Tuesday, November 8, 2011

LONG Day...LOTS Done

Friday was definitely a long day for me.  But I got so much done.  Friday was the day that I did all of my tests for my surgery.  I arrived at Guthrie in Sayre around 8 am.  First stop was to see the Dietician.  She is really nice.  Her name is Adrienne and she's going to be assisting me throughout this journey.  She'll be the one helping me to know what to eat and what to avoid.  We had a nice visit and she gave me a food diary that I have to begin recording what I'm eating in.  This is key because keeping this food diary and beginning to change my eating habits right now shows them that I'm serious about how I will change how I eat even after the surgery.

After I met with Adrienne, I went to my appointment with the psychologist, Dr. Lichtenstein.  I know...he's got the perfect psychologist's name, doesn't he?  He talked to me about my eating habits and the emotional side of the change this surgery will make in me.  At the end, he told me that he was going to clear me for the surgery.  Whew...at least I know I'm not crazy...and I've got a professional's opinion that says I'm not!

On to the lab.  12 vials of blood later...I was on my way to X-ray.  I thought I was in for a simple X-ray but in fact, I was scheduled for an upper GI series.  I got my exercise in for the day as I had to drink this nasty stuff and roll all over the table to coat my stomach and then roll this way and that while they took pictures of my stomach.  It wasn't all that bad.  And the doctor had a dry sense of humor that I found rather amusing.  It was almost 12:30 by the time I was headed home.

I have to go back and see Adrienne with my food journal in a month.  Then I will see Dr. Alley again and hopefully schedule my surgery, assuming that everything was fine with my blood work.  I'm thinking my surgery will probably be sometime after Christmas.  What a way to begin the new year!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Another Update

I just realized that I haven't eaten anything of substance since noon.  I figured I had better eat something before I have to fast until around 11 o'clock tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow is my big appointment in Sayre, PA.  I have to meet with a psychiatrist, dietician, have a full blood work panel done, and then have an x-ray tomorrow.  That will satisfy all of my requirements before we schedule my surgery.  I'm pretty sure that tomorrow I will make my pre-surgery appointment.

It's all coming together, it seems.  I suffered through the sleep study and only hallucinated a little bit while I was trying to stay awake for my last day of work at the Center and then Trunk or Treat.  I keep thinking things about myself and about how I want myself to look.  I think about how uncomfortable I am just to sit.  All the time.  It's hard to figure out what to do with my hands.  Most people of normal size don't think about these things.  They just fold their hands in their lap.  I can't do that and be comfortable.  I think about going up and down the stairs at work constantly.  My office is upstairs so I have to go up there several times a day.  When I get up there, I'm out of breath.  There are many other things.  The pain I experience is a huge one.  Every day, that first step out of bed...a painful reminder that the plantar fascitis is still going strong in my foot.  The back injury that haunts me out of nowhere, just because I do a silly thing like sleep in a strange bed in a hotel room one night.  All of that can (and will be) a thing of the past.  I look forward to that day.

And then my job.  I do like my job.  I am eager to finish my training so that I can take complete charge of the office and get things more organized.  So many issues there are all being thrown at me at one time and it's easy to see why I was hired.  At first, I wondered a little bit.  But now, I understand.  It makes perfect sense. And I'm looking forward to making the office a better place for people to work.  I had to fire my first person today.  Even though I did it in a round about way, I still felt bad.  I say "round about" because I only handed her a letter of dismissal and then asked for her keys, since I wasn't her supervisor to begin with.  It's tough to be the heavy hand.  I'm learning this first-hand.  I spent most of the day working on the schedule for the next week because people have to be shifted a little bit at first so that all of us "newbies" can get our training.  These first few weeks are going to be tough.  But then, things should settle down some.

I must say, I do enjoy the feeling of being in charge.  I feel like I have a pretty level head on my shoulders and usually I can look at a situation and say, "No, I think it would work better if we did it THIS way."  And usually, when people have taken my advice in the past, it has worked.  I enjoy praising the workers at Dr. Addams' office for the hard work that they do.  I think we have a good team of people together now.  And I think if we all pull together and work hard for these next few weeks, we can make that good team of people an EXCEPTIONAL team of people.

It is after 11 now as I write this.  I have to be up early to drive to Sayre tomorrow.  So, I will say good night. And I'll update again tomorrow about my appointments in Sayre.  Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Update...On All Things ME!

I thought I should post an update so the world knows what's up with me these days...

Well, I had my sleep study, which was the first test I had to undergo for my surgery.  It was a difficult night to say the least.  I had six electrodes attached to my head, a few on my face, two on my chest, two on each leg, and two different kinds of hoses up my nose.  And then they said, "Now go to sleep".  Difficult.  But apparently, I did sleep for a little while.  It was enough time for them to get the data that they needed.  I spent the next day being entirely exhausted and by the end of the day, I was hallucinating...just a little.  That day was my last day working at the Center.  It was nice.  They took me out to lunch at Garcia's and Robin gave a really nice gift (a box of chocolate).  I know that I will miss working there.  But I am also excited about where God is leading me next.

Yesterday was my first full day of working at Dr. Addams' office.  When I walked in, I was greeted with "You should get settled in because we have lots to tell you!"  Oh, boy.  The day was full of that kind of thing and I did my best to muddle through.  I ended up working late because the evening receptionist wasn't coming in and they were starting a new evening receptionist yesterday.  I might not be a seasoned veteran, but I was in charge and I couldn't let her stay there alone all night on her first day.  So...I worked 9-7:30ish last night.  On my first day!  Whew!  It was a toughie.  But I did it!  And I think I scored some more points with Dr. Addams for my work ethic.  She gets very impressed when you go the extra mile.  I am enjoying the busyness of her office.  The day, although long, did seem to go by quite fast.  And there's always something to do.  Which is good.

So, now I'm on to day two.  I don't think this one will be a long one.  It should be a regular day.  At least, that's what I'm counting on!

This Friday the day will be full of lab work and tests and psychiatric examinations.  All of the stuff I have to still get done will be finished Friday and then I believe they will schedule my surgery.  Looking forward to that part!