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I'm glad to have made it over a week out.  Christmas was hard with all of the good food around but having a plan made it a little better.  I had a vanilla egg custard and some guacamole.  I know it sounds silly now but they were wonderful.  Especially since I should be on full liquids still. 

I've been great about having 64 ounces of water.  I've done good on protein some days at 80 grams and then days like today where I could only stomach around 50.  Really overall other than being tired in the afternoon I've been great.  My family was surprised how active I have been. 

I want to try and push the movement as much as possible before I go back to work.  I know I will have to make even more changes as January starts and for the first time in years I have goals I can really accomplish now. 

I'm really looking forward to my post-op visit with the surgeon.  If everything is going well I will make another trip to Disneyland for the new year.  It should be a great way to get in lots of walking and be able to relax when I need. 

Wednesday morning I was pretty nervous. I was in the shower shaving my legs before surgery and then my nerves went away.  Shaving was so hard I figured surgery was the best solution!

I went into Gateway at 5:30 a.m on Wednesday morning and went right into the pre-op area.  My nurses were great and the surgeon and anesthesiologist then got some meds and brought right into the OR.  I don't member anything until the recovery room and being there and hearing everyone bustling about.  I got brought up to my room two hours after I finished surgery.  Jon and my parents were in there waiting for me. 

I felt pretty good but Dr. Schuster said I would have to wait to go home until Friday.  I got up by the afternoon but more than anything I wanted some water.  The swabs were wonderful for about half a second.  Thank goodness we had good chap stick my lips kept cracking.  Terry and Dylan came by to visit but I had to go to the bathroom and that took awhile.  We went for a walk after, and I think it went pretty well.  The dilaudid by IV was good and when my parents went home and then Tina and Ruth brought balloons.  They were very nice and festive. 

I didn't sleep well but I blame Jon's snoring.  I also tried to use my CPAP and then I felt like my diaphragm was being pulled in a million different directions.  So then I chucked it and just used the O2. 

Thursday had lots of visitors, my parents again, then Kristin, Morgan and Denise all came.  I also got flowers and a bear from Cynthia.  It brightened my mood.  I enjoyed everyone being around.  I did my radiological study to test for leaks and it was interesting.  The first thing to drink was nasty but even it tasted good.  I felt nauseous for a couple of seconds especially as the radiologist moved me around on the platform to get the dye to move around.  

I was finally cleared for liquids and enjoyed all of the water I could sip on.  But ice was flat better.  I ate the Italian ice on my dinner tray and everything else I shunned.  Not worth the effort.  Then the nice nurses brought me the liquid lortab.  Not good.  Flushed face and then I waited, walked and told my nurse I couldn't go home with this stuff.  When I got back from my walk I started getting itchy.  They brought in benedryl IV.  Ha ha ha.... The dilaudid was nothing in comparison with the stinking benedryl.  I was so out of it.  Miserable.  Jon kept asking me questions I couldn't even answer.  I was pissed but then sleep.  Phewwwww.  

Then the night nurses said I had to walk so she and Jon woke me up at 8:30.  Pissed again but I walked just fine and then went right back to sleep with ear plugs to keep out the snoring.  But really Jon was great.  He stayed by me the entire time.  

This morning the surgeon said I could go and then I was anxious to leave.  

Jon worked on getting me my meds.  I had Mom help me get a shower right away.  I had some chocolate mint protein pudding with my calcium ground up into it.  Also, my gall bladder medication.  I took my chewable vitamin, chewable pro-biotic (blueberry yum!) and my sublinguil B-12.  

Then I walked on the elliptical, napped, walked around the pool and pulled up OH.  So far so good.  Hopefully I'll get all my water in.  I've done about 20 ounces so far today.     

Friday was a complete emotional wreck. I got a call from the surgeon's office setting me for 11/23 for surgery.  Unfortunately with work, I can only do surgery in December.  I cannot tell anyone how bad it felt turning down a date. 

