Today I took another step along the road of preparing for gastric bypass surgery. First, I called my primary doctor for all the referrals I need. Luckily they can pop those in the mail for me and save me a trip to the office. Then I spent the next hour or so on the phone scheduling apointments.
The Pulmonology doctor will require 2 appointments, first a 20 to 30 minute test (March 10) and then a sit down appointment with the doctor (March 24). For the testing I’ll miss half a day of work, for the sit down I just have to leave work about an hour early.
The Psychiatrist appointment I got on the same day, March 10, after the pulmonary tests so I’m hoping to get into work after that for a half day.
The Gastroenterology doctor would only schedule a sit down appointment, that is next Fri. (Feb. 13) – right in the middle of the day 11:00 a.m. I am almost positive I’m going to need tests (after all that is the point – to be evaluated before the surgery), so I’m not sure why they didn’t just schedule those first, and then the sit down with doctor so there is actually something to evaluate. Oh well, not going to worry about it – will just make whatever appointments I need.
Bloodwork – I (12 different tests) scheduled for morning of Feb. 13 – so I can just take the morning off and hopefully get into work for the afternoon.
The cardiologist is the only other doctor I need to see – I already have a follow up with him scheduled in May (because I see the him regularly every six months). I’m not sure if that is too far away or if I need to get something sooner, or if I can just get whatever evaluation I need in writing from the records he already has on me. I’ll check with the bariatric director, John, at my next appointment.
Additional appointments so far include my 3 follows with John, the bariatric director, and monthly baristric support group meetings the last Tuesday of each month.
Overall, totalling up all the hours, I hope it will only be about 2 days worth of work lost. We only get 7 personal days, and I used one already for the first consultation, and I will need to use my vacation time for the surgery and recovery which is most likely going to be in the summer – which is usually 4 weeks to recover, but hoping I can get back faster; and then I’ll have to figure out what to do about follow up visits.
I feel good getting everything in motion. It will be even better when I’m done with all the appointments.
I certainly don’t enjoy visiting doctors and all these tests (who does!) – but I’m just putting my head down, nose to grindstone, and plunging ahead to get through the hoops.
My next appointment with John, the bariatric director, is Feb. 23. I am going to ask him about Green Smoothies after gastric bypass surgery. I am hoping he says they are ok , and if he says OK , I will be ordering my very Blendtec Blender
Currently Diet Pulpit is rarely updated. Lady Rose is now blogging at Blissful Moon, where she is staying healthy and continuing to have adventures, please stop by and visit.
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February 6th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
1 heidi wrote…
Good luck!! I have seen some people that have had amazing results. I will be interested to know about your journey.