Final Consult Date!!

I called Dr. Watson's office today and got a final consult date of January 5, 2012 @ 10:30am!  I'm so excited!  This is going to happen this time!  I have all my paperwork, just have to get the statement that I had my pap done.  I'll go pick that up this week.  Then we'll take a ride down to JC to bring all my paperwork down to Dr. Watson's office. 

I'm not trusting USPS to bring this paperwork. No no no!  I'm hand delivering it myself to the office.  It's a nice drive down there and with Dillon out of school it will be a good drive for him as well. Maybe we'll take him out to lunch or something. :)

I have so many thoughts racing through my head.  A checklist of things that have to do be done before my surgery.  Once I have my final consult, Dr. Watson's office will submit my paperwork to Tri Care and it should take between a week to two weeks for me to hear back from them if I was approved or not.  

I'm so excited, I can barely sit still!  Nine days before I see the surgeon! Woooohoooo!!

UGH!

UGH, stomach is so upset!  This damn medicine for the MRSA always does a job on my stomach.  I can't keep anything down. Last night I had a baked potato for dinner after getting sick when I tried to eat some broth.  I haven't had potatoes in 5 months.  I was actually able to keep the potato down.

Today, I had a protein shake and I swear it's laying on my stomach.  I'm doing everything I can to keep it IN my stomach because I need the nourishment. I can't live on baked potatoes while I'm on these meds. 

Tomorrow I can call Dr. Watson's office and schedule my final consult, thank goodness.  Steven is concerned about the MRSA and my pouch. What's going to happen if I have to take these meds and I have the pouch?  A legitimate question I suppose.  

No exercise the last few days other than chores and some walking around the property.  I'm so sick from the meds that I'm unbalanced on my feet.  One day at a time, I guess.  

Janee got her approval from Tri Care South.  I'm so thrilled for her.  Amanda has lost 59 lbs since 11/14.  She's doing amazing!  I'm so proud of her.  Soon I'll be on the losers bench too!  YAY!!

I got my letters!!!!!

Woooohoooo!! I got my letters!!! I went in there today completely prepared.  I had 2 copies of sample medical necessity letters and a huge attitude!


I was down another pound as well!  When Dr. Abusara came in the exam room, I hit him with both barrels.  I explained that my blood sugars are out of control and that I'm having numerous outbreaks of MRSA due to the stress I was under.  I told him that it was his and Dr Chamberlain's fault that I'm so stressed out and that I was not leaving the office until my letters were done.


He immediately went and got Dr. Chamberlain and I blasted her too!!  She walked out. Dr Abusara apologized over and over again.  He had gone to Pakistan for 6 weeks. Dr Chamberlain told him that she was going to write my letters and he assumed she had.


I spent 3 hours and 45 minutes waiting for my letters but I got them!!!  He even gave me a great big hug and wished me luck!  Tomorrow I'll call Dr. Watson's office and schedule my final consult..again!!!

Two more days....

...and I see Dr. Abusara.  Hopefully, he'll either have my letters or he'll write my letters while I'm there.  I'm not going to hold my breathe but I'm hopeful.


I just did 30 minutes on the treadmill. I really pushed myself more than I had previously. My legs and hip is a bit sore but I feel good.  I should sleep pretty darn good tonight.  


Yule is today and its also the anniversary of mom's death.  It's been a rough month.  I miss mom so much.  I wish I could pick up the phone and call her or wrap my arms around her and hug her one more time. 


I had a chocolate protein shake, yum yum. Two chicken thighs, some greek yogurt, strawberries. A good food day.


I'll update on Thursday after my Dr's appt.

It's been awhile...

It's been awhile since I've blogged but things started sliding downhill. Actually I'm still doing okay but my doctors aren't co-operating. Dr Abusara promised to have my letter written and my weight history to me before 11/1. Of course 11/1 has come and gone and I still don't have my letters.  


I had to cancel my final consult appt with the surgeon because of it.  I've been so depressed.  I tried to get in with a new Dr. but she can't see me until 2/2/2012.  


It's hard not to get into a major depression over all of this. I should have already had my surgery.  There are people who just started this journey and they've already had their surgery or already have a surgery date.  


Anyway, I'm keeping on and I'm now down to my lowest weight in 23 years!!  Still have a bit over 100 lbs to lose but I'm going to keep on, surgery or no surgery.  


Dr's appt on the 22nd so we'll see where I stand after that.  Wouldn't it be nice if my letters were done and waiting for me? Of course, I won't hold my breathe. 

Sore, hurting, and in pain!

Well I guess I overdid it yesterday.  By last night my feet were on fire the second I took my shoes off.  The neuropathy in my feet was reminding me that I'm not used to doing so much walking, dancing, climbing as I did yesterday.  Point made and I'll be working on that one.  


This morning I woke up to excruciating pain.  I thought at first it was my hip but I realize now its not the hip at all, its the upper thigh muscle.  And man oh man is it screaming at me...LOUDLY.  Every single time I move, its saying, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!" 


