Paper work headed to insurance on Monday

Well, I went to the surgeon today with my husband as my support.  We went over everything and the paperwork is being faxed to insurance on Monday!!!!  They told me that they have good results with my insurance and usually hear something within 72 hrs, so they expect to know something by the end of next week.  They will then schedule my surgery.  Looks like I will be a November Bandster!!!  They told me I am to start the low carb diet on Monday so I will be ready.  Also, I found out that I get to go straight to mushies after surgery.  Yeah............so, hmmm, what shall I eat for Thanksgiving. 

I was feeling a little crabby on my birthday.  ha ha ha, Just kidding.  I felt pretty good.  Had some family in and we went to an aquarium. My husband couldn't resist getting this picture.

Well, time is moving nicely and I am so ready for my visit with the surgeon on Friday the 21st.  I am ready to get this show on the road.  :)

Last week I took some time to read some more blogs.  I am going to expound on what I said last time about the blogs of folks that have already gone thru the journey.  Something I have noticed about reading them is that in the beginning, they HAD all the fears I have now.  Can I do this?  Will I fail at this too?  Will my insurance give me the thumbs up?  And then as I read each blog, the days go by, the months go by and I watch as they come to the realization of, "Yes, I AM doing this!  I CAN succeed.  I do have to put forth the effort, but with the help of the band, I can achieve my dreams."  Reading these blogs has been like reading a book.  The baseline story, the issues, the climax and then achieving the goal, only to make new goals and to live life.  Oh how exciting.  I got so into a blog the other day that something negative happened and I was heart broken.  I'm so crazy.  My point is, all your blogs are helping me see that I will get over those feelings and over any hurdles.

My husband expressed concern over me losing so much that I will look sickly (ha ha, I can't say I have ever had anyone worry like that over me before...well, not for that reason.)  I think he see's all my determination and doesn't want me to get crazy................well, crazier.  :)  I told him, I just want to be comfortable.  He looked at me like he wasn't sure what I meant.  I said, you know that poofy hunting coat you hate because you look like Randy in Christmas Story....."I can't put my arms down..."  He said yes and I said, that is how I feel all the time.  I saw the light bulb come on over his head.  I just want to be comfortable.  Not Twiggy (or what ever her name was).

To my followers.....

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you so much for all of your words of encouragement on this journey. I have 9 followers, 2 of them are 2 of my sisters and the others are my new friends.  I am not even banded yet and yet I feel like I am already a part of the Band-it family.

I have read numourous blogs of those that have been on this journey for a while and am so encouraged to read all that they learned.  It is like reading a good book......I just can't put my computer down.  Some folks are addicted to farmville and I am addicted to blogs.  :)  One of the great things about reading these blogs after the fact is to watch how you each grow....small in size, but big in lessons.  I love seeing when everything finally comes together and each are learning your band and learning how to make it work for you.

When I go to the surgeon on the 21st, I have to have someone from my support team with me....my husband.  But I will not hesitate to tell the doc about all of you and the folks at work.  I am completely amazed by the support.  Thank you again!!!!

The most wonderful time of the year....Autumn

I LOVE Fall!!!!  I could soooo see myself sitting by this tree with a good book.

It seems approriate, if you will, that I am being banded in the fall.  I love everything about this time of year.  The crisp air, the colors.  I am not a summer lover....never have been.  I feel alive this time of year.  One of my friends said (pardon me if I repeat myself from a previous post), that I will probably be banded right before Thanksgiving.  I said, well then, I will enjoy myself a steaming bowl of Turkey broth and a pumpkin spiced protein shake.  :)  That is me being positive.

I am using this time to reflect.  I have notice on lap band talk and other blogs that that is what most folks do during this waiting period.  One of the main things I have been reflecting on this week are the things I am looking forward to.  I have seen many folks list some of these, so here is a start on my list.

More energy (I am tired of having zero energy)

Get to the top of the stairs and not be doubled over.

Purchase AND wear pretty cloths.

To feel more comfortable.

To look comfortable (and not all squishy)

Get off blood pressure meds.

Delay the onset of other health issues.

