Meeting the Surgeon

After my Information Session at Penn Medicine, I made an appointment with a surgeon before even leaving the meeting.  Within a week, I was meeting with Dr. David Wernsing and his medical team.  I had a brief consultation with a nurse doing all the normal vitals including weight (286lbs) and BP (I never remember but it's always awfully high.)

This was followed by meeting with a dietitian.  What I liked about her (I'm terrible with names) was that she asked how I learned.  I told her I was visual.  So she took her props out of her bag and went through some dietary changes that I will need to make before and after surgery.  For an over-eater like myself, learning what an ounce of meat was equivalent to was surely an eye opener. Not to mention that the gal who eats once a day, even though I consume enough for a family of 4, now has to start eating SIX times a day.  SIX!!!

I then met with Dr. Wernsing.  Stereotypical smarty with dry humor and a quirky smile.  He has kind eyes.  Bed side manner is everything to me so I felt completely comfortable putting my life in his hands.  He went over the surgery again with me.  How he does 4-5 incisions and will do the removal from my belly button!  How cool?  Hearing about the surgery was less traumatic then having to lift my shirt up for him to see by fat belly.

Painless appointment. Right?   However, this was the beginning of what my sister calls the "Food Funeral."