Jodie R.
Internist appointment!
Feb 19, 2008
Well, my appointment with Dr. White was today. First of all, the weather was HORRIBLE. It took us forever to get there, but we were on time.
I was weighed first.. and I am down another 10 pounds. YAY! They did my Tanita body scale measurements also. Based on that, I am slightly dehydrated. My BMI is 63.3. My height is 5'7''.. WHAT? I am shrinking every time I get measured. I thought I was 5'9'' for years. At my PCP in September, I was measured at 5'7.5''.. now I am 5'7''.. ugh. Since July, I have lost 55 pounds as of today. Dr. White said that was great, as it would mean my liver would be smaller and make surgery easier for the surgeon with more space in the abdominal cavity.
She asked which surgery I was interested in. I told her the BPD/DS, which also happened to be the one that was highlighted on a placard thing in the office. She said that I could potentially be receiving the surgery in 2 separate procedures. AUGH. This is not the news I want. I will ask the surgeon about it further. I had some questions about the procedure and the hospital stay.. she didn't have a lot of answers in relation to most of that. Well, the answer she had was.. "keep that question and ask the surgeon". My EKG was normal. Good news. The nurse giving the EKG ripped the lead off my left wrist and bruised it instantly. Am I a wimp or what?
All in all, the visit was not bad. Everyone was nice. I do have to attend 2 visits with the nutritionist so I know about the eating requirements postop as far as protein, etc. I guess I would rather have too much information than not enough.
So.. I have to schedule the 2 nutritionist visits, and I have my appointment with the surgeon and behaviorist on March 6th.
Things are moving along!
I was weighed first.. and I am down another 10 pounds. YAY! They did my Tanita body scale measurements also. Based on that, I am slightly dehydrated. My BMI is 63.3. My height is 5'7''.. WHAT? I am shrinking every time I get measured. I thought I was 5'9'' for years. At my PCP in September, I was measured at 5'7.5''.. now I am 5'7''.. ugh. Since July, I have lost 55 pounds as of today. Dr. White said that was great, as it would mean my liver would be smaller and make surgery easier for the surgeon with more space in the abdominal cavity.
She asked which surgery I was interested in. I told her the BPD/DS, which also happened to be the one that was highlighted on a placard thing in the office. She said that I could potentially be receiving the surgery in 2 separate procedures. AUGH. This is not the news I want. I will ask the surgeon about it further. I had some questions about the procedure and the hospital stay.. she didn't have a lot of answers in relation to most of that. Well, the answer she had was.. "keep that question and ask the surgeon". My EKG was normal. Good news. The nurse giving the EKG ripped the lead off my left wrist and bruised it instantly. Am I a wimp or what?
All in all, the visit was not bad. Everyone was nice. I do have to attend 2 visits with the nutritionist so I know about the eating requirements postop as far as protein, etc. I guess I would rather have too much information than not enough.
So.. I have to schedule the 2 nutritionist visits, and I have my appointment with the surgeon and behaviorist on March 6th.
Things are moving along!
Good news and.. other news.
Feb 18, 2008
The good news is.. my appointment with Dr. Foote's internist, Dr. White, is tomorrow morning! The other news.. well, I had to reschedule my sleep study. I still have a lingering cough, and I don't want that to interfere with my sleep pattern (and believe me, it is.). It is scheduled now for the night of March 3rd, so not too far away.. just 2 weeks. That is still before my appointment with the surgeon as well, so I am sure it will still be fine.
There is an ice storm here today. Things thawed over the weekend with temperatures of 40 degrees.. now it is below freezing and snowing on top of the melted snow, turning it all to ice. A good day to stay home and avoid all the psycho drivers. I am hoping most of it is cleared up in the morning so I can make it safely to my appointment. (All about the appointment, you know.)
There is an ice storm here today. Things thawed over the weekend with temperatures of 40 degrees.. now it is below freezing and snowing on top of the melted snow, turning it all to ice. A good day to stay home and avoid all the psycho drivers. I am hoping most of it is cleared up in the morning so I can make it safely to my appointment. (All about the appointment, you know.)
Feeling a LOT better today!
Feb 16, 2008
I have the weekend off work.. awesome. I am getting over the flu. It was only really bad for about 2-1/2 days. I think I was right about the flu shot making it go away a little sooner. John did not have a shot, and he is about as recovered as I am.. except he started 3-4 days sooner.
