Pre-Op Diet

My doctor requires a two week pre-op diet for every one of his patients.  His diet is a combination of 5 shakes or bars during the day and a lean meat/low starchy vegetable for dinner.  Basically it's like slim fast or medifast.  It's not too hard  but it certainly isn't easy.  It would be a lot easier if I didn't have to make every meal and snack for 3 hungry boys!! Today is day 4 and I'm already down 5 pounds!! 

Protein drinks I love:
Syntrax Nectar - these have flavors that are like tropical drinks, lemonade, fuzzynavel, mmmm; it's a nice change from chocolate and vanilla shakes
Premier Chocolate Shakes - these are ready to drink and are nice to grab when heading out the door.  They taste good too!

I HAVE A DATE!!!

And it's only a week away from today! OMG!! 

I finally had my appointment with Dr. Nick last Thursday, August 8th.  I couldn't find anyone to watch my 3 kids so they went with us.  I was a little worried but we loaded them up with electronics and they were perfect.  We sat in the tiny waiting room for over an hour and they were so well behaved. 

We finally get called back and my official weight that I'm using for my highest weight and pre-surgery weight is 198.8.  UGGG So depressing but I refuse to ever see that number again!!

Dr. Nick comes in and goes over my EGD and talk about the hernia repair.  He asks me when I want to schedule surgery and I told him I originally wanted the 20th but I heard he was booked that day and he cuts me off and says, "So, let's do the 19th at Surgery Center of Richardson."   Umm, wow! I wasn't expecting it that soon, but OK! 

I got all of my pre-op paperwork including pre-op diet and post -op info, signed a consent and left the doctor's office in shock.

I am doing it! I am actually doing it!  I have a surgery date and it's less than 2 weeks away! 

The first day I was very scared and started questioning my decision but now I'm ok and I know I am making the right decision.  I am very excited about it and can't wait to get it done and started.

I Finally Told My In-Laws

Out of everyone to tell, I was most afraid to talk to my in-laws about surgery.  They are the type to ask a lot of questions and they make their opinions known.  So, I just made sure I knew all the facts possible and could hopefully answer all of their questions. 

We went to Joe T. Garcia's for dinner after an afternoon in the pool.  Joe T.'s is one of my favorite restaurants.  The food is good and the atmosphere is awesome! I was super nervous but just bit the bullet and told them.

They were very supportive and understood why I am doing this.  I cannot tell you how relieved I am that they are supportive!!  They naturally did have a lot of questions but John and I had answers!! Yay!

So, now all of our parents know and a few of my friends know.  I'm still undecided how I am going to handle the rest of my friends.

EGD

So, I meant to update sooner but well, life has been happening. :)

I had the EGD a week and half ago on July 24th.  I dropped the boys off at my good friend's house and they were super excited to play with friends for a few hours.  John and I drove to the hospital (Victory Medical Center) and got there 15 minutes early.  It's kinda rare for us to be early!  We checked in and within minutes a nice woman at registration came and got us.  I signed the consents and she made copies of my drivers license and insurance card.  They immediately took me back and I changed into a gown.

This is the part that I'm not too impressed with Victory.  A nurse came in to get my IV started.  Now, granted I'm not an easy stick and my veins tend to me small and roll.  I mentioned this to the nurse but she immediately went for a vein on the underside of my right forearm.  She got it first try but oh my lord did it hurt!  Needles and IVs don't bother me...I can watch them put it in and I have a high pain tolerance but this hurt.  I've never had an IV put in my forearm EVER and I thought it was so odd.  Every time I just rested my arm it hurt because it was putting pressure on my IV.  Then they said they would go get John and he could come back with me.  But they never went and got him and nobody was coming behind the curtain.  Finally someone walked by and I asked if they would please go get him.  He finally came back and it helped calmed my nerves a little.

I think 3 different people from anesthesia came in to talk to me along with a few other people.  I confirmed that they would knock me out for the EGD.  I was the last one to go back.

I kissed John and they wheeled me back.  The anesthesiologist put propofol into my IV and I felt warm tingly feeling all over and then the next thing I know I was waking up in recovery.  Super easy!!

The doctor came in and told me that he did find a hiatal hernia!  YAY!!! So that means that insurance should help pay for part of the surgery and I will pay the difference.  This is very exciting news!! He also found a polyp that they are sending to pathology but he said he thought it was nothing.  I do have to get another EGD in a year to be sure it hasn't come back. 

I go back to see Dr. Nick next Thursday and I'm hoping and praying to get a date set.

First Official Appointment

On Wednesday I had my first appointment with Dr. Nick Nicholson. It went really well. Megan, the PA, took me back and weighed me. (198 lbs for the record) Then she took me to a room and went over my current medications, asked which surgery I was interested in, and then started handing me consents and prescriptions for nausea and B12 vitamins. I was shocked she was giving me all of that considering I hadn't even talked to the doctor. But whatever. 

Dr. Nick then came in and he asked me what I wanted and asked what I did for a living. I told him I'm a stay at home mom for 3 boys ages 3, 4, and 7. He explained that I would probably need help with them for at least a week and a half after surgery. He talked about when I could expect to drive etc. Then he asked me what questions I had. 

I asked him what if I had a hiatal hernia. This quickly changed the conversation. If I have a hiatal hernia then insurance will cover his surgical fees and some of the hospital and I would only owe the hospital approximately $4k which would save me about $8k. An $8k savings is huge!!! So come on hernia!!!! I've never wanted a hernia so badly!!! 

So with that our conversation was over and I went out to schedule an EGD. He said we would talk about everything else after I have the EGD and go over those results. 

My EGD is scheduled for next Wednesday, July 24th at Victory Medical Center in Plano. 

Oh, also the only place I can have surgery is Victory if I use my insurance to cover the cost of the hernia repair. I was really hoping to have it at Forest Park but I'm ok with Victory if it means an $8k savings. It's a very small facility with only 20 inpatient rooms and I've heard good things about it. 

I'm nervous for the EGD just because I don't know what to expect. As long as I'm knocked out then I'm good. Lol 

I'm excited to be one step closer!!!!  

Oh, I didn't know you were...

PREGNANT!! Ugh...nothing more humiliating (I'm sure from both sides) when someone says that when you are in fact not pregnant.  I just laughed and reassured her for at least 2 minutes that it was no big deal.  And then as soon as I walked her out and shut the door, I came back to my room and can't stop crying!!  I mean, I know I'm fat and I do look pregnant but it just sucks when someone points it out.

On a positive note, I spoke to the surgeons office today and scheduled my one on one consult with him.  I meet with him on this Wednesday at 11:45!!!!  YAY!!!  Hurry up Wednesday!!!

Support

I have to brag on my husband. I really do have the best husband EVER!! He totally supports my decision to go ahead with surgery and thinks it will greatly benefit me and our family. 

A few days ago, the boys were playing video games in the living room and I was in my room watching TV. John came into the room and said, "I just want you to know that I fully support you and surgery." It was totally random and I already knew he did but I really appreciated hearing it again. 

I asked him if this was something he would ever do and he said no. He said he wasn't against it, he just can't imagine taking the majority of his stomach out. I definitely see that point and I question my own decision. But he reiterated how he supports my decision to do it. He admitted that there was no way he could relate to being over weight for so long. The last time I was in the normal weight range was in high school. Granted, in college I was just over the normal weight by 10 pounds. 

But back to the point...I'm so lucky to have the best EVER husband!!!! Love him so very much!!!