decrease your risk for heart dz, diabetes, Cancer among other issues. I just get so frustrated with the ins. companies. !

Thanks! I just got mine!:party:

Well, At this point I just need to have the GB ultrasound and the upper GI. Then, I go to see Dr. Steinberg for my surgery date. It looks like it will be sometime in October. It is still far away, but it seems more of a reality. I am conflicted as to who I should tell and when...I will think about it.

Well, At this point I just need to have the GB ultrasound and the upper GI. Then, I go to see Dr. Steinberg for my surgery date. It looks like it will be sometime in October. It is still far away, but it seems more of a reality. I am conflicted as to who I should tell and when...I will think about it.

OMG!! I have an appt. for GB ultrasound and UGI and Dr. Steinberg on 09/05 as well!

I am so excited now that I have been approved. I have to go for an upper GI and GB ultrasound. It looks like I will be having my surgery in October. My birthday month. :cursing:

I have been approved for surgery! WHOO HOO!!:tongue2: I am so relieved! I have to go in for a gallbladder ultrasound and a upper GI. Whew! I am truly on my way to a new life and I am so ready!!:thumbup:

I have been approved for surgery! WHOO HOO!!:party: I am so relieved! I have to go in for a gallbladder ultrasound and a upper GI. Whew! I am truly on my way to a new life and I am so ready!!:w00t:

:tongue2: The confused look seems to be my look of the week. I am so trying not to obsess with the whole approval vs not approval thing. If I get approved, I have a date in mind and a schedule worked out. I work 12 hours at a retail clinic, so I need to make sure I pace myself well. I will most likely take vacation time and then just bunch the rest of the days together as days off. I plan on working a few extra weekends because I only have to do 6 hours on the weekend. That is IF I am approved. If I am not approved, I guess, I will have to go through the whole appeal process, which does not seem too difficult. The difficulty will come if I receive a final denial.:smile2: But, at this point, I am stil just in the waiting phase and I cannot focus on something I cannot control. Once this is all done, I am seriously thinking about getting another job, maybe at the beginning of the year...I will have to see. I just began a doctorate program.:thumbup: I hope by the time I finish these biostats and epidemiology courses, I gain some knowledge...