Anxiously awaiting insurance approval and scheduling of surgery.  I am currently on a 1500 calorie a day diet required pre-op.  I am really hoping I hear something this week!!

My appointment with Dr. Tanner was wonderful.  He was very informative and put me at ease.  After the appointment I was back in Dr. Bradley's office having some labs drawn and doing a pulmonary functioning test for insurance clearance.  They also scheduled me for a bilateral lower extremity ultrasound, to rule out blood clots in my legs, a echocardiogram-for cardiac clearance and an EGD, since I have had some issue with heartburn in the past.

All of those things are past me and we are just waiting.  I am so ready to get that extra help I need to once and for all finish this "Reach".

Perspective

My MD got all my medical records ready for me and I picked them up and hand delivered them to the Bariatric Center.  I received a call just 5 days later to schedule an appt. for my assessment for the following Tuesday!! 
Well, I had that appointment yesterday and it went great!!  They scheduled me an appt. to see the surgeon for July 3rd.  The surgeons office will be the one to submit all the paper work to insurance.  My surgeon may want me to see some of my other physicians to be cleared for the surgery...I'm not sure.  Insurance approval may take 30 days and then getting scheduled is another thing.  But, if things all go smoothly, I should have the surgery sometime in the early Fall.

Could the end be near?  I got the call from the nurse from the Norton's Bariatric clinic today and she set up my appointment for next Tuesday.  It will be a 2 hr. visit where I am seen by the RN, dietician, therapist and physicians assistant.  After that, it will be the appointment with the surgeon and then scheduling the surgery.

OK, let's see.......I got started on my CPAP the first of March, did feel better but still lagging with fatigue.  My MD was concerned about my thyroid labs spacing apart and scheduled a lab redraw in May.  I was also found to be very, very low on my vit D.  Well, I returned to the MD on May 14th and had my labs rechecked.  My thyroid checked out OK. We talked about if I wanted to try taking phentermine again to help lose weight, but I am over that.  I told her that me and my husband have been discussing WLS (weight loss surgery).  I have been struggling with my obesity for 12 years now and I need something more than what I've tried. She referred me to Dr. Tanner with Norton's Bariatric Weight Management.

I went to a WLS seminar last Friday and I will see my MD again on May 29th to get what I need from her to finish out my packet to turn into the program.  I want to pursue the RNY Gastric Bypass procedure.  Hopefully, I will be able to turn my packet in by the first of June and get my assessment appointment sometime soon after.

Well, I think we have found the source of my exhaustion!!!  OSA- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
I did a sleep test last week and they called me yesterday and said I had had 254 OSA episodes!
I go back in next week to be monitored during sleep with a CPAP machine on and then they will set me up with one at home.  I am definitely ready to be energized!!

I have been getting to the gym @ 3x's a week and have been walking the dog several times a week.

I have lost about 12-13 lbs.

I have had a better week this week for sure.  My Atkin's low carb diet is going well, worked out 3x's already this week and I feel like I am having more energy.  After Monday's 25 min on the treadmill, I walked on 6.5 incline for 30 minutes to get my heart rate up (150 in comparison to 125).  I really want to get my cardio upped quick because that is what's gonna help me the most out West......cardio and endurance.

Will give weight loss report on Monday.  Urologist on Tuesday.