Appropriate for Halloween

I just wanted to say that I cannot wait until next Halloween when i'll actually be able to (assuming i'm approved for surgery) go to a Halloween costume store and regardless of their OUTRAGEOUS prices, buy a halloween costume that will FIT me.  :)

For now, it's just face paint.  That's a one size fits all kinda thing.  I'm cool with it.  :) For now...

Oh and parents are bring the video camera to sisters Halloween part tomorrow and sister wants to take pics.  Whoa! Not something I'll miss.  I hate being in a picture much less a video tape! AHH!

Those days of hiding will soon be over.  :)

Goodnight and HAPPY HALLOWEEN to everyone! :)

Update - Called Insurance

Today, I made a call to my insurance company to find out where it is I send the reimbursement form for the psych evaluation so I can get all or SOME of the $200.00 that I spent back.  I talked to a very nice girl, who sounded about my age named, Robin. 

I was really glad that I had her on the phone and not some inconsiderate "i just wanna get you off the phone" kind of person. 

I asked Robin if she knew anything about what the status of my bariatric surgery was and she checked in on it for me.  What a nice girl!  :)  She said that currently, it has been received, but it's in pending status, just meaning they haven't had a change to take a look at it yet but should have an answer in 3 -5 business days.  Told me to call back on Tuesday to find out.  :)

Yay!!! I'm so excited!

Antisipating Monday

So, Monday, is ALMOST a week from when i finished everything up.  BUT, since I'm totally impatient about this surgery stuff, I am going to call my insurance company and find out if I have been approved.  I am praying that I am approved and that this is something that will happen fast, as i feel like my life is currently on hold until AFTER surgery.

Was reading a friends' blog about protein drinks, she was smart to look into protein drinks that taste "ok" rather than DISGUSTING like most BEFORE surgery so she didn't have to deal with throwing up after tasting a rather nasty flavored one.  I might want to do this.  Although, I laughed so hard when i read that she tried "Isopure" which is great for protein because of how many grams of protein it has 40g in one bottle.  Although it would take a full day to drink. LOL!  I laughed because she tasted one and said that for lack of losing her hair she wanted to maintain her protein intake well, which i totally agree with, but said that Isopure tasted so bad she's rather go bald before drinking anymore of that stuff.  WOW!  That bad huh?  Ha,ha!! That's so funny.

I ready to find out if I'm at least "approved" so i can be happy and feel assured that I'll be good to go.  Then of course, as i NORMALLY am, I'll then have something else to be impatient about.  BUT, at least I'll be able to tell everyone that I was approved and then I'll be able to find out when my surgery date will be.  So many people to tell about my surgery date when i get it.

So...I am off to get some lunch.  :)  Ttyl!

 

Doctor's Clearance Letter & Psych Evaluation

Hey hey everyone! So GREAT news!  I went to see the Dr. and she hesitantly gave me the letter for clearance for surgery but she still did it.  Thanks GOODNESS!!! Said it was because I was in good health other than being overweight and that she wouldn't necessarily "recommend" this surgery to someone like me who doesn't suffer from diabetes.

Okay, i understand that, but I also understand that if i keep up with the way i'm going i'm going to end up with one of those things and I would assume that people get this surgery to help PREVENT that from happening.

Anyways, i then went to see the Dr. for my psych evaluation who COMPLETELY without my saying so, said exactly what i was thinking.  That this is a surgery to help you lose weight and keep it off, as well as help people get become healthy so they don't have other factors that cause them problems in the future.  DUH!!! That's what i was saying all this time. LOL!

Thank you Psych Eval Dr!  She was a very nice lady.

All this time, because I have had depression problems in the past was worried about if i would pass this psych eval to be quite honest.  BUT, she said I was actually an EXCELLENT candidate for this surgery.  Made me soo happy.

