The time for the scope is finally here. I have to say, I'm very scared. The idea of something covering my mouth, not being able to breath scares the hell out of me.
Tim took the day off, you have to have someone drive you since you are under for the procedure. We got to the hospital at 7am for the prep. It was seriously an hour and a half of answering questions. The same questions that I had filled out on the paper work that I had to bring with me and turn in. I'm not sure why I had to spend all of that time filling out all of those forms, if I was going to have to answer all of the same questions, with a nurse with no sense of humor and an even smaller sense of patience!!!!
When she went to put the IV in me, I'm not sure if its because my sister and Tim were in there and she was nervous, or what but it took three tries. In the end, she "hoped" it was in, it only had to be there for about 30 minutes. THAT did not make me feel good.... well, lets hope it works....WHAT!!! I'm praying I don't have the same one for my actual surgery.
I finally got wheeled into the room, and hooked up to some sleepy time meds :) They put in a teeth guard so I wouldn't bite the scope. I think at that point I was pretty out of it, and started signing to the nurses. Obviously they had no idea what I was saying, even if they did, and signed back, I highly doubt I would have understood what they were saying. I remember Dr. Hachem coming in and seeing how I was doing.
I woke up with one of my cousins looking down at me. I had forgotten she was a recovery nurse. They said my throat would hurt, but since I had a sore throat going in, there was no difference. I was there for about half an hour, and then wheeled back to my room where Tim was waiting.
The nurse came in and told me I could leave after I ate, which I had to wait till I could feel my throat all the way down before I could eat. So, eventually she came back in to get my "order". I was so excited... I ordered eggs, and toast and apple juice. MMMMMM so hungry. She then got a smile on her face and told me that they don't have anything warm on the floor. oh :( OK.. um, raisin bran and milk please. Dammit.
I ate, got everything down, kept it down and was sent home. Went home and slept for a bit. Then got up and dressed, and left. It was chessas 18th birthday and we were heading to hooters and then to play putt putt and drive go carts. It was a very productive and tiring day.
I feel a little bad that I infringed on chessas birthday, but I think she is as excited for this to go through as I am. She keeps saying how excited she will be to dress me, and to share clothes. I cant wait, that is a bond with my sisters that I have never had before, and I think its long past due!
Until next time...... liquid diet. YUM
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The First Appointment
June 11th
We woke up really crazy early. Being told not to eat after midnight the day before, of course I was STARVING and really nervous. The people at IWLC told me some of the tests today were going to be not so pleasant.
First, we meet with Pam. She has been my savior through all of this. Every time I had to apply to insurance, she is who did the dirty work for me!!
We have to take the dreaded "before Pic"!! EWWW Then we sit down and go through everything that needs to be done. Looking back, I don't remember a lot of what was said through that meeting, I think I was so tired and hungry, I just agreed to everything. I remember at one point, talking about a liver biopsy... and getting light headed.
After that, on to Jeniffer, the dietitian. We discussed my diet before and right after the surgery. Congratulations... 2 weeks of liquid diet before, and 2 weeks after, then slowly adding blended foods and baby food..yum.
From there, onto the lab work, blood is drawn, and now we wait. and wait... and wait..
Finally we get taken to xray. The girls that worked in there, I suppose Nurse was their title, though I'm not sure, they were basically there to do a job. Not overly friendly, but not rude.
However, the technician, wow. Broke the mold with that one! He basically ignored me unless he was telling me to do something different. Without telling me what would happen, or what it was, he had me drink a mix that would inflate my stomach, and after the fact, told me I couldn't burp to release the gas. Then, had to drink barium.. which I found out later can be flavored so it doesn't taste soooo awful. But, I wasn't given that option. I did the standing xrays, then had to lay on the table for the ones laying down. He lowered the machine down onto me, then told me to turn over several times. When my hip hit the machine he lowered, he sighed, looked at me, then raised it up, as if to say... god, what a fat ass. It was a great experience.
Now, getting dressed, onto the Blood Gasses O2 check. They warned me this would hurt.... yea. I suppose not having water since 9 the night before and it now being 1pm the next day.. I was a bit dehydrated. It took 4 people several tries to get into an artery. My left wrist was pretty much shot by the time that was done. I had to lay down so I wouldn't pass out.
Next, the breathing test. I sit in a small box, that looks like a clear, upright coffin. I have to have my nose plugged and breath out and in as hard as I can 5 times. Then do a breathing treatment. During this treatment, the doc administering it says he forgot to tell me something. If I have the urge to pee my pants, pass out, or throw up, tell him, as they are all common for this test. WHAT!!! So, now done with my breathing treatment, I have to do the 5 deep in and out breaths again... and I'm convinced I'm going to pee my pants, throw up and then pass out, just cause he told me about it.
