Regarding my upcoming bariatric surgery . . .
Well, if you know this blog exists it is because you are close enough to me that you would be interested in this information. Thank you all for being as supportive of me as you have been. I will do the best I can to keep you informed ahead of time what I am doing, and of any progress made during all this.
Well, I am inching closer to completion . . . I am waiting now for a referral from my regular doctor to a cardiac specialist to get a "cardiac clearance" evaluation prior to surgery. I have to call the referral nurse back tonight as the original doctor they referred can't see me until late May, and that is nowhere near the timeframe we want this to happen in. I will be getting a chest x-ray and an EKG and some lab work done. These results will then be sent to the specialists at University of Illinois Chicago for their review. If those are passed, then my appointment will be scheduled to meet the anesthesiologist at UIC prior to my surgery, and then a final followup with the surgical team.
If all goes well, we are hoping for surgery in early April. It depends partly on how fast we can get the tests done. I will need to be on a liquid diet for 4 weeks following the evaulations at UIC and prior to surgery. Then they think about 4-5 days in the hospital and roughly 4 weeks or so at home afterward for recovery.
I will send updates as things get accomplished. I plan on working right up to surgery date if at all possible, unless the liquid diet puts too much strain on my system after a couple weeks. I did it for 11 days in 2005 when I got close to surgery before, and only ill effects was I was just a little cranky. (If you can imagine that from me . . . )
My sister Pam will be staying with me a few days after I return home to make sure I get around okay on my own. She isn't used to having satellite TV, Tivo, an Apple MacBook laptop, wireless internet or grocery delivery, so this will seem like Club Med to her. (Accept for the putting up with my cranky ass part, LOL) Seriously, I am thankful she has signed on for as long as it takes to get me up and running again. I am hopeful it will be a week or less, and maybe we can have some fun time to visit and catch up. Hopefully I'll get to treat her to a couple area specialties like a Portillo's hot dog and a Chicago Style pizza. Of course, I won't get any at that time, but I don't care. I'll just be glad to have this done finally. I have wanted it over 5 years.
Thanks for being supportive. I am determined to make this happen this time. I am anxious and affraid all at the same time. But I know I am doing the right thing. I will keep you posted.
Just so you don't forget . . . For the record, if you are reading this, it's because I love you :o)
Well, I am inching closer to completion . . . I am waiting now for a referral from my regular doctor to a cardiac specialist to get a "cardiac clearance" evaluation prior to surgery. I have to call the referral nurse back tonight as the original doctor they referred can't see me until late May, and that is nowhere near the timeframe we want this to happen in. I will be getting a chest x-ray and an EKG and some lab work done. These results will then be sent to the specialists at University of Illinois Chicago for their review. If those are passed, then my appointment will be scheduled to meet the anesthesiologist at UIC prior to my surgery, and then a final followup with the surgical team.
If all goes well, we are hoping for surgery in early April. It depends partly on how fast we can get the tests done. I will need to be on a liquid diet for 4 weeks following the evaulations at UIC and prior to surgery. Then they think about 4-5 days in the hospital and roughly 4 weeks or so at home afterward for recovery.
I will send updates as things get accomplished. I plan on working right up to surgery date if at all possible, unless the liquid diet puts too much strain on my system after a couple weeks. I did it for 11 days in 2005 when I got close to surgery before, and only ill effects was I was just a little cranky. (If you can imagine that from me . . . )
My sister Pam will be staying with me a few days after I return home to make sure I get around okay on my own. She isn't used to having satellite TV, Tivo, an Apple MacBook laptop, wireless internet or grocery delivery, so this will seem like Club Med to her. (Accept for the putting up with my cranky ass part, LOL) Seriously, I am thankful she has signed on for as long as it takes to get me up and running again. I am hopeful it will be a week or less, and maybe we can have some fun time to visit and catch up. Hopefully I'll get to treat her to a couple area specialties like a Portillo's hot dog and a Chicago Style pizza. Of course, I won't get any at that time, but I don't care. I'll just be glad to have this done finally. I have wanted it over 5 years.
Thanks for being supportive. I am determined to make this happen this time. I am anxious and affraid all at the same time. But I know I am doing the right thing. I will keep you posted.
Just so you don't forget . . . For the record, if you are reading this, it's because I love you :o)
posted by Jim at 11:27 PM
3 Comments:
Hey Bro! Just read your blog. I want to think we will have time to have fun. But....if not, that's okay. I have wiped your ass many times!!!!!!You're right, I'm too cheap to have TIVO and all of that other stuff so give me the food channel and a beverage you know, a cocktail! and I will be happy. I am trying to get my shop and estate sales in order, and my taxes done so that when I get the call from you, I can come! BUT, if you think you are going to be grumpy, or have a bell by your bed---well you know I will shove that it your ass before I leave! Love ya,
Sister Pam
#2 in the middle!
God I look forward to that loving care . . . I have an old bucket I can keep by the bed so I can just turn a bit and whiz into it. Then I'll ring the bell for you to come and empty, and bring me a cold drink. I'll also make sure the vacuum is tuned up and that I get all my old laundry out from the floor of the closet and under the bed for you. Do you have an iron? Man, I would love all my clothes pressed before I have to go back out into the cold cruel world again too. You won't mind sticking to a liquid diet for a while will you? LOL You will be so glad to get back home to Gary he will want lessons from me.
Seriously, I am hoping I get around half way decent, and you are here mainly as a precaution and we do have some fun times too, even if its just watching a movie or TV shows. While I am thinking about it, I am going to disinfect that bell right now!
LOL!! Glad I'm merely close as family but not exactly family...or you'd have an iron shoved up your ass right behind that bell... ;)
Much love,
Bonnie
xoxoxoxo
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