Insiders' Look

So, since the beginning most of my inner sanctum has been getting periodic updates on the progress of my surgery.  I've decided to publish the most recent email I sent out in order to make my blog a little more personal.  Hope you enjoy this inside look!

Begin Email:

Hey y'all!

Well, it has begun.  Day 1 of the 10 day pre-op diet and I'm doing okay. Protein shake alone didn't go very far to start the day but after a healthily made to the specs I was given half a sandwich, I started feeling better. On protein shake number two now. Almond Vanilla ... yummo. This is a high protein, low carb diet to drop some weight and shrink my liver before surgery. (They have to lift my liver out of the way to get to my stomach. The smaller it is the easier that is to do. And Dr. Hanosh is a petite man ... gotta help him out.) Your liver is the first place you gain fat and the first place you lose fat, fyi. I guess I'll have the liver of a super model early on after surgery. tee hee

Mountain top experience report ... was absolutely what I wanted and needed it to be. The family would wonder off to explore and do their thing and I had time to sit and pray and meditate and read His Word. It was true communion and between that and the WLS books I read while there my take away was that I'm doing just what I'm supposed to be doing.

I had my pre-op education class with the WLS center on Tuesday. It's much more real when they talk about your real life expectations as opposed to reading about others' experiences. The only time my eyes teared up and I nearly pushed back from the table to leave was when I heard "clear liquid diet". LOL. I'm very impressed with the organization they have and the very structured program.   

I saw Dr. Hanosh on Wednesday. Spent a lot of time talking with him. Had a whole list of questions for him. (It had been shortened due to many being answered at the educ. class.) He went over all the risks. I knew it all of course. :) Actually he mentioned that it was likely my liver would be enlarged (even if less fatty) ... and that a biopsy of it is usually taken. I signed my surgery consent form ... talk about a very real moment. He is so patient and gentle ... I just really, really like him. He was impressed with my WLS binder and all my questions. I got brownie points because I had not gained weight like a lot of patients do!! I had lost a couple of pounds. Oh, and I love him extra because he said I could have protein shakes all day the day before surgery instead of clear fluids. God bless Dr. Bowtie!

Another important development this week was getting my hair done yesterday.  Gotta be bright and sunshiney when I wake up in the hospital.  Gloomy and frumpy just wouldn't cut it.

Next weekend I'll take Trini and a friend to Goodwill and I will be getting pants in at least 3 or 4 sizes just below what I wear now. Get a pair or three at each size so I will have something to wear as I shrink. Shirts I will worry about later as mine start to swallow me up.

I would love for you to pray over me this week as I struggle for energy with this wackadoo diet. Next Monday will likely be a little difficult diet wise so pray that day too. Surgery is at 8 am on Tuesday morning with a check-in at 6:30. This is a huge blessing! I will be feeling not so good from lack of food and I will not have all morning to get anxious or worried.

And I'm feeling the emotional ties pulling on me. We had to go shop for groceries today because our week was so busy I couldn't get to the store!  Seeing things I liked and wondering if I'd ever have them again? It was good. Cathartic even. (So I started typing lethargic instead of cathartic. Freudian slip? I think not.) And it's good to start dealing with feelings like that now. Ya know, it's just all really good!

Thanks for all the support and all the prayers! We're closing in!

Love y'all,

Lesa

End Email

"He must increase and I must decrease." - John 3:30

Be blessed and be blessings y'all!