Yay me, staying on top of this blogging thing! hehe
So yesterday afternoon I had my first 30 minute session with the fitness trainer at work. I'm not gonna lie - I was scared to death going in! It wasn't bad. It was a good, hard workout but I was able to do everything, I just had to set my mind to it. She was encouraging - I had expected I guess for her to yell or something LOL- maybe I watch too much "Biggest Loser' and "Heavy"
I am going back each Friday until the week before my surgery. In addition, I'll also be working the plans she gave me at night after work. I want to do my part to be healthy and ready for surgery.
My sister's friend brought me SEVEN bags of clothes yesterday. I am going to go buy a couple of tote bins so my mom and I can go through them and seperate what I won't wear. No point taking those home, just send them on to the church mission sale. I still have to do my errands from yesterday as well (R and the boys came over so I stayed with them). THAT means I have to leave Rio with my parents who are now napping. I just can't get a routine.
He is doing pretty well. This pic is from Thursday night, his surgery was Wednesday. The swelling and most of the bruising are gone now.
I am so glad I am here writing consistently LOL.
Ok... I have been approved for my RNY gastric bypass surgery and I am scheduled for August 16.... 4 days before my 39th birthday. Hmm. I have a 6 day clear liquid diet (protein shake for bfast, lunch and dinner and all the water, crystal lite, G2 and broth I can stand wahoooo) before surgery - it starts 8/10. I see Dr. R on 8/2 and have various other appts throughout until surgery day (pre op education, pre-surg registration and visit with anesthesia, pre-surg consult with Dr Friedman). I am mostly excited at this point. Dr. F's nurse assures me the anxiety will be taken care of. In fact they called in a scrip for xanax for me to start taking 8/2 twice a day and I haven't gone to get it yet - I think it has been a week. OOPS
I also have to take my FMLA paperwork because I have to have it back within 15 days.
But I can't just go charging out the door to get it - Rio had his TPLO surgery on his right knee yesterday. I was able to get him this morning (and that clinic reminded me how much I love my vet). He has to have assistance (sling) to get around but he didn't get that memo - I am constantly having to make him lay back down. He does not stay well when I leave even when I tied him to my dad's chair. I went to the vet and got him some sedatives because I have tons of stuff coming up over the next couple of weeks, not counting work!
The ortho surgeon called yesterday to let me know Rio did ok through the surgery and he also told me that he believes I will have to be back in the fall to get Rio's left knee done. I don't know if I can do this again - maybe I should get sedatives for ME!!!
I have been working out very regularly, following the plan the trainer made for me. I don't think I have lost any weight, but maybe inches? *shrug* at any rate, last night I was restless and I stretched / tightened my leg and I thought I was going to pass out... I felt a muscle in my thigh!!! (the top, not the back where all the flab is :) ).
I need to write down my to do list for tomorrow! It is growing!
I see Jim at 11, have to go back to the vet surgery center (they forgot to fill out my insurance stuff), go to Baptist to drop off the FMLA and pick up my scrip on the way back. Also at 2 I have a "personal trainer" session in the gym and I feel pretty sure I will be in traction along with Rio afterwards!
Tuesday July 5, I went to see the fitness trainer at work. I wanted to get measurements and such before my surgery (probably early August). I told her I was so humiliated to have someone see my size in inches - but turns out she used to work at a resort type place that did adult weight loss programs for super morbidly obese (in fact, where the show "Heavy" is filmed). She also came up with a custom workout plan for me and emailed it to me on Wednesday. She sent 3 different routines for 3 days a week for 3 weeks, then I will go back for more measurements. I did the 1st circuit Wednesday night and it was great! Hard, but doable. I left drenched in sweat but very happy with my effort - it was the perfect combination of pushing myself and being able to go the distance.
Wednesday morning I saw the nutritionist for my final visit of 6. Now Dr. Friedman's office will send in my info to the insurance and see if I get approved. Once I have approval it will be a quick turn around to scheduling pre-op education class (a 2hr Monday evening) and then scheduling the surgery. I am hoping for around Aug 8-9 so that my sister will be off work and can stay at the hospital at least the very first night with me. Also, my counselor J will be out of town the end of July - 2nd of August and I want him to be in town in case I have a panic attack in my hospital room.
Anyway, these were my "stats" from the trainer Tuesday:
Weight 316.3
% Body fat - 55.10% (ugh )
Measurements:
Waist - 47.75
Bicep - 21
Chest - 52.5
Hip - 60 (baby got back... and back... and more back)
Thigh - 35 (she measured way different than I thought, my upper thighs are def bigger than that)
Calf - 22.5 (you notice my upper arm is almost as big as my calf? I'm thinking there will be need for PS there)
I'm not getting upset or down on myself for the measurements - I am working too hard to fix them so there is no point in getting all worked up. They do reaffirm my need for help, though.
Since I have fallen behind here, I will just copy / paste from my OH blog :)
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June 25
Last night I was thinking about surgery and about how I had an anxiety attack waking up from my wisdom teeth surgery. I was thinking (worrying) about being "tied down' by IV tubes and compression socks, etc. About going sooo long without anything to drink and how that dry scratchy throat triggers panic attacks for me.... and right there last night I had horrible anxiety. I had to get up after a while and take some meds because it was like there was electricity all under my skin.
If I freak out just THINKING about those things, what is going to happen when they are reality?
I have told my surgeon's nurse about my anxiety, but I just don't know how to impress on them how much of a problem it can really be. I see my PCP but not until Aug 2 so I don't know if that will be time for him to help me through it or not. My counselor will be in town and available, but that isn't going to do me much good in recovery. *sigh* I am afraid. Not of pain (not looking forward to it, but not afraid of it), not of dying (I am a Christian and know where I will be).... I am afraid of being afraid!! sheesh.
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July 1
I had my session with J, my counselor today. I have been seeing him for years because of PTSD, depression, etc and he will be my counselor through the WLS as well. I am buddies with him and his wife... not "Grill out and watch the game" kind of friends, but "wave hello at church and give me a call sometime" buddies. He is very excited for me having WLS and has been reading mental health sites so he will be brushed up / fresh on the info.... that means a lot to me.
We talked some about my anxiety attack last Friday night. He wants me to continue to picture myself going through the pre-surgery admission process but to be more aware of when I start feeling anxious. I will call him as soon as I am halfway coherent after surgery - my sister will call him and let him know how I am doing. He said he and his wife may come visit if it is ok with me - I am thinking who cares if he hears me "toot", I will love to have a grounding visit from him.
I have a busy day tomorrow. I keep planning to do so much towards exercising and I always seem to get through the day without it. I did do a lot of hard work outside in the 98* heat today for about an hour. Tomorrow morning I am doing maternity photos for a friend and my nephew has a 3pm baseball game, then back to work on Sunday (and July 4).
Next week I see the NUT for the final time (6th visit) on Wednesday. I have also emailed the fitness trainer who works in my employer's gym and she is going to do measurements, a fitness assessment and help me come up with a workout plan for the next few weeks pre-op. We'll see where to go with it once I am cleared for working out again.
Each payday I buy a little something for my post-op kitchen. RIght now I don't cook at all, but I know that will have to change post-op. I have printed some seemingly simple recipes from Nik and a few from eggface. I bought a mini-chopper, a blender, a stick mixer (is that what it is called? LOL ), a mini-loaf pan and today a mini-muffin pan. Now I really need to clean and organize my kitchen so I have somewhere to put this stuff (along with the 3 bottles so far of SF syrup).