I put a new avatar up today... I am smiling. I posted and someone said that I looked sad in my previous picture.. that is really not the case, so I needed a change! Besides, my parents paid good money for my straight teeth, so I should show them off, right?
I have been researching and printing things to get prepared for my visit with the internist on Tuesday morning. I want to impress her with my preparedness (is that a word?). I am hoping things will go smoothly.
I put a new avatar up today... I am smiling. I posted and someone said that I looked sad in my previous picture.. that is really not the case, so I needed a change! Besides, my parents paid good money for my straight teeth, so I should show them off, right?
I have been researching and printing things to get prepared for my visit with the internist on Tuesday morning. I want to impress her with my preparedness (is that a word?). I am hoping things will go smoothly.
Ugh.
Feb 13, 2008
So much for hoping my flu shot would save me from the epidemic. It didn't. The coughing.. oh, the coughing. I think it actually is not as bad as some. Maybe the flu shot made it LESS horrid. Now it just feels like I swallowed a few razor blades. Fluids, fluids, fluids. I did take some nighttime cold medicine that knocked me out the other night. I'm not sure how much it helped, but it was nice to get a few hours of sleep.
Not much else going on. I am anxiously awaiting my sleep study and internist appointment next week. I am hoping I am 100% better by then.
Not much else going on. I am anxiously awaiting my sleep study and internist appointment next week. I am hoping I am 100% better by then.
Does someone love you more than you love yourself?
Feb 11, 2008
I have been with my husband for 10 years. I was much thinner when we met, but by no means skinny. He is not a small guy either, and that is great with me. From the first day we met, we were inseperable. I have probably gained 150 pounds in these 10 years. He has never said one thing to me about my looks, other than compliments of course. He looks at me with the same love in his eyes as the day we were married. I can honestly say that I see more love in his eyes than I have felt for myself in a long time. He is supportive in everything I do. When I found out I was diabetic, he changed the way he ate too. He didn't have to do that.. but he wanted to. (Which, by the way, he has lost about 30-40 pounds too.) When I was against getting WLS at first.. he again was supportive and said that we would keep on losing together as we had been. When I changed my mind soon after and wanted to attend the surgical center orientation, he went with me. Now, when I call him to computer 10 times a day to look at an article or someone's before and after pictures, he is interested and attentive. He has been with me through gaining weight, developing panic attacks, recent hospitalizations, and now is with me again on the journey for WLS. I never take for granted for a minute that he has been everything I needed when I didn't know I needed it and my greatest fan and supporter. If you have someone in your life like this, give them an extra hug. A mother, father, husband, wife, sister, boyfriend, friend.. who knows.. let them know you appreciate what they do for you. It means a lot to them.
Thank you, John.. for being my everything and making me your everything.
Thank you, John.. for being my everything and making me your everything.
Update and a thank you.
Feb 10, 2008
Today is not the greatest day. John has the flu.. he is so weak.. too weak even to whine. I was supposed to have a dermatologist appointment today, but he is too weak to leave the house; and I really can't leave him when he is feeling so bad. The weather outside is horrible. The wind chills are down to like -20 or something with blowing and drifting snow. It is supposed to snow more tonight and early tomorrow too. The plus side is that with my recent weight loss, I can actually take care of John, clean, etc. and not be tired in the least. I had a flu shot this year and so far have no signs of getting sick. (knock on plastic)
I wanted to thank everyone who has been so helpful, honest, and open about their WLS experiences. It has made a world of difference to speak with people that have been through things. Thank you so much.
I wanted to thank everyone who has been so helpful, honest, and open about their WLS experiences. It has made a world of difference to speak with people that have been through things. Thank you so much.
The moment when I knew I needed a change.
Feb 08, 2008
I knew I needed to do something about my weight.. not when I was diagnosed with diabetes.. but when we had a major loss in our family. My niece was 3 years old and passed away. She was special to us. We knew she would not have a long life, but we did not know it was going to be so short either. I saw her nearly every day of her life and cared about her more than I could even describe. When things were being put together for the funeral and pictures were being gathered.. I was not in even one of them with her. Not even one. I get tears in my eyes even thinking about it now. I avoided the cameras at all costs.. and why? Because I didn't like how I looked in pictures. She didn't care what I looked like. She loved me.. and I don't have one picture of us together now. That was a hard lesson to learn, and I will never forget how it makes me feel. So, what really wanted to make me have a better life was a 3-year-old that changed me forever.
