7 days and counting.

Its hard to believe I'm only a week away from surgery.  I need to pack. 

All systems go

On Thursday I went to Dr. Jarrett for my final medical clearance.  I also saw Dr. Choi's nurse practitioner who went each step of the hospital experience and my final instructions to prepare for the surgery.  I can eat breakfast the day before surgery but after 10am nothing but clear liquids.  Nothing by mouth after midnight except my blood pressure medications in the morning with a sip of water.  She went over every step of the pre-op, operative and post-op procedure. 

So I am ready.  I just have to avoid any illness or injury for the next 9 days.  Knock on wood. 

Best wishes,
Marlena of Mohegan.

tick, tick, tick.....

Yes the clock is ticking.  Less than two weeks to go.  I got my letter of medical necessity from Aetna.  On Thursday I go to Dr. Jarrett for my final medical clearance and my pre op instruction visit at the surgeon's office.

I'm not the nervous type but I feel I have prepared myself mentally for whatever outcome there is.  I usually prefer the glass half-full outlook rather than the glass half-empty but having been a nurse for 32 years has shown me that things don't always end up rosy.  I've got struggles ahead but I'm ready to get started.

Last year I had a patient who had had his bypass in July and had lost 100 lbs. by October.  Now that's quick.  I won't necessarily lose that fast since men usually drop weight quicker due to their higher muscle mass and faster metabolism.  Dr. Choi wants me to shoot for losing 225 lbs.  That sounds like there won't be much left of me after that but there will be enough. 

So stay tuned for the next update as we get closer to the big day. 

Peace be with you,
Marlena of Mohegan. 

OK. Aetna says yes.

I spoke with the business office and Aetna has approved the surgery.  OK then.  Onward. 

Just when I thought I was through with hoops....

Today, well yesterday actually, I spoke to Donna in the business office for the hospital.  She says that I need my doctor's documentation of my weight from the past two years faxed to her before the insurance company will approve the surgery.  She said that she knew of one person who did NOT get approved because she was not able to provide this.  Now I don't know about other people but I did not suddenly explode to attain my current weight (which I'm not ready to divulge publicly yet).  Do they think I gained extra weight on purpose just to have my stomach cut open and have my guts rearranged?  My weight has been an up and down situation over my entire life.  I lose some and then I gain it back plus more.  What possible relevance could my weight two years ago have  upon whether or not I need this surgery now?  I honestly cannot understand these insurance people. 

What next?

Marlena of Mohegan. 

Stocking up on stuff.

I was lucky enough to find Nature Made sub lingual B-12 tablets buy one get one free at CVS.  They are cherry flavored and tasty.  I have enough to last at least 2 months after surgery.  The other day I picked up prescriptions and was shocked to pay $200.00.  That is just co-pays.  I don't want to know how much it would have been without insurance.  Some of my medications will need to be changed after surgery because the tablets are too large.  My surgeon says I probably won't need any diabetic medications anymore.  My endocrinologist says I may need to stay on some insulin.  Maybe one shot per day.  Now I take four shots per day!  I have three different pills for high blood pressure.  I am too young to be taking as many pills as I do now.  21 days to go.  I'm ready.

YaY!!!
Marlena of Mohegan.

Ups and downs.

Today I found the B-12 tablets that melt in your mouth and the chewable ADULT vitamins.  After the surgery large tablets are not permitted and I did not want to be taking Flintstones chewable vitamins.  Still counting off the days.  Only 23 days to go. 

Strange things have been happening though.  On Memorial Day we had a small cookout in the back yard.  I put on some capri pants that I had worn the previous week and were laundered once since then.  They seemed way too small.  I couldn't understand it.  Had I gained 25 pounds since last week?  Did someone put the clothes dryer on the nuclear setting?  As I was getting undressed that night I happened to check the tags and found that I was wearing my daughter's pants that were three sizes smaller than mine.

Three days later I was at the grocery store.  I was wearing my own capri pants (I checked the label BEFORE I put them on.)  They kept sliding down.  OK I guess I had some slippery underwear on but this never happened before.  As I was pushing the cart out the exit door the pants suddenly slipped down so far the waistband was by my knees.  Fortunately nobody seemed to notice before I yanked them back up.  Now did I suddenly lose 20 lbs?  The elastic in the waistband was still stretchy so they hadn't been cremated in the dryer.  

That same day I went to 7-11 and bought a Crystal Lite Slurpee.  I filled up the cup as usual then all of a sudden the thing started erupting like Mt. St. Helens.  I couldn't stop it before it ran all over the counter, the floor and my shirt (fortunately my tie dye shirt and the color of the Slurpee blended very nicely).  

I did everything very cautiously for the rest of that day.

Best wishes,
Marlena of Mohegan.