9 posts tagged “surgery”
Today was one of the worst college football days I've had in a long time. Sigh. I need to just focus on the fact that yay, I got to go to the game, but still...the game was a let down.
So happy stuff... I can feel muscles in my arms and legs. Seriously. It's amazing and awesome and makes me want to exercise even more! And today I jogged for 6 minutes straight. Woo hoo! As I was telling a few friends today, I sometimes feel like I've been body-snatched or something. It's strange feeling so energized about exercise, but I love it!
I'm heading to the Nashville area on Thursday to babysit my little sister and her puppy. Here is a picture of Sandy, now about a year and a half:
Isn't she beautiful?
I just walked into my kitchen to turn off the light, and could smell the bananas on the counter. Yep, they're really ripe, so I'll be baking banana bread tomorrow. I think I'll bake a couple of mini loaves and freeze them for Christmas presents. Then buy more bananas to make a couple more mini loaves. I haven't decide what other baking/candy-making I'll do if any. I should figure that out before buying more bananas, huh?
For those looking for more post-op updates...I had my first band adjustment on Thursday, and can really tell a difference. I've lost 26.8 pounds so far since September 4, and my surgeon is pleased with the progress. My next adjustment is on November 20.
Good night!
As most of you already know, I'm doing really well after surgery. The soreness is almost gone, and I'm feeling good. I'm looking forward to actually eating again (starting soft foods on Saturday), but other than that, I think I'm doing great! My surgeon said that the surgery was "boring" which is a very good thing. He told me later when I was in my room (I stayed one night in the hospital) that he could tell that I didn't cheat on my pre-op diet, as the shrinkage of my liver was perfect. :)
I'm going to be working from home part-time this week, which is great, as I'll be able to get my daily walks in. I've been walking for 20+ minutes three times a day. Except today, my off day, which was only one walk of 28 minutes. I'll be back at three times a day tomorrow.
I had a really fun pre-op weekend. I went to the UAB/TN game on 9/13 which was a lot of fun. I hadn't been to a game since the KY game in 2006, so I really enjoyed that. The following day I went to Dollywood with my friend T. to ride the roller coasters one more time before surgery. So much fun! Except that it was their barbeque festival, and I was on the liquid diet, oh the aromas. I stuck to it, though, and am glad I did. We're planning on going back sometime during their Christmas festival, as I've never been for that.
Daisy has been a very good kitty through all of this. I had no doubt, really, but still, yay kitty!
I'm going to be going to bed soon. I've been getting to bed fairly early, and want to be up at a decent time tomorrow to "work."
It just now hit me that my surgery is next week. NEXT WEEK!!!!
First of all, I've been on the pre-op diet since Monday. It's not pleasant, but I'm getting by. In case you're wondering, it's two weeks of only clear liquids and protein drinks. Yeah. Fortunately my mood hasn't been terrible, as I was afraid I would be horribly cranky & stabby. However, every time I start to think that I'm doing okay, I really want to go face-first into a pizza. Which, of course, is not happening. Not at all.
I have some great pics from the baby shower last weekend, and need to get them off my camera. Maybe tomorrow? I've started another blanket which should be really easy to work on while recovering. That is, when I'm not working from home or out walking.
New TV season has started! And even more exciting than that, college football!!! fauxmiddlechild and I have a fun tradition of lots of texting on football Saturdays, which makes it even more fun.
Not much else happening in my world. Daisy is doing well. I've been daydreaming about the outfits I'm going to wear in Hawaii next year. And am considering swimming lessons as early as this coming winter.
Oh, and you all know my birthday is coming up, right? This year's birthday treat will most likely be tomato soup. :)
Hooray, I finally got my surgery date! It's the morning of Tuesday, September 16. One month from today. I know the time will fly by.
I took a half day yesterday. After a stressful week at work, I needed some downtime. T. and I went to Dollywood and had a great afternoon/evening. I even rode the Mystery Mine for the first time...what an awesome ride! Scary, but awesome. I love Dollywood. :)
For the past couple of weeks my life has been a total waiting game. Before I can plan most things, I need to know when I'm going to have surgery. I'll be taking off at least a week of work...need to know when so that I don't schedule meetings. Am I free any given weekend in September? Who knows...depends on surgery.
And so on and so on.
Yesterday I got the envelope in the mail I had been waiting on for 2.5 weeks. It was the letter from my insurance company saying that they have approved the surgery. Hooray!!!!!
I called the surgery center this morning, ready to fax them the letter and get myself scheduled. Naturally, the person that does the scheduling is out until tomorrow. Or Friday. It was a family emergency situation, so I wish her the best of course. But I do want my date!
