Have I mentioned, I have most excellent friends? Well, I do. I spent this past weekend with 4 of my favorite people. I was with my best bud, Edel; Cristy, the funiest person I know; and Larry & Charlotta, the world's best host/hostess, and fun time people. We were at the big ass river house (BARH), which is the home of Larry & Charlotta. Cristy and I met up at the BARH on Friday afternoon and Edel came up on Saturday evening. Saturday morning, Cristy, Charlotta and I went to a garlic festival and toured 2 local wineries. Wine tasting was the order of the day and because of this we are now connoisseurs and wine snobs. We even discovered a red wine that is excellent with Cheetos. Really! After the wine tastings, we discovered that since we had no designated driver, we needed to go home, eat something and pick up Larry - which we did. We then went and visited yet another winery, but I chose not to partake this time because I needed to drive. For those of you who don't know me well, I have horrible motion sickness and must always drive if I am in a car, or I will turn green and vomit. I'm not much fun to take on a road trip unless I am driving, and I am the designated purse holder if carnival rides are involved. Anyway, we headed back home after a stop to Ingles (to pick up steaks for dinner and Cheetos for the wine), we headed home to meet up with Edel. We're coming up on the tooth portion of this blog.
I have a million dollar mouth because of all the dental work I have had in my lifetime, but the up side to this is, I have a lovely smile. This is true, but alas, something is always going wrong with my teeth. This past weekend was no exception. I was enjoying my perfectly grilled steak (by chef, Larry Clark), and eating my corn on the cob, potatoes and asparagus prepared by Charlotta, when I realized that something didn't feel right. I swallowed the food in my mouth and instantly realized that I had swallowed one of my front teeth. The others thought that the renigade tooth was on my plate, down my shirt or on the floor, but I knew better. I was headed to destinations unknown. I choose not to relay the string of words that followed out of my mouth because I am trying to make this a PG-13 blog. I was having such a good time up until point in time. There was really nothing I could do besides throw myself in the floor and scream and holler, but I did not. So much for my lovely smile. I now had a large gaping hole in the front of mouth. I could have been in a terrible mood for the remainer of the trip, but decided to not worry (this part is actually not true), and enjoy the rest of the weekend. Cristy had to leave to go to a piano recital in Atlanta (she is the most cultured of the group), but Edel, Larry, Charlotta and I enjoyed some pool time. Edel and I headed for home Sunday afternoon. Edel followed me back to Franklin to spend Monday and Tuesday with me. As part of my requirements for the gastric bypass surgery, I have to attend a support group that is held by the surgeon's office. We're moving on.
Since I now had a major flaw in my ordinally lovely smile, I had to make a plan. First thing Monday morning I hit the speed dial for my dentist extraordinaire, Dr Ralph Lehr. Since Dr. Lehr only works on Tues. and Weds. anymore, the plan was to see him the next morning. Now is the time to explain that Dr. Lehr's office is in Atlanta. I have seen him for a zillion years and he is the reason for my fore mentioned lovely smile. Nobody else can touch my teeth. He is worth every mile I drive back to Atlanta to see him. My appointment was Tuesday afternoon. Edel and I would drive back to Gainesville for the support group that evening. I will not elaborate on the happenings of the the dental visit except to say that I now have to have oral surgery and then I can get my new crown. Nothing is ever easy when it comes to my teeth. This is going to cost me a boat load of money, but that is another story for another time. We will move on to the support group.
I'm not sure what exactly I had expected for this weight loss support group, but it was not what I had imagined. The people in the group are all patients of my surgeon's practice and they are in different stages in their journey. Some were several years out from the surgery, some were experiencing their first year post op and others were pre op. There were also several support people, like Edel. They introduced themselves, told their status and how much weight they had lost up this date. That was truly amazing and inspiring. I guess I expected these people tell tell their struggles and victories and to discuss food plans. It was more of lesson in attitude and expectations. There was nothing wrong with that, in fact, it was good, but it was not what I wanted. I wanted to hear personal stories. I left there pretty disappointed. Edel and I had a long trip back to Franklin to discuss this. She thought the program was good and said that I could not really judge the group by one session. She is right. Edel is smart and intuitive, which is one of the reasons she is an excellent support person for me. She also lovingly pointed out that I do not know everything (which was not really a great shock to me, but I pretend it is) and that I could learn from this group. So, I will go back and change my expectations. Edel also suggested that I get on facebook and also check out any other online support and ask for personal stories. During the group, the facilitator did mention that some members were facebook friends and were in contact with each other that way. I also think that the events from earlier in the day, ie: my dentist visit, might have had something to do with my attitude going into the meeting.
