I'm back

I'm back from my audio theatre conference in Missouri. This time fourteen days from now I'll be at Nanticoke for surgery. Our house is torn up (we're moving our bedroom downstairs and we're renovating -- new carpeting, paint, new windows coming, etc -- my office space as well) so there's been little time to rest since I returned Sunday evening. Somehow, I seem very unready. My husband and I met with our attorney to update our wills (mine hasn't been updated since I left the USAF in 1980) and I seem to be getting further and further behind. I find myself fighting my emotions but I know I have no choice. What is most frustrating is that I seem to be gaining weight! My PCP put me on diuretics, potassium and maginese in hope of reducing my fluid retention. Yes, it's going to be an interesting two weeks. So, do I have a question? No, I don't think so. I'm just kind of out there right now. . . and glad to shift my focus back to this surgery. Thanks for listening, Diane Cook

Hi Diane, Good to hear from you! yea your day is coming, and you will do just fine. Take deep breaths, maybe make a to do list, it sounds like you have alot of other things going on, so hang in there you will do fine. You are in my thoughts and prayers. HUGS Dana

Hey Diane, Don't forget to check with your surgeon about the diuretics, just to be one the safe side. Hang in there, the emotions are absolutely normal! T

Yeah, it was my surgeon *****commended the diruetics, but wanted me to go through my PCP since I had an appointment scheduled. I've also called my surgeon's office and told them what I was on. Dr. Miller (my surgeon) said if I didn't get the fluid reduced, my legs would swell a lot . . . so yeah . . . I'm never too far from a bathroom these days.

Welcome home

Hi Diane, I am right behind you with a surgery date of July 1, so maybe I'll see you in the hosptial. I am a little emotional right now also. I haven't done the will thing. Your time should fly by, especially with all the work you have ahead of you. Good Luck. ~Shelly

My emotions have settled down a little, but I'm sure they will arise to the occasion again. I'll look forward to seeing you at Nanticoke . . . as much as we can look forward to anything on the other side of this life-changing event. I had my pre-op visit at Nanticoke on June 1. While I was waiting to see the anesthesiologist, Dr. Miller was walking down the hall towards surgery with two nurses behind him. They were in scrubs obviously heading towards OR. He saw me sitting there and waved as he was walking by. I think that's when the reality started setting in. Up to this point, I think I've harboured the notion that this isn't really going to happen, that this final chance at returning to a "normal" or liveable weight will somehow be snatched away. Now I'm beginning to accept the idea that it's really going to happen and that positive change is in the wind. My drama team and I performed at Delaware Correctional Center last night. We stopped at Betsy Ross Pizza for a late dinner. I asked my team members if they were ready to hit the deck running by fall since I expect to be operating at a much higher energy level. They groaned, saying they were having trouble keeping up with me now! But I'm looking forward to higher energy among many other perks that come with this weight loss. I really didn't want to go to my conference in Missouri last week because of all that needed to be done here, but I've since discovered that getting away was a good thing. That said, the next eleven days are going to be, hmmmmm, interesting to say the least. Our new carpet is expected to arrive Wednesday and my youngest (22 yrs old) son wants to have our downstairs bathroom redone before I get back from the hospital. We also have a gazillion other things to do before all is said and done. I'm also trying to put together some meal plans that will work. I'm not planning on red meat for a while because of the feedback we've gotten to date. So, of course, I'm trying to use up all the red meat in the freezer now. Except, I haven't been able to cook all week because I haven't been able to get into my kitchen. But, I think I'm rambling. So, Shelly, how upside down is your life during these last food days? Diane I suppose I'll see you in Seaford!