Bad, BAD Girl Follow-Up

I'm all done with my pre-op appointments, and surgery is in two days! I didn't gain too much weight...5 lbs. It's sad that it's a gain when it should have been a 10 lbs loss (minimum), but it isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Nobody on the bariatric team mentioned anything about the gain. Nobody asked about how my pre-op diet went. Everything was about getting ready for surgery.

My Pre-Op Day:
-I started out getting my blood drawn...twice. They do this to verify your blood type, and I guess procedure requires your blood to be drawn twice by two different nurses. 

-Then I met with my surgeon's nurse for some surgery education (pre and post). I was with another person during this meeting. She was having the LapBand procedure done. They gave us a notebook that explains all about what to expect surgery day, hospital practices, discharge, etc. There was also specific information about preparing for surgery. Two days before surgery you have to drink a "colon cleanse," and they put you on clear liquids. This one I won't have problems doing...it's only two days and my procedure REALLY depends on it.  They also gave me an antiseptic wash that I have to use in the chest/abdomen/groin area the night before surgery and the morning of. Then there was all of the usual surgery day stuff: no nail polish, makeup, jewelry, contacts, etc.

-After that I met with the doctor (Dr. Cetin) for a check-up. He sent me down for another EKG (it had been over 9 months since my last one) and a urine test (possible UTI).

-I came back up and met with my surgeon's "Fellow." No, not fellow as in "guy friend," but he is a graduated general surgeon who is trying to specialize. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed I didn't get to meet with my surgeon. I have only met Dr Kroh once...for literally 2 minutes...about 9 months ago. I just thought it would be nice to talk with him since he will be rearranging my guts! Anyway, the "Fellow" wrote me a prescription for colon cleanser, something to prevent gallstones, a narcotic for after surgery, and an antibiotic.

-After meeting with Dr Kroh's "Fellow" (that just sounds so funny) I did what they call a "HealthQuest" test. It's a computer Q&A to prepare for the anesthesia evaluation.

-Which meant, after completing HealthQuest I did my Admit interview (insurance, identification stuff) and then met with the anesthesia nurse to complete my evaluation. She basically asked me all the same questions the HealthQuest program did. She took my vitals and made sure I could move my neck comfortably and open and close my mouth comfortably.

Through all of this nobody gave a darn about my gain (or at least they didn't say anything) or if I stuck to the pre-op diet. WHEW! I was beating myself up over nothing.

So, right now I'm sipping on a colon cleanser (as prescribed by the doctor). One word: NASTY! Tastes like salt water meets dirty-sock-water. While I am spending a lot of time on the "throne" it hasn't been as unpleasant as some have described. My irritable bowel produces WAY worse cramps and discomfort and diarrhea than this.

Tomorrow (Thursday)...all liquids until midnight, and then nothing after that.

SURGERY DATE!

Well, after 9 months of dieting, a 4 week binge eating group,several psychology visits (not sure what that says about me), multiple tests, monthly weigh-ins, daily food journaling, working out my PCP chart notes, and many follow-ups with the insurance submittal team at Cleveland Clinic...(whew)...I was approved on 7/13/10 and scheduled for surgery the next day!

YEA! I am so excited to finally be done with the whole insurance approval process! I'm so excited to move on to the next step! I'm not so excited to start my 2 week liquid diet towards the end of next month...but I won't let that spoil the moment.

My surgery date: 9/10/2010!

When I think about all the work I had to put into just getting approved for this surgery it gives me hope that I can work hard and persevere and be successful with this new tool I'm about to get.

I can't wait!

Now the hard part...keeping myself on track...and avoiding a month of "last supper" mentality.

SCORE! (Addended Medical Notes)

Hurdle #1 has been successfully HURDLED! 

I took the adivce of both Dr. Cetin and my Psychologist (Dr. Windover) and prepared some S.O.A.P notes based on the information on my poorly recorded medical records. I had to type them up for Oct 09 - Jan 10.

I've never typed a S.O.A.P note in my life, and I  am in no way familiar with medical terminology or acronyms. So, I had to do A LOT of research to make sense of my medical records and type it into a more detailed note. I also had to research the S.O.A.P note format. It went pretty quick once I figured all of that stuff out.

So, I took my typed up notes to an appointment I made with my PCP. Dr Windover (my psychologist) advised me to approach my PCP the right way so as to not offend her. For example, I really shouldn't tell her that she never listened to anything I told her about the details required in the medical notes she took, and that I painstakingly did all the work for her, so now she should just sign it. So, instead I started my approach by putting the blame on the Bariatric Program at Cleveland Clinic. I told her per their request/suggestion I prepare these notes and have her sign them as addended notes. I guess that was the right approach, because she reviewed them really quick and agreed to sign them without any protest.
WHEW!

I now have copies of these signed and addended notes that I will be taking with me next Friday for my appointment with Nutrition! (Or maybe I will fax them, so they are already scanned and in their system by the time I come for my appointment). I'm really excited, and I hope these notes will now be up to spec for insurance submittal. If that is the case I should be getting my surgery by the end of the summer!

Perserverance and hard work have paid off...now on to Hurdle #2!