I need to realize that my life in general is not going to stop while I make my journey into weight loss. Things are still going to happen - good and bad. I have to deal with it all. While my attention has been on getting the requirements of surgery out of the way, I still have to work, maintain friendships, deal with family issues, pay bills, clean house and all that is involved in living on a daily basis. I don't know why this is a new concept, but it is just beginning to settle in.
All this to say that I need your continued support, prayers, good thoughts and karma. This is one of the biggest events in my life and I cannot do it alone. I appreciate and am grateful for all of you. Thank you for being part of my life.
One last thing. I have an update on the cpap saga. My sleep is getting better. I am learning to deal with the big honk'in mask I have on my face. (I chose the total face mask.) It has been a challenge, but sleepy time is getting better. Yahoo!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Sleepy, irritable and a little impatient
I've been using my c-pap for 5 days now, and while it has maybe gotten a little better, I am sleep deprived. This is where the irritable comes in. I really like to sleep and I'm ill as a hornet (as my mother would say), when I don't sleep well. I went away for the weekend and took my machine with me. I am a very compliant patient, but it is getting hard. The gal from the medical supply company called me yesterday and asked if I was feeling better. I said, "are you kidding? I would just like to sleep through the night!" She suggested if it didn't get any better in a few days to try another kind of mask. I might just do that. Somethings got to give.
I've had several people ask me some questions and I'd like to address them. If you are one of the people who ask these questions, don't be offended. I just want to discuss this is a little detail and let you know my feelings. One - no two people asked me why I just didn't go on the tv show, The Biggest Loser. Wouldn't that be easier than surgery, they asked. Well, no. To tell the truth, I thought I was not as obese as the people on that show. I have discovered that there is no weight requirement to go on that show. I would be eligible if that was what I wanted to do. But, I don't. You have to give up your life for pretty much a year and be willing to be be taped and on television during your journey. Also, the amount of exercise you need to do is not realistic for me. My knees are bad and I do not want to injure tham any more than they already are. This is not for me. I've made the commitment to have the surgery and feel it's the best way for me to go. I don't feel like I need to explain anymore. Another thing someone said to me was, "so you will probably get married after you lose all that weight?" What??? I was a little taken back by this statement. The two have nothing to do with each other. Being overweight has nothing to do with the fact that I have never married. Plenty of people I know, and do not know, who are overweight have been or are married. The thought that I am too fat or undesirable to be married is not something I believe. Maybe, others do. Frankly I would be disappointed with any friend I have or anyone who knows me who would think that. There is so much more to me than the fact that I am overweight. I feel no need to try and justify that I am somehow not complete without a husband. I like my life. Sure, I get lonely and sure I think I would like a male to share my life with, but who doesn't get lonely and want their life to be different at some point? There are advantages and disadvantages to both. I would have liked to have had children. That is a fact. That is not because I am overweight either. I have my reasons for not being married and not having children. I would be willing to discuss these reasons with anyone who asked and was truly interested in me. I do not want to go into that here. I do get impatient with people who make such statements. I don't mind answering questions, though, that I feel deserves an answer.
This month, Edel and I are going to a support group meeting. We are also going to tackle the paperwork that pertains to us both and take it to the surgeon's office to get that out of the way. I am going to see my internist this month also. I want to discuss my decision with her and I need to get her authorization to have the surgery. I don't expect this to be a problem. We have discussed my weight many times and I know I have her support to make my life more healthy. That's it for August. In September is when I see the nutritionist and I expect that things will pick up after that. I should get a surgery date at that point if all my other requirements are done. They will be. In some ways I would like things to move more quickly. I do know that I have more to learn about the post op experience and about learning to eat differently. That takes time. I want to be completely ready in every way before I have the surgery.
