So Long Thunder Thighs!

Last night, November 27, 2007, I attended the weight loss surgery information session at Minneapolis Bariatric Surgeons. They are considered a national center of excellence for gastric bypass surgery.
The session described the two main surgeries that they do there. The RNY gastric bypass and the Lap Band. I am planning on the RNY Gastric Bypass and most definitely hoping it can be done by laproscope rather than an open surgery.

They also described the eating process after the surgery and what needs to be done before the surgery.

Nurse Judy Schwartz gave the presentations - and didn't sugar coat any of the information -I love the straightforward approach. Her number one rule when it comes to eating with a gastric bypass surgery - Don't Plug It Up! - I think I will have my sister make a cross stitch of that for her to hang in her office.

So my to-do list is to gather the rest of the information for the insurance packet and get that in the mail. Then I need to schedule the psychiatric evaluation that is required pre-surgery and also a pre-surgery physical. I need to get a letter of support from my depression doc as well. So at least 3 phone calls today to get those scheduled. I want to stay on top of this and get it done. I need to also complete 5 phone call training sessions from a health partners dietician. The insurance requires several hoops to jump through to get this done. But I will jump like a trained poodle if it will help get me more healthy and in better physical and emotional shape.

How am I feeling? Before the meeting I was a little apprehensive - is this the right thing to do for me? After the meeting - I really am sold on the idea and just want to get it done so I can start the next chapter of my life as a more healthy person. I am sad that I have let my body get to this point but very grateful that there is this surgical tool that can help me take care of myself.

I will use this blog as a tracking for myself - both pre-surgery and post surgery. I will be adding pictures and statistics along the way.

Another great site I found was http://www.bariatriceating.com/ - i ordered some protien drink and the book and blender bottle from them. So far I am very impressed. I have started reading the book and it has a lot of great information and is a plain talk explanation of what to expect.