Yes, that is right ladies and gentlemen. After submitting my paper work to the insurance and waiting 15 weeks, my approval letter finally came in the mail today. It has been a constant battle with them and now it is finally over. I can now breath a big sigh of relief.

I had my pre-op education class and dr.s visit on Wed. It was 6 hours long and just almost too much to absorb at once {especially because I had a migraine}. We were weighed, measured and had our before pictures taken from 3 different angles. We had the main class with the nurse practitioner; then met with another nurse, the nutritionist, the exercise instructor from the wellness center { we actually had to walk for her for 6 minutes so she could check heart rates} and then the doc and the surgical nurse practitioner. They had so loaded us with information {they gave us a large 3-ring binder full of everything we would need to know and contact numbers for EVERYONE} that by the time the doc came in and asked if I had any questions, I was blank. The only thing I managed to ask was how he wanted me to wear my hair. After the surprised look on his face, I explained to him that it came right to my knees and I wanted to make sure it was done properly not to be in the way. He told me I looked good to him right now...lol, but the surgical nurse jumped in and said no metal pins or clips. We finally decided on a braid and elastic bands. He did laugh and tell me that I might get to sport a new dye job to go with that braid though. He said even though they try hard not to, many times the blue leak test dye runs into peoples hair and gives them a blue streak. I just laughed and said, " I'll just have to tell everyone 'no, I have not been cussing'"

After I paid my $360 for my class { non-refundable, non-insurable}, they gave me my Rxs and let me go. I was ordered to buy chewable Multivitamin, chewable Caltrate-D, sublingual b-12, Hebicleanse, bowel prep, two different antibiotics and Emend (surgical anti-emetic).

I also bought the rest of the stuff I needed for my pre-op diet. We will do 7 days of Atkins, then 4 days of liquids. I was relieve to hear that it wasn't liquid the whole time.

My pre-op testing is scheduled for Feb. 8, then my surgery for Valentine's day. I am starting to get a bit on the nervous side because this is such a big important event. When you hear the words "permanent" or "irreversible" and it involves the functions of your body, it is not something to enter into lightly. My doctor wanted me to have a hysterectomy 6 years ago but I refused because it was something I couldn't go back and change later. I have had another child since then. I glad in that case I didn't do it. But this is a different story. I feel like this is my Carpe Diem moment. I have missed out on so much because of my health and my weight. I'm ready to be able to participate in life and not just be a by-stander any more.

So everyone wish me luck, send up prayers or whatever you do. I'm excited and nervous at the same time and will need lots so of support. I have T-12 day til VSG

BTW...I expect this "big" mama to have a name change pretty soon. I'm thinking "hot" mama has a nice ring to it. What about y'all 

Congrats! I am excited for you! 15 weeks is long time to wait and I bet you are relieved!! Wooohoooo!! :clap2:

Valentine's Day here you come!!! I'll say a prayer that you have a great surgery and a quick recovery...Cant wait to see your post -op posts!