Next was the heart guy. Very very very nice guy. I had to lay on a table on my side, and then the middle of the table drops out, and basically he takes a sonogram of your heart. I have seen hearts before, with the classes that I have done, however, I have never seen my own. It was pretty interesting.
Time to get dressed, its now 3:30 and I CAN EAT!!!!! Off to Pusan we go for bulgogi!! I'm pretty sure it was the best thing I have ever eaten!!! I don't remember much of the drive home, or the rest of the day. I think I slept till the next morning. Overall, not a horrible day.. just, mildly so!!
Next, July 10th, the EGD scope. Cant wait!
We woke up really crazy early. Being told not to eat after midnight the day before, of course I was STARVING and really nervous. The people at IWLC told me some of the tests today were going to be not so pleasant.
First, we meet with Pam. She has been my savior through all of this. Every time I had to apply to insurance, she is who did the dirty work for me!!
We have to take the dreaded "before Pic"!! EWWW Then we sit down and go through everything that needs to be done. Looking back, I don't remember a lot of what was said through that meeting, I think I was so tired and hungry, I just agreed to everything. I remember at one point, talking about a liver biopsy... and getting light headed.
After that, on to Jeniffer, the dietitian. We discussed my diet before and right after the surgery. Congratulations... 2 weeks of liquid diet before, and 2 weeks after, then slowly adding blended foods and baby food..yum.
From there, onto the lab work, blood is drawn, and now we wait. and wait... and wait..
Finally we get taken to xray. The girls that worked in there, I suppose Nurse was their title, though I'm not sure, they were basically there to do a job. Not overly friendly, but not rude.
However, the technician, wow. Broke the mold with that one! He basically ignored me unless he was telling me to do something different. Without telling me what would happen, or what it was, he had me drink a mix that would inflate my stomach, and after the fact, told me I couldn't burp to release the gas. Then, had to drink barium.. which I found out later can be flavored so it doesn't taste soooo awful. But, I wasn't given that option. I did the standing xrays, then had to lay on the table for the ones laying down. He lowered the machine down onto me, then told me to turn over several times. When my hip hit the machine he lowered, he sighed, looked at me, then raised it up, as if to say... god, what a fat ass. It was a great experience.
Now, getting dressed, onto the Blood Gasses O2 check. They warned me this would hurt.... yea. I suppose not having water since 9 the night before and it now being 1pm the next day.. I was a bit dehydrated. It took 4 people several tries to get into an artery. My left wrist was pretty much shot by the time that was done. I had to lay down so I wouldn't pass out.
Next, the breathing test. I sit in a small box, that looks like a clear, upright coffin. I have to have my nose plugged and breath out and in as hard as I can 5 times. Then do a breathing treatment. During this treatment, the doc administering it says he forgot to tell me something. If I have the urge to pee my pants, pass out, or throw up, tell him, as they are all common for this test. WHAT!!! So, now done with my breathing treatment, I have to do the 5 deep in and out breaths again... and I'm convinced I'm going to pee my pants, throw up and then pass out, just cause he told me about it.
Next was the heart guy. Very very very nice guy. I had to lay on a table on my side, and then the middle of the table drops out, and basically he takes a sonogram of your heart. I have seen hearts before, with the classes that I have done, however, I have never seen my own. It was pretty interesting.
Time to get dressed, its now 3:30 and I CAN EAT!!!!! Off to Pusan we go for bulgogi!! I'm pretty sure it was the best thing I have ever eaten!!! I don't remember much of the drive home, or the rest of the day. I think I slept till the next morning. Overall, not a horrible day.. just, mildly so!!
Next, July 10th, the EGD scope. Cant wait!
It Starts Here
Since I was 16 I have been trying to obtain the bypass surgery. I realize in the ten years that has passed, I could have lost the weight on my own, but, obviously that hasn't happened.
In July, exactly one year ago today, the 28th, Tim got a job with US Cellular. We didn't realize it then, but their insurance picked up the surgery. We had missed the deadline to add me, so we had to wait till December. I was frustrated, but, I had waited this long!!
January came, and went, and I was now a "domestic partner" with Tim. I was so excited to apply for the surgery, and when it came back denied, I was pretty heart broken. I had done 8 months of weight watchers prior, I knew that most insurances required at least six. Apparently, they forgot to add 6 months of a physicians supervised exercise routine as well. I worked around that, remembering all the things we had done, and created one.
