Appt #5 and #6: Keep up the good work!

Tuesday night I went to a Bariatric Support Group (appt #5) meeting at Penn.  It was more interesting then I expected it to be.  I was in a room with about 20 people, half pre-op and half post-op.  It was amazing to see women who were like me, under a year out of surgery who look "normal".  Most every post op patient shed 100 pounds in a year.  That is a crazy thought to me but also exhilarating.  When I looked around the room, I saw life.  (Except for the one diabetic who was having major trouble grasping the surgery and how it would effect her diabetes. I'm pretty sure we were all guests to HER meeting.)

During the class, I realized that I was to have scheduled 2 other weight management consults prior to leaving the office.  So I called the support secretary yesterday morning to discuss what my options were.  I am clearly anxious to have this surgery sooner rather than later.  Turns out, the Weight Management courses book up quickly and they are only once a month.  So the likelihood of getting into a February class was slim to none and for March, I would have to cross my fingers.  With that in mind, the thoughts of not being done all of this pre-work until June was killing me.  Luckily, Shanella (the sound of her name makes me crave Nutella), the secretary, was able to tell me that my primary physician could use the weight management sheets and submit instead.  That was awesome!

As soon as I hung up the phone, I called my doctors office and had an appointment (appts #6) first thing this morning.  When I got there, it was a pain in the ass.  My doctor's office doesn't accept emails so I was having trouble getting the weight management form into my doctors hands.  The Penn Medicine App came in handy!  I screen shot the form and submitted on My Chart through the App.  I was back in business.

First stop... the scale.  DUN-DUN-DUN!  Official verdict, down 11 lbs since the infamous cardiology appt.  Thank God!!!  Vitals were good, BP was actually down for a change which was nice to hear as well.  Dr. Tressle reviewed the material.  Was a bit taken aback that she had to fill out this form, but she was kind enough to do it for me.  Pleasantly, she was happy with my progress and told me to keep up the good work.  My assignment for next visit it to up my exercise (which means start) and to keep a food journal.

Since my food funeral, I changed the foods I am eating so I am more cautious.  I am still a binge/overeater but I've cut out bread and potatoes, stopped soda completely, increased green veggie intake to daily, and only drink water.  11 pounds in two weeks with just awareness of what I was putting in has been amazing!

Next week, the SHRINK!