So I laid low today, didn't do too much and I'm hoping to wake up feeling better tomorrow.  I don't want to be down too long.  I want to get back up on the horse so to speak and get moving! 


I also didn't eat much today.  Just a protein shake, some cottage cheese and a sugar free popsicle.  I'm not hungry at all and I had to force myself to eat what I did. 


Can't wait for my appointment with Dr. Abusera on Thursday so I can get this stuff moving!  I hope he has my letter written.  If not I'm NOT going to be happy!  


Anyway, I'm headed to bed.  I just wrapped a couple dozen eggs and I'm bushed!  

It'a a great Sunday!

Great day! Slept in this morning, felt so good.  Got up, checked my blood sugar. It was 145. Not bad. Better than the 200's that it had been, even with the insulin! Made a chocolate protein shake. YUM! Drank that and decided that I wanted to go for a walk.  


We drove into town and walked in the small town park. Dillon kept stopping to tie his shoe. (One day, I swear he WILL learn to tie his shoes correctly! LOL) I took a few pictures with my phone and we walked.  There was this older couple there, I would say mid to late 70's that was walking too. They soon passed me.  I was a bit disgruntled and blamed Dillon but it wasn't him. It was ME. 


I'm terribly out of shape and I know this about myself.  I haven't regularly exercised in years.  I'm over 250 lbs and I need to accept the fact that I have to take things slowly.  I need to work at my own pace and not try to compete with others.  Something I need to remind myself. 


I am a unique individual and nothing I do is going to be like anyone else. I just need to keep on keeping on and I'm hit my goal! Keep my eye on the prize.  The prize is a healthier ME!

Looking & feeling GREAT!

Still haven't had my surgery but I'm plugging along. All potatoes, rice, pasta, breads have been cut from my diet as well as diet coke and my seltzer water. Those were the two hardest to get rid of. It's been 3 weeks since I've had a soda and I feel great! I don't even crave one and that makes me feel even better!


I'm down the 10% that I wanted to lose beforehand and I'm just going to keep on losing until I have my surgery. 


Last night I tried on some old bras and shirts that I haven't been able to wear in years and years.  I was so shocked that they fit! A few were even too big!  I got this huge smile on my face.  I came out "modeling" for Steven.  He whistled and told me that I'm looking good.  THAT made me cry! 


Steven is giving me such great support and so many of my friends like Karen, Christine, Laura, Nan, Sherry, and so many more.  Too many to list here.  I wouldn't be able to do this without the support of so many of my wonderful friends that I have.  The one person who's support I wish I had is my daughter but she's cut herself off from my life for whatever imagined reason again.  So be it.  But it would be nice to have her cheering in my corner.  I'm not going to let it get me down.  She told me that she no longer wants me in her life and I'm not going to persue it. 


Anyway, happier things...I've been drinking one or two protein shakes a day. It all depends on my mood for the day.  I've been experimenting with flavors and such. Yesterday, I added a teaspoon of peanut butter to my chocolate shake.  Oh to die for! It was like I was eating a Reese's peanut butter cup.  Adding frozen strawberries and bananas to the strawberry shake. Lowfat whipped cream to the cappuccino protein shake.  Yummm!  I'm loving it!  And losing weight to boot! Who knew it could be this good?!?!


I have a Drs appointment next week for my last requirement, my danged pap smear.  Hopefully Dr. Abusera has my letter ready to go to my surgeon or else I'm going to scream.  I guess I need to get on the ball and get working on my letter as well. Maybe as soon as I get done with this journal entry. Maybe I can get my surgery done in November, with any luck?

Things Are Moving Along!

Well phone calls this week to Dr Stephens & ETSU Physicians.  Mammogram on Thursday.  Pre-op WLS meeting on late Friday afternoon. 


Next week is xrays on hips, pre-op scheduling and the EGD on the 16th.  


Keeping my chin up because I'd like things done yesterday.  I've been getting up early and exercising.  Yesterday I did WATP with Leslie Sansone. No hip pain so that's good.  Keep on keeping on!!!

Two more bite the dust!

Two more lbs bite the dust! Actually 2.4 lbs! Woohoo! Ribs still a little bit sore and I'm actually just starting to wear a bra again so that could be why.  Oh well.


I go to my surgeon's consult on Tuesday.  I can't wait!  My appointment is at 1pm.  Paula has to be there at 10:10am.  I may end up running down there early so I can see her.  We'll see.  


I'm feeling pretty good, not as tired as I was so I think my body is adjusting to my consuming less carbs.  My actually weight loss now is 15.4 lbs.  Just a little less than 15 more to go before surgery.  We'll see what they say at the surgeons on Tuesday.  


I have an appointment to see Dr. Diaz on September 1st to go over my lab results.  Definitely looking forward to everything going on.

