12/16/12

Well I've been thinking a lot about surgery.  I haven't changed my mind at all, but it seems to always be on my mind now.  Meeting with the hospital staff, talking to the HealthPartners nurses for my phone appointments and just talking with friends....well...it just keeps me thinking.  I am very glad I made this decision.  It seems to be coming up so fast now....I mean this week will be busy at school, then a week of winter break, then New Years...then it will only be a month till surgery.  I am excited, anxious, happy, nervous...so many emotions.  I am trying to incorporate new habits into my daily routine so that they will already be habit after surgery.  I feel this need to share my good news with others but don't because I'm nervous....and as has always happened, I fear that I will fail at yet another attempt to lose weight.  But it's starting to become real...there is no "cheating" on this "plan".  There is no putting myself last.  It is important to me to set a good example to my boys and it's important to me to be able to be active with them.  That can only happen if I make it happen.  I feel blessed that this decision and the support of my friends and family has made the process so easy.  I have had and continue to have a peace about it all.....even in light of all the emotions.   Thank you to God for his blessings and to all my friends and family for their support!

12/8/12

I received the results of the take-home sleep data monitor.  I guess that during the four hours that they monitored, on average I had 11 "events"....an event is when you stop breathing, hold your breath, etc.  To "pass" you can't have more than 5 "events".  In addition, in order to "pass" you have to maintain 95% oxygen....and my level was 82%.  So....on Tuesday, December 18th I will spend the night at the sleep study center in Shakopee - at least it's close - for the overnight sleep study.  The doctor will read the study again and we'll discuss the results.  What I have been told is that perhaps this is one reason that I am always tired, can easily take a nap and it doesn't affect my sleep that night....it sure sounds like if I were sleeping better I'd be feeling much different!

12/7/12

The journey continues....today I had three more appointments - the last three in the process of being approved/authorized for surgery.  I spent an hour at Physical Therapy in the Heart and Vascular Center.  I met with Joni who was wonderful!  She and I talked about my current activity and exercise (which is next to none) and we came up with a plan for increasing exercise to a level of improvement, instead of maintenance. That will mean a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio 5-7 times a week.  In addition, we talked about strength training 2-3 days a week or spreading that out to 5-7 days alternating large muscle groups.  Lastly, we talked about stretching and toning....also should be 2-3 days a week.  She showed me some stretches that are easy to do and you don't need anything special.  I think sometimes we get caught up in the "I need a gym membership" or "I don't have any workout equipment" that we get lazy.  Everything she showed me including cardio doesn't need anything special.  We did a 6 minute brisk walk to monitor my heart rate and oxygen level.  I calculated my target heart rate range for exercise.  I am confident that I can get a plan going for myself and stick with it!

I then met with the doctor to go over my blood results (from 8 vials of blood).  Everything was good.  My cholesterol was a tiny bit above normal....166 when they want under 150.  What I thought was "high" isn't.  She said that there are people with 400 or 1400.....that is crazy!  So I am glad that mine isn't like that!

Lastly, I met with Morgan - the dietitian.  We went over my 3-day food journal...which she said wasn't as bad as I had thought.  And I didn't lie on it!  She said that it was good that I balance meats/veggies well because that is mostly what I'll eat afterwards.  The most challenging part of this journey will not, as I thought, be stopping diet Coke.  It will actually be not drinking at meals.  I am definitely the kind of person that NEEDS a beverage with meals.  That has to stop and she strongly suggested that I start that change now.  Not cold-turkey necessarily, but start the weaning process.  The reason for this is that we fill our stomachs with liquid, making it more difficult for us to finish the foods our bodies need - protein and vitamins.  After surgery, patients only eat a 1/4 cup of food at a meal...and she said that most people find it hard to even eat that because they are not hungry.  If I fill my new little stomach with liquid, I won't be able to eat the food that I need.  So...today begins the process of not drinking anything 30 minutes before or after meals....I will probably start by cutting back to half of what I normally drink at a meal...and half of that and so on.  We went over the 10 day liquid diet that I would do before surgery...it's doesn't look that bad...but we'll see.  It's all protein shakes, milk, broth, jello......it's only 10 days...right?

So...I have three HealthPartners phone appointments left....we're talking about balance eating and emotional eating.  I will complete a 3 day food journal which will mostly highlight how I feel when I eat...so this should be informative!  After the three phone appointments we send in for authorization to my insurance and then surgery can be scheduled...I'm hoping for mid-February.

Thanks for all your support and prayers.....this process has still been so easy...I thankful for this opportunity.....and grateful to God for letting me meet all these wonderful healthcare providers.