Next up

Now, there was a physical to take.  I was really nervous about this.  I thought for sure my heart would not pass inspection.  It was just an irrational fear.  My father had passed away from a heart attack so naturally, my mind churns with disappointment.  Turns out, all those tests came out good.  Hooray! 
Next came the 11 day pre-op diet my surgeon required.  UGH!  I had daily I had 4 protein shakes, 2 cups of broth, 2 cups of raw greens or 1 cup of cooked.  At least I got to eat....although 'greens' were never a strong suit with me.  I enjoyed the lettuce.  Luckily, my hubs is a trained chef, so he doctored up the broths to make them tolerable. Compared to others that were going the whole liquid diet pre-op....mine wasn't so bad. 

Then I get news that, my PCP didn't want to clear me unless I saw a GI specialist on account of my enzymes being so high.  DRAT!  We were already a week from my surgery date.  How in the hell was I going to get an appointment with my GI before then?!  I told the girls at my surgeons office that my PCP was giving me a hard time about my liver tests.  I had told them it had been about a year since I saw my GI.  Then they asked me if I had done an ultrasound and what not.  I said yes.  They were on it!  They called my GI office for the test results and them sent them to my PCP.  She cleared me after learning I had a diagnosed case of fatty liver.  Whew. 
Now, everything is in place.

In the beginning...

So OK......I had been on this bariatric journey for a while.  I have thought about this for years and done my research.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  But, the real legwork started in August of last year actually.  I had jumped through a lot of hoops with a certain hospital here in town.  I went to a seminar, to their dietitian, and to a psychiatrist.   Only to find out when I was actually booking the surgery that they do not do any kind payment plans or offer assistance of any kind. I was crushed.  My insurance does not cover any bariatric surgery, not even if medically necessary.  Man, I was screwed.  They want you to "get healthy" and this type of surgery would help butttttttttt....if you don't have insurance, they don't want to deal with you....unless you're rolling in dough (figuratively speaking, of course). 
Anyway, I thought my hopes were dashed for ever having this kind of thing.  
Fate stepped in, I suppose.  I came into the means to have it done.  I found an excellent doctor that offered the surgery for almost HALF of what the other hospital was going to charge me.  So, I had a consultation with him and I knew exactly what I wanted.  Having been to other seminars and online research, had given me a lot of information.  He was stoked and so was I.
Luckily, since I had seen a psychiatrist previously I did not have to see another one.  So, that was one step down.  I did still have to see their dietitian, though.  No problem.  Took care of that in a week's time.  I set my surgery date.  I asked off from my job.  And the wheels were all in motion....

Hi.  Hello.  Welcome.

I will be chronicling my bariatric weight loss here.  Also, throwing in some vents, screams, tears, laughs,  unique insights and sarcastic views ....so buckle up, buttercups.