Doctor #2-Pulminologist

Yesterday, I had my second required doctor evaluation. I visited a pulminologist. For those of you that don't know, they check your breathing and lungs. I really had no idea what to expect, but it was no big deal. The tests last a total of about 10 minutes or so and just consist of blowing in and out of a tube at various strengths. I learned two things from this visit....I am not very good at blowing out (the technician had to perform the test several times because I wasn't doing it right) and I managed to shrink. I'm now 5'2.25". I still don't know if that's accurate or not, but that's what he said. I passed with flying colors and am getting scheduled for a sleep study at the same hospital I'm having the surgery at. He did make me feel better about my sleep apnea. He said that I had nothing to worry about during the surgery. Later on today, I will be seeing a cardiologist.

1st Doctor Visit-Nutritionist

I absolutely LOVE my nutritionist. She made me feel so confident about this surgery and squashed any doubts I may have previously had. She thought I was a perfect candidate for lap band surgery. After going through the meal plans, I don't think I'm going to have a problem eating after the surgery. I hate soda and already know how to properly eat, low fat, no sugar, etc. This is going to be a good thing. I am worried about the liquid diet part but it sounds like it's only going to be for a very short time. I can do it!!!

Doctors appointments

So, in order to have this surgery, in addition to meeting first with a surgeon, you must also get evaluated by a cardiologist, pulminologist (who will also conduct a sleep study for my sleep apnea), psychiatrist and your regular physician and have a consultation with a nutritionist. I thought scheduling all these doctors would take several weeks or even months. I started making phone calls last week and yesterday and have every single doctor scheduled between May 21 and June 3. I can't believe it!! This makes me a little nervous because now I can potentially have the surgery sooner then I originally thought by a few weeks. Obviously, now my meeting with the surgeon on June 30 will be incredibly informative. I hope we can discuss all of the evaluations at that appointment, but I have a feeling I will have to come back another time for insurance reasons. I know this will be a good thing. I actually told someone I was friendly with at work this morning that I was doing it and she made me feel a little better about it. Speaking of which, I'm undecided about what I want to tell people and who exactly I want to tell. I'm not sure I want to tell everyone I'm doing this. Family and some close friends, fine, but what do I say when I start going to clients and they make a comment about my weight loss?? I guess I hesitate because maybe I'm a little embarrassed I let myself get to this point and now have to take drastic actions to get things under control when every other diet I ever tried only minimally worked. I never wanted to believe it, but I think I do now...obese people are viewed differently in the world. Will people look at me differently if I say I had surgery vs. doing it the traditional way?? Does it really matter what these people think?? I guess I'll deal with it when the time comes. On another subject, I do hoope this surgery helps with my laziness and procrastination. I don't think I was ever this bad before my weight gain, but now I know it's because I hate sweating and being out of breath from the smallest of tasks and just hate making any effort at this point to do anything physical much beyond the things I absolutely have to. Since I've been doing so much work on my house the past month, I see how important it is to have this weight off. Maybe things would have been a little easier for me to do. I know I said earlier I'm nervous about the surgery, but I am definitely excited to get my life back.

My First Blog

OK, so let me introduce myself. My name is Christine and I am 33 years old living on the East Coast. I am considered morbidly obese and have decided to change my life. I have never blogged before, but after doing much research, felt it was the right thing to do. After going to my primary physician Thursday night, I made a decision.....I'm going to start the process for lap band surgery. Back in February, my boyfriend, Anthony, and I went to see a lap band surgeon and after much excitement about the procedure, was a little turned off by the surgeon's 'speech'. Maybe I misunderstood, maybe I was scared. Whatever the case, my little test for myself was knowing what I weighed in at the surgeon's that day in February until my doctor's appointment this week, if I lost an acceptable amount of weight by doing what I always do (make better choices when eating and exercising regularly at the gym), I would not do the surgery. Well, the results were horrible....I hadn't lost or gained an ounce since February. Now, most would say, hey, that's great, you didn't gain any weight, but why am I exercising so much and eating right and not having any results??? Obviously, something is not working and I can't continue any more time trying to convince myself that this is working. I finally found a gym I really enjoy (Contours Express) and will continue to go. I may not always see weight loss results, but can walk for much longer without huffing and puffing and seem to be 'toning' a little bit, so it is working, just not entirely the way I would like. So, my goal with this blog is to post details about my process, good and bad, my feelings and of course, my results. I started scheduling the necessary doctor appointments I need prior to my surgery. I will hopefully be seeing a nutritionist this Friday (I have to hear back from her confirming my appointment) and will be seeing my surgeon again on June 30. I still have to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist and pulmonologist and possibly a sleep study for my sleep apnea. I have talked to a friend of my sister who had the surgery about 3 years ago with positive results, but as she mentions, it's not a cure all. You stll must eat healthy and exercise. She has gained some weight back since the surgery because she hasn't been eating the way she knows she should. I am looking foward to losing weight and being viewed as 'normal' again. I want to ride roller coasters, going on long walks on the beach and enjoy all the other activities I did 10 years ago. I want to be healthy and see my niece and nephews grow up. I think this will be a good thing. No, I KNOW this will be a good thing. Just have to get through the next 8 weeks or so and then my life begins anew.....