As I meet more goals and have more feelings, I will be sharing them with you. Until then, stay tuned. Even now, I want and need your support.
I've had several people ask me some questions and I'd like to address them. If you are one of the people who ask these questions, don't be offended. I just want to discuss this is a little detail and let you know my feelings. One - no two people asked me why I just didn't go on the tv show, The Biggest Loser. Wouldn't that be easier than surgery, they asked. Well, no. To tell the truth, I thought I was not as obese as the people on that show. I have discovered that there is no weight requirement to go on that show. I would be eligible if that was what I wanted to do. But, I don't. You have to give up your life for pretty much a year and be willing to be be taped and on television during your journey. Also, the amount of exercise you need to do is not realistic for me. My knees are bad and I do not want to injure tham any more than they already are. This is not for me. I've made the commitment to have the surgery and feel it's the best way for me to go. I don't feel like I need to explain anymore. Another thing someone said to me was, "so you will probably get married after you lose all that weight?" What??? I was a little taken back by this statement. The two have nothing to do with each other. Being overweight has nothing to do with the fact that I have never married. Plenty of people I know, and do not know, who are overweight have been or are married. The thought that I am too fat or undesirable to be married is not something I believe. Maybe, others do. Frankly I would be disappointed with any friend I have or anyone who knows me who would think that. There is so much more to me than the fact that I am overweight. I feel no need to try and justify that I am somehow not complete without a husband. I like my life. Sure, I get lonely and sure I think I would like a male to share my life with, but who doesn't get lonely and want their life to be different at some point? There are advantages and disadvantages to both. I would have liked to have had children. That is a fact. That is not because I am overweight either. I have my reasons for not being married and not having children. I would be willing to discuss these reasons with anyone who asked and was truly interested in me. I do not want to go into that here. I do get impatient with people who make such statements. I don't mind answering questions, though, that I feel deserves an answer.
This month, Edel and I are going to a support group meeting. We are also going to tackle the paperwork that pertains to us both and take it to the surgeon's office to get that out of the way. I am going to see my internist this month also. I want to discuss my decision with her and I need to get her authorization to have the surgery. I don't expect this to be a problem. We have discussed my weight many times and I know I have her support to make my life more healthy. That's it for August. In September is when I see the nutritionist and I expect that things will pick up after that. I should get a surgery date at that point if all my other requirements are done. They will be. In some ways I would like things to move more quickly. I do know that I have more to learn about the post op experience and about learning to eat differently. That takes time. I want to be completely ready in every way before I have the surgery.
As I meet more goals and have more feelings, I will be sharing them with you. Until then, stay tuned. Even now, I want and need your support.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Cpap......the real story
I'm sure you all have been waiting with bated breath to hear about my first c-pap experience. Well, here it is...the real story.
First of all, for those of you who are saying, "what the hell is a c-pap and why is she making such a big deal about it", I will explain. C-pap stands for continuous positive air pressure. Another word I might need to explain is apnea. That means you stop breathing for a period of time. Not a long period because that would mean death, which would be a whole other story. Usually, you stop breathing for a few seconds. There are a couple of reason for this. Most of the time there is some kind of obstruction in your throat, like big tonsils or adnoids or even a large uvula. That's the thing that hangs down in the the middle of your throat. Uvula is not to be confused with vulva. That is in a completely other part of your body. I only say this because I had someone call her uvula her vulva. I was certainly confused for a moment until I figured out she was confused with the names of her body parts. Any, I digress.... where was I? The reason for apnea. Another reason can be excess fat around your neck and chin. Not all people with this dilema have sleep apnea but, being overweight makes you at high risk. The last reason is something called central apnea. Your brain actually tells your body to stop breathing. This is my problem. Obviously, I have a defective brain and who know why this happens, but it does. Anyway, when any of these things cause the apnea, your body usually wakes you up and says, "hey, stop that and start breathing again!". It needs oxygen for it to keep working properly. So, in this case, your body is your best friend. Sometimes, all your body needs is something to keep your airway open and this positive air pressure is just the thing. This machine gives you a continuous flow of air into your nostrils to keep your airway open. Thus, continuous positive air pressure. That is the end of this lesson for today.
