The Beginning

Ok, maybe not THE beginning...I've been trying to get approval from my insurance company to have gastric bypass surgery for some time now. It started July 2006. Six months of visits to the nutritionist, a psychological evaluation, physicals, and an EKG, I finally have my approval from Cigna and off we go. I'm scheduled to go to VCU Medical Center in Richmond on April 30 at 530AM.

I started a two week pre-surgery liquid diet this past Monday. Five protein shakes a day and all the water I can drink! WoooHoooo! The purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver to allow more room for my surgeon to do his voodoo. So far it's going well. I'm actually having a hard time getting in five shakes a day. Since Monday I've lost almost seven pounds.

Last Saturday Mac and I drove down to Ocracoke Island, N.C. where we had a nice dinner at Howard's Pub. Ocracoke is a cute little island, with lots of little shops, places to eat, bed and breakfasts, bicycle and kayake rentals...lots of fun stuff. You can go diving, fishing or just lay out on the beach. We spent the night and drove back the next day thinking we'd wait out the storm, but it decided to hit on the drive home! Yikes. When we got home we went to Uno's for pizza and drinks...(we had some of the things I won't be able to eat later, fried cheese, etc.)

So having my last dinner with fried stuff and pizza, I'm feeling good and ready to get this done. Mac is very supportive and once I get back on solid food the types of food we'll be eating will be high protein, low calorie, and sugar free (Splenda is my friend!) so should be good for both of us.

I thought this would be the best way to keep everyone up to date, and anytime you have a comment or want to say hello feel free to add your comments!

Pic of me in February before surgery in April.

Love,
Cindy