Tomorrow's Monday

Thinking about that all important phone call.  I am confident it will be this week. I will keep you posted. 

Patient Benefits

Spoke with someone in patient benefits today and no word on surgery approval yet.  Today was only the 5th business day since my packet was faxed to the insurance.  I am so excited and very anxious to get my date.  I told the woman that I spoke to that we need a code word.  I asked her just to say "YES" on my voicemail if I am unavailable.  That way I can get the anxiety over with.  LOL.. She said most people cannot stand it when she calls and shes the final step before surgery.  She said she will only say YES if all is well.  Things have worked so well to this point.  Monday is coming.  Tuesday just might be the day and call. 

Yet Another Symptom of Obesity

The humidity in the air the past few days has been aweful.  Almost crippling to people suffering from Obesity.  I know this feeling all too well.  I am using my inhalers more frequently and trying to stay out of the direct air.  One day it will be nice to not feel like I have taken a shower just by standing outside in humid conditions.  The feeling will be not be measurable.

I like Tuesdays

America's Got Talent & Losing it with Jillian is on tonight.  Primetime tueday is my favorite.  Just finished the show, "The Biggest Loser" & American Idol.  The seasons seem to pass quickly.  Thank god for DVR.  Who has time for commercials anymore?  LOL.  Today is business day 4 since I have seen the surgeon.  Can take from 7 - 10 business days for approval and surgery date.  I called yesterday, but unfortunately no answer as of yet.  I am sure I will hear soon.  The weather has been awesome.  Too bad summer ends very fast in Northern NH.  You think I would be used to it by now. 

Surgeons Visit

Today went much more pleasant than I anticipated.  I was with the Dr. for about 40 minutes.  He discussed at length the procedure itself, risks and side-effects, along with the benefits of having the surgery.  He answered all of our questions and was quite informative.  I am seeking solace in his ability to help me change my life.  Now I wait for a surgery date.  I have been anticipating this day for months.  Wonder became hope in just one visit. 

Tomorrow's Surgeon Visit

I am so excited.  Tomorrow I will meet with the surgeon who will be performing my Bariatric Bypass Surgery.  He holds a very important tool in my healing from obesity journey.  I have waited a very long time for this day and will not take a moment of it for granted. 

PRE-OP Class Happenings

Today was very informative and was glad to be a part of it.  What an amazing group of men and women ready to take control of their lives and beat the battle of obesity.  Diane was very informative and answered any last questions that all of us had at this point.  At the end of her lecture, she handed out wonderful samples of Protein Powders and such.  Following her presentation, we finished the class with a session from Maureen.  Shes always a delight to see and a truly a wealth of knowledge.  More questions and answers, yet this time there was a quiz that she passed around the room & each of us filled it out and turned it in.  With a passing grade you were handed your DHMC Certificate of Achievement, followed by an interactive DHMC CD to explore on your home PC.  Finally we received our Bariatric Surgery Discharge Information on paper & officially completed the journey to this point.  Last but not least, Allen, a very friendly fellow discussed Advanced Directives & Living Wills at length, and anyone interested in filling them out did so.  You could also take it with you and fill it out at home.  There were two separate forms.  One if you lived in NH, and one if you lived in VT.  Its been a long journey.  The finish line is in sight.  Thank you for allowing me to see the light.  I am blessed.

Tuesday I meet with the Bariatric Surgeon, which is the final step before I am given a surgery date.  Words cannot express how much this will change my life.  I feel great today.

Pre-Op Class

Just spoke with Julie this morning in the General Surgery Department, and was informed that the pre-op class which was scheduled for Friday, June 18th, has been changed and re-scheduled for tomorrow June11th at 9:00 am.  Neither one of the dieticians will be available next friday, hence the date change.  Hope to see everyone there and meet the people who are on the same journey.  Sleep tight.  See you tomorrow. 

Bariatric Surgery Program Second Visit

Met with the Bariatric Dietician first this morning at 9:00 am.  I saw someone different today as there are two program dietician's who switch off.  Very informative and pleasant to deal with.  Reviewed my diet and exercise from my food journal and exercise chart.  Also turned in my 6 - mos physician directed diet and exercise office notes for review.  Recommened to stay on the same path, increasing my protein consumption to a minimum of 60 grams per day.  All went well.

My second hour consisted of my second visit with the ARNP.  She reviewed what to expect in my afternoon Upper GI Endoscopy.  We then discussed my surgical consultation for next tuesday.  I lost 5.5 MORE POUNDS!!!!!!!  Very pleased.  Ongoing weight loss in encouraged.  There is a NO weight gain policy between visits.  The surgeon may opt to delay my surgery if I gain weight between any scheduled visits.  I was informed that the PRE-OP class may be rescheduled from the 18th of this month, to this coming friday the 11th.  Quicker than I anticipated, but ready none the less.   

She suggested that I prepare for the PRE-OP class by:
1.  Reviewing the program handbook and come to class with a list of questions.
2.  Watch the videos on shopping, meal planning and emotional eating on their website inder Bariatric Surgery.
3.  Go to RemedyMD and review the education materials.
4.  Come prepared to the class to discuss meal planning.
5.  Write a plan for a day, to include how you will reach the goals of adequate fluids, 60 grams of a protein a day, and taking the needed supplements.  Bring the plan to the class.
6.  Bring your supplements and medication you will be taking to prevent ulders after surgery.
7.  Come with tips and suggestions that may be helpful to others.

My BP was 123/81 today.  Which is fabulous for me.  For months it was uncontrolled. The med is working amazingly well.  I weighed in at 375.4 and started this journey at 425.  I have lost 50 lbs to date.  On my own, and has been very difficult.  But I did it.  And thats the point. 

