My patience are THIN!

I am so this countdown is driving me up a wall...Wish I could until the 20th, and then just wake up on the 21st in the hospital! But I guess that's not the case. Boy, I always thought I was a patient person, guess that blows that theory! Anyway, I have 16 more days to my "new" life, and boy let me tell you, I cannot wait! Happy Monday all! xoxo JA

JA: Have you been snapping at everyone too? I am like a wicked witch these past few days. I think my family is going to go into hiding!!! I hope the days start to fly by for you. I have to get motivated to clean my house. It looks like a bomb went off inside. That should keep me busy for the next 21 days!!! Have a great day. Chryssie

I have been snapping at the world! And then I had a horrible thing happen on Sat. I was driving the my 2nd job, and I fell asleep while driving!! I woke up right before I was about the rear-end this car that was driving like a turtle anyway! I almost died! That's all I would need. So since then, I have stopped the meds that the doc was giving me for hot flashes, which is what caused me to fall asleep!!! So between the hot flashes and just the general anxiety, I am a BEAST!!! My house looks like a cyclone, and I have no motivation to clean it either, and that is not like me! COME ON JULY 21st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hang in there!!! JA PS and to make matters worse, my clothes are tight!

JA: Do you work? That keeps me busy .. plenty busy. Before my surgery, I was working 62 hours a week with 4 different jobs. Now, it's changing for me. I will keep my Saturday night shift at 95.9 The Fox, then I will be working overnights at Star 99.9 - I MIGHT keep my full-time day job at an insurance company, but I am not sure I can handle working over 70 hours a week!! We'll see. But I did definitely give up some weekend hours at another radio station. Anyway .. do things to keep your mind off of the upcoming surgery. I am serious when I said that the time flew by for me!!! Happy Monday to you too! T

Tara, I do work, but I think I work too much (like 60-70 hrs/week), I work 2 jobs, but I can't concentrate these days, so I'm taking a leave from job #2. By the way, I listen to 99.9 all the time! So I'll just have to take some deep breaths and do yoga or something so I don't go Thanks. JA

Oh goodness .. you are like me with all the working you do! Be careful, you are wearing yourself down. No wonder you fell asleep while driving. Do I have to come up there and be your driver? You can't die before surgery, that would be bad! Deep breathing is good. I should talk! I didn't do my deep breathing after surgery and now I am having all sorts of lung problems. BOOOO Don't go crrazy, I promise the time will come quickly. Hugs n bigger hugs, T

Hi JA, I clearly remember the anxiety a few weeks prior to surgery, but as the time got closer I remember becoming more relaxed. I did several things to prepare for surgery. 1. The most important thing I did for myself was journal. I went out and bought myself a very special little book to begin my journey. I wrote about all my fears of surgery and all the pain and unhappiness that I had experienced over the past few years and even earlier. The more I wrote to more optimistic my feelings became about the surgery. This ritual truly put me on the right path for surgery. 2. I created a brochure for my husband and children. My boys are 14 and 16 and they were getting pretty nervous as the surgery time got near. I wanted them to know how I felt about them and I also wanted them to know how much I was looking forward to doing so much more with them. I have missed out on alot. I made a list of all the things that I was looking forward to that involved them. I made a different brochure for my husband. I listed things like taking them to a concert, going for walks on the beach with them and the dog, enjoying a family vacation and being able to do all the things they wanted to do. 3. I took before pictures. This was very hard to do because I always made sure I was the picture taker so that I didn't have to be in the picture. I took pictures with each of my boys and my husband. I have continued to take a picture a month and sometimes more to add to my photo journal of my WL journey. This is different from my writing journal. I'm keeping a scrapbook beginning with the before pictures and also writing my weight, weight loss for the month and all the things that have happened during the month. I look forward to doing this every month. It's amazing how much more I am doing each month. 4. I shopped around for some different protein drinks and tried them. Everybody's tastes are different. I found I did not like many of the ones that others raved about. It's a pretty individual thing. 5. I bought myself one or two things that I would be comfortable in right after surgery. This was part of the pampering process. I was putting myself first and taking special time for me that I didn't typically take. I hope I didn't babble on too much. This has been such a life changing experience for me and I hope it is as positive for you. I had a very easy recovery from surgery and I believe that my frame of mind had alot to do with it. I had open RNY on 12/1, came home on a Thursday and was out Christmas shopping going from store to store on Saturday. By 2 weeks out I was sleeping on my stomach. July 1st was my 7 month anniversary and I am now down 114 pounds. Life is wonderful! Best of luck to you. If you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to e-mail me. [email protected] Carolyn

Hi Carolyn, Thank you so much for all the wonderful suggestions. You did not babble at all. In fact, you have great ideas, and I'm going to steal a few if you don't mind. I already started gathering stuff for a journal, just need to purchase one. I have my list in my head, but need to get it in writing. I have compiled letters to my close friends that I want them to read before I have the surgery to make them understand why I really want to have this surgery! So my journey has begun....well almost.. Thanks again. JA