At this point you're probably wondering why someone else couldn't just pop into the computer and schedule me. Apparently it's quite a process, and several appointments need to be made. There's the pre-op class (next one is August 28, so I should be in that group), another surgeon office visit, EGD, anesthesiologist office visit, and the surgery itself. I'm hoping for the surgery to be September 15, so I've got a busy month ahead of me...
I'll be sure to post again when I have definite dates. :)
Note: The baby blanket picture will be in the next post. It's 5 rows plus a border away from being done.
The Happy Things:
1. I get my braces off next week!!! Wednesday, June 11, at 9:00a Eastern time to be exact. I am still thrilled beyond words and giddy and squealy when thinking about it. There will be pictures, of course. One of my friends suggested action shots of me eating corn on the cob and an apple. So YAY, after 2.5 years, the braces are coming off!
2. I called the surgery center today to find out my status of stuff and see what else I need to do. Turns out all I need are two more appointments there (one on June 25, the other July 20-something) and then they will submit my stuff to insurance for approval. She also changed around my appointment this month to include the surgeon's consult (hooray, I've been assigned a surgeon!) which is also required before submitting stuff to my insurance company. The upshot of this is that it will likely be early or mid September when I have the surgery.
September is a bit later than I expected, but still totally cool. That gives me about 8 months to lose quite a bit of weight before MLA in May 2009 in Honolulu. Plus it gives me more time pre-surgery to exercise more and lose a few more pounds.
Something else that's cool about a September surgery is that I know for sure that I'll be able to attend a certain person's baby shower. She's #3 in the baby blanket queue. :)
So far everything looks good for Dollywood on Saturday. Hooray! Now I need to make some deviled eggs for the book club party I'm attending tomorrow night, and need to get that blanket done, as I now know for sure that the recipient will be there (until this morning I was just assuming she'd be there...).
As the title suggests, I feel so behind on stuff lately. I finally broke out of my almost-week-long rut of not even reading blogs. Even if I'm not writing, I normally keep up with everyone. I feel a bit better now that I've caught up on that.
I'm three episodes behind on Lost, and three behind on Doctor Who (am watching the current season!). I just watched the Gossip Girl finale and enjoyed it. The Office finale left me wondering what will happen next season...which I suppose is the sign of a good finale!
All is well in regards to the getting-ready-for-surgery process. Papers should be submitted to my insurance company soon, and I'll know more about a surgery date after that. In the meantime, I've been making some dietary changes that make me a bit cranky, though I'm trying to stay positive and know that this is all for the best. It is for the best, right? Good health and all that? I know, I know...
I'm about halfway done with a baby blanket (#1 of 4+ of 2008) and will post a pic as soon as it's finished. I'm planning on doing quite a bit of work on it tomorrow.
I really hated missing MLA this year. Such a bummer. Fortunately, I'm *definitely* going next year, as the travel budget was increased at work, and the conference is in Honolulu. :)
I was given a little pot of catnip and I really need to plant it in one of the pots outside. Anyone want to bet on how long it actually lasts? I've got a notorious black thumb, even though I wish I could plant things and make them grow.
This was quite possibly the most boring update ever. Sorry. I hope writing here helps me get out of this crazy rut. I totally need a vacation, or at least a day at Dollywood. :)
Back in February I posted that I've got something big coming up. I think part of the reason that I haven't written much in awhile is because a lot of my life has been centered around this one thing, and maybe once it's out in the open I'll start writing more.
Anyway, here goes...
I'm having lap-band surgery in August. Well, I'm pretty sure it will be August, but it could be early September, based on insurance hoops. I've been going through the program at work, and my insurance requires a six-month "waiting period" with documented monthly check-ins. During this six month period, I have to get my psychological evaluation done (I'm halfway done!), attend support group meetings, and start getting a handle on the new habits that I will have to have in order to be a success story. I'm exercising more regularly than I have in a long time, have been trying out protein shakes, experimenting with healthy smoothie recipes (I'm open to suggestions here...) and I'm just plain getting used to the idea of everything changing.
Because things will change, and they are already. Every time I take a bite of something, I wonder if it is a food that I'll still be eating after surgery. I think a lot about the tiny portions that I'll be eating, and how going out to eat will be different. I'm working on changing things in my lifestyle, such as going for walks with friends instead of going out to dinner.
It's a really big deal for me to share this on a public blog, because it's incredibly personal. I've only told a handful of people so far, mostly on a need-to-know basis. I'm glad to have a terrific support system, online and local, because I know that a positive support system is one of the big factors in long-term success. :)