She just asked like what the cause of my depression was from, and i was totally honest.  I said I was in a very bad relationship that was abusive verbally and physically and my ex would make rude remarks about my weight.  When i told her that i had gone to see a doctor for the depression but all they did really was give me depression medicine, i laughed because she said "well doctors don't understand WHY we are depressed they just try to 'treat' it.  Which is by medicine.  Depression medicine.  Which sometimes makes us worse.  Really, in situations like yours all you really needed to do to fix your depression was to get rid of the REAL problem..." i laughed and said "yeah HIM!" and that i did do THANKFULLY!  Although it was 4 1/2 years later i'd rather it be later than never.  :)

So she said she was going to give the information to the people who deal with my file and within 24 hours they will have everything processed and they will send it over for approval from my insurance company.

So now i just wait.  It seems like a long wait, but i'm trying to be patient.  Although it's really hard to be because i'm sooo excited I want it to be here already.  I'm sure i'll get nervous RIGHT before surgery but right now, i just wanna know that I can get this done.  I want it to be REAL.  :)

Thanks to all who prayed and supported me through this... and THIS is still ongoing.  Thanks for all your support.  :)

LOL!!! On a side note...David (my fiance) made me laugh earlier, he said "babe, i will save you money, let me get a butter knife, fork and tongs and i'll do the surgery for you!" LOL!!! YEAH RIGHT!

This picture totally made me laugh out loud when i saw it.... what a coincidence!

Helpful Hints... post surgery

Helpful Hints

1. Chew your food to a mushy consistency.  Do not swallow chunks of food. 
2. Never skip meals.  Eat three small means (Meal = 1-2 ounce serving size) daily to ensure adequate nutrition. 
3. Drink 8 cuts of fluid per day to prevent dehydration.
4. Sit up straight while eating and always eat at the table.  Avoid talking and watching TV while eating. 
5. Eat slowly, enjoy the flavor, texture and consistency of foods. 
6. Stop eating prior to feeling full; overeating may cause discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea.  
7. Avoid eating and drinking at the same time because this may cause vomiting.  Start sipping fluids slowly 15-30 minutes after a meal and stop drinking 15-30 minutes before the next meal.
8. Measure your foods - remember your stomach pouch can only hold one ounce.
9. Use a small plate or saucer to give the impression of having more on your plate than there really is.
10. Remember - if you eat too much too fast you may experience vomiting or dumping syndrome.
11. Always eat protein foods first.  Refer to the protein needs chart for your individual goal.
12. Limit sugar and fat intake.
13. Avoid alcohol for 6 - 12 months. 
14. Take your Iron and Multivitamin together if you would like, but never take either of those WITH you calcium.  It will cause you to lose most of the nutrients that you need.  Calcium should be taken separately.  

 Follow these guidelines for avoiding specific foods:


Food/Beverage                                                                Length of time to avoid
Fresh fruits & vegetables                                                                  1 - 2 months
Bread, pasta and/or rice                                                                    3 -4 months
Alcohol                                                                                                    6 - 12 months


The number one reason why people gain their weight back after surgery is due to them drinking and eating at the same time (consuming fluids with their food) or making poor food choices that are high in sugars and fat.  


Vitamin-Mineral Supplementation Following Gastric Bypass Surgery


Vitamin-mineral supplementation is important now that you are unable to consume enough food to meet 100% of the DRI's (Dietary Reference Intakes).  The DRI's chart is provided for you to review and compare to your multivitamin-mineral label.  Below are the recommendation for vitamin/mineral supplementation after your GBS (Gastric Bypass Surgery).


Multivitamin-Mineral:     
Take two chewable vitamins daily for the first month.  Take them at separate times of the day (morning and night).  After the bottle is finished, take two of Dr. Felix's (or whatever your doctor gives to you if you didn't see Dr. Felix) vitamins daily.

Calcium:                                
Should be in the form of calcium citrate.  Chewable form for the first month.  

Iron: 
Take one a day for the first month until bottle is finished.   

