Happy New Year

Hoping everyone a wonderful new year.

This past year has been kind of crazy. I have had 3 fairly large surgeries. My band removal in February, a knee replacement in July and the bypass in December.

Lost my grandmother and my good friend Renee's husband, Paul. Rest in Peace, you two.

Looking forward to a happy, thinner 2012.

Happy New Year!!!!

Later....

Doing well

Been enjoying my 2T of food at a time, though I am still a bit hungry after eating. Got my drain out and was not all that happy about my loss since I saw the surgeon... 15 pounds. I know I shouldn't compare myself to others, but....... 2 of the people I was in class and the hospital were there, and they lost more (25 and 30 pounds). Makes me feel behind. I have been doing everything right, so there is no real reason to feel this way. Just my own competitive nature.

I have been feeling too week to exercise, but once I get done posting this I am going to get on the exercise bike. Think I'll start with 10 minutes. As long as I don't pass out I will do another 10 in a couple hours. Would like to work up to 30 minutes of continuous exercise. Also gonna break out the Wii fit.

The surgeon told me he figures that by summer I will be in the 100's. I can't imagine that. Me?? in the 100's???? I think the last time I was in the 100's was junior high!!! What a rush that will be.

Just need to keep on keeping on.

Later...

Surviving

Well, it's been a week since my surgery. Starting to feel better, the pain is almost gone. The surgery went well, the doctor said the bypass portion went well, but the old hernia mesh left some major scar tissue, and he had some issues with working around that.

I spent 2 might in the hospital and came home with LOTS of pain killers. I think someone made a mistake. I have the feeling I was not supposed to get 200 dilaudid. They will last me for years, since I have not taken any in over 24 hours.

I am a little dissapointd, I have only lost about 4 pounds since surgery (of course, I gained back the 7 pounds I lost on the pre surgical diet while in the hospital) So all in all I am down 11 pounds since my 3 day pre-diet.

Today I get to start eating a bit!!! I can have 2 Tablespoons of cream soup, or mashed potatoes, yogurt or pudding. Yayyyyy.. real food. I am supposed to have 5 meals today. I can also have 4 oz of a protein drink or something along those lines. I had 4 oz of sugar free Carnation instant drink this morning. I have been a bit hungry on occasion, but nothing major. The difficult thing for me is going to be getting in all my water (this was an issue with my band too) It is hard to get in water a couple ounces at a time and drink a full 64 ounces!! Just have to do what I can.

That's about it foe now, will post more soon.

Later....

one and a half days down

Well, started my clear liquids diet yesterday. Lived through it!!! All I had yesterday was about 2 quarts if strawberry flavored kool-Aid, half a can of french onion soup broth and one sugar free popsicle.

Getting anxious (and scared) about my surgery. I keep having this thought of "maybe I shouldn't do this" I know this is normal, just didn't expect to have it this strongly this time.

2 days left......

7 days left

I am going in next Tuesday. Kind of nervous and scared, very excited. My white blood count went down to normal. Yayyyy. It was 8.8 Friday. Gonna keep taking my antibiotic, hopefully I will stay normal ;)

Been buying all the "stuff" I need. Broths, different flavor waters, vitamins, slippers, etc. Have to do a 3 day clear liquid diet. Yummy. Guess I will be feeling "hangry" for a couple of days. I love that term hungry + angry = hangry. Yep.... that's what I'll be.

Later...

I'm on my way......

Went to my class Monday morning. When I got there I found out that we were going to run a bit longer and only have the one class. Yayyyyy... since I have not heard from the jury commissioner that takes a lot off my mind.

Went for my pre op last week. Got a call back saying my white count was too high, and she wanted me to get it re-checked. Went in for another draw and it was even higher!! Great. I have an infection. The only problem is I feel OK. The nurse who called me told me she wanted me to see my doctor ASAP. I told her I would try to get in to see someone at the medical office I was at, as I was just finishing my morning class and had 6 hours til my evening class. She told me OK, but she wanted me to see a doctor... not a PA, not a nurse.... a MD. So.... I went and asked and they said the only person I could see was a nurse (after explaining to them that I felt fine but had an elevated white count). So, I saw the nurse. After I told her what was going on, she said I needed to see a doctor. Duh. She made an appointment for me to see one of the doctors there in 4 hours.