So, time to reapply! And wait two more weeks for the response....
Denied....
Time for the Psych exam! I went the day that I got the flu. I almost felt bad, but the doctor was less than what I expected, so I didn't mind exposing him. Never once did he look at me, my answers were honest, but anyone could have lied through it, as easy as it was to see what they were looking to hear. To make it worse, everything I said he had to type up, and he typed using his pointer fingers. The fact that he came to get me 15 minutes late, and let me go ten minutes early, meant that we had to have two sessions. Yippee! The second visit wasn't as bad, meaning I didn't have to excuse myself to go throw up. With that done, I had to fax over the results to the hospital...
Sane! Imagine that!
Still denied.
Time to meet with Jeniffer, the dietitian. We spent most of the time talking about her kids, our hobbies... things we enjoyed. I knew everything we were suppose to go over.
Next came the gym... I had to join a gym, to show I knew how to use exercise equipment. $150 later.. yes, I know how to use a leg press. Thank goodness for that requirement! Time to reapply...
Denied...dammit! Apparently I don't know how to change my lifestyle. WHAT!!!
IWLC told me to write a letter to the insurance. A letter telling about all the changes I had made, my diet, my activities.... Also, outlining my goals, my hopes. 15 pages later....
Mom was also suppose to write one. This was a hard one for me. Her letter consisted of how I had struggled all my life. How at 8, I was put into a weight loss class for fat kids. How she knew I was successful in my life, but I would never see myself that way unless I lost the weight. Bitter pill to swallow, but she is right.
Tim had to write one as well. His was more what I expected!!! All about how he was ashamed of the insurance, claiming to cover something, then jerking people around. How we took their insurance because they seemed respectable.....
Time to apply again...
APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED
I guess they felt sorry for the little fat girl :D What ever it was that did it, I'm thankful to my mom and Tim, for being willing to step up and help out.
Where to go from here......
A phone call from IWLC, come to the hospital on June 11th for your first meeting...
Until then.....
In July, exactly one year ago today, the 28th, Tim got a job with US Cellular. We didn't realize it then, but their insurance picked up the surgery. We had missed the deadline to add me, so we had to wait till December. I was frustrated, but, I had waited this long!!
January came, and went, and I was now a "domestic partner" with Tim. I was so excited to apply for the surgery, and when it came back denied, I was pretty heart broken. I had done 8 months of weight watchers prior, I knew that most insurances required at least six. Apparently, they forgot to add 6 months of a physicians supervised exercise routine as well. I worked around that, remembering all the things we had done, and created one.
So, time to reapply! And wait two more weeks for the response....
Denied....
Time for the Psych exam! I went the day that I got the flu. I almost felt bad, but the doctor was less than what I expected, so I didn't mind exposing him. Never once did he look at me, my answers were honest, but anyone could have lied through it, as easy as it was to see what they were looking to hear. To make it worse, everything I said he had to type up, and he typed using his pointer fingers. The fact that he came to get me 15 minutes late, and let me go ten minutes early, meant that we had to have two sessions. Yippee! The second visit wasn't as bad, meaning I didn't have to excuse myself to go throw up. With that done, I had to fax over the results to the hospital...
Sane! Imagine that!
Still denied.
Time to meet with Jeniffer, the dietitian. We spent most of the time talking about her kids, our hobbies... things we enjoyed. I knew everything we were suppose to go over.
Next came the gym... I had to join a gym, to show I knew how to use exercise equipment. $150 later.. yes, I know how to use a leg press. Thank goodness for that requirement! Time to reapply...
Denied...dammit! Apparently I don't know how to change my lifestyle. WHAT!!!
IWLC told me to write a letter to the insurance. A letter telling about all the changes I had made, my diet, my activities.... Also, outlining my goals, my hopes. 15 pages later....
Mom was also suppose to write one. This was a hard one for me. Her letter consisted of how I had struggled all my life. How at 8, I was put into a weight loss class for fat kids. How she knew I was successful in my life, but I would never see myself that way unless I lost the weight. Bitter pill to swallow, but she is right.
Tim had to write one as well. His was more what I expected!!! All about how he was ashamed of the insurance, claiming to cover something, then jerking people around. How we took their insurance because they seemed respectable.....
Time to apply again...
APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED
I guess they felt sorry for the little fat girl :D What ever it was that did it, I'm thankful to my mom and Tim, for being willing to step up and help out.
Where to go from here......
A phone call from IWLC, come to the hospital on June 11th for your first meeting...
Until then.....
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