      

                        

Your Protein Needs

                              WOMEN:

Height:                              Protein Grams Needed Daily:

4'8                                                        42-46

4'9                                                        43-47

4'10                                                      44-48

4'11                                                      45-50

5'0                                                        46-51

5'1                                                        48-53

5'2                                                        50-55

5'3                                                        52-57

5'4                                                        55-61

5'5                                                        57-63

5'6                                                        59-65

5'7                                                        61-67

5'8                                                        64-70

5'9                                                        66-73

5'10                                                      68-75

5'11                                                      71-78

6'0                                                        73-80

6'1                                                        75-83

6'2                                                        77-85

                           MEN: 

Height:                       Protein grams needed daily:  

5'0                                                        48-53

5'1                                                        51-56

5'2                                                        54-59

5'3                                                        56-62

5'4                                                        59-65

5'5                                                        62-68

5'6                                                        65-72

5'7                                                        67-74

5'8                                                        70-77

5'9                                                        73-80

5'10                                                      76-84

5'11                                                      78-86

6'0                                                        81-89

6'1                                                        84-92

6'2                                                        86-95

6'3                                                        89-98

6'4                                                        92-101

6'5                                                        95-105

6'6                                                        97-107

Excess protein is not advised and can lead to kidney failure, liver failure, and calcium loss from bones.  You are also at greater risk for dehydration because it takes a tremendous amount of water to break down protein.  Stick with your individual goal and don't go overboard!

               

 

 

 

A little stressed about tomorrow...

Tomorrow is the day i finish it all up.  I have butterflies in my tummy because I'm sooo excited.  Thus, on the down side of things, i have no idea how my doctor will react to my wanting gastric bypass or if she'll say okay to writing the clearance letter.  It's merely just a statement actually.  It's not even required by the surgeon he's already approved me, but it IS required by my insurance.  Anthem Blue Cross.

The doctor appointment is tomorrow at 8:45am, then I have the psych evaluation tomorrow as well but at 11am.  I'm less worried about that.  I know i don't have any eating disorders to worry about other than that of overeating.

Then PRAYING that all goes well and everything is a smooth process.  They submit my paperwork to my insurance and we wait.  Once i get an approval from them, i contact Dr. Felix's office and they call me back with my surgery date.  Ohhh.... sooo excited.

Never has one ever been so excited for SURGERY.  I mean, yes, people get surgery all the time, and believe me...i bet it's something they dread.  I, on the other hand, although going under the "knife" and getting surgery for the FIRST time in my life, it's to SAVE my life.  Help me become healthy again and to teach me to eat right and better for the sake of all things.  I will be so happy once it's all over with.

Granted, i have been forewarned.  Everyone tells me that right after surgery you will complain or at least panic and say to yourself "OhMyGoodness! What have i done to myself?" and wonder what on Earth you were thinking, but after day three you'll start feeling better.

I've also been warned that one must DEFINITELY bring ear plugs to the hospital with them as a NECESSITY.  A friend of mine had the surgery and couldn't sleep a wink in the hospital due to the IV machines expiring and making a HORRIBLE beeping sound.  Something i cannot handle.  I can't sleep with the TV on, much less a repetitive and annoying beeping noise. 

So, if you are considering surgery or in the process.....

consider yourself warned as well.  :)

If i may make one last request from my friends/family:  Can you please pray for me tomorrow?  I will be so worried and I need to have a sound mind.  I need to be able to go into the Doctor's office and get what i need to get THAT day.  Without having to wait a week or more for her to fax over a "sentence" on a piece of paper.  Please pray.  I really need your prayers for tomorrow.

Thanks so much to all of you who are such wonderful people in my life, friends, family...you all know who you are.  If you are reading this now...you ARE one of those people.  :)

Take care,

Stephanie

Thoughts on what i just blogged about...

I'm starting to realize something.... i almost NEVER drink water.  It just so boring and bland to me.  Course, when i don't feel good, i'll drink water.  Afterwords, i'll start feeling better.

Considering that water is the key source to carrying nutrients through the body and disposing of waste in your body, i must be having some big issues going on in this tummy of mine.  LOL! I laugh but i'm actually serious.  I drank some water just now because I thought, why not give this a try.  It's actually good.  Refreshing.  Now, don't you want some water?  You know you want some water, go get some and drink up! :)

Water is GOOD!