Things are moving QUICKLY!!!

Beware...this is long, because I'm SO excited and revved up today! Some (a lot) of you already know all of this, but for Dr A's pre ops, it'll be new for you! *** Ok, so I'm waiting on a call from Lois sometime today to confirm a positive date for Sept 28th. I leave Rhode Island with my five year old son and head out to shop at Westfarms Mall (yes, I drive over an hour to shop!) to go to the "Walking Store" there to buy me my new 85 dollar walking shoes! (I know, I'm crazy!) We walk the mall and have a grand ole time. Timmy loves "Build A Bear Workshop" so, we browsed there for a bit (no new bear today, sister wasn't with us). We head out to Borders books where I buy "Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery"...a fantastic cookbook for early post op and those WAY beyond. They cover it all. I checked it out of the library first, then decided to buy it. From there, we travel to Bristol to visit my mom at the nursing home. She was happy to see us, as she has Alzheimer's Disease (83) and gets kind of lonely there. Seeing my little ones picks her up. :smile: We have to head out right at 2pm to be back in Rhode Island to meet my daughter's school bus (second grade). I'm travelling and listen to my phone messages. Lois had just called. I quickly call her back and I'm speaking to her as I'm travelling on Rte 9, right past their office! It was so strange! She tells me that the 28th is a "GO"! YEAH! But, that the hospital bariatric "class" is today at 4pm and they only have them every other week, and the next one is the day of my surgery. So, I tell her, let me call them and see if it's ok to bring Timmy (he's 5) with me, and if it is, I'll just turn the car right around and go today. I called and they said it was fine...I immediately call my girlfriend and have her meet Anna's bus, I call her school and tell them that it's ok for my neighbor to meet the bus! It all worked out! Lois filled me in on what's to come, calls from the hospital, she's sending me a prescription for the wash that I have to use for three days in a row to cleanse...she's faxing my blood work slip over to the Middlesex lab when we hang up and I'll stop there too on the way and have my blood done.... It's all working out...it's like finely placed dominoes that all fall smoothly and it's too easy! We get to the hospital and the info class was AWESOME! Everyone that's pre-op with Dr Aranow, should really make an attempt to go to this. The nurses explained everything that's about to happen from A to Z from the moment I get to the hospital to the moment I leave. I was impressed...Dr Aranow has really put together some program! They couldn't stress enough how important it is to really start walking now and to really get all the weight loss done (which I have) and how it is MANDATORY that we walk ONE MILE EACH DAY in the hospital...WOWZA...I jokingly said "Will we be like in prison when they mark a "hash mark" on the wall each day they're there, instead we'll be doing it for how many times we've walked around the nurses station?" And she replies, "YES, that's exactly what you do, you mark on the white board each time you walk around!" "Dr Aranow LOVES to see lots of marks!." Yet again, YOWZA Sixteen laps a day is one mile. I'm up for it. I just walked two miles around my neighborhood in my new 85 dollar shoes, which, by the way felt nice, not great, a little blister forming on the back, but better than excrutiating pains running up both of my shins! I'm really surprised at the difference in pre-op requirements from doctor to doctor and hospital to hospital. We have no fasting, no bowel cleanse. I can eat up to midnight the night before and can enjoy a sensible dinner the night before! I've read where people are on liquids for weeks before, have to drink the God awful bowel cleanse stuff, etc, etc. It's ok with me. I'll take it. There was a woman at the class today that's having surgery the same day! At least we'll be walking the halls together. I didn't get her name. If she's on here, write me or answer this and we'll get acquainted. I believe her husband has already had the surgery. This is all too cool. Last week I was laying in bed with the "heebie jeebies" and feeling scared and panicked over all of it. After today, I'm feeling totally at ease and comfortable with my decisions, what's to come, and have complete confidence in Dr Aranow and the staff at the hospital. It seems just like yesterday (it was late April) when I even broached the subject of having this surgery...and it's almost here... I forgot to add...my gallbladder has to come out...they found a polyp on it and he wants it out. Sorry I'm droaning on and on...I'm flying! Good night, all...and thanks SO much for all of your support. :thumbsup" paula

That's fantastic. Glad it all worked out for you. I live over in Groton and I either go up to Buckland Hills or Providence if I really want to go shopping. My parents live up in East Hartford around the corner from Buckland Hills so sometimes I can get some extra alone time if I go up there. I too have noticed the huge difference in what surgeons require. I never had to lose weight pre-op or go through any of this bowl cleanse stuff either. I also didn't have a leak test that I was awake for. My surgeon did the leak test at the end of the surgery while I was still asleep. I think I would have died if I had to drink barium again! I am so thankful that I had an awesome surgeon, I think it makes a huge difference. Your confidence in them really helped to relieve the pre-op jitters. I was insanely calm going into surgery. I was a little scared right before when I had to hop up on the operating table, but I was fearfully calm in the days before hand. I am so thankful for my new life, I just get so excited for all you pre-ops, because I remember what it felt like to feel fat and hopeless. I really felt like I wanted to or was going to die before I had surgery. I felt so hopeless and lifeless. I thought so little of myself, and thought everyone felt the same way about me. Now I feel like I can finally live life and that people don't look at me and see this huge fat, lazy slob. Now I've rambled on.......LOL The whole point is I'm happy for you!

Erin, Just checked out your profile! You are SO thin! You look beautiful! You are SO toned too. Did you have any extra sking at all or PS? Good for you, and keep up the good work! Thanks for the nice reply. paula

No I haven't had any plastics yet. I do have a lot of skin on my stomach and arms but you can't really tell when I'm in clothes most of the time. I am hoping to have a TT in the next year or so. We'll see.

HI Paula, I'm feeling your energy , and am equally excited and happy for you. Thanks also for all the detail about what to expect when I do get a date. I guess I better get me a pair of $85 Westfarms Walking shoes -- 16 laps huh? I guess I'd better get my feet and knees in gear. I just joined a fitness center this afternoon, so I am putting together a schedule for when and how I will use their services. I wish you the very best, and look forward to future exciting news from you. Ken P.

Damn girlfirend you GO!!!! I can't believe all the driving around- to Westfarms, to Bristol, to the class, back home....HOW DO YOU DO IT? AND what in God's name will you be like when you aren't carting all that excess "adipose tissue" around???? You will be like a hummingbird!!! I live near Buckland too- I am always up for a midday jaunt- I get my Kindy son on his bus at 11:30 and am down to just the 3 year old til 3pm. GOOD LUCK with everything- I know I was thrilled when Dr. A said there was no bowel prep- he said to me "I am working on your stomach not your large intestine...." I was like "Good point! I like this attitude!!!" WOWEEEE tick tock tick tock- not much longer!!!!!!! YIPEEEEEEE Oh I can't wait til I am in your shoes (I prefer the $85 ones if thats okay..LOL)

Paula~ I'm so happy that everything fell into place the way it did for you yesterday. Congratulations, Stacey

Hey Paula, Congratulations to you sweetie, thats great news. Your in my thoughts and prayers, I know you will do great. Take care and god bless to you and your family too. Hugs KimC

Good Going Girl! The Very Best of Luck! Julio