What a week at work, lots of student issues to deal with and little time for actual work. I did speak with my patient advocate Debra, from the surgeon’s office for the first time on Tues (maybe Wednesday). She will follow me through the procedure. After making my pre-op appointment we had a 45 minute conversation. Wow, what an inspiration and a positive mind set. She has been banded for 12 years I think she said. She had so many positive suggestions and recommendations, protein drinks, ways to decrease my "soda" and still feel like I am getting the "fizz" and so much more. She also had a list of "dos and don'ts." I can't wait to meet her. Dr. Fox uses the South Beach diet phase 1 for his pre-op, according to Debra he feels a "liquid" only diet is too restrictive and has a greater chance for failure. A good thing for me, I need to "chew" at least something during the day. I am instructed to get a copy of the South Beach Diet Supercharged which according to Debra will be my "Bible", and a journal to help me keep track of why I am doing this. A picture of me now, for the first page and on the inside cover, my breaking point, what finally made me decide to take this step. She said when she gets discouraged or thinks she is being denied something, she opens hers and sees how she was compared to how she is.

OH, I forgot to tell you, my surgery date has been moved back a week because the surgeon will be at an advanced training seminar. So pre-op appointment is Feb. 21st, pre-op diet starts the 29th and surgery is on March 9th. Surgery is on Friday and I originally thought I would go back to work Monday. While I lecture M-T all day I figured I could come up with in class activities and maybe come up with something creative to decrease my need to stand and move about the room. However; I am having my hiatal hernia repaired at the same time and Debra doubts I will be up to moving about and lecturing by Monday. So I will find someone to cover my classes for those two days and take a little longer to recover. W-F will be in my office doing administrative things and advising so it should be ok.

Tootles

D