July 10th, the beginning of my Life

Thats me, the one in the Teal, and this is my story.


July 10th is the day I made an appointment to meet with the bariatric team at Gottlieb/Loyola. My current weight is 225, my neck size is 18, my pants size is currently 18/20 or a size 42 if I were to wear men's pants. I met with the surgeon, bariatric doctor, psychologist, and dietician on this day. Surgical options are either a LapBand Procedure, total gastrectomy procedure or a sleeve procedure. Having worked for a weight loss doctor in the past I pretty much had an idea how things ran and what tests needed to be done. The tests/consultations that are crossed off are the ones that I have completed so far on my road to surgery. I have decided to have a sleeve procedure. This procedure will take about 75% of my stomach and have it resected. My stomach will be the shape of a banana and intake of food minimal.


Tests consists of:

• Cardiology
• Gynecology (July 10th)
• Psychological (July 10th)
• Lab Reports (PT, PTT, TSH, CMP, CBC, & Vit. D)
• Pulomonary
• PFT's
• Polysomnography
• CXR
• Radilogy (Mammogram)
• Esphogus UGI (Dysmotility) (July 17th)
• Nurtion Consult (July 10th)
• Surgeon consult (July 10th)
• Bariatric consult (July 10th)

When I met with the nutritionist, she stated that she would like for me to keep a journal of everything I eat so that we can discuss that on our next visit, July 24, 2012. Meeting with her kinda made me feel embarrassed for being "mobidly obese". It made me realize that I do have a problem with food. I love food! Who doesnt? I realized that I eat food to keep my mind off things, an "emotional eater" is what Im called. And its correct, I eat when Im sad, when Im bored, I eat when I dont need to.


Before having this UGI, it was no food at all after midnight the night before until the procedure is over. My procedure wasnt until 4:00 that afternoon so I thought I was gonna have a fitt not being able to eat or anything but it was ok. I was able to have clear liquids which I had water and chicken broth to hold me until my UGI.


I had my UGI (upper GI which is a scope that goes inside your throat and examines your esophagus and stomach areas for any lesions, cancer, etc. They administor an IV, spray your throat with some God awful spray (wild cherry supposedly) and it numbs your throat. They then insert a small size hose of the sort with a camera at the end into your mouth and slowing make it go down your throat. You'll be asked to swallow and that IV they gave you before the test starts making you numb, a twilight stage of the sorts. It wasnt bad as I thought it was going to be. It takes about 30 minutes for the procedure.


Thats all for right now, more tests to be done and Im praying that in August I'll be able to have my surgery. I'll keep you posted on my journey and of course my transformation.