JUNE 8!!!!!!!!

I have a date!  3 weeks (minus 1 day) from today.  June 8, 2010 @ 6am.

Pre-op with the anesthesiologist is on June 2.  I have a 7 day full liquid diet prior to surgery.  Dr. Lin suggested, though, that I could do 10 or even 14 days if I felt up to it.  I think I'll try for 14--especially since I weighed in today at exactly the same weight prior to starting the 3-month insurance diet back in December.  Doh!

Tonight, I'll work on a more detailed post with the pre-/post-surgery requirements.  Just wanted to get a quick one up to share the good news!

Only 3-weeks until the rest of my life!  WOOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

we're finally making progress...

Band:
All of my pre-op testing is finished.  I had my EGD on Thursday.  Yesterday was the pre-op nutrition counseling, blood work, EKG, chest x-ray, PFT w/ arterial blood gas.  It took almost 7 hours!  They tell me that things should move pretty quickly from this point on.  I have an appointment with the surgeon tomorrow afternoon and have been led to believe that I may be getting my surgery date at that appointment.  Fingers crossed!

Shout out:
Miss Vickie finally got her surgery date!  She will be banded on Monday (May 24th).  Woot!  Woot!

Mental Health:
I know it takes more than just a week for the effects of the anti-depressant to take effect, but I am feeling better these days.  I've been more motivated around the house and am actively seeking activities outside of the house.  I'm scheduled to donate blood on Friday and have signed up to volunteer at the Georgia Aquarium.  I have been invited to attend a Volunteer Information Session to attend next week.  I'm very excited about this opportunity!

one of these days i'll talk about the band...

...but, there's just not much happening on that front these days.  I have the pre-op EGD on Thursday and the rest of the pre-op testing (bloodwork, nutrition class, etc) next Tuesday.

As a follow up to my previous post about my emotional (un)stability, I saw my PCP yesterday.  I should mention that I absolutely LOVE my PCP.  She actually listens to what you say and it appears that she reviews my entire chart to prepare for our appointments.  I know this because she will often reference something I've mentioned at a past appointment even if it was something that we did not address directly.  For example, yesterday we were talking about my stress issues and how it all started when I quit my job.  She then asked about my husband's long hours.  This was something that I had just mentioned to her in passing almost 4 months ago!

Long story short, she thinks I have MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) and GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder).  Basically, I'm depressed and anxious--but, I knew that already.  She has started me on Lexapro, which is both an anti-depressant and an anti-anxiety medication.  She also referred me to a therapist who specialized in depression & anxiety.  While the Lexapro takes 4-6 weeks for full effect, I should start noticing improvement within a week.  I am so ready not to feel "on edge" 24 hours a day!



My husband has been great about all of this.  I had hidden a lot of the deeper emotional issues (daily crying, fights with family, general rage toward all the "stupids" in the world) because I didn't want him to worry.  But, he still has been the victim of some of my mood swings and general crabbiness.  Yet, through it all, he has remained calm and supportive.  He has such an even temperament!--it's the perfect foil to my more passionate roller coaster of emotions.

BYOC #7?

. Do you have any nicknames? (Thanks for this question Joey)

My grandfather used to call me 'Lil Bit' and my uncle calls me 'Motormouth'.  'Lynda Lou' is the most common--although, I absolutely HATE it and refuse to speak to anyone who calls me that.  My high school counselor called me 'Lucy' which then morphed into 'Lucy Goosey.'  A little girl in Publix greeted me once with "Haaaaaayyyyy Mz. Stanky!"  I'd never met her before. :)

2. What was your “last straw”? The incident/situation that made you decide to get a lap band or commit to losing weight via any plan this time?

Seeing a picture and not recognizing myself.  My face had gotten so fat that I actually looked more like a man.

3. What’s your favorite joke or funny story? (This is from Sandy – she needs some laughter to start the weekend and requested this one.)

This isn't really a joke, but it made me laugh...Toy Boat.

4. If you could be a TV dinner – what flavor would you be?

Stouffers Cordon Bleu pasta.  Deeeee-lish!