At 12:00 I checked in the Endoscopy Suite to get ready for my Upper GI Endoscopy.  Truth be known, it really was as bad as I thought it was going to be.  It was the fear of the unknown .  They did a medical history with me, allergies, current meds, etc.  They proceeded to start the I.V. which normally I hate more than life itself, and to my suprise I hardly felt a thing.  The RN used a numbing agent first thats injected just below the skin and resembles a mosquito bite.  Then the I.V. is inserted through that spot.  Was really easy.  For me to say that, you can believe its true.  I am NEEDLE PHOBIC.  I did it.  Great job Nurse Anne.   Following the procedure the doctor reviewed the findings with me, and informed me that two biopsies were taken with a cold forceps for histology.  I tolerated the procedure well.  The Upper GI endoscopy was accomplished without difficulty.  My home care instructions are to notify the doctor if I develop: Any chills or a fever greater than 101, excessive pain, vomiting or bloating, vomiting blood, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or if I have any problems or have additional concerns.  All went well and I truly worried myself for nothing.  Would do the procedure again if needed.  I need to give myself more credit.  I am proud of myself today. 

Kent and I also saw an amazing sculpture of two nesting owl's on display at the DHMC Endoscopy wing.  I know for a fact that my Aunt Gloria's animal totem is the owl.  She would of loved this statue as much as we did.  Enjoy.

Tomorrow's Bariatric Appointments

About a half hour before bed, as I need to be up early tomorrow to head to my second bariatric visit with the ARNP and Dietician.  Very excited.  Have read and re-read the bariatric manual that they gave me at my last visit, and have my questions prepared.  Following these two appointments I will be going to have my Upper GI Endoscopy done.  Its funny, I wanted this time to get here so badly to be over with it, and now it is here and I sorta wish to have some of that time back.  Moral of the story, STOP wishing my life away.  Life happens.  Being mindful of the moment we are in, is what life truly is about.  That is all we have.  This moment.  I will be ok tomorrow.  What other choice do I have?  To not be ok?  Thats no fun.  I will update upon my return from the hospital.  OMG.. I was going to say, I hope I can speak then.  Then it dawned on me, that this is typing, not speaking.  LOL.. Blonde moment.  Laughing is good for the soul. 

Its Monday...

Hello to all.  Hope you didnt have as rainy and crappy of a weekend as we did.  Today there are some breaks of sun.  Definately something to look forward to.  Two days left until my next bariatric visit.  I have found that waiting for these appointments to happen, reminds me of the time that I was waiting to turn 21. It seemed to take forever to get here, and now I would like some of that time back.  Funny how that works.  Its true, once you hit 21, my god do the years fly.  Unfortunately so did my waist line.  I am looking ahead to an outif I haven't worn in years.  It will be a blessing to slip it on.  Pictures to follow. 

My Health Profile

      The second day to a really rainy and dreary weekend offered me a great deal of time to ponder my life and its direction.  I have a number of medical conditions that all seemed to be getting worse as the years are going on. I had been 230 or more pounds over my ideal weight for the vast majority of the last 20 years. I must have been blessed with good genetics because it took awhile for that abuse of my body to start breaking it down. But, good genetics or not, when my body started to break down, it took off with a vengeance. After I turned 35, I developed high-blood pressure.  I am a borderline diabetic and am headed for full-blown diabetes. I started having really bad lower back pain whenever I had to walk for more that a few minutes. I developed chronic pain in my left knee and developed severe lower leg edema.  I underwent a sleep study thru DHMC and found out not only do I have sleep apnea, but severe.  I was waking up 162 times (episodes) per hour during my old sleeping pattern.  I suffered from drooling, bed wetting, chronic snoring to list a few.  Having since been on my CPAP/BIPAP machine since December of 2008, has changed my life, for the better.  I now have 2 episodes per hour and wake up feeling better than I have in years.  Your body decides that breathing is more important than sleep, so that is why I woke so frequently before CPAP.  The next shoking news.  My family doctor told me that if I did not get the weight off, I was going to die in the near future. Things have gotten so bad that I literally cannot reach my feet to tie my own shoes.

     The term morbid obesity refers to patients who are 50 - 100% -- or 100 pounds above -- their ideal body weight. Alternatively, a BMI (body mass index) value greater than 39 may be used to diagnose morbid obesity.  My current BMI is 60.  Thats despicable.  Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. BMI Categories:




Underweight = <18.5

Normal weight = 18.5-24.9

Overweight = 25-29.9

Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater


Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

Today has been a day of great sadness, however the realization of knowing that I am breaking the cycle of my morbid obesity makes it a bit brighter.  I have always said, "I have a thin inner child waiting to be born".  Their birthday is nearing & I am going to join everyone in welcoming them into the world with the greatest part of myself -- self- worth, self-esteem, & self-preservation. 

This Weeks Appointments

This is a week in my journey. Wednesday I am going for my 2nd Bariatric visit with the ARNP and Dietician. Also I am having and upper GI Endoscopy on the same day. Will be the first experience with the scope and feel my nerves. You make a choice and follow through. Bottom line. I choose to live.

'Golden Girl' Rue McClanahan Dies

Today is a day of great sadness. Rue McClanahan, the youngest of the four "Golden Girls," died of a stroke at the age of 76. With the passing of Rue McClanahan, only one of the original "Golden Girls" is still alive. Bea Arthur died in April of 2009 and Estelle Getty passed away in 2008. Betty White — who just hoste......d "Saturday Night Live" in May and is the oldest of the four — is the last surviving "Golden Girl."

June 1st, 2010

Happy June 1st.  Hopefully everyone made it through the Memorial Day Weekend rather unscathed, and was able to remember someone special in their life.  Three appointments for me this month.  I can now say I am having surgery next month, if all goes well.  Things are happening.  I am making them happen.