Now that you know what c-pap means, it will help you understand the rest of the story. I went to pick up my c-pap machine yesterday morning and get instructions on how to use it. I won't go into more detail, but to say that the respiratory therapist told me that I have small nostrils and a small face. I only mention this because nobody has ever called any part of my body small. I was excited all day because of this new information that this kind woman named, Peggy, told me. Peggy the respiratory therapist is my new best friend. I wear a small mask. Yahoo! None of that information was really necessary for you to know, butI want to tell a complete story. There are a lot of different kinds of masks, which I will not go into a lot of detail because this story is getting too long already. You need to have one that fits your face properly and the continuous air flow cannot seep out of around the mask. Let me move on to my experience with this machine last night.
I actually remembered how to set the machine up last night which was a major plus. There is a long hose that pulls the humidified air to your face. This is where my concern with the kitties come in. They love to chew on things. I am convinced that they are part piranha. They, however, left it alone, but I'm not sure they can be trusted to leave it alone when I am not around, so when not in use, I will keep it out of sight. They were confused by this contraption on my face. Houdini kept walking around my head, while Hannah just sat and stared at me. This went on for what seemed like a long time. Anyway, they finally settled down and went to sleep.....unlike me. I know I slept some, but I was constantly aware of this foreign thing on my face. I have been told by many that you get used to it. We shall see. I managed to keep it on for 5 hours which I thought was remarkable. You may applaud for me here.....thank you. I was told that I have to use the machine for at least 4 hours a night for it to count as me using it properly. Since I want to be compliant, I did just that and more. Hooray for me. I'm probably going to get sleepy later on because of my interrupted sleep, but I love a good nap.
I have to use this machine for 3 weeks at 4 hours a night for it to count and then the pulmonologist will sign off on me to have the surgery. I will, however, continue to use this handy machine for as long as they say I need it. I have been told that having the gastric bypass surgery and losing a lot of weight will sometimes correct this problem. But, since it is my brain that is causing me to stop breathing (central apnea), I don't know that it will. We will see about that. So, stay tuned.
First of all, for those of you who are saying, "what the hell is a c-pap and why is she making such a big deal about it", I will explain. C-pap stands for continuous positive air pressure. Another word I might need to explain is apnea. That means you stop breathing for a period of time. Not a long period because that would mean death, which would be a whole other story. Usually, you stop breathing for a few seconds. There are a couple of reason for this. Most of the time there is some kind of obstruction in your throat, like big tonsils or adnoids or even a large uvula. That's the thing that hangs down in the the middle of your throat. Uvula is not to be confused with vulva. That is in a completely other part of your body. I only say this because I had someone call her uvula her vulva. I was certainly confused for a moment until I figured out she was confused with the names of her body parts. Any, I digress.... where was I? The reason for apnea. Another reason can be excess fat around your neck and chin. Not all people with this dilema have sleep apnea but, being overweight makes you at high risk. The last reason is something called central apnea. Your brain actually tells your body to stop breathing. This is my problem. Obviously, I have a defective brain and who know why this happens, but it does. Anyway, when any of these things cause the apnea, your body usually wakes you up and says, "hey, stop that and start breathing again!". It needs oxygen for it to keep working properly. So, in this case, your body is your best friend. Sometimes, all your body needs is something to keep your airway open and this positive air pressure is just the thing. This machine gives you a continuous flow of air into your nostrils to keep your airway open. Thus, continuous positive air pressure. That is the end of this lesson for today.