Things are already moving along..
Feb 06, 2008
Well.. I have my appointments scheduled with the internist, the surgeon, and the behaviorist. The first appt is 2/19/08. Pretty soon. I had heard from people that they sometimes have to wait months to get the initial appt.. so I was pleasantly surprised that I don't have to wait so long.
I can't believe I am excited about doctor visits. Just 6 months ago, if someone would have told me that, I would have told them they were crazy. I was DEATHLY afraid to go to the doctor.. I mean panic attack status. I had to get over that quick when I was admitted to the hospital for a raging infection and diagnosed with diabetes. I saw doctors, nurses, residents, interns, dieticians.. you name it, I saw one! That was only in a 3-day stay too.. then I was set up with an internal medicine doctor.. who I LOVE. She has made things a lot easier for me. I think most of my fear was honestly being judged. I don't want to be made to feel inferior, stupid, dirty, or bad because I am overweight.. and that is generally the impression I have gotten in the past from most doctors. I think obesity is one of the last things that it is okay to be prejudiced about, frankly.. but that is a whole other rant. Haha.
So, I think I probably have at least 1 visit every week with some doctor, clinic, or something of that manner. It's just common for me now.. I think I am kind of proud of myself for just getting past things and doing good things for myself instead of letting my anxiety get in the way.
I can't believe I am excited about doctor visits. Just 6 months ago, if someone would have told me that, I would have told them they were crazy. I was DEATHLY afraid to go to the doctor.. I mean panic attack status. I had to get over that quick when I was admitted to the hospital for a raging infection and diagnosed with diabetes. I saw doctors, nurses, residents, interns, dieticians.. you name it, I saw one! That was only in a 3-day stay too.. then I was set up with an internal medicine doctor.. who I LOVE. She has made things a lot easier for me. I think most of my fear was honestly being judged. I don't want to be made to feel inferior, stupid, dirty, or bad because I am overweight.. and that is generally the impression I have gotten in the past from most doctors. I think obesity is one of the last things that it is okay to be prejudiced about, frankly.. but that is a whole other rant. Haha.
So, I think I probably have at least 1 visit every week with some doctor, clinic, or something of that manner. It's just common for me now.. I think I am kind of proud of myself for just getting past things and doing good things for myself instead of letting my anxiety get in the way.
I hope for a lot of things.
Feb 04, 2008
Today, I hope that things will get better. I hope that I will be able to move forward with a surgical weight loss procedure in the near future. I hope that it will be everything I want it to be. I hope that I will have more energy and be happier in general. I hope I will feel healthier and BE healthier.
Today was my very first contact with the MMPC surgical center. I went to the surgical weight loss orientation. Also, today, I had my first appointment with the Sleep Disorders Center @ MMPC as well. My doctor is Dr. Nancy Hausman, and I just loved her the minute I met her. It happened by chance that she is my doctor as my PCP picked her for me. She took one look at my throat and said.. "oohhh.. Mallampati III." I am familiar with this and knew it was a fairly significantly compromised airway. She recommended a sleep study which is scheduled for a couple of weeks from now. I told her that I had the first class for WLS, and she seemed really excited about it. She told me a few things about it that related to sleep and also my general health. All in all, it was a productive day. John was with me all day, of course. He is so supportive. <3
Today was my very first contact with the MMPC surgical center. I went to the surgical weight loss orientation. Also, today, I had my first appointment with the Sleep Disorders Center @ MMPC as well. My doctor is Dr. Nancy Hausman, and I just loved her the minute I met her. It happened by chance that she is my doctor as my PCP picked her for me. She took one look at my throat and said.. "oohhh.. Mallampati III." I am familiar with this and knew it was a fairly significantly compromised airway. She recommended a sleep study which is scheduled for a couple of weeks from now. I told her that I had the first class for WLS, and she seemed really excited about it. She told me a few things about it that related to sleep and also my general health. All in all, it was a productive day. John was with me all day, of course. He is so supportive. <3
About Me
Grand Rapids, MI
Location
39.0
BMI
Surgery
04/23/2008
Surgery Date
Feb 04, 2008
Member Since
