Doctors, doctors, & more doctors

Since I have started the process of weight loss surgery, I have had so many doctors appointments. There is usually two a week. The center I'm am going through has you visit several. I have had to see a psychologist & had to have major testing done. One test had 627 questions.

My insurance requires that I visit my weight loss doctor 4 months consecutively. They will also have you visit with a nutritionist 3 times. Once by yourself and 2 with a group. You must see a exercise specialist so she can help you work out a exercise plan for before & after surgery. You must also attend at least 1 support group meeting. These are all required. Your doctor may also have you see others if they think you need too. I had to see a sleep specialist & have a sleep study. Unfortunately it looks as if I have sleep apnea. I will be receiving a cpap machine soon. More on that later.

My weight loss doctor also wanted me to see my obgyn. One thing is for sure, after loosing weight, some women find it very easy to become pregnant. They want you to be very careful. Shortly after surgery your nutritional intake will be very low. This can cause major problems for a growing baby. For that reason they would like you to use two forms of birth control methods.

My husband and I unfortunately have had 3 miscarriages. We really want to be parents one day, but I really want to make sure healthier first.

So after all these doctor visits this last week, I'm happy to say I'm down another 9 pounds woohoo. I have 20 more to go before I have surgery. I can do it. I can do it.

CMT

The last couple days have been rough. I've been sick with a bad cold & on top of that its been really stressful. I don't usually tell many people unless they ask, but I suffer from a form of MD. It's called Charcot Marie Tooth or abbreviated CMT. It causes my muscles & my nerves to be very week. Some days it hurts to even move, & others like today, I am numb from head to toe. I have a tendency to fall a lot because I can't feel my legs & feet. I can't tell you how many times I've ripped my toenails out & didn't even realize. I know having all this weight makes things even worse. That's why even though I felt horrible & numb I did my exercise anyway. I have a few seated cardio videos I can workout to. I know it's gonna help, I just gotta keep pushing forward. I've gotta keep that bigger picture in mind & work for the prize.

Sadie

I would like to introduce the newest member of our family. This is Sadie. She is an 8 week old boxer mix. She is such a doll & already spoiled rotten.

Second WLS Doc Visit

So yesterday was my second monthly visit with the weight loss doctor. Before surgery I must visit her 4 months consecutively. I've only lost .8 pounds since my last visit. Kinda feels like I've dropped the ball. A lot of factors played against me this past month though. It's no excuse I know. I've got to get & keep it together.

She had gotten the test results back from my psychological test. Apparently I passed with flying colors. I can officially say I'm not crazy, I've been tested. Lol.

I asked her when I could expect to have surgery. And she said probably sometime in July. If I meet the weight loss goal they set for me, when I started. They would like for me to be as close to 400 as possible. I also visited with the exercise specialist.

So I'm gonna take everything I've learned & really kick some butt this month.

Sleep Study

Day before last I got a call from the local sleep study place. In order for me to have my surgery, my doctor requires everyone to have one. First the start you out with a take home pulse monitor. If your levels go down with it, they make you have an actual sleep study. After two tries at home they decided I needed the full study.

Since my husband works graveyard, I usually just stay up at night too. That way I don't keep him up during the day.

So at around 3pm I get a call. They had, had a cancelation for that night. I knew going in I wouldn't be sleepy. I decided to take some Benadryl anyway, because my allergies have been in full swing. I figured i might help me get sleepy too. They really don't want you to take a sleep aid.

So I get there and fill out some paperwork. Then the girl starts attaching all kinds of wires to me. Some on my legs, chest, and all over my head. It was attached to me with glue. Then she attached 2 straps around my waist & chest. There was a big bed in the room, along with a sound machine & camera. The room was actually very nice & I loved the sounds machine. I all ways sleep with a fan on anyway. Just for the noise.

So before I laid down she told me they would let me sleep awhile on my own. If it looked like I was having trouble, they then would come in and put a cpap machine on me. I had so many wires on me, I honestly could pick up HBO. Lol

I guess after about an hour I finally got to sleep. Around 1:30 she came in & said I was having trouble. She put the machine on me, but I never could get back to sleep. I guess the Benadryl had wore off by then too.

So looks like I will probably have to go back and do it again. This time with only the cpap machine.

I honestly had no idea I had sleep apnea. My hubby never said he heard snore.

When I got home I had to take a shower & wash my hair twice. That glue really sticks lol.

Large Problems

I've been thinking about all the things I can't wait to do, when I'm smaller. This weight really holds me back from doing so much. Other than the health issues & pain I deal with on a daily basis, thought I would list some things I'll be glad I won't have to worry about anymore.

Tony & I got a new car about a year ago. I haven't been able to drive for a couple years now. I can fit behind the steering wheel, but cannot wear the seat belt in either seat. Recently I was able to drive a short distance, but my legs got very tired from having to move my foot from the gas to the brake. I have always loved to drive. Traveling is in my blood. I don't have to really go anywhere special, just cruise around. I can't wait to get back out there.

