Welcome!!

Welcome to my blog.  I have never had a blog, so if I spent a lot of time already trying to pimp it out. 

So, I should start by introducing myself....  My name is Rachel and I will be having VSG surgery on February 15th, 2011 in Bakersfield, CA.  I am not from Bakersfield however.  I drive about 2 1/2 hours to get there.  I am married and I work for my county.  I ♥ pumpkin pie, cheeseburgers and all sorts of things that got me to where I am today.

It all started when I went to my doctors in August.  I told her I was too fat and felt like I was drowning.  I had no neck (chins straight into breast) and I wanted to be healthy and live longer.  She told me that my insurance was no approving people for WLS (weight loss surgery) and I should try it.  (I had already shown an interest.)

I started dieting immediately and within a week I had a referral to Dr. Niak at the Bakersfield Surgery Center.  By the time of my appointment on Sept. 2nd I had lost 15 pounds.  The surgery center staff were very friendly, but there was a LOT of paperwork which took an hour.  I was a little pissy by the time I saw Dr. Niak.  My husband went in to the initial visit /orientation with me and we learned of all the WLS options available at that surgery center.  I was drawn towards the sleeve immediately, but didn't commit to it until just recently. 

After meeting with the doc, we had to drive to the office where Karen works.  Karen is a delightful patient rep who has walked me through the process, step by step.  I met with her and a nurse to learn more about the immediate changes I had to make and about the expectations to get approved and to have the surgery.

It was during the meeting with the nurse that I decided I wanted to do this, I needed to do this and that I could do this.  I also decided then that the Lap Band was not for me.  It just creeped me out a little.  Karen weighed me and took a photo to officially start the journey. 

Of course I would learn that I needed to lose 13 pounds by surgery approval time.  I thought that seemed reasonable.  I had hoped that they would take into consideration the 15 I had already lost, but no- the count starts over.  As of the last doc office visit, I had lost 33 pounds. (That includes the initial 15)  I stopped caffeine, carbonated beverages, red meat (I still miss it) and overall bad foods.  I ate low carb and high protein.  With the exception of getting a few last meals in before I start my dreaded 14 day 900 calorie liquid only diet. 

That mostly brings me up to date on where I am at.  I have just over 2 weeks til surgery, and while looking forward to the surgery, not so true for the 14 day torture before it.  I will be cranky and possibly dabbling in a little evil.  My work and real husbands are both afraid, very very afraid.

I have a lot more to say, but for the first entry I think I am done.  I end with the thought that tomorrow I am going to have a little cereal.  I ♥ cereal. 

Thanks for listening,
Rae