Operation Me

So - I haven’t posted in a long while.  I’m a tad frustrated because a few months ago I broke my old phone and can’t get it to turn on so that I can grab my pre-op pics that I had taken.  There weren’t many but there were a couple. I’ll keep trying.   And yep - I am POST-Op now! Woo!! It’s nice to have that behind me.  I was sleeved on Dec 29th. It was pretty easy. I was lucky to have no complications.   I did end up having to spend about 6 hours in recovery right after surgery due to poor planning (or something) on the part of the hospital. But, they were fantastic besides that so I’ll let it go.  It was AWFULLY uncomfortable being in a hot, cramped, crowded room for 6 hours though. Once I was settled in my room I demanded/begged for a fan and somehow got one and was sat in my recliner and just kinda rode out the next 2 days.   

That first night they tried to get me to walk around the corridor as you are supposed to do to get rid of gas and prevent blood clots.  However, after having been sweating my behind off in recovery and oh - also dry heaving every time they gave me pain meds (dilauded and I apparently do not mix) - the walking was not happening.   The only memory I have is of a nurse escorting me with a walker out of my room and then her asking if I was okay and then I noticed my knees were wobbly and she called for help.  Then I was in my room. Who knows what happened there.  But around 2 am I started going for walks.  I also stopped taking pain meds.  The pain was tolerable - the dry heaving with a newly stapled stomach - was not. Over the next two days I passed the leak test, drank water, ate popsicles and jello, and walked until it was time for me to be released on New Years Eve.  Happy New Year to ME!

I will be trying to post more about my thoughts on the stages after surgery and things I’m learning as I go along.  

For starters though - My HW: 245 SW:210 CW:189

Today I went for my psych eval. I am 99% sure that I got cleared. She finished the visit by giving me her card, wishing me luck and telling me to feel free to call and make an appointment with her after surgery if I needed to talk about any of the changes.

Later today I have my 3rd visit with my nutritionist.  It was originally thought that I’d have to complete 4 or 6 visits but then we found out (read: I badgered my insurance company until they finally gave me the correct info) that I don’t have any required number of visits to attend.  Instead, my nutritionist just needs to ‘sign off on me’ as being READY for the surgery and the huge lifestyle change that waits.  I am SO sort of/kind of hoping she signs off on me today - and it’s making me anxious.   I have not been anxious before an appointment since my endoscopy. Tomorrow is my psych evaluation and then I’m done with all tests.  This could all go a few ways.  If my NUT signs off on me as being ready and I pass the psych eval tomorrow - I will meet with my surgeon in the next week or so, have a final consult, they submit ALLLL this collected info to insurance and await approval or denial (if denied - appeal process begins). If I fail psych eval - well I don’t know - lol but I don’t anticipate that happening. If my NUT wants to continue seeing me and pushes it another 30 days it shouldn’t mess things up TOO bad because I still have to meet with the surgeon and await psych eval results and all that.  We’ll see. I get nervous thinking about it so I’m just trying not to.  I’ve done EVERY thing I’m supposed to do and then some.  I’ve been dropping weight. I’ve had an upper gi, endoscopy, pcp visit, sleep study, pulmonary test, stress test, ekg, etc. I’ve ordered pre-op and post-op vitamins. I’ve stopped drinking soda and coffee. I’ve started a exercise regime and increased and maintained it. I’ve bought a ninja - a fitit - 2 oz measuring cups, books about WLS & VSG.  Practiced chewing my food for 15-20 seconds before swallowing. I can go on and on. I’m READY.