Sorry this post is so long, but just wanted to post an update for y'all on a couple of things.
First (and the best of all), is that I went for my physical on Tuesday with the NP in preparation for my hernia repair/tummy tuck. She was really pleased with my progress and agreed that the remaining weight I have to lose is most likely skin weight. She did her tests and only wants me to have an EKG and chest x-ray within 30 days of surgery. She also gave me orders for my blood draw to be done within 3 days of surgery. I brought in the album I made pre-surgery that has documented my progress monthly, and she was really impressed.
I went out to schedule a meeting with the surgeon who is usually booked a month out, and lo and behold he was available two days later on Thursday to talk!!! So when I saw him, and he saw my progress book, he told his head nurse to make copies of my book (which I agreed to do to contribute to the program) to use in his patient education (wow). Then he said that I had really pulled together well, and asked me what I do, and I told him about my excercise regimen and training schedule, to which he asked if I would work with Martha (the head nurse) to educate his patients on the importance of excercise, and to even work with her to see if local gyms would give discount to his patients for referring them. He also asked me to provide my trainers number for future referals - I was very flattered to be asked to be used in such a way. I also told him about this site, so I will be giving the website to him to refer to his patients, unless y'all object...
Anywho, he asked me to pull up my shirt and pull my pants down (gee- what a romantic!!), and he started to manipulate all of my sharpeii-ness so I could see how smooth my hips would be and how flat and tight I would be after the TT. He also showed me the mesh that would be used which looks like an off white screen, but in almost a cotton materiel - I had imagined it being like credit card plastic for some reason. He assured me that he could save my belly button, and told me that his scar would end up with a fine white line as he staples/sutures on this inside (rather than the outside like he did for my open GBS), and that he then seals everything on the outside with the surgical glue. My drains will be in for a couple of weeks, and he recommend wearing the binder for 4 weeks. I do have to have clears the day before, and I do have to do a bowel prep the night before (oh happy day!), and I have to practice the incentive spirometer for 3 weeks before and after surgery. The hernia repair will be covered under insurance (we are waiting at this point for the approval to come back in), but he cannot bundle surgeries any longer to include the TT. He charges $3500.00 for the TT (1/2 payable at the time the surgery is scheduled, and the other 1/2 payable when consent forms are turned in) - I had planned to pay for this from the equity on the house sale, but since it needs to be pre-paid, I did the Capital One Mdedical Financing thingie for the $3500.00, and will just pay that off when we close escrow. Keep watching for a surgery date - which I requested for the first week in Mark - wouldn't it be funny if I was back in for the TT on 3/7/07 when my GBS was 3/7/06? Can we say happy anniversary to me?!
Now the next update is that our house has sold - escrow contingencies lifted Thursday night, so Keith and will be moving to Buffalo unless they back out (we will get their deposit though - and I will still get my TT!!), but I doubt anything will happen. So at this point, we are interviewing moving companies and searching for apartments or houses for rent in Buffalo that will accept 2 mid to large dogs - we will rent until we find something to buy which will also allow time for keith to find a job.
What about the surgery, you ask? Well thats the beautiful part - Keith will go ahead of me to Buffalo, and I will shack up with my best friend Jackie (who has rcently kicked her DH out for a whole other drama story) for surgery and recovery. Whats good about this is that if I have surgery in the first week of March, insurance is paid by my employer for the entire month, and I won't have to worry about Cobra til April 1 (unless I do work for them when I am recovering and feeling well - then I will be paid through 4/30 and won't have to worry about Cobra til 5/1). Things are still up in the air until I get a surgery date, though. I will be giving notice at work this week, but won;t be able to give them an end date until surgery is scheduled. I have a couple of HR questions that I should know as the HR Director, but don't because it has never come up - Jeannie - I will be PM'ing you since this is turning into War and Peace.
Anyways - I have been meaning to post this all week - my apologies that it is so long - thanks for listening, peeps
Pseudo Update
Keep us posted on your dates. I can't wait to see your after pictures. WHen ya get to BUffalo, you, me and Gina are gonna have to get together!!!
Gina in NY
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