Still in pain from ribs!I

I can't believe that I'm still in pain from my ribs!  I'm still with the program, still losing weight and still working things out.  I'm eating about 90% less carbs and although its making me more tired, I'm losing weight.  I need to have my body get adjusted to less carbs and then I'll be fine I think.


I've also been out walking around 2 acres of our property nightly on Predator Patrol from 2 to 5 hours every night.  With the number of birds that we've had attacked and killed, I've taken to using the .22 rifle instead of the shotgun.  It has less of a "kick".  


I think the extra exercise is working toward the weight loss.  I lost  lbs in the last week.  Its not alot but its something.  Weight is going down and that's the main thing.


My sleep study was a bust, I fear.  I couldn't sleep all night. I tossed and turned, was awake most of the night.  I think I'm going to have ot do it over again.  I go back to see Dr. Diaz on September 1st. to get the results of all the testing that I've had.


On August 23rd, I go to see Dr. Watson & Hodges office for my first consultation.  It seems as though the time is dragging.  UGH!


Anyway, 1 cup of chili with 1/4 cup monterey jack cheese for dinner.  Yummy.  Protein, protein, protein!!

Realizations kicking in

This morning, after I got up, I needed to get some chicks out of the cabinet incubator.  Well they had gotten out of their drawer and were on the floor of it.  That means that I needed to get on my hands & knees and reach deep inside with a coat hanger to get the ones way in the back.  


Getting down there was no problem, but one of the little buggers just didn't want to come to the front!  So I'm reaching and reaching.  In the meantime, I'm sweating, I'm lightheaded, getting dizzy, afraid I'm going to fall on my face all while trying to get just one of them.  I almost closed the darn thing and said "the hell with it", but knew I couldn't.  


I finally reached one more time with the coat hanger, got him inside it and pulled him forward.  When I stood up, everything was swimming.  I needed to sit on the bed for a few moments because I thought I was going to pass out.


It shouldn't be like this!  If I was thinner, more nimble, I wouldn't have this problem.  

Wooofreakinghooo!!!

Well I just got off the phone with the place that does the WLS informational sessions.  I have an appointment tomorrow at 4:45pm!


I'm so excited and psyched and and and....LOL  my whole body is absolutely shaking with excitement!!


This is the beginning of a whole new journey for me!  And I'm loving every single minute of it.  Keeping my eye on the prize and the prize for me is a whole new healthy Laurie.  It's not about looking good.  Nope.  Its about feeling good and being healthy! 


I want to throw away those insulin needles, I want to toss away those pills!  I want to dance, dance, dance!  Goddess knows I don't want to be a size 2 or even a size 10.  I just want to be healthier!!  


I want to be able to be outside working side by side with Steven and not sick in bed.  I don't want to have to worry about my blood sugar going through the roof all the time.  I want to ENJOY life!!  And not just live!  


Look out world, here I come!!

Today's events...uneventful!

Well I thought that I would get farther today than I did, but that's okay!  I still have a positive attitude and will continue to move forward.  


I called the doctors office and have an appointment with Dr. Diaz on July 28th.  I was hoping something sooner but in the meantime I can continue to do research.  


The hospital where I will have my surgery is Johnson City Medical Center and they have a great reputation!!  


http://www.msha.com/body02.cfm?ID=873

I'm going to go for a free seminar while I'm waiting for my doctors appointment.  Might as well be pro-active!!


I'm feeling really good today and Steven is being supportive.  I can't do this without him so I'm glad he's pulling for me!  


Well time to get some things done.  Oh, I got on the Wii today.  I'm 296.  So this will be my starting weight!  Bye for now!!!

The Day Before I Begin My Journey

So I've spent the better part of a week thinking about this.  Of course, I had decided long ago I was going to have WLS, then my accident happened and well things got so complicated.  Now here I am, 6 years later.  I'm 6 years older, my health is declining even more and I have to do something NOW!

I'm a Type 2 diabetic on Lantus Solostar-31 units at night; Humalog-sliding scale; Actos, and Metformin-1000 mgs twice a day.  Still no control over my diabetes.  Since my accident, my depression has gotten worse, my back hurts, my hip hurts, my joints hurt.

My last weight was 298,  I'm only 5'4" tall.

So it's time to call my doctors and start making decisions.  Tomorrow is the day that I call and make an appointment to start discussing Gastric Bypass Surgery.  I know that its only a tool. One that I have to use wisely but its one that will help me to lose this weight and start the journey on the next phase of my life.  I don't have alot of support here and that scares me but I have to do it for ME!

Tammy had it done a year ago and I've seen all the mistakes she's made.  I don't want to do that.  She doesn't eat, she lives on DD coffee.  She's had all kinds of problems and she ignores them.  When I try to explain, I'm interfering in her life.  So, I'm going to try to do everything I'm supposed to do, right.

I'm not perfect, I'll stumble and fall but I can pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over again!

Today is the last day of my old life.  My journey towards my NEW LIFE begins tomorrow!  Wish me luck!