1. I have had a weight problem all my life. This week has been amazing for me. My older sister had lap band surgery over a year ago and has lost over 100 pounds, is off all her medications and able to run after all 4 of her grands. She offered me the same opportunity and offered to pay for the procedure since we do not have health insurance.


2. I have been working with my primary physician for the last 4 months in order to get a referral to a bariatric surgeon in Charlottesville. My appointment was on Tuesday. We had information sessions on the surgery itself, class from the dietitian, and meeting with the surgeon.




3 After the classes we were given a Gift from God. I was given the opportunity to have the surgery done on Saturday by the top bariatric surgeon at the UVA practice. Usually there is at least a month wait before surgeon can be scheduled. The doctor I had the original appointment with is being mentored by this physician and he is booked up 9 months in advance. Because we did not have to go through our insurance company I was able to have the surgery.



4. This was great news for me as I had been doing research, praying, and reading about this surgery for the last nine months. We really believe that God had provided the perfect timing, perfect surgeon, and the finances. It also gave me very little time to fret and worry about surgery itself. I have never had general anesthesia so was more than a little worried. Praise the Lord for my praying friends who make the best cheerleaders in the world.



5. I went to the hospital at 9:30 with a new magazine and was able to read it before I was called back . Once I got in the room everything moved really fast. I met the surgeons, nurses, anesthesia people, and even the camera man....yes my stomach banding was filmed as it is new brand product and was the main reason I was able to have the surgery this week. The surgery took an hour and a half and I was home in our nest by 3:30.



6. I'm feeling amazingly good for just having had surgery. My throat is sore from being intubated and I had a few hours of intense gas pains in my chest from where they pumped in CO2 so they could do laproscopic surgery. I have 3 slits on my stomach and one slit below the bra line. Would you believe they glued the slits together? My incisions have started to bruise already so I'm pretty colorful. Now that the gas pains have passed by biggest problem is avoiding my cats who love to jump up in my lap and snuggle up.

7. For the next 4 weeks my diet will be blended foods while the swelling goes down and I adjust to my new eating style. Fortunately I love yogurt and applesauce and soups will go down easily too. My food capacity is only a half a cup but I will only be eating a fourth of cup at one time, 4 to 6 times a day for a while. I start doing 15 minutes of walking in the house today.



So it has been an exciting week at the Daisy Patch and a new way of life for me. I invite you to share my journey. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. God is so good, all the time.

Labels: Sunday Seven