The New Me

Journal Entry 1

Nov 4, 2009
33yrs old, 295lbs, 5'10"

I've been to the bariatric clinic 3x now.
I saw the nurse & dietician at the first visit, and reviewed my medical history, started the requisitions for tests & reviewed the surgery itself. With the dietician, we talked about healthy eating, a little about what to expect post op, and what I should work on cutting out of my diet pre op. I was advised to keep a food diary.

Second visit, I again saw the nurse, and we reviewed the results of all my testing. Still had to have the abdominal u/s (due to c'sections; internal scarring/adhesions). She said everything looked great, and I was on the "expressway to surgery" no hangups thus far.
Next I was in with Nancy, the dietician. I provided her with my food diary I had kept for the past 6wks. She was impressed, said I did a very good job, most un-healthy eating was around holidays/special occasions. We reviewed the post op diet, a little of what to expect, and she also said I was moving along nicely.

I went to see the social worker the other day, essentially to ensure I would be psychologically prepared to undergo such a procedure. The appt was an hour & she said I was doing quite well, and she didn't see anything to be concerned about. I'm lucky that I have 2 friends/colleagues that have had the gastric bypass - one laparoscopically like is planned for me, and one was an open procedure as she had to have her GB removed. I've been able to get a lot of feedback from them as well. I'm lucky to have a lot of support. My husband is SUPER supportive & ready to do anything that is needed. We have a few really close friends who have already asked what they can do.

So, I see Dr. Reed on the 17th. I'm excited to go see him. I just worry something will come up and he'll say no.. but I've been told this is very unlikely, but I always worry.
Surgery will be scheduled within 6wks of me seeing him, so with any luck it will happen before Christmas
I'm still pretty nervous, but so excited.
I"m looking forward to being a healthy weight again. Looking forward to being able to keep up with my kids & not be worn out. To not be short of breath all the time. To not be at such a huge risk for diabetes & cardiac problems. To be able to walk into a room and not feel like everyone is noticing that I'm the "fat chick" in the room. To be happy when I look in the mirror. And most of all to have the outside match the fun, silly, flirty woman on the inside.