And off I go!

I have been waiting for today since.....well, last August when I tried to get things going with St. Elizabeth. 

I met with my surgeon and a nutritionist today (which I'll abbreviate to "nut" from now on). When the nut was reviewing my 24 hour diet and list of foods I eat,her reply was "it looks like you eat pretty healthy!". Yeah...I do. Unfortunately, it's not enough.
"How many times a week do you eat out at a sit-down restaurant?"
Once. Sometimes twice.
"How many times a week do you eat fast food?"
NEVER (bleh)

Yuck...please...

She explained about how this involves a lifestyle change: I can only eat 2-4 oz of food at each meal, no more drinking liquids with meals, I'll have to follow a 2 week pre-op liquid diet, pureed diet for two weeks after surgery, soft foods for three weeks after, and I'll have to take a multi-vitamin daily for the rest of my life.
I've researched this thoroughly and I follow an amazing group of supportive people on Facebook that are pre and post op that I've learned so much from.
Got it.

After that, Dr. Northup came in. We reviewed my medical history and he asked if I have any concerns with having surgery....no. Being that I work in the medical field, I know too much. I have zero concerns. 
Check back with me when it gets closer to my surgery date...I might be a little nervous then.

Both my nut and Dr. Northup asked the same question: what are you wanting to get out of this?
"Well, I'd like for my knees to not hurt. I'd like for my back to not hurt from the weight I'm carrying around. I'd like to be able to physically be more active. I'd like to be fit. I'd like to not feel like I'm holding back my spouse (who has a healthy weight) from doing physical activities together."
"I'd like to be able to enjoy life"

To quote Dr. Northup (who said this several times)- 
"You are a perfect candidate for surgery".

*Happy dance!*

All my insurance is requiring is that I follow up with Dr. Northup and meet with the nut for three months. They don't care about me losing weight before surgery or my weight/medical history. Mercy and Dr. Northup, however, do require that I do the following:

• A psychological evaluation. Everybody does it- they just want to gauge how realistic you are about understanding this lifestyle change.
• Blood work. I've had some done in the last 30 days, so they pulled it into my chart from my doc (isn't electronic charting awesome?!?) and there are two things missing that they screen for. I just have to go have blood drawn so they can check for those two things.
• Get a letter of recommendation from my doctor- I handed them two. One from my PCP and one from my OB/GYN since one of my comorbidities is PCOS.
• Attend one support group meeting.

That's it.
I don't have to do a sleep study. I don't have to do a cardiac study. I don't have to have an endoscopy done to check for hernia's or ulcers. I don't have a gallbladder anymore, so I don't have to get an ultrasound done. Any I don't have any respiratory issues, so I don't have to do a pulmonary study.
My psych eval is already scheduled for April 2nd (seriously, that was the soonest opening they had). I can attend a support group meeting at any time. It's really just a matter of getting the three requirements done and seeing my surgeon/nut once a month. 
Is it May yet?!?