PATS getting excitted and nervous

Getting ready to go to Philly tonight to stay with some family and going to my PATS APPT Wednesday at 745 am in the morning!!! uuggghhh that is soo early.. As for today just getting ready to leave around 3pm to get on the road to travel to philly spend the night with family. I am soo nervous about my appt because I weighed myself the other day and well I gained weight since my last consult appt I had back in december. I had gained weight and well I am on a diet and lost a few pounds however, not to what I weighed at my consult..it was because of quitting smoking I gained a few pounds because I would go on eating binges....uuggghhh and i am not longer on my blood pressure meds either and I am praying to god that my blood pressure is not high tomorrow. What happens if it is high at your appt?

Denise,

Here's an idea... take a food log with you to PATS (if you have one... if not, start one!).  You'll be meeting with a nutritionist as part of the process and she will be able to help you figure out some of your trigger foods and a plan to prep for the next few weeks for surgery.

Frankly, the fact that you've quit smoking is a BIG YAY!!!  That will hopefully count for more than losing a few pounds!  That sets you up for greater success in the long term, and for a much longer and happier/healthier life.  Good for you!  I'd be very honest with them that quitting set you up for some eating binges... seems like a very common reaction to quitting an addiction.

Good luck with PATS!!!  let us know how you did, too!

Karen

I'm not sure about the weight gain because you DID stop smoking.  And it's not just the eating binges, trust me, quitting smoking lowers your metabolism (slows it down) and so it is part biological (the weight gain).  Not an excuse to binge eat (I'm the president of Binge Addict club so no offense met) but keep in mind and don't be too hard on  yourself.  Quitting smoking is a HUGE accomplishment.

As far as the BP, don't know but think they would want you to have a consistent BP that is not high as that puts you at risk during surgery.  They will be able to tell you tomorrow so I know it's hard but hang in there!  It's all a wild ride.  Biggest thing you can do to help yourself is to relax, breathe and to do your breathing slowly and looonnngggg breaths.  Will lower your BP and relax you.

Hang in there!!  We're rooting for you!!

Regards,
Keri

Hi Denise - SOOO Excited for you!  7:45 is early but think, then you will know! :)  As for the blood pressure - mine was up so the internist prescribed medication for me to take - I then saw my general practitioner about three weeks after the surgery and we were able to cut the meds in half!  I go back to him this week and hopefully will be off of them for good!  The pressure should not be a problem.

I don't know where in Philly you will be but I will be at the Neshaminy Mall's Barnes & Noble tonight from about 5-8 if you would like to stop by and get a great big hug!

If you can't make it - good luck tomorrow and have fun!  I can't wait to hear all about it!  (Oh - and WAHOOOO on quitting smoking!!!!  What an amazing transformation already! :))

Thanks Stef! and Everyone I am excited about it and cannot wait to find out my results!!! You think I will know tomorrow? I have no idea if I will make it to the Mall though because we are leaving at 4pm about there and it takes 3 hours to get down there..so I might just be arriving around 8pm...But hey Thanks for the luck and I am sure that I will take my deep breathes while i am there..

You almost sound like you're going into PATs tomorrow like you're facing a driver's test or an english or math test or something. You will only 'fail' if you haven't followed you doctor's orders, and if you haven't done what they feel is needed at this point I image they will give you additional guidelines to follow between PATs and surgery in order to be as healthy as possible going into surgery.

My blood pressure is always high at doctor's appts - for me its a nervous condition - 'white coat syndrome' or something like that, but if its high when you first get there they can take it again later when you've had a chance to calm down and not be as nervous.

The bigger problem will most likely be the weight gain if you've had one, and then they will probably require some sort of liquid diet prior to surgery to take off some weight - the bigger issue will be to not gain weight between PATs and surgery, because if you do that they will NOT do surgery the day you are scheduled if you go in on your surgery date weighing more than tomorrow.