Now that you know what c-pap means, it will help you understand the rest of the story. I went to pick up my c-pap machine yesterday morning and get instructions on how to use it. I won't go into more detail, but to say that the respiratory therapist told me that I have small nostrils and a small face. I only mention this because nobody has ever called any part of my body small. I was excited all day because of this new information that this kind woman named, Peggy, told me. Peggy the respiratory therapist is my new best friend. I wear a small mask. Yahoo! None of that information was really necessary for you to know, butI want to tell a complete story. There are a lot of different kinds of masks, which I will not go into a lot of detail because this story is getting too long already. You need to have one that fits your face properly and the continuous air flow cannot seep out of around the mask. Let me move on to my experience with this machine last night.
I actually remembered how to set the machine up last night which was a major plus. There is a long hose that pulls the humidified air to your face. This is where my concern with the kitties come in. They love to chew on things. I am convinced that they are part piranha. They, however, left it alone, but I'm not sure they can be trusted to leave it alone when I am not around, so when not in use, I will keep it out of sight. They were confused by this contraption on my face. Houdini kept walking around my head, while Hannah just sat and stared at me. This went on for what seemed like a long time. Anyway, they finally settled down and went to sleep.....unlike me. I know I slept some, but I was constantly aware of this foreign thing on my face. I have been told by many that you get used to it. We shall see. I managed to keep it on for 5 hours which I thought was remarkable. You may applaud for me here.....thank you. I was told that I have to use the machine for at least 4 hours a night for it to count as me using it properly. Since I want to be compliant, I did just that and more. Hooray for me. I'm probably going to get sleepy later on because of my interrupted sleep, but I love a good nap.
I have to use this machine for 3 weeks at 4 hours a night for it to count and then the pulmonologist will sign off on me to have the surgery. I will, however, continue to use this handy machine for as long as they say I need it. I have been told that having the gastric bypass surgery and losing a lot of weight will sometimes correct this problem. But, since it is my brain that is causing me to stop breathing (central apnea), I don't know that it will. We will see about that. So, stay tuned.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Jumping through the hoops
I'm not literally jumping through hoops - wouldn't that be a sight? But, there are requirements that you need to complete before you are considered for the surgery. The first is to go to a educational seminar regarding the program. I did that back in June. Edel, my bff, went with me for support. It was very informative. One of the surgeons went through the different types of surgery in great detail and discuss what is required of the patient before and after surgery to be successful. Then, an insurance person talked about insurance plans and the cost out of pocket. She did not go into enough detail because as I work through the requirements, unexpected costs keep popping up. So far, I've been able to handle it, but they don't tell you that part of it. They also showed several "before and after" pictures of people who have been success. Very impressive. As we were walking out of the lecture, we spoke with one of the nurses in the surgeon's office who had the surgery 6 years ago. She was a small gal, who when looking at her, you would never have known she had a weight problem. She had lost 116 lbs! She was very honest about what to expect. Edel and I left there jazzed up and I was willing to have the surgery the next day. Obviously, that did not happen. I was sent home with stack of papers to fill out which included a detailed family history and history of all the diets you had even been on in your entire life. That took a while, but I was quick to finish and send it back to them.
Next, you have to see a psychologist that the surgeon uses specifically to see if you are a candidate for the surgery. I thought this would be a breeze since I've been in therapy for the past zillion years. It really wasn't too bad. They make you you take several standardized test. One was a personality test, an intelligence test and several other test pertaining to the way you think about food. Then, you have a session with the psychologist so he can personally see if you are a good match to have the surgery. Four hours later (they had said it would take that long, and they were right!), I left thinking I was pretty darn smart and thankful that I had spent all those years in therapy. Needless to day, it went very well and I am sane enough to have the surgery and all that that inquires. Also, that cost a chunk of money.