This is just a start to the list.  I will add more as they come. :)

Stressful week.....

This resembled me this week.  Well, especially Thursday night.  I lost my mind (well, what was left of it).

First, my surgeon is going on vacation.....for 3 weeks.  ugh!!!  So it will be Oct. 21 before I see him and THEN they can submit everything to the insurance.  So it could be another 3 weeks after that and what if they disapprove it.  So it will probably be more then 6 weeks PLUS there is Thanksgiving, so no surgeries that week probably.  Needless to say, I am annoyed.  I was hoping he would have a cancellation before he went on vacation so we could get the paperwork to the insurance company, but oh well, it is not my time.

I am a passive person.  I RUN from any confrontations or any situation that could be sticky.  I don't handle stuff like that well at all.  Ok, so with the stress of everything this week, I found myself trying to figure some things out and I lost my mind.  At one point I resembled the girl from the Exorcist.  I really believe my head spun around.  I was having a battle with myself and neither one won.  Ugh!!!

I am still fighting with myself, but trying to do it in a positive way (which is more my nature).  One, I am trying to learn how to face things head on instead of running from them (soooo much easier said then done....for me).  This morning, I decided to take a little out on the treadmill and walked for an hour while watching the Biggest Loser.  I do feel better.  Now to just approach my difficulties and take my stress out on the treadmill from now on...then maybe my husband won't be so skeered.  :)

Support

I am beginning to realize the importance of a good support system.  I know the staff at my doctor’s office are adamant about us having a good support system at home and hopefully in life as well.

I was conversing with one of my sisters yesterday.  She is trying so hard to quit smoking and she made it 10 days.  I am so proud of her.  I noted several things about our conversation.  One, she acknowledged that she smoked more then she led everyone to believe.  Wow, that was huge, because she was being honest with herself.  Another was when she said how much she needed to hear her sisters say, “I am proud of you.”  She knows we are and we tell her often, but she realizes how much she needs that support system.  She knows it is vital to her success.  Oh, and another thing she pointed out was that she has realized that her desire for a cigarette is temporary, not all day.  I told her that it was such a part of her routine that she is feeling that change at times and she will need to work towards developing new routines.

I realized our journeys are quite similar.  We are both making life changes that will affect our health and the rest of our lives.  Just the other day I decided it is time to ditch the carbs.  Well, the bad carbs that is.   I have been going thru my own DT’s, but I know I will feel better in the long run.  Heck, it has paid off in a few more lbs lost.  Yeah Me!!!  But back to the support, thanks to my sisters excitement for her own milestone, it helped me fight thru mine yesterday.  I wanted to eat something not so good for me, but I fought thru it because she gave me that boost I needed (and she doesn’t even know it).

I am blessed to have an awesome support system.  My sisters are my cheerleaders.  They keep encouraging me on this journey and like my other sister, that support helps me thru the next hurdle.  My husband as well as other family and friends are there for me in whatever endeavors I take and the monthly support group as well as lapbandtalk.com and this blog have been amazing.  I am learning so much from others.

(P.S. I weighed this morning and it was 245.2.  I can't seem to update my weight loss ticker.  ugh)

Another sunday in the south

This Sunday is a far cry better then last Sunday.  Irene came for a very unwelcomed visit.  We were very fortunate, but my step daughters car was flooded and some friends house was flooded.  We were without power from Saturday around 4 am till Friday around 3 pm.  Those first days were tough.....it was so hot and the air was still.  All you could here were generators throughout the neighborhood.  I was thanking God for the nights that got down to the mid 60's.  Now, just praying that the new storm coming avoids us.

Well, I have 8 more days till my final check mark.  My husband asked last night when my surgery will be.  I tried to explain the process and just managed to confuse him all the more.  I said, I would say mid October. :)  I was reading some comments on www.lapbandtalk.com and some were saying that the surgeons give them a tentative date while they wait for the thumbs up from the insurance company.  I hope so....I am so excited.  I have been struggling and I am so ready for this.  And I am so discussed with myself.  And I found a new fat role the other day.  grrrr  I didn't realize the fat was hanging down on my back.  NOT happy about that at all.  ok, enough on my pity party.