Yay!

I lost 9 pounds in 8 days. Who knew? I was terrified of getting on the scale and having gained weight from eating cheese and steak and stuff. Though I've been eating my rabbit's share of salads, too. And I walked a mile on the treadmill today, too! Okay, I do also have a question: Has anyone in NOVA recently had an endoscopy? For whatever reason, my surgeon is requiring me to do this before surgery. However, I made some calls today, and apparently one place you can't even get in for that until JUNE. Did anyone have a gastroenterologist that got you in quick and did the test within a few days? I thought I had crossed all the major hurdles, but here comes another one. Maybe I'm going to end up having to push my surgery date back after all. I wish I could just have an upper GI like normal folks.

Yeah!! I have been bragging on you a little today for your weightloss, it is AWESOME!! I am so proud of you for taking control of your life and getting it back. All this trouble, I want you to remember all of this in a year, and see how far you have come...... Did you call Dr M's office to see if the upper GI would be ok? And for an explination on why they want the endoscopy? You need to ask these questions to him...... Let me know (And I know you will!!) if I can do anything for you, I am here for you always Dianna

I called, but did not ask about the upper GI VS the EGD. I did ask them if they were SURE I needed the EGD, and Anita (?) said yes, they're sure. And according to Kathy, Dr. M. requires it of everyone. So I guess that's yes and yes. Again, muchos gracias for driving me around all over the place. I'll think of a way to pay it all back when it's all said and done. Maybe take all the kids off your hands for a weekend so you and Cleve can do something alone together?

Hey Baby Girl...that is awesome .. I know you are are going to do great .. as to the endoscopy .. your surgeon should help you get scheduled for this .. and tell them up front you want this to happen NOW .. No negitive thoughts on any of this .. go into everything with the power of the positive word .. you will get your endoscopy soon and you will get your surgery date . I am a firm believer in what you speak happens .. so positive - positive .. I am very proud of you .. this is merely one of many triumphs you will have along this journey . Keep me posted .. Hugs, Nat

Thanks, Natalie! I'm a little leery of having my surgeon's office set up the appt, because my insurance doesn't cover the surgery in the first place. (though here's something weird, Pam at the office said she'd submit the initial consult to my insurance, and so far all I've been charged for is the $20 specialist's copay, maybe I'll get the sticker-shock insurance bill in the mail sometime down the line) Anyhow, I think that if I set up the appointment at the specialist, my PCP will refer me to whoever I set the appointment up with. I am hoping, hoping I can get this done the beginning of next week. So I will definitely try to be positive. Hope your daughter gets better every day. -Julie

I think Dr. M requires endoscopies these days rather than upper the GI. And endo will show ulcers and structure better than an upper GI. I've had two endoscopies. Both were through Dr. Leonard Fischer's office. He is a gastroenterologist. And both were performed at Fair Oaks. Congrats on your weight loss! If you are eating high protein and low carb - weight will come off eating cheese and steak. I lost 32 lbs in the 3 months prior to my surgery. Good luck to you! Kathy

Thanks, Kathy! I think I have a call into his office already, to someone named April? Or something like that. I had to leave a voicemail, she was not there. And I guess she's like a coordinator for surgery patients, because the receptionist asked me if I was having surgery. Also, he participates with my insurance, which is great! Now, if I can get in there before my preop appointment, I'll be good to go. I also found a whole list of other ones on my insurance's website, so if I can't go there, I'll call every last one until I find one I CAN go to.

They should be able to work with you. My guess is that even if you don't have the EGD completed before your preop appointment - as long as it is scheduled shortly thereafter you should be fine. Dr. M will work with ya. Dr. Fischer is very nice and the folks in the endoscopy suite at Fair Oaks are very cool. They treated me so nicely. I had an afternoon appointment and wasn't allowed to eat because of the test and anesthesia (it is quick and light by the way). Well, my blood sugar doesn't like skipped meals so I was running a bit low. The test itself is very, very fast.... 5-10 minutes but you are out cold anyway. They told me that right after the test I could have and I told them it's sugar - dumping syndrome. Then they suggest graham crackers and I said I think there is sugar in those. So, they asked what i would normally eat to get my sugar up and I told them protein along with some carbs. The guy got me peanut butter from the staff lounge to go along with the saltines they had. He brought it to be immediately in recovery along with napkins and a plastic knife. Very sweet! If you don't hear from Dr. Fischer's office Monday morning...call again! Good luck! Kathy

Wow, Girlfriend, 9 pounds in 8 days????? You are going to rock after this surgery...like Dianna said, next year look back and see how far you have gone. I can't wait for you to have the surgery...awesome. Hugs, Betsy

Thanks, Betsy! Neither can I! Speaking of rocking at this surgery, you're doing a whole lot of that yourself! Keep it up.