Take the bitter with the sweet (surgery date!)

...........June 10th! My surgery will be on Wednesday, June 10th. It's not the two-week window of the last two weeks of May that I was given, but I'll take it.



Now we just have to re-work our vacation, work schedules....but, whatever. 

I go back on May 11th for my pre-surgery nutrition seminar and to sign consents....and to get re-weighed.


I started my period yesterday and it did me no good to explain to my MALE surgeon that I tend to gain about 10lbs of water weight around my period (hey, I have PCOS and endometriosis....there's a lot in inflammation going on there).
He didn't believe me and said that, to show that I'm still committed, I have to lose 4lbs in the next two weeks.



Ugh.....fucker (that's kind of the period talking, but not really).

I also have to go see my PCP for a pre-op physical, which I've already got scheduled for June 1st.

So for now, I'm just working on making a birthday cake-flavored protein shake since my birthday is 9 days after surgery.....happy early birthday to me!
(this will easily be the most expensive (and best) birthday present I ever get).

Shopping spree!! (not as fun as it sounds)

*tick*...*tock*.........*tiiiick*............*tooooock*

Yup...time is moving that fast. Is it the end of May yet?

Mr. Stanley has his countdown...I have mine.

 Still, while the time is dragging, I know that if I don't start preparing, it'll sneak up on me and I won't be ready. I've started stockpiling vitamins and supplements when I catch them on sale. Gummy multivitamins, iron, Biotin, calcium....you name it. Between the coupons and sales, I've done pretty well.

 I have to get into the habit of drinking lots of water, so I've also been looking for water bottles. I try to be environmentally conscientious, so I've been wanting to get glass water bottles. Because they're glass, they're not made with the chemicals that are in plastic, so you don't have to worry about BPA, and I think that the plastic ones make the water taste odd after a few washes. The problem is, the glass ones are so expensive! They run $25 and up. While walking around Meijer today, digging through the clearance aisles....tah-dah! CamelBak glass water bottles on clearance!

I know....I'm a klutz and carrying a glass bottle? These come with a silicon bumper sleeve that, according to the reviews I've read, do a great job of protecting them. I'm tempted to go back and get a few more so I can recycle all of my plastic bottles!






I also thought ahead about vacation: we're going to Florida while I'm off of work for surgery. I'd hate to buy cases of bottles water to take with us, and I'd hate to lug around a Brita pitcher just so I can filter my water. Meijer also has their Bobble bottles clearanced for $10. Bobble bottles are the ones that have a filter inside of them so that the water is filtered as you drink. Perfect for traveling!

Now for the protein: I've read so many nutrition labels, it makes my head hurt. My nutritionist recommends the powder they sell there, but it's marked up considerably. Plus, it only has 26 grams of protein per serving, and I KNOW I can find a higher protein content elsewhere. After reading multiple lables, I've decided on the Isopure Zero Carb line from Natures Best. It has 50 grams of protein per serving and lots of vitamins and nutrients. 

Honestly....it tastes horrible. I ordered it from Amazon in the vanilla and unflavored. I learned about a trick of adding sugar-free pudding mix to shakes to change up the flavor and I buy Torani sugar-free syrups, so I'm hoping to make them palatable. 
 
I think I've stocked up on most everything I'll need. My last appointment with my doctor and my nutritionist is on the 27th- I'm hoping to get an official surgery date. Until then.....

*tick*.............*tock*....................
 
 

What do you know....I am mentally competent!

For those of you've who've known me for more than....20 minutes, you know I'm a bit out there. Goofy. Odd. Wacky. Inappropriate.
And this suits me just fine.

I was a bit nervous about my psychological evaluation today; mainly because I didn't know what to expect. 
It started with an interview with the doctor- where did I grow up? How would I describe my childhood? Any siblings? How long have I been married? Highest education level? Highest adult weight? Any traumatic experiences due to my weight? What do I hope to achieve with surgery? Am I a crash/yo-yo dieter? Am I physically active? Etc...

Then I had a 20 question test, circling the statements that best described me:
I feel ashamed of my weight an never go out because of it.
I feel like others judge me because of my weight.
I feel comfortable in public. 
I can't control my eating.
I'm constantly thinking about food.
I binge eat and feel guilty after.

Things like that. Then a 165-question scantron test (sweet jesus, my hand hurts) that consisted of true or false questions like:
I have high anxiety about my medical problems.
I feel like no one cares about me.
I feel that because of God, nothing bad will happen to me.
I like detailed information about my medical problems.

I think they're trying to pick up on any depression, anxiety, hypochondriacs, or substance abuse issues. 

After my initial interview, she gave me the green light and said she had no concerns about my goals or expectations. 
All that's left is my last appointment on the 27th with my nut and my doctor and then it's all up to Cigna to give me an approval. At my last appointment, I was given the time frame of the last two weeks of May....fingers crossed!