So yesterday was my first appointment with the nutritionist. She was very nice and for someone so skinny I felt very comfortable around her.
The appointment was a little bit of a class with three other women. Jessica also came to the appointment with me, as I thought it was going to be a one on one thing and wanted her input and questions.
Well, Jessica didn't end up talking much, but me and two of the other women sure did!
I was so relieved to find out that the weeks prior to surgery will not see me on a liquid only diet! PHEW!! For right now I am to replace one meal a day with a protein shake. I learned that the Myoplex shakes I was doing this with already were bad choices and probably had something to do with the one pound I had gained since my consultation. (Or I'm blaming TOM!) So, for $45 I purchased at the doctors office a 3lb thing of Isopure Low Carb Chocolate shake stuff... Then Jessica and I did a mad dash around and found me a Cookies and Cream on at GNC for $38.99. I hope I will like that one!
After words Jessica and I had a fun sissy date at the mall. Bought some makeup, had a little dinner, bought some other stuff.... Like an AWESOME Hello Kitty backpack! Woot woot. I also bought something that is a size 18/20 on clearance because I really liked it, it was cheap and I know I'll be fitting into it by spring!! WOOT WOOT!
Also bought this ugly mumu type night gown for at the hospital. Still hoping I'll be able to talk my doctor out of the catheter, but if I'm not able to I figure a gown will be my best bet at least until that comes out. And got a super cute pair of pjs and matching robe (hey surgery is in December) for when the catheter comes out.
I feel like I could just chit and chat the whole day away, but off I go to get ready for work.
Kisses!
D
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Psych Evalutation
Well, I haven't had it yet. My appointment is at 10:00 and right now it is 6:30.
Those whom I have asked what I should expect have said nothing much. The shrink just wants to make sure I am aware of what changes I will have to make and that I will have a good support system.
Sometimes I feel like my support system is a little sketchy. My sister is 100% behinds me, but she may just be the only one. Others are certainly behind me with this decision but I don't know if I could say they are 100% behind me.
Mostly I'm nervous about some shrink trying to poke around in my brain. I'm not comfortable digging through some of the crap in there, I certainly don't want a shrink doing it either. I'm going for something specific and I don't think he needs to concern himself with the rest.
Those whom I have asked what I should expect have said nothing much. The shrink just wants to make sure I am aware of what changes I will have to make and that I will have a good support system.
Sometimes I feel like my support system is a little sketchy. My sister is 100% behinds me, but she may just be the only one. Others are certainly behind me with this decision but I don't know if I could say they are 100% behind me.
Mostly I'm nervous about some shrink trying to poke around in my brain. I'm not comfortable digging through some of the crap in there, I certainly don't want a shrink doing it either. I'm going for something specific and I don't think he needs to concern himself with the rest.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Quitting Smoking
Now that I am going through the insanely miserable process of quitting, I find myself wondering why the heck I ever started.
I remember exactly when I started. I was a senior in HS and my grandmother died in Mass. My mother and Aunt left the night she passed, and the next day my sister, cousins and I followed them up from NY. Us 6 grandkids all shared one hotel room and the day after we got to Mass there was a terrible ice storm that kept us stuck in the hotel much of the day. Well, my cousins were smokers and it just sort of happened. It was a way to deal with things.
For the longest time I could smoke for a week or two and stop for a month and so on and so forth. Then college started, I got a job and spent entirely too much time in the car. The next thing you know, 8 years have gone by.
It's been two days since I have smoked. I felt very bad for my coworkers today because I was so moody and I knew I was being moody. I tried to stay quiet but heaven help me my patients are trying people.. And some of my coworkers too.
It will be worth it in the end. The respiratory therapists I work with have had a few good suggestions and have backed up what Dr. Kaul told me about it taking 2-3 weeks for the charboxyhemoglobin to show I haven't been smoking. I was hoping my doctor was exagerating, but oh well.
I remember exactly when I started. I was a senior in HS and my grandmother died in Mass. My mother and Aunt left the night she passed, and the next day my sister, cousins and I followed them up from NY. Us 6 grandkids all shared one hotel room and the day after we got to Mass there was a terrible ice storm that kept us stuck in the hotel much of the day. Well, my cousins were smokers and it just sort of happened. It was a way to deal with things.
For the longest time I could smoke for a week or two and stop for a month and so on and so forth. Then college started, I got a job and spent entirely too much time in the car. The next thing you know, 8 years have gone by.
It's been two days since I have smoked. I felt very bad for my coworkers today because I was so moody and I knew I was being moody. I tried to stay quiet but heaven help me my patients are trying people.. And some of my coworkers too.
It will be worth it in the end. The respiratory therapists I work with have had a few good suggestions and have backed up what Dr. Kaul told me about it taking 2-3 weeks for the charboxyhemoglobin to show I haven't been smoking. I was hoping my doctor was exagerating, but oh well.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
The Big Decision
It's been about three weeks since I have made the decision to have weight loss surgery. (WLS) It was a tough decision to come to, but since making my decision I feel like there is something in life to start looking forward to again.
