Two days!!!

Well, it's Monday night and I'm off to bed shortly here. Do ya'll know what that means!? I'm having surgery the day after tomorrow... good grief. How'd that liquid diet go so quickly??? Tomorrow I am allowed to have my "shakes" until noon and then I have to go on clear liquids until surgery. As much as I hate those dreaded shakes I think I'm going to try and get three down so I'm not quite as hungry for the day. I work until 8 and that could make for a LONG night on jello and water! I can have juice too but I'm going to maintain the 16 oz I've been drinking each day.

Tomorrow morning/early afternoon I should get a call from the hospital to hear what time I'm scheduled for and any last minute details they'll need to go over. I'm hoping I'm still home in the morning when they call so I don't have to worry about missing it while at work.

I'm pretty nervous but for the most part I'm trying to put the worry out of my mind and trust that these people know what they're doing. I'm not a guinea pig and they've done this SEVERAL hundred times. I will be fine.

I'm not sure I'll get a chance to post tomorrow since I work so late and then I'll have to get things squared off for my daughter and for myself, of course. Let the craziness ensue! I'll be back afterward to report on how I'm doing!!

Wish me luck!!

Day 5 today

So I have to admit.. this liquid diet thing isn't so terrible after all. I was REALLY scared of it! The first day was a real bitch but seriously, every day after that was NOT SO BAD! I would have to go out on a limb and say yesterday was even... EASY! The drinks actually disgust me now so I just down them quickly but they fill me up.

I saw the nutritionist this morning. I had to see her again to learn a few more things that I didn't get to learn before I started the liquid diet. It was hard to talk about food but exciting to know it is in my near future too, how lame is that!?

I dreamed of food last night. I dreamed that I was helping my daughter cut something on her plate or something and when I was finished I quick shoved some of her peas into my mouth from her plate, haha! What can I say? At least it was just peas!!

I only dropped .4 lbs since yesterday. I'm down 5.6 lbs total which is still incredible... but not such big numbers like I was losing before. But 5 lbs.. that's Biggest Loser weight loss right there! I'll take it!!

Oh and at my nutritionist appt I found out my A1c was 7.2. Not at goal quite yet but continuously lower from where I started last year in July when I decided to start this journey. At that point it was 9.6! I'm pretty proud of 7.2 considering where I came from. For those that aren't aware what an a1c is it's the measure of my blood sugars over the last 3 mos. I wasn't quite due for the test but I was going to have it at the end of this month so close enough. It made my day anyways.

My white blood cell count went up a bit more since last week... not sure what this means for my surgery date yet but I'm not going to get all wrapped up in crazy thoughts if they aren't going to do anything about it either. They thought maybe my body was just fighting a UTI (not that I was aware of) or a cold (always possible with a kid in daycare) so we'll see where it all goes.

That's about all for now. I need to get ready to head into work for the day. I have my performance review at work today... that's always a bit stressful and nerve wracking. Cross your fingers for a big fat pay increase, of course! ;)

Day 4

Today is day 4 of my liquid diet. 7 more days left. Next week Tuesday I'll have to do half a day of just clear liquids in preparation for surgery but that will be no sweat, I figure. I'm already pretty sick of those stupid shakes I drink. I'm almost looking forward to eliminating them for a day. Here's a bit of TMI but I'm a whole lot gassy from all the milk I'm drinking. They mentioned this might happen but it's annoying. I went to a support group last night and my stomach was SOO LOUD! I kept grabbing it (like that helps quiet the insides!) and hoping it would stop.

Did I mention the awesome weight loss!? Good grief. I've lost 5.2 lbs already and it's just been 3 days. Good grief, again. I can't get used to this though since I'll be losing 1-2 lbs a WEEK instead of in just one DAY after surgery, lol.

