Thursday, June 26, 2008
Todays the day

I will be heading to the hosital in an hour or two. I'll update when I get home.

posted by Julie's Journey @ 7:21 AM 2 Comments

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
tomorrow is the day

I have been doing a lot of soul searching these last couple of days, and although I always knew I had a unhealthy relationship with food, I guess I never really realized to what extent.

I LOVE food. I love to eat, hungry or not. I have always thought about food... a lot. If I am not eating, I am planning my next meal. Invitations to parties or trips out with my friends are all about the food. At night, before I went to bed, I would think about what/where I was going to eat lunch the next day!!

I am very commited to getting this band, and making it work. I know this is the right thing to do for me. I just know it is going to be an uphill battle. I feel I will be fighting my own mind every day.

posted by Julie's Journey @ 8:55 AM 1 Comments

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
2 days left, and I am.....

HUNGRY!!!!

They warned me yesterday at the Upper GI to drink lots of fluids, since the barium can turn into "cement" in your intestines. No chance of that here! I feel I should start paying rent on the bathroom ;)

All this clear liquid and no fiber is not being too kind to me. Took Kayleigh to a park today..they had 1 bathroom there... and a outhouse type bathroom at that. I was sure it wasn't going to be too pretty (but I did manage to make it ;)

Today I have had 2 popsicles and a bottle of water. Guess I will have some bouillon later. Yummy.

posted by Julie's Journey @ 12:42 PM 0 Comments

Monday, June 23, 2008
3 days

Went for my upper GI today. It wasn't too terribly bad. The barium was quite yucky, but I managed to get it down.

Started my pre op liquid diet today... bouillon, Popsicles, jello, and water...yipee.

More tomorrow...

posted by Julie's Journey @ 7:35 PM 1 Comments

Sunday, June 22, 2008
4 days and counting

Went out for a moms night out last night. We went to P.F. Changs. I had chicken lettuce wraps and mongolian beef. OMG, the beef was the best thing I have tasted in a long time. Figures...I find something that good the day before I can't eat it anymore!!! I got an order of wraps and beef to go. Kayleigh and I shared it for lunch. Had steak for dinner...now I am going to go in and make my sugar free jello (yummy...NOT) But, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do...right???

Gonna have my husband take a few "before" pics of me tonight.

I'm getting excited (but scared ;)

posted by Julie's Journey @ 6:48 PM 1 Comments

Saturday, June 21, 2008
5 days left

I took my first shot today. It took a minute or two to get my nerve up. I did it 6-7 times a day while I was pregnant, but that has been awhile. The first time today was the worst...I'm sure it will be easier now ;))

posted by Julie's Journey @ 1:38 PM 1 Comments

Friday, June 20, 2008
6 days

I went to pick up my Rx's today. $125 for 6 prescriptions. Not too bad considering the blood thiner shots were over $840 for 20 shots. I guess my insurance is good for something after all!!!

I need to start the injections tomorrow (oh, goodie)

More tomorrow...

posted by Julie's Journey @ 8:51 PM 0 Comments

Thursday, June 19, 2008
7 days to go

I made my appointment for my upper GI early (and I do mean early) Monday. I start my blood thinner injections on Saturday, and my 3 day liquid diet Monday (gee...I wonder if barium is considered a "clear liquid"?? ;)

Now the countdown really begins...

posted by Julie's Journey @ 3:25 PM 0 Comments

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Todays preop appointment

I saw the surgeon today, I was with him for 2 hours!!! He wrote me about 5 prescriptions, we went over what he will do, and he gave me a quick exam.

I was a bit suprised... when I asked him how long the surgery will take, he told me he does not want to go over 3 hours. I asked him how long the average lapband takes and he told me 45 minutes!!!! He told me he wants me to have a upper GI (Oh, goodie!!!) before surgery. He suspects I have a hiatel hernia, and said it will need to be repaired before doing the lapband. He said if I do have one he will most likely repair it and do the lapband, saving the umbillical hernia for a later time (this does not thrill me, since it is getting painful) but, I really want this lapband to get done.

I asked him if he was going to look around while he was in there, and told him if he finds any other hernias in the lower belly area I didn't want him to fix them. He told me that is a good idea, since I will need a tummy tuck (and an extensive one, at that) He said insurance is more likely (yeah, right) to pay for it if there are multiple hernias.

Since I have had 2 prior surgeries, he told me he is not sure what he will find when he gets in there, maybe scar tissue or mesh (from the repairs) in the way. I tried to pin him down on what he will do first. I am afraid he will get in there and have so much work to do on hernias that he does not do the lapband. I have seen too many people who got into surgery and did not have the band put in, for whatever reason. That would really suck!!!!

I got a bit of a suprise when I first got there, and they told me the surgeons fee is $1075. I had to break out the credit card and pay that today. Well, It's more frequent flyer miles!!!

I am really geeked and excited today!!!!!

posted by Julie's Journey @ 6:14 PM 0 Comments

I'm getting nervous

8 days before the "big day"... the day that will change my life (for the better) forever. I go see the surgeon tomorrow. I need to start taking injectible blood thinners 5 days prior to surgery. I need to verify with him that I will be staying overnight. This is usually an outpatient procedure, but I am considered slightly higher risk due to blood clotting issues (hence the blood thinners 5 days pre and post op) I had a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot to the lung) almost 5 years ago, while 8 weeks pregnant with my beautiful little girl. We had a major power outage (from NY to MI..including Canada) while I was in the hospital with my PE... 90+ degrees, no air, no flushing toilets, no fresh water....if I had been able to, I would have taken my IV, pole and all, and headed home.

I am getting quite nervous. I know this is a safe procedure, with a very low mortality rate... but, still, it is surgery and general anesthesia. I worry most about something happening to me and leaving Kayleigh motherless. I know from reading posts on Lapbandtalk.com (my new, favorite addiction) that this is a very common fear. It is just not this surgery either...the woman 2 doors down had to have surgery last week. She told me she was concerned about the surgery (even though she had had quite a few surgeries previously) because of her boys.

So..... I guess this makes me normal.

More tomorrow after I talk to the surgeon.

posted by Julie's Journey @ 12:27 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Just heard from doctors office

I cannot freaking believe it. They want a 2 year medically supervised diet before they will pay for the surgery.

I can't f****** believe it

2 years???? are they kidding me????????

I am so mad about this...I can't beleive it. I have never heard of this before.

posted by Julie's Journey @ 3:21 PM 1 Comments

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Still waiting....

Have not heard back from BC/BS yet. My surgeons office sent the request last Tuesday. I am hoping for a positive answer...though not expecting it!! I guess the pressure is off for me, since I am having the surgery either way (we will just self pay if need be) I hate putting out that kind of $$$, but I don't want to have to go through 2 rounds of general anesthesia.

I went for my medical clerance at my GP Friday. She sent me for a chest X-Ray and EKG. I am hoping they do not find anything there that holds up my surgery.

I am starting to get quite excited and nervous...

posted by Julie's Journey @ 11:55 AM 1 Comments

Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Surgery scheduled

I scheduled my surgery today. It is June 26th at 1PM. I am hoping BC/BS comes through....but I'm not going to hold my breath. The hernia is quite painfull... and getting worse each day. I need to get this puppy repaired. I am really excited. 3 weeks from tomorrow. WOW.

posted by Julie's Journey @ 7:55 PM 1 Comments
Julie's Journey

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Julie's Journey
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aurora, CO, United States
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