I have a date!!!!

Hi everyone!!!! Thank you all so much for the wonderful replies and encouragement. I have a tentative date of October 27, 2006. I go Monday, the 16th, for a full day of visits and tests. If all goes well, I will start the liquid diet on the 17th, and have surgery the 27th. I still can not believe this is finally going to happen! I need to read everything again that I have read during this long wait. My husband is also in shock, as I have worked hard over the past 2 years not to obsess about the surgery. I guess I should have talked a bit more, because now he is asking if I "really want to do this". I told him OF COURSE, I have been planning for a long time. I'm pretty sure he will be fine as soon as he digests it all. I can't WAIT to begin my new life. I guess the journey starts NOW!!!!!! Thanks to all again, and please.......point me in the right direction regarding EVERYTHING pre-op. Hugs to all, Dawn

Congratulations Dawn Good luck on your surgery!!!

Thank you SO much Cally! It still feels very un-real. Dawn

CONGRATULATIONS Only a couple of weeks away!!! You must be sooooo excited!!! Bliss...... ~Shan~

Congratulations Dawn! My date is November 7th. Where are you having yours done. I am at St. Lukes. Hopefully I will be able to help you through this, yet learn the ropes as we go.

Dear Kay: Thank you for the good words and thoughts. I will be at the UW--Madison. I have been studying this so long, and I am pretty sure that I am ready. Here we go!!!! Dawn

Congrats on the approval and date! I am so excited for you. I know from reading that BCBS of Ill. is a bugger to get approval from. You must be walking on a cloud right now! I am waiting for approval from my insurance so I haven't been to the losing side yet but wanted to tell you to enjoy the ride! Take care, Cheryl

Dear Cheryl: Thank you! Actually, BCBS was really not that bad. The trick is to give them everything they ask for, (and nothing more or less.....I do not think any of the extra stuff was even read) and get a phone number of ONE person to handle things. I just said a little prayer for your quick and smooth approval. Good Luck! Dawn

Do you have a good support system. I live alone so I think that will make it easier. My friend is coming in to take care of me for a couple days. I am so excited that my time is near. I was a little afraid of the liquid diet, but I have been trying to stay on a high protein diet for the last couple weeks, and will make it. That may be the worst part of it. I have a high tolerace of pain so I hope the surgery will go easy after the first couple days. Do you have any suggestions for foods we can eat during the liquid diet that are good. I recently heard of a soup, Imagine Organic soups that sound good. I have to research where they are. My local Pick N Save has some of the broths, but they also have a lobster and crab bisque that we can have.

Dear Kay: I hope I have a good support system....my husband and kids. I will be going to support meeting more often also. I will start the liquid diet on Tuesday, after seeing the nutritionist. I am not too worried about it, there is actually stuff on there that I have been avoiding for years (like frouit juice). I will also lookinto the Imagine Organics...Lobster & crab bisque???? YUMMY!!!! Thank you, Dawn