I'm back!

Hi people!
I'm back from the meeting with the team. Here are a few tibits (I'll write more later because I am kinda tired)

- My surgery will be end of July/beginning of August
- Dr. S pushed me back a month because I am a part time smoker so I have to stop smoking, I only smoke about 5 cigarettes a day so I'll just stop. He is on vacation the first 3 three weeks of July, which is why I was pushed to last week of July first week of August. They are supposed to call me and schedule me soon with my actual date and apt for pre-opt (which I will do in moncton) since he didn't have his schedule handy, but I will be called by the booking people.
- I met with the dietician and his nurse and the Dr
- I will be off for two weeks
- I got my prescription for the shakes (Diabectic Boost which is covered by insurance)
- I signed my consent papers
- I sleep one night at the hospital and I am released in the early morning next day
- We went over the band rules, I received the band books, and I got weighted.
- I had a great talk with the dietcian about meal ideas, etc
- The nurse was very nice and honest about how the band is not a magic wand

Overall, I stayed from 12:30-3:00 so it was a long day. I saw Amary too and her beautiful daughter!

I'm happy with the end of July because it will give me more time to practice the band rules. I have already begun chewing 20 times each bite and not drinking with meals. I also need to prepare a meal schedule for myself and my DH.

I"m happy.

Thanks for all the info. sounds like everything went well. I am happy your wls is now one more step further.


Talk to you soon Stephanie

That is awesome news to hear and thank goodness the Diabetic boost if covered by insurance my insurance through work covers 80% so that is not so bad.  Wow you are that much closer to the losers bench...I bet there is alot of reading material that was given to you.  When you had your meeting I take it for the whole time it was just you with the team they didn't have like a info session with a few patients?  Did the doctor say that if you were not a smoker at all that you would have been done sooner?  I am soo happy for you things are going really fast now.  I can't wait to get my first consult under my belt.

Hugs Beth

Well what a great incentive to quit smoking, huh??  5/day is nothing.  You'll be a non-smoker in no time.

So you'll spend one night, have the surgery in the morning, and be released that same morning?

End of July/August isn't that far off.  That should be about when I get in to see them for the 2nd consult (hope!).

Do you have any idea how much the Diabetic Boost costs?  I work at a non-profit and it will not be covered for me period....

I'm glad you're happy.  I'm happy you're happy.  :D

I did the diabetic boost during my 2 week liquids. I think it cost about 9 to 13 dollars for a pack of 6 I found it on sale quite often ust need to look around at different stores when the time comes. Good luck

 

 

I’m not a big smoker ever since I’ve been diagnosed with asthma about 2 years back. We don’t smoke in our house and at work I barely smoke because well, I’m always working. It’s just a nagging habit I smoke every once and awhile but I have never been a pack a day smoker, ever. I understand he wants me to quit, and I definitely will for my own well being. Awhile back my doctor prescribed me Chantix but I don’t smoke enough to take that or the patch. I think I’ll be fine. I’m a very hard headed individual so it takes more than that to stop me from doing something.

 

Yeah, you spend one night and according to the nurse (who is very serious and really stresses how the band is not a magic wand, but she is super nice), he will release me very early the next morning (if I have no complications of course!) so it’s probably best your drive home sleeps in Bathurst cause you could be released very early and you can’t drive yourself home. Once I get my actual date, I will book a room at the Pavilion for my mom, who will be with me.

 

Concerning the Diabetic Boost, I’ll keep you updated because I need to call the pharmacy. I’m not even sure if it is covered by insurance. I assumed because it is a prescription and says “diabetic" in front of the bottle, but I mean I could be completely wrong. I am going to call later on today and let you know.  I’ll also ask how much it is without insurance.

 

I believe I would have been in June is it wasn’t for my 5 smoke a day habit. I mean I’m an honest person so when they asked yesterday if I smoked, I told them the honest truth. I bet some patients lie about it, but I think to prevent complications its best you stay honest in this journey and I’m a honest person by nature so yeah, I don’t smoke a pack a day, but I do smoke a few smokes a day.

 

Right now, I’m still practicing my non- eating and drinking thing, it’s going pretty good but it’s SO hard. I try to chew my bites 20 times but it seems after about 10 times there’s nothing left to chew and it goes down by itself so I really have a lot of practice ahead of me so I’m grateful for the extra time.

 

I have stopped drinking soda (I wasn’t a big drinker anyway so it doesn’t change my life) and switched to diet ice tea but I am mostly drinking water, which is what I was recommended yesterday anyway. I hate juice and I’m lactose intolerant so really water and coffee are my only two options.

 

I am trying to get prepared as much as I possibly can before the surgery so really the extra time is not a curse but more a blessing.

 

They weighted me and I was the exact same as when I saw Dr. S in October so I mean at least I didn’t gain a hundred pounds. I’m hoping I can lose at least 15 pounds by myself before I start the liquids. They estimate I’ll lose about 15 pounds on the liquids so if I can be down 30 before surgery I would be super happy and have such a great head start on the journey!

 

I was also told to star****ching my portion because that’s a big problem of mine, to eat 5 plates of food in one sitting so tonight I’m going to stop at the dollar store and pick up some baby plates, spoons and forks and begin practicing this.

 

I got to see the band for the first time yesterday, boy was it small! I was anticipating this big thing and it was so tiny and cute! lol

 

As far as booklets and such, yesterday I got my green Bathurst hospital card, some lapband booklets, and I believe the dietician forgot to give me the meal plan, but I’m not to worried cause I’ll just ask for one when I go in surgery. PLUS my friend is seeing Dr. B on June 17^th so she will bring me some papers from his office. The way I see it, the more literature, the better!

 

Hi Scartears, sounds to me like you have it all under control , good for you . Good luck on your challenges.  You can do it . Its really good to know when you are going for the surgery & getting properly prepared...