5. The question we do every week so everyone can be a little famous without having to do an official blog award….what blog or comment stuck with you or spoke to you the most this week and why?

I couldn't get over Drazil's husband proclaiming, "I pooped in the woods today!"  That one has stuck with me and provided many bouts of giggling at very inappropriate times.  Loves it!

thanks & other random stuff...

IMPORTANT:  You'll need to sign up to follow me on this blog.  I couldn't figure out how to export the followers.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  Hope you like the new [out]look!

Thanks for all the compliments on the new design.  If I may brag on myself for a moment...I took the banner picture myself.  My husband is generally the photography expert in our family.  He actually knows things about lighting, exposure, etc.  I'm more of the mindset that if you take enough pictures, at least one of them is bound to turn out good eventually.  This picture was taken along Tomales Bay (near the Point Reyes National Seashore) last October during our 1st Anniversary trip to San Francisco.

I'm getting frustrated with the whole process at my surgeon's office.  It is so incredibly linear!  Can't we work on more than one thing at a time?!?!?  They won't let you even make an appointment for the next step in the process until the current step is completed.  Of course, there's always a 2-3 week waiting period for the appointment--which equals WASTED TIME in my book.  But, Dr. Lin is the best gastric band surgeon in Atlanta, so I guess I just have to go with it.

Here's one thing that's really been worrying me lately:  I've been under a lot of stress lately and I think I'm about to crack.  In the last 6 months the following things have happened:  I quit my job; my parents sold the house I grew up in and moved into a house in my neighborhood; their dog died; my dog died; my mom had a heart attack; we got a new dog; my dad was diagnosed with clinical depression (that's came with a whole set of additional stressers and issues that is really hard on the whole family);  and, of course, the whole surgery thing is happening.  I'm not handling it well at all.  I cry a lot.  I'm often nauseated.  I'm getting rashes.  I can't sleep--or, I sleep too much.  I'm always tired.  My moods swings are intense.  I'm often angry.  I lash out at my family (mostly my parents) and then spend days worrying about hurting their feelings.  This makes me cry more.  In general, I just feel really unstable emotionally.  I've decided to call my PCP and talk to her.  Maybe she can give me a magic pill (temporarily) to help me get over the hump.  Maybe she'll suggest I see a psychiatrist.  I've got to do something, though.  I don't like feeling so out of control.

*update*  I have an appointment with my PCP to talk about the stress & anxiety that I've been experiencing.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for listening!

-Lynda

this time next year...

IMPORTANT:  You'll need to sign up to follow me on this blog.  I couldn't figure out how to export the followers.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  Hope you like the new [out]look!

You may (or may not) have seen my recent post about how I don't like the name of my blog.  "The Band Saga" just sounds sooooooooo depressing.  Really, who wants to read a saga for fun?  So, how does one go about changing the name of one's blog?  I know the technical aspect of it, but do I need to send out a notice to my followers?  Do I just change it and hope everyone finds me again?  Does anyone have any experience with this?

I think the new title might be "This Time Next Year" just because that's what I keep saying to my husband.

This time next year, I can sit on your lap and not worry about breaking the chair (or your leg).

This time next year, I'll feel comfortable going with you to the pool.

This time next year, we'll both fit on the motorcycle again.

This time next year....

...well, you get the picture.

Thoughts?  Comments?  Advice?

Cheers!
-Lynda

Approved!!!

Just got the call from the Emory Clinic's Scheduling Coordinator--Aetna has approved me for surgery!  My next step is pre-surgery testing on May 17th--a full day of nutrition counseling, blood work, EKG's, etc.  There will be an endoscopy done on a different day (waiting for the surgeon's personal secretary to call and schedule that one).  They say that surgery will probably be 2-3 weeks after the tests.  Looks like I should be planning for early June.

So, on to more waiting...

PS  Turns out that Aetna moves really fast once they actually receive the documents.  My case was officially opened on 4/28, clinical notes were faxed on 4/29, approved on 4/30.