I cried at my desk and waited for another phone call.  It came right before I left work and now I have my surgery on 12/16 (the perfect day for my schedule) and my pre-op appointment on 11/25 which couldn't be better either. 

I am supposed to start my liquid diet on 12/1.  My DH and my in-laws are making another trip to Disneyland over the Thanksgiving break. So this is perfect.  I will get to start the day I get back from my trip. 

My DH is going to do the liquids with me.  I've also been telling other people that's when I'll be doing the liquid thing.  So I'm hoping that more people around me will join up!  Funny but I'm hoping to have a revolution or something about not seeing food.  My mother is even thinking about going on the clear liquids.  But honestly just that people are willing to step out of their comfort zone for me is great. 

I just keep seeing how God has been moving in my life with everything around me.  Including but not limited to surgery.  Now I'm working on paying my access fees and figuring out how to get everything without breaking the bank.  Good luck to that!
 

On Monday I went to set the PCP for my final clearance and also talked with him about the fever I've been running.  He said I had a bladder infection and an ear infection. (Yuck, how did I not notice that!)  But with my antibiotic prescription I got my PCP clearance!  I couldn't be happier. 

I dropped off the clearance to Banner this morning.  They have requested a date for my surgery so now I just wait. 

I thought this would be a long six months but they have been going really fast.  I've done everything they've asked of me, and I'm starting to do better with some of the lifestyle changes.  My DH has been great and even offered to do the liquid diet with me before surgery.  I couldn't ask for more support than that!

Yesterday I was scheduled for 4 pre-op tests.  Blood work at 8:00, abdominal ultrasound at 9:30 and then return to the hospital at 1:30 for an EKG and a chest x-ray.  I made it to the lab for my blood work at 7:55 and was done with that by 8:05.  I checked into the hospital by 8:10, figuring if I could do my ultrasound early I could leave and get something to eat since I was fasting.  To make a long story short the good ladies at Banner Gateway said as long as you are here lets see what we can get done.  I went back at 8:20 for my EKG (quick and painless) got dressed and went back to the waiting area. Then just as soon as I got my phone out the woman came to get me for my ultrasound.  I was so happy!  Then while I was changing the x-ray tech told the ultrasound tech they were ready for me when she finished.   So there was no waiting at all.   In fact I finished all of my tests and left the hospital before my 9:30 appointment.  What a blessing.  So I was able to enjoy my day off by going out with my Mom. 

I'm down to just needing my pre-surgery nutrition class with Donna and getting clearance from my PCP.  So class is 10/21 and I have to wait for results to go to the PCP.  But other than that I'm ready to schedule!!!!!!!!! 

I cannot believe how fast everything is changing.  I'm ready for this like I cannot believe.  I'm so ready to be free from all of this extra weight.

BC BS already finished my approval pending my PCP clearance and tests.  I cannot say how excited I am other than I cried yesterday after I got the email from the surgeon's office.  I'm just so ready to be on a different road.

Well last week I got a call from the surgeon's office saying I could schedule my pre-surgery class!  I thought I needed six months of weigh-in's and their documents from BC BS did not say that. 

I had been waiting to schedule my last few appointments until BC BS paid my other bills but that happened the very same day.  So now I scheduled my blood work, abdominal ultrasound, EKG, and chest x-ray all on 10/12 so I don't have to take time off of work.  My pre-surgery class is 10/21. 

I'm starting to get really excited and a little nervous about all of the changes happening so quickly.  I've been walking every night and now I need to start going further. 

Next Monday is my upper GI test for surgery.  I'm getting excited about the progress I'm making toward surgery.  I only have 4 more weigh-in's and a couple more tests to schedule.  I've been going to group meetings at Banner Gateway and I will be going again tomorrow night. 

I ordered some protein shakes to try ahead of time.  Hoping to find something I like so I can have it during my pre and post op diet.