Cia2020

Thank you, everyone! I received the "official" approval letter from my primary insurance today. Both my primary and secondary insurances have verbally approved the surgery so this is just the paperwork to cover my butt in case of billing issues, but having it in hand was a whoa moment. And yesterday I redid my 6 week dry erase family fridge calendar... and the surgery date is on there. Total reality-check moments that this is happening soon!

My sister took 2 weeks off from her bypass surgery (office job, but had 2 little kids under 10 at home). My old boss took 4 weeks (teacher). Neither had robotic surgery which research said costs more but is supposed to be less painful with potentially faster recovery. I work in elementary special ed, and I'm taking just shy of 2 weeks (Mar 26-Apr 7) going back on a half day/non-instruction planning day Apr. 8th to see how I feel. I might take the rest of that week off for an extra 4 days if I'm healing slow. My clinic paperwork says patients will generally be able to swallow any med under the size of a pinkie nail after surgery. Pill powder (or crushed pills) can be put in thin liquid or applesauce. They recommend one a day bariatric fusion multivitamins but to take them x2 a day. The nutritionist said to either get the chewable or to open up the capsule and put it in a spoon of food/fluid. I have a splitter already but a pill crusher might be handy.

My sister took 2 weeks off from her bypass surgery (office job, but had 2 little kids under 10 at home). My old boss took 4 weeks (teacher). Neither had robotic surgery which research said costs more but is supposed to be less painful with potentially faster recovery. I work in elementary special ed, and I'm taking 2 weeks (Mar 26-Apr 7) going back on a half day/non-instruction planning Wednesday to see how I feel. I might take the rest of that week off for an extra 4 days if I'm healing slow.

I'm scheduled for gastric sleeve Mar. 26th, which feels like it's coming faster and faster. I needed a day close to Spring Break to avoid disrupting my schedule (work in special ed), and that was the day I wanted when I sent in my application in October... and I got it! ✔️ I started shakes for breakfast last November and 80 net carbs per day. Next week I'll switch to shakes for lunch. I have to change some meds with my regular doc this month and have an endoscopy Mar. 3rd. Mar. 11-25th is a milk/clear liquids only diet. That is going to be rough while still working up to the day before surgery, especially since if I escalate or am not with it, the kids can escalate. Definitely have to up my vitamins!

That's my hope! The 75 pounds helped my plantar fasciitis but not the rest, and I am usually in more pain from my daily 5ks. Trade off, but working out is addictive "me" time. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I was a diet-soda-a-day-er. Plus I drank a ton of loose leaf tea that's caffeinated, especially since I'm always fighting off the Kindergartener Kooties! Used a habit tracker journal to help quit when I entered the program. As far as the buzzing... well, on my profile cover photo is part of picture I took after chasing bees in a field for about an hour. They move deceptively fast for these round, fuzzy critters flying from flower to flower seeking out pollen to make the sweet stuff. Took me forever to get a good shot framed properly!

Surgery March 26th here! I've been drinking a morning shake for the last 2 months. Next week I'll start taking lunch shakes. Trying to get ready for an all liquid diet starting March 11 since I work with young kids who need a lot of patience. Getting hangry is not going to be an option. I also have a habit tracker journal that lets me set goals for each week and rewards. I can show what days I met the goals, how I met the goals, or how I failed to meet the goals. It lets me identify when I'm struggling and why. For me it's not all about food, but a lot of it is. Healthy habit forming is 90% of my battle. Once I lock it in, I'm usually pretty dedicated, like my daily 5k. I am working on tracking all my food (even the treats on days I exceed my carb limits).