Surgery: Go! (Probably)

[thistlechaser]

First, for anyone not interested in health/surgery stuff, have a cat!


Second, my insurance company finally approved covering the surgery, so it's (probably) a go. I was supposed to meet with the surgeon for my last appointment tomorrow, but since the insurance hadn't come through yet, they rescheduled it to next week. He asked me to lose 10-15 pounds, I lost (as of this weekend) 21, so I should be okay then... except it's right when my period is coming. If I somehow gain 11 pounds in a week, even if it's just water weight... I don't think I will, but ugh. Hell, I can offer to come in a week later have have my weight checked again. I don't think it's going to be an issue.

However, yet more hoops have been added. Let's update the list!

Six months of meeting with a nutritionist.
Therapy.
Two three-hour classes (the same exact class both times, the surgeon requires you go twice).
Two hour class at the hospital.
Two meetings with the surgeon (second one next week).
Yet another class! Taking time off from work next week. (The only time it's offered is 9:30 AM on a Tuesday...)
Lab work/EKG (was supposed to be done during the two hours at the hospital, but apparently my surgeon likes it done at his office instead).
Edit: Somehow I forgot the whole sleep study thing! Having to redo it twice, then another additional test... So much lost sleep.

I decided I wanted the surgery back in early December. I'll be getting it 9/15. Ten months of dealing with crap to finally be able to get it. I guess the good thing about all this (especially the insurance part), I haven't had the spare emotions to worry about the actual surgery itself. Heh.

(I keep forgetting to use this icon. I commissioned it for these posts!)

Comments

[hamsterwoman]

Yay for the insurance finally approving! (boo to delays and additional hoops...) Keeping fingers crossed for you for the rest of this stuff, but it sounds like you're in really good shape for the surgery to happen as scheduled!

[tea-blossom.livejournal.com]

Hooray for insurance approval! You can lose that weight. I believe in you!

Meeting with a nutritionist is actually super useful. I learned that I am not getting enough nutrients from my food despite overeating, and I need to take a million supplements as a result. The food portions part has been the most difficult for me; I eat my feelings and I have a lot of feelings. I also had to change 90% of my diet which is brutal.

[gonzostar.livejournal.com]

You didn't even add all the crazy sleep schedule stuff to the list!!

I'm so glad it looks like it's probably going through. :)

[mayanas.livejournal.com]

Love the cat gif! Hee hee hee.

Congrats on the insurance going through. (Does one say congrats to that? Anyway, kudos.) one less hoop..

[elo-sf.livejournal.com]

congrats on the insurance and moving forward; sadly the beneficial effects of this surgery do largely rely on patients doing a far bit of work and thus all of the requirements because as you saw when you took the course there are a lot of people who don't understand basic nutrition

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

The thing that makes me sigh is that after your post about the other class, it's obvious all these hoops are for the brainless dipshits that don't pay attention and will inevitably drink three sodas and a frappucino while the staples are still fresh and injure themselves. If only there was some way you could klep out of it by walking in and yelling I KNOW I HAVE TO EAT PROTEIN AND I WON'T DRINK ANYTHING CARBONATED OR WITH CAFFEINE, I READ THE PAMPHLET COVER TO COVER HERE I WILL READ IT TO YOU NOW.

I kind of understand why the doctor wants to cover his ass after that post, but I wish there were some way non-idiots could be exempted.

Yay on insurance!

[voidmagus.livejournal.com]

Gods, from Thistle's description I'm not sure the other people in her classes barely seem to understand basic biology, much less nutrition.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oh! I knew I forgot something! So many things to do, I'm not surprised I lost track of them. *edits post*

Me too! :D

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yes, big yay! And thanks. :D

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Man, 90% would be really hard for me, too. I'm glad seeing one was helpful for you!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I'll take a congrats, sure! :D And thanks!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yep. I worry a lot for them, but I hope/suspect I'll do okay. I'm willing to do work and research!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Hahaha I know, right? And basic math, basic logic skills... I have no clue how these people even survive on their own.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeeeep. On one hand (a small hand), I don't mind hearing all the info again -- the more often I hear it, the better I'll remember it. But on the other, man. My brain works a lot faster than that! If you want to read it out loud to me, at least keep up a good pace and ask CHALLENGING questions!

Embarrassingly, I actually forgot the answer to one of the questions in that last class. "Best way to tell you're dehydrated?" My mind got all caught up on how to check if an animal is dehydrated, so I blanked on coming up with the answer for humans. Color of your pee. Duh!

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the insurance came through!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Me too! For sure.

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

Were you like, "SCRUFF THEM AND IF THE FUR AND SKIN DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY SETTLE BACK THEY ARE DEHYDRATED?"

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

YES EXACTLY! YOU ARE INDEED WISE IN THE WAY OF ANIMAL DEHYDRATION

I was sitting there thinking "Um, you can't scruff a person, THAT JUST WOULDN'T WORK!"

[phoenixisrisen.livejournal.com]

Just don't slack on your labs. I had a duodenal switch 11 years ago and despite taking my vitamins I am currently a and d deficient. It's my own fault tho; I skipped getting labs for a few years.

[phoenixisrisen.livejournal.com]

Oh dang me-

CONGRATS!!!

[liedra.livejournal.com]

Yay, glad it's all coming together!

Your struggles with this have been mirroring the struggles I've been having trying to get my husband (currently in the US) into the UK to live with me (we got married in April after 3 years together, he'll finally be here end of September). Completely different scenarios, similar amount of pointless bureaucracy & hoop jumping, but I can empathise with the stress and frustration! Plus we both will get the relief of the payoff around the same time! All my best wishes with the final stretch :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's part of the requirements. I have to keep seeing my doctor for labwork. (Which is okay, it's what I'm doing now so I don't mind.)

Hope you were able to get over the deficiency!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

And thanks, too. :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That's way too long for you to be able to live with your husband! Too many hoops and red tape for both of us. Glad you're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now, too! Yay for both of you. :)

And thanks, too!

[spike7451.livejournal.com]

Glad the insurance company approval came through. But what a LOT of rigmarole you had to go through!

Love the cat. lol.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

For sure! I'm worn out already!