Originally I wanted to go with Lap Band, but after going to a WLS seminar at the Putnam Hospital Center where I heard Dr. Ashutosh Kaul, I realized it isn't for me for several reasons. One- due to my BMI it isn't the best option. 2- because I suffer from PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) Lap Band does not help as much with resolving PCOS issues as other forms of WLS. And if there is anything I want in this world more then being healthy and skinny.... it's to be a mom. So, my mind was made up to not go with Lap Band.
Until the seminar I hadn't really heard of VSG or paid much attention to it. As we got further into the seminar it sounded better and better, because I was and am so dead set against Gastric Bypass. So, this decision being made I booked my appointment for a consultation with the team of surgeons from the Putnam Hospital Center.
Now, when I first booked the consultation I was a little crest fallen thinking I wasn't going to have the doctor from the seminar. The seminar doctor was so kind and thorough in his presentation. And although he isn't from the USA, his English is so perfect you don't have a hard time understanding ANYTHING this man says, which given this situations is a big deal for me. In addition to all this, I was given the opportunity to see him being a doctor first hand. One of the women at the seminar went into what appeared to be an insulin shock and Dr. Kaul went right over to her and began helping her.
So, the day comes for my consultation. My cousin went with me, who was looking into having her WLS performed at a different hospital. I was very surprised and pleased when I was informed I would be seeing Dr. Kaul that day and that he was going to be my surgeon. He took his time with me, explained all the answer to my questions and he gave me hope. As a young woman, I have dreamed my whole life of feeling my child move inside of me and giving birth to this child. For the last year or so I've been feeling less and less like a woman because of the PCOS issues. Dr. Kaul is giving me back this dream!
I even asked Dr. Kaul if there were questions I should ask that I hadn't and he went and explained a few more things to me that I hadn't thought to ask. My cousin was so impressed with him that when she was informed that they took her insurance she switched to their practice after having insurance issues with her previous doctor.
Since making this decision I have a goal in life. The next few months are going to be very busy as I prepare for surgery. I have to see a cardiologist, a pulmonologist, a psychologist, my PCP, and have three appointments with a nutritionist. My goal is to have all of these appointments done in October so that November 28th when I have my last nutritionist appointment everything is ready to go for insurance approval.
The goal is to have my surgery the second or third week of December.
I will be blogging and once I get closer to surgery I will begin vlogging on YouTube.
Originally I wanted to go with Lap Band, but after going to a WLS seminar at the Putnam Hospital Center where I heard Dr. Ashutosh Kaul, I realized it isn't for me for several reasons. One- due to my BMI it isn't the best option. 2- because I suffer from PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) Lap Band does not help as much with resolving PCOS issues as other forms of WLS. And if there is anything I want in this world more then being healthy and skinny.... it's to be a mom. So, my mind was made up to not go with Lap Band.
Until the seminar I hadn't really heard of VSG or paid much attention to it. As we got further into the seminar it sounded better and better, because I was and am so dead set against Gastric Bypass. So, this decision being made I booked my appointment for a consultation with the team of surgeons from the Putnam Hospital Center.
Now, when I first booked the consultation I was a little crest fallen thinking I wasn't going to have the doctor from the seminar. The seminar doctor was so kind and thorough in his presentation. And although he isn't from the USA, his English is so perfect you don't have a hard time understanding ANYTHING this man says, which given this situations is a big deal for me. In addition to all this, I was given the opportunity to see him being a doctor first hand. One of the women at the seminar went into what appeared to be an insulin shock and Dr. Kaul went right over to her and began helping her.
So, the day comes for my consultation. My cousin went with me, who was looking into having her WLS performed at a different hospital. I was very surprised and pleased when I was informed I would be seeing Dr. Kaul that day and that he was going to be my surgeon. He took his time with me, explained all the answer to my questions and he gave me hope. As a young woman, I have dreamed my whole life of feeling my child move inside of me and giving birth to this child. For the last year or so I've been feeling less and less like a woman because of the PCOS issues. Dr. Kaul is giving me back this dream!
I even asked Dr. Kaul if there were questions I should ask that I hadn't and he went and explained a few more things to me that I hadn't thought to ask. My cousin was so impressed with him that when she was informed that they took her insurance she switched to their practice after having insurance issues with her previous doctor.
Since making this decision I have a goal in life. The next few months are going to be very busy as I prepare for surgery. I have to see a cardiologist, a pulmonologist, a psychologist, my PCP, and have three appointments with a nutritionist. My goal is to have all of these appointments done in October so that November 28th when I have my last nutritionist appointment everything is ready to go for insurance approval.
The goal is to have my surgery the second or third week of December.
I will be blogging and once I get closer to surgery I will begin vlogging on YouTube.