Yesterday was my pre-op appt. I met with a nurse to discuss the surgery day. She told me where to go, who would call me when, etc. Then I saw the nurse practitioner and she went over my labs from last week with me. My potassium was low but I'm on a med that can cause that so I am now off that. My Vitamin D was low but I live in Wisconsin, haha. I'm on a supplement until surgery for that. Then the complicated one.. my white blood cells were high. They asked me if I had a UTI or something last week (no) so they redrew on that yesterday to see if that's going down. The surgeon figures I had some cold or something and didn't even realize it. Told me not to go home and google weird things! :D He must have seen the look in my eyes!! I was totally looking for something to google when I asked him about it.

So that was the end of that excitement. I forgot to ask for a note for my bosses saying how long I needed off work so I have a call in for that. I'm hoping they call before I head in to work in about 30 minutes.

Easter was good. We woke up at home and Cadence found her basket in the guest room. Then we packed up and headed to my grandma's house where I was the head-chef and cooked a ham dinner for everyone. My brother and his family were there, my aunt, and my grandma, and of course my husband and Cadence. We colored eggs there and immediately demolished them for deviled eggs. I made mashed potatoes and resisted licking the beaters... ohhh man, that was rough!

Oh, the picture is from Easter of my nieces, nephew, and kiddo with some Easter gifts.

The Scoop

So yesterday I had to work half a day. On my way home I checked my cell and had a voicemail from the hospital in Madison that I *wasn't* scheduled for surgery at. They said there was a complication with my form of payment and that they scheduled me at the wrong hospital. They in turn had two options for me... 1) wait until the next open date at that hospital - June or 2) they had gotten the surgeon to agree to come in on his day off and do my surgery only on April 22. Well, obviously I chose April 22 but not before I agonized over the fact that my boss was going to be pissed at me. I called her at home and explained the situation to her and she said we'd talk today about who would cover my time off, etc. So it was all a go.

The other small detail was that I was supposed to have started my liquid diet on Wednesday of this week for an April 22 surgery date! So, I started this morning. Yesterday I had NOTHING for the diet at home and was not prepared so I just started today. It's been a rough day but I'm still keepin' on. I get to have another drink in 20 minutes.. not that I'm counting. ;) Sugar-free jello is also brewing in the fridge... I can't wait to actually chew something even though it's not really chewable ;) haha, it was even exciting to chew my vitamins!!!

The upside to all this is that my surgery is 6 days sooner and they inadvertently cut 3 days off my liquid diet by doing this last minute switch. YAY to them both!

I'll probably be back tomorrow to update on the diet... I'm going to need some support on this one! :)

My date got moved UP!

I got a call from the hospital and they moved my date up to April 22!! I will be back with more details later because I have to go grocery shopping since I should be on the liquid diet NOW!!!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!

New, Old Hair

I got my hair done this evening! It's new for the moment but it's basically my natural hair color. There's a hint of red in there too which I enjoy.. it's all one color now, no highlights. It's new, fun, makes me feel sorta sassy for the time being.. almost! ;)

So anyways, that's me.. Tiffani!

Figured it was about time to post a bit more about myself....

I'm 26 years old. I'm married to Chris and we have a 4 year old daughter, Cadence. Chris and I have been together for 5 years and married for 3.5 years. We had our daughter in the VERY early stages of marriage and things haven't always been perfect but what relationship is. He's good to me and Cadence and that's what matters most. He's very supportive of the lap band and I, honestly, hope it helps him lose some weight too. With me cooking meals he'll be forced to eat what I cook or fend for himself. I know him.. he'll eat what I cook. ;)

Cadence is my princess. I don't want to sound corny but this girl adores me. The look she gets on her face when I smile at her would convince anyone. I adore her just as much (usually more with her 4 y/o attitude!) and she really lights up my life. She's a snuggler and would sit on my lap all night if I let that girl. I know the surgery will help her health in the long run too. We'll be able to teach her portion sizes and eating habits earlier in life.