After that, I got a call from the sleep disorder center. I needed to have a sleep study. Because of my weight, gastric reflux and whatever else, that put me in a high risk catagory for sleep apnea. I had a sleep study abou 4 years ago but never went back for the results because I lost my insurance. I was told then that I was "borderline". Of course, after the sleep disorder center got the results, they wanted me to have a repeat test using c-pap. I told them that I was sleeping fine and they did not believe me. Imagine that! So, I went for the follow up test. Have you even had a sleep study? Well, they hook you up to all these electrodes all over your body, put this mask on your face and then expect you to go to sleep. It was terrible. The tech at the center was this cute, young fella, who was a pleasure to work with - if I had to be there. He asked, "how did you sleep?" "Terrible", I said. He laughed and said I slept like a baby. Liar!! But, as he reminded me, he had video proof. Don't you just hate a smarty pants?! So, not to make a long story even longer, I do have sleep apnea and I have to wear c-pap. They also moniter you to make sure you are wearing it, too. I imagine little spys in my bedroom watching my every move, but, actually, the machine monitors how often you use it. Some sort of technology I will never understand. So, if you cheat, "they" will know it. This could cause you to be eliminated from the program. I go to pick up my c-pap machine on Thursday morning. UGH!!
I had an appointment to meet the surgeon for a consult last week. I really liked him. He took plenty of time with me and answered all my questions. I was most concerned about being able to take my medicine after the surgery because you cannot swallow much of anything but liquids afterwards. He assured me that I would be able to take what I needed. Among the medications I was worried about was my antidepressants. I have had a long battle with depression and finding the right medication is tricky. Plus, for me anyway, the medications stop working after a while. I'm in a good place right now and don't want to mess that up. I had seen my psychiatrist earlier that day. Oh my gosh, yes, I see a psychiatrist and have for many years. Those of you who know me well, know this already. He has truly been a life saver. He assurred me, also, that continuing to take my meds would not be a problem and I would be monitored closely because after the surgery because your body absorbes things differently and my dosages would probably change. This was a great relief. I want to be cute and slim, but I also want to be sane, too. Whew!! I was really worried about that.
I left the surgeons office with more papers to fill out, including a manual that tells you everything to expect and a written test to complete. They REALLY want to make sure you are aware of what you are getting into. There is also committment papers (not what you are thinking) that I have to sign along with my official support person. Yes, I have to choose someone who will be my support person throughout this ordeal. Edel volunterred, thank goodness. She also has to sign papers saying she will support me and will be put in jail if I mess up. Not, really, but they want you to take all this seriously. We both then have to write some sort of essay that we understand what all this decision entales. I also have to go to a support group that is offered by ths hospital that they want you to attend for a year after surgery. Edel and I are going to that at the end of the month. Unfortunately, the support group meets in Gainesville, GA (where I am having the surgery) and gas cost a fortune, but you do what you gotta do. It's not manditory, but highly recommended. My sister and niece never went, but I will. I want and need all the support I can get. I am very fortunate to have a lot of people pulling for me and that is wonderful, but I also need to be around people who are or have experienced the same thing I am going though.
Last, but not least, I will meet with a dietician who will tell me what I can eat and what I can not and will explain the process of beginning to eat again after surgery. This will be on Sept. 11. I am looking forward to this. I think she follows up with you at certain intervals also to make sure you are staying on track. Then, taaaa daaaa, if all the requirements are in order after that, I will be scheduled for surgery. I am thinking October for a surgery date, but it might be November.
So, there you have it. My plan for the next couple of months. I will keep you up to date on the happenings. Stay tuned.
Next, you have to see a psychologist that the surgeon uses specifically to see if you are a candidate for the surgery. I thought this would be a breeze since I've been in therapy for the past zillion years. It really wasn't too bad. They make you you take several standardized test. One was a personality test, an intelligence test and several other test pertaining to the way you think about food. Then, you have a session with the psychologist so he can personally see if you are a good match to have the surgery. Four hours later (they had said it would take that long, and they were right!), I left thinking I was pretty darn smart and thankful that I had spent all those years in therapy. Needless to day, it went very well and I am sane enough to have the surgery and all that that inquires. Also, that cost a chunk of money.
