Jumping through hoops

Jan 16, 2011

I have all the "jumping through hoops" over with and now I wait for approval from my insurance.   I turned all my doctor's paperwork into the Weight Loss Management Program and she will mail it out Tuesday since Monday is MLK Day.    I had blood work several times, an EKG, Gallbladder Sono, 3 Psych visits, 3 sleep studies, a CT scan of my liver, PAP update, and it seems like more doctor's visits than that but that is all I can think of now.    Looking back I really don't know how people that work a full time job can keep up with all the doctor's visits and keep their job.  Some weeks I had 2 appointments or more a week.    If I was still a full time teacher, I would have never been able to get off work this much to go through this process.   So my heart goes out to the people that are juggling a job, kids, and busy lives while going through this process.   I have treated it like a full time job, learning what I can about nutrition, exercise, and the life I will be living after the surgery.    I have kept a detailed notebook of everything from each doctor and the office personnel at the Weight Loss Program were glad to see how organized I was.   I have found that doctors don't always remember to prescribe prescriptions, so I take detailed notes and follow up so it doesn't fall through the cracks.   Lab work showed I have low Vitamin D, very high Feritin (thus the CT liver scan), and Gouty arthritis.   So if nothing else good comes of all of this it is helping to get my body more balanced prior to surgery.   No wonder my joints have hurt so much!   I have lost 23 pounds by getting rid of as much sugary carbs as I can and exercising.   I walk, swim, do Wii Fit and hubby just purchased a treadmill so I guess that is the new thing to get us motivated to get healthy.  I exercise 6 days a week and allow myself one day off and that seems to work for me.   I'm very fortunate to have a husband that is supportive by changing what he eats also since he knows I'm cutting down on things too. Starting this process he already weighs less than me.   Hopefully this will help us both to become healthier.   

My favorite form of exercise is swimming.   It was tough going to the pool the first few time and putting a swimsuit on in front of others but everyone is nice and they know I'm trying to get healthy.   I take a class called Buttz and Guttz and  they allow me to stay and swim with the Senior Citizens.   I  know I don't belong in the "Senior crowd" but they are so sweet and they warm up the showers for me.    It sure makes it easier to go back when you feel better and have some success.   So if others are reading this, buy a gym bag, have it always ready to go, and it makes the decision to get active easier.    I started by walking our country roads.    I'm not quite ready to progress to weight lifting at the gym yet.   I think that will be a good thing eventually but that will include buying a gym membership and as we all know if you are committed to going, you won't get your money's worth and this process can be expensive in co-pays alone.   

I have gone to the support group and people there are at all stages, pre and post ops.   I have gone 3 times and get quite a bit of information but there are some really "chatty Cathy's"  that really rub the pre-ops the wrong way and I fear they will scare most of my group away.    But I have met some really awesome people there too.   I just feel sorry for the group leader because these gals run over her each week.   I hope to have more self awareness than this.

I have been posting my food religiously on Sparks people.   At times I think their nutrition facts are off so I google it and cross reference with other sites too.   But posting on my ipad works for me.   I usually eat in a range from 1800 to 2300 calories a day.   If I go over 2000 I look back and evaluate what went wrong that day.    Before this journey I know I ate much more than this and didn't even bat an eye.   That is disgusting, I know.   I was very disconnected to myself and got to where I ate to push away stressful feelings.   I know I need to work on myself so I don't fall back into those terrible habits.  

Having my college son home over the break I didn't want him to feel like coming home meant big changes so we kept food around that we have been trying to get rid of.   It is a small victory but he started reading labels with me and realized pop tarts and a few other things were not the best choice for him.   My biggest hopes are that my sons will learn to live better lifestyles through this process too.   

Now I wait to hear if I will be approved.   If I am approved I guess I'd be looking at surgery in February or early March.   

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