I've never been thin... NEVER. If you want to count the time in my childhood.. like sayyyy 4/5 y/o, then yes.. I was thin.. but I don't think that counts. I'm not looking to be thin, of course. I'm in this for a few health problems I have. I have goal weights in my head but am sort of afraid to voice them because I have issues with failing. I'm planning to address those issues now and after surgery, don't you fret! ;)

As for me and what I do - I am an optometric assistant. I work for two doctors in a private practice. I help people pick out frames and help them choose what options they want and need on their lenses. I train new contact lens wearers and also am in charge of a couple large insurances -- making sure claims are filed properly and entering and reconciling checks from those insurances. I also answer the phones when needed to help make appts, order contacts, etc. I can basically do it all there... what can I say? I'm all kinds of awesome, I know.

;) The air is thick enough for the evening... I'll leave you with that!

Labs/ECG/Chest Xray/Nutrition Class

Whew, what a busy appt! I worked til 2 and then headed over the the clinic (about 20 minutes away). I was a bit early for the suggested 2:30 arrival time and they rocked it out and got me back super quick too.

I had my chest xray first. They had me change into a gown, open to the front - eep!, and then press my chest against this cold air hockey table-looking thing. Oh, let me not forget to mention the "nipple markers!" I had to put special tape thingies over each nipple so when they view the xrays they don't see my nipples as a tumor or something.. fascinating! After hugging the air hockey table I had to stand sideways while some cute young girl adjusted my hips properly and draped my arms over a bar with another gal showing me how to do it. I warned her that I might just flash her, accidentally of course! She reassured me that she sees these "types of things" every day. HAHA!

They looked at the images and determined that I didn't take a full deep breath on the first xray (I concurred - I felt that way when I heard the click). I retook the first image (hugging the air hockey table again!) and felt much better about things.

Then I gathered my clothes and things and walked down the back hallway to a recliner chair where she had me lay rather far back on. My gown was half open but I didn't really care at this point. She pulled up my pants legs and slapped stickers on each lower leg. Then she put one on each upper arm and then six surrounding my heart. The heart part meant she had to.. umm.. maneuver my left breast and that was a bit awkward to say the least.

She attached the wires to each sticker which meant more maneuvering (!!!!) and then she rubbed my arm and said to relax... which made me think "WTF!?" Then I tried to chill out and it was over. I was totally expecting something awful but I think she was just trying to get a read of my heart at some sort of relaxed state and she figured I was a bit up in arms... CORRECT!

So then I got dressed and they went and told the lab that I was ready again. The lab buzzer had gone off almost as soon as I was hugging the hockey table so they had to tell them why I was ignoring their call. The lab tech got my vein in one stab (go her!) and drew the blood she needed for all 20-some tests or so. I asked at the end how many vials there was and she said, "Seven!" She went on to explain that while it looked and sounded like a lot it was actually miniscule in comparison to what people give in blood donations - a pint is 100 vials of blood. That part actually made me feel a bit embarrassed!! I've never given blood and this solidifies that I probably shouldn't. ;)

So then I head upstairs and step off the elevator and greet a friend who happened to be waiting to go down. Had a good chat with her and her kiddos and then went and checked in for my visit.. 15 minutes early.

I got a binder full of information and learned all about the diet after band and then the LAST page of the info (note: ONE PAGE) was the info on the dreaded pre-op diet. I expected the entire session to be about that but it only took up about 5 minutes of the talk.

Essentially this is my diet starting Tuesday until after the surgery is over:

5 packets of Carnation Instant Breakfast mixed with 2% milk (1 cup) - so 5 cups each day
16 oz of fruit juice

OR

3 regular slim fasts
2 low carb slim fasts
8 oz fruit juice

In addition to one of these diets each day (can alternate between the two but not mix the two) I can have 48-60 oz of liquids in all sorts of forms... 2 cups of broth, water, diet v8 splash, crystal light, sugar free jello (from a box), sugar free popsicles (1-2 a day), diet snapple and some others I'm probably forgetting.

So from what I've read I think I have a pretty strict diet to follow compared to some others' but I know I'll be so proud of myself if I finish (WHEN I finish) and the final product will be my goal - a band!

I have my pre-op/surgeon visit on Monday and another nutrition class on Wednesday that she wants me to keep so looks like she'll get to see me in full cranky glory on day 2 of liquid diet. She's aware and is expecting it though.

Back with more soon! :)