After that, I got a call from the sleep disorder center. I needed to have a sleep study. Because of my weight, gastric reflux and whatever else, that put me in a high risk catagory for sleep apnea. I had a sleep study abou 4 years ago but never went back for the results because I lost my insurance. I was told then that I was "borderline". Of course, after the sleep disorder center got the results, they wanted me to have a repeat test using c-pap. I told them that I was sleeping fine and they did not believe me. Imagine that! So, I went for the follow up test. Have you even had a sleep study? Well, they hook you up to all these electrodes all over your body, put this mask on your face and then expect you to go to sleep. It was terrible. The tech at the center was this cute, young fella, who was a pleasure to work with - if I had to be there. He asked, "how did you sleep?" "Terrible", I said. He laughed and said I slept like a baby. Liar!! But, as he reminded me, he had video proof. Don't you just hate a smarty pants?! So, not to make a long story even longer, I do have sleep apnea and I have to wear c-pap. They also moniter you to make sure you are wearing it, too. I imagine little spys in my bedroom watching my every move, but, actually, the machine monitors how often you use it. Some sort of technology I will never understand. So, if you cheat, "they" will know it. This could cause you to be eliminated from the program. I go to pick up my c-pap machine on Thursday morning. UGH!!
I had an appointment to meet the surgeon for a consult last week. I really liked him. He took plenty of time with me and answered all my questions. I was most concerned about being able to take my medicine after the surgery because you cannot swallow much of anything but liquids afterwards. He assured me that I would be able to take what I needed. Among the medications I was worried about was my antidepressants. I have had a long battle with depression and finding the right medication is tricky. Plus, for me anyway, the medications stop working after a while. I'm in a good place right now and don't want to mess that up. I had seen my psychiatrist earlier that day. Oh my gosh, yes, I see a psychiatrist and have for many years. Those of you who know me well, know this already. He has truly been a life saver. He assurred me, also, that continuing to take my meds would not be a problem and I would be monitored closely because after the surgery because your body absorbes things differently and my dosages would probably change. This was a great relief. I want to be cute and slim, but I also want to be sane, too. Whew!! I was really worried about that.
I left the surgeons office with more papers to fill out, including a manual that tells you everything to expect and a written test to complete. They REALLY want to make sure you are aware of what you are getting into. There is also committment papers (not what you are thinking) that I have to sign along with my official support person. Yes, I have to choose someone who will be my support person throughout this ordeal. Edel volunterred, thank goodness. She also has to sign papers saying she will support me and will be put in jail if I mess up. Not, really, but they want you to take all this seriously. We both then have to write some sort of essay that we understand what all this decision entales. I also have to go to a support group that is offered by ths hospital that they want you to attend for a year after surgery. Edel and I are going to that at the end of the month. Unfortunately, the support group meets in Gainesville, GA (where I am having the surgery) and gas cost a fortune, but you do what you gotta do. It's not manditory, but highly recommended. My sister and niece never went, but I will. I want and need all the support I can get. I am very fortunate to have a lot of people pulling for me and that is wonderful, but I also need to be around people who are or have experienced the same thing I am going though.
Last, but not least, I will meet with a dietician who will tell me what I can eat and what I can not and will explain the process of beginning to eat again after surgery. This will be on Sept. 11. I am looking forward to this. I think she follows up with you at certain intervals also to make sure you are staying on track. Then, taaaa daaaa, if all the requirements are in order after that, I will be scheduled for surgery. I am thinking October for a surgery date, but it might be November.
So, there you have it. My plan for the next couple of months. I will keep you up to date on the happenings. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Adventures in weight loss surgery and beyond
After much tearing of clothes and gnashing of teeth, I have finally come up with a blog that will let me document my adventures in weight loss surgery and beyond. I hope this will be a place, too, that I can explore my thoughts and feelings while making huge changes in my life. For those of you who decide to follow this, I hope you might learn what a difficult task I am undertaking and I hope you will be positive and supportive of me during this time. So, let me begin.