Went out to lunch with a friend and came back to see doctor. We went over my tests and symptoms (or lack thereof) I asked him for an antibiotic, he told me no. I asked again.... he told me no. He told me he couldn't give me one, since I didn't have an infection. Hello???? Normal white count is 4.5-11, I was 11.2 on Wednesday and 14.1 on Friday. I'd say I have an infection. He told me we could do another test in a week or so. I asked for it that day (Monday). He told me we could do one on Friday. I asked for that day. Finally he relented and ordered one. STAT.

His nurse called the next day and said my count had dropped a bit (to 13.4). I found this encouraging (especially since this doctor told me this could be an indication of leukemia). I had some antibiotics left over from after my band removal. I started myself on those. I am going back for another test on Friday. Hoping I will be down into the normal range again. I am SO afraid something is going to mess up this surgery.

So...assuming I don't have cancer and my white count behaves itself 12 days and counting.

Later.....

Still waiting......

Have not heard back yet form the jury commissioner. Been getting kind of nervous. I am scheduled 2 weeks from Tuesday. I sent an email to the woman at the insurance company who does all the scheduling, asking her if we can put a "Plan B" in place, since I may not know if I need to report until the last minute. This was last Monday. Haven't heard back from her either. I am just batting a thousand here, huh?

It is 2 AM right now. Can't sleep, and I have to be up in about 4 1/2 hours. I have my first food class today from 8:30-10, and my last pre-op class from 4:30-6.

Went for my pre-op physical and to meet the surgeon (though we had already met, as he removed my band) last Wednesday. Got a call saying my white count was elevated. I went back on Friday for more blood and a urine test. Just got my results today. My count is even higher, and it looks, to my untrained eye reading the results, that I have a urinary tract infection. Hopefully that's all it is and I can be easily cured.

Will post back after my classes tomorrow.

Later...

No answer yet

Still waiting to hear from the jury commissioner. Sent an email asking for a postponement, but no reply yet. Guess if I don't hear anything I'm just going to assume I got the postponement.

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!!

A crazy rocky road

So..... It took me nearly 9 months to get to the top of my insurance companies list for surgery. I had my band removed in Feb. I was not able to apply for the surgery until March (I had to gain about 10 pounds to get my BMI over 40). Anyway, I sent in my application and got approved, then just had to wait, wait, wait. (All the while being absolutley miserable with the condition left behind by my eroded band).

I bought plane tickets for Kayleigh and I to go home for Thanksgiving. I then decided "Hmmm, I better call Kaiser (my insurance) to see where I am on "the list". I was told, "Oh, you're at the top, I can start making your appointments now while I have you on the phone" And let me tell you, there are a LOT of appointments.

So... I cancelled our trip (luckily I had fully refundable tickets). Since I knew I would have all these appointments to keep, and all these hoops to jump through.

I had to do a 6 week pre-surgery class. Really did not feel I need it, since I've been through all this before, but it's "a requirement"

I also found out I have a 30% co-pay. This is going to be around $7-10K, assuming the surgery is "uncomplicated".

I'm now half way through my 6 classes. Class 4 is tomorrow. Went last week for blood testing (vitamins, minerals, blood sugar and such). Also saw the nurse practioner in charge of the program and saw the psychologist for the 2nd time. This is when they scheduled my surgery and gave me the list of my other appointments.

I have a diet class on the morning of the th and 12th. I have my last pre-surgical class on the evening of the 5th. It is about a half hour each way, so I tend to leave an hour early, I am afraid to be late, since I was warned about their strict attendance policy. I have a pre-surgical appointment Nov 30, as well as a appointment with the surgeon that day. Then surgery the 20th.

Now for the spanner in the works...... Back in July I got a jury summons. I called and got it deferred, since I was scheduled to have my knee replaced. Yesterday I got another one. For the 12th.. Just freakin great. Have to call tomorrow and see if I can get it deferred again. I doubt they will do it. If not, I have to call the insurance company and ask if I can do my second food class at a different time. Perhaps they'll let me meet with the dietician as a regular appointment, as opposed to a class. Again, I really don't think I need this, as it is old news to me. But again..... rules are rules, I guess.

The thing in all of this I am most upset about is the money issue. Even though my band caused me a condition that can only be cured by a bypass it is still considered elective and I am going to have to pay for the co-pay. Hmmmm, nearly 10K for the band, and now at least 7K for this??? Then plastic surgery (which I will absolutley need) later on. Maybe I should insure my body with LLoyds of London?? I'll have put enough money into it.

Anyway, I'll post tomorrow when I find out what can be done about my appointment/jury duty quandry.

Later....

Got my date

Got my date for my bypass. yayyy, About time. It is December 20 @ 3PM. Merry Christmas to me. Hope I am up to doing the "Santa thing" for Kayleigh.