Checking Things Off The List - Psych Eval

 Today was my psych eval. It was what scared me the most. Not because I am crazy, but because, I was worried about the unknown. I didn't know what it would be like. I have never had one before. I worked myself up so much I was nauseated before I went in. This man held my surgery in his hands and I was scared. I assumed the appointment would take an hour. It was a video appointment. I got there ten minutes early. IYKYK. It's just who I am. The doctor was five minutes LATE. My appointment took less than ten minutes once he arrived. It was very short and sweet and to the point. He just wanted to make sure I understood what I was getting into and a bit of my family history. Then, he told me he'd have my approval letter to my bariatric doctor by tomorrow. I couldn't have asked for a better appointment. 

The only things I have left on my "golden ticket" are two more diet visits with my PCP. Then, my file will be submitted for insurance approval. Other than the day-to-day things of dieting I am done with my checklist. I am excited! 

Checking Things Off The List - Turning In Paperwork

 Today started out as a very good day. I took all of my paperwork (so far) to my bariatric doctor's office. I have a couple more diet visits with my primary doctor and my psych visit and I will be officially done with those requirements. I still have two more nurse appointments with the insurance, but nothing to give the doctor for those. Everything from my last three appointments will be faxed to the bariatric doctor. While I was there I asked her what the next steps were and if I needed to make another appointment right now. She said no. After I complete my last diet appointment with my primary doctor in January, the bariatric doctor will submit everything to the insurance company for approval. Once we get that, three things will happen 1) I will get an appointment with a dietician. 2) I will have my pre-op appointment with my doctor. and 3) I will get my surgery date. 

All of these are good things. BUT...I went into this thinking that surgery would be around a certain time. Then the nurse from the insurance company said something about trying to get it done before the end of the year. I knew that probably wouldn't happen, and I was right, so I didn't get my hopes too high for that. I was looking at surgery late January or early February and now I am wondering if that will happen due to everything that needs to happen. I am slightly disappointed that it could possibly be longer than I wanted but it is what it is. I have waited this long and I will wait as long as it takes. Hopefully, it won't take as long as I am thinking. 

Checking Things Off The List - Support Group

 So I have mentioned before I have this list of things that either the insurance company or the doctor require for surgery. Last night, I went to my required support group meeting. I went alone which scared me. I am very much an introvert. I don't like new situations or crowds of people so this was going to be fun. It turned out that it wasn't too bad. I was expecting the typical TV AA meeting where everyone stands up and says "Hello, I am <insert name here> and I am fat.> And while some of the post-op people did tell their stories it wasn't really like that. We had a presentation about avoiding sugar for the holidays and ways to help us do that. It wasn't fun by any means, but it wasn't bad. Given the right circumstances, I could see me doing it again. I do have to do one more meeting post-op, but I could see me going back willingly every now and then. I exchanged numbers with a lady with a story similar to mine. She was a few months post-op and doing well. It was encouraging to me. 

Other than that, we are just traveling right along through the rest of the things. I have almost completed the check list aside from my diet visits. I am excited about that. The diet is going ok. I am struggling with my fluid intake and head hunger but I have stayed within my calories all days except for two. I am food journaling. I hate it, but it is a necessary evil for me. It holds me accountable for my choices. I have exercised every day this month. I am proud of myself. 

Well, I guess that is about all for now. Until next time...

Bye, Bye, Bye

 This post will be short and sweet, but I thought it deserved a post. I said good-bye to my seat belt extender this morning. I can officially fit into a normal seat belt! I am so happy! 

Health Update

 I had my first medically supervised diet visit with my PCP today. If their scales are the same as my bariatric doctor's, I lost SIX POUNDS in one week! I am stoked! God is so good. My blood sugars have been dropping like crazy, though. Sooooooo... He dropped my insulin TWENTY-SIX UNITS and dropped one thousand milligrams of Metformin! Again,,, STOKED!! I will come back and finish my update when I get my lab results.

UPDATED: All labs were good. A1C was 6.3. 

Grocery Shopping

 Grocery shopping... It is something I hate to do for many reasons. I hate how I feel walking through the store. It makes me tired. I hate spending the money. I hate it because I don't make the best choices, even when I go in with the best of intentions. I could go on and on for a while with the reasons I don't want to do it. When I started this journey, I told John that he would have to do the grocery shopping from now on. I have been twice since then. I did my shopping last week after seeing my bariatric doctor, then I went today to shop for the family. While I did make a couple impulse purchases they were healthy ones! I am so grateful to God for His goodness and mercy. Without Him I couldn't do this. 

Lisa

My New Diet

 I haven't posted anything about this yet and I am not sure why. I guess I didn't want to post just to "put something out there." Any way, as part of my insurance requirements for surgery, I have to go on a 3 month medically supervised diet. Dr. W (Bariatrics) put me on a 1200 calorie diet and Dr. D (PCP) will supervise my diet for the 3 months. My first diet appointment is Thursday, but I have been dieting since the first so today is day 5. So far everything is going ok. I am not hungry like I thought I would be. In fact, I am not hungry at all. I eat 3 meals a day. My blood sugar keeps dipping so I am going to have to talk to Dr. D about that. On a different note, I got the clearance I needed from my neurosurgeon for surgery. Thankfully, we are just checking things off the list! 

Mama