I have been overweight for most of my life and all of my adult life. I'm sure there are many reasons for this. One is because I am a Burgamy, I'm sure. I doubt I will ever be small, but I would like to be a healthy size for my body frame. Aother reason was the way I was brought up to eat. Southern style, with a lot of fried food and vegetables cooked in grease. We always had bread and a dessert with every meal. This certainly is nobody's fault. It's just the way it was. I was always on a diet, even as a child. Lastly, there are emotional reasons. My life growing up was not easy - but who's is, right? I won't go into a lot of explaination, but I'm sure that eating was a way of protecting myself from difficult situations and it was a comfort to me. Enough of all that.
I am morbidly obese. Doesn't sound pretty does it? I am way over what I should weight for my height. I could say that I should just be taller, but that's not the answer. I am at an unhealthy weight and because of that I have high blood pressure, gastric reflux, sleep apnea, and painful joints. I'm sure there is more, but I'll stop there. I have been on more diets than I can count. You name it, I've probably tried it at some point. When I was younger I could lose weight fairly easy. The problem is it never stayed off. I would gain it back and more usually. I have been thinking about gastric bypass surgery for a long time. My sister and my niece, both have had this surgery. Both were successful to begin with, but my sister has gained a good bit of her weight back. My niece has done well. At the time when they had their surgeries, I was not convinced that it was all that safe, and if it was the right thing for me. I have done a lot of research about the procedure and the results thereafter. I wanted to be sure before I took on such a drastic step. All that to say, I feel comfortable with my decision to have the surgery and feel like it is the best course for me.
I plan to take you through the steps of what all I have to do to be eligible for this surgery. There was 3 different surgeries that are done for weight loss. I chose the most drastic, but also the one with the best results for someone who needs to lose a lot of weight. I'll go into all that later. I plan to take you through pre-op, surgery and at least one year after or my goal weight.
So, if you were bored to tears reading all this, maybe this isn't for you. I would not be upset with anyone who chose not to follow me in this adventure. A lot of the reason I am writing a blog is just for me. I thought some of you would like to follow my progress and maybe even learn something about me and the challenges of wanting to make a betterbonnie. Stay tuned. More to come.
I have been overweight for most of my life and all of my adult life. I'm sure there are many reasons for this. One is because I am a Burgamy, I'm sure. I doubt I will ever be small, but I would like to be a healthy size for my body frame. Aother reason was the way I was brought up to eat. Southern style, with a lot of fried food and vegetables cooked in grease. We always had bread and a dessert with every meal. This certainly is nobody's fault. It's just the way it was. I was always on a diet, even as a child. Lastly, there are emotional reasons. My life growing up was not easy - but who's is, right? I won't go into a lot of explaination, but I'm sure that eating was a way of protecting myself from difficult situations and it was a comfort to me. Enough of all that.
I am morbidly obese. Doesn't sound pretty does it? I am way over what I should weight for my height. I could say that I should just be taller, but that's not the answer. I am at an unhealthy weight and because of that I have high blood pressure, gastric reflux, sleep apnea, and painful joints. I'm sure there is more, but I'll stop there. I have been on more diets than I can count. You name it, I've probably tried it at some point. When I was younger I could lose weight fairly easy. The problem is it never stayed off. I would gain it back and more usually. I have been thinking about gastric bypass surgery for a long time. My sister and my niece, both have had this surgery. Both were successful to begin with, but my sister has gained a good bit of her weight back. My niece has done well. At the time when they had their surgeries, I was not convinced that it was all that safe, and if it was the right thing for me. I have done a lot of research about the procedure and the results thereafter. I wanted to be sure before I took on such a drastic step. All that to say, I feel comfortable with my decision to have the surgery and feel like it is the best course for me.
I plan to take you through the steps of what all I have to do to be eligible for this surgery. There was 3 different surgeries that are done for weight loss. I chose the most drastic, but also the one with the best results for someone who needs to lose a lot of weight. I'll go into all that later. I plan to take you through pre-op, surgery and at least one year after or my goal weight.
So, if you were bored to tears reading all this, maybe this isn't for you. I would not be upset with anyone who chose not to follow me in this adventure. A lot of the reason I am writing a blog is just for me. I thought some of you would like to follow my progress and maybe even learn something about me and the challenges of wanting to make a betterbonnie. Stay tuned. More to come.
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