I bet so many people take for granted, being able to go to their local department store, & buy clothes. To find clothes that fit well I have to order them online.  Also I'm pretty tall. If I order an average length, it is usually too short. But then the tall lengths are too long LOL.  I honestly would love to run down to Walmart, Kmart, or Target and buy a pair of man's jeans. I could get the perfect length every time.

Everywhere I go, I have to be aware of things many never think of. For instance, majority of any public chairs are  too small. Waiting rooms make me cringe. When we go out to eat, we always have to sit at a table. Forget about planes &
amusement rides. There is no way. Then there are the bathroom stalls. I just can't fit in some of them. Some places have their toilets attached on the wall, instead of the floor. I'm scared to death that I would be too heavy, & It would fall out.

Going to the doctor has been adventure in the past too. When I went for my first visit with my new doctor, I scared her & myself to pieces. Most exam tables are bolted to the floor. Hers was not, which I found out when I stepped on the step & it flipped forward with me. After a huge crash everyone rushed in to see if I was ok. I didn't get hurt physically, but man my pride took a bruising.

Other problems happen at the doctors offices too. Sometimes the scale is not big enough. Both wide enough to get my feet on & able to read my weight. Once I went to a doctor & weighed like normal, then had to go to different doc for something else. When I weighed at the second, my weight had gained over 75 pounds from the first. I knew something was wrong. I finally asked both places what the maximum weight was. Another bruise to my ego was the second more heavy weight was actually correct. I was the heaviest patient my doctor had, had. They ended up having to get a new scale after that. They also have to use a larger blood pressure cuff.

Who doesn't like some pretty jewelry. I'm such a big jewelry fan. I love all the bling, bling. But my weight effects that too. Necklaces have to be  longer, bracelets & watches too. My ring size is an 11, where it used to be a 7 when I got married.

Well all this is about to change & I can't wait.

Baby Steps

So my whole process right now is starting with some small changes. There is so much information out there to help with weight loss. What's important, is to find something that works for you. Even if your not having weight loss surgery, reading what people that are, are doing, can help a lot. Here are a few things I've been working on.

Once you have weight loss surgery (WLS), and even right before. You have to completely change the way you eat & drink. As recommended by my weight loss doctor, I have started eating & drinking with toddler sized utensils, plates, & sippy cups. Using a smaller sized fork, spoon & plate, will help with eating smaller portions.

After having WLS your stomach will only be able to hold 2 to 4 ounces of food. The sippy cup keeps you from gulping. My doctor wants me to try & drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. But since my stomach will be so small, I must break it down throughout the day. I have a larger measured container that I use to fill the sippy cup with. This way I can keep track of how much I have drank. I won't be able to drink through a straw either. Drinking through a straw causes air to fill your stomach, & you will need all the room you got for nutrition.

Also no soda's. Ekkk this has been the hardest thing to do. I don't think its really the sugar, but the bubbles I'm addicted too more.  The carbonation will cause gas in my stomach, thus causing discomfort.

When I eat I do not drink. My stomach will eventually not be able to hold fluid & food at the same time. You want to drink at least 30 minutes before, & an hour after you eat. This has been hard to adjust to, too. I always had something to drink with my meals.

It is taking me longer to eat now too. Every bite I  take, I'm supposed to chew 40 to 50 times. You want your food to be the consistency of applesauce. After surgery your stomach will be very swollen, & chunkier food will be very hard to process. For the first couple weeks after surgery I will be on a completely liquid diet. But even after I can start with more solid food, it will have to be mushy. Baby food consistency. Chewing my food well, will keep it from getting stuck.

I'm also longing everything I eat and drink. I'm using the app myfitnesspal. It's got lots of cool stuff & is very user friendly.

I have decided to have weight loss surgery.

I have been overweight since I was around 5. All my childhood I was plagued with being the fat kid. My teenage years got much worse. At 18 I weighed more than 275. Going to college and moving out on my own helped for a bit. But then I married my best friend Tony. After that we both gained & gained. 12 years later & after 3 miscarriages, having to go onto disability, & dislocating my knee in January, I've decided I've had enough. I'm tired of being in pain, not being able to find clothes, go shopping at the mall, drive, but most of all start a family.

So last month I spoke to my doctor about having weight loss surgery. She referred me to the weight loss center in our area. I have so much to share. I can't wait to get started.

My weight at the start of this year was 456 pounds. My highest weight was 502, over a year & a half ago. Currently I weigh 429 pounds. I wear a size 38 in pants, & 4x in shirts. It is very hard to find shoes that fit. And once I do, they wear out quickly because of the strain from my weight.

So get ready,  here I go.
I'm gonna be a loser, but a good one.