Barium, tiny cameras, and calories

There are WLS programs that require MUCH less pre-surgical wait time than mine.  A colleague of mine (she is paying out of pocket and going outside the US for her surgery) groaned when I told her mine was SIX months of monitored wight loss (required 5% reduction in weight) before the insurance company would approve me for the procedure.

I'm rather glad.  I'm working through the steps of eating 1500 calories a day and adding back in physical activity on a very regular basis.  It's not for nothing.  I was bitter at first.  Excited and impatient.  I wanted it NOW.  As I make my way down this winding path I see the value in the wait.  I'm working on my stamina and cleaning up my organs to be as healthy as possible for this big thing to happen.

At Fletcher Allen you meet your surgeon and take your baseline weight then they calculate the official 5% you are to lose.  You are told very plainly that you will be asked for your food journals when you come in  for your monthly appointment.  You're then scheduled for tests according to your co-morbidities.

Everyone must do a swallow study to get ready to have a endoscopy. They need to be sure they can fit the tiny camera down your esophagus and take the necessary biopsies of your gut.  There are certain factors they are looking for...ulcerative qualities, hernias, gastritis, presence of h-pilori. 

I had both the swallow study (you drink barium, gross - and get ready to have a really hard time on the other end of the swallow) and the EGD.  I have a small hiatal hernia and gastritis (which is capable of healing itself).  Dr. Forgione is not worried about any of it and has said I'm good to go as far as my anatomy goes.

Keep exercising and writing shit down that I put in my mouth and around January I should be having it.  I just signed up for a couple of college classes and that should keep me sufficiently busy until the end of this process. 

I never saw myself at this point in the process.  I don't really know why.  But I'm here and I guess I'm a great patient...funny.  I dreamed the other night that I was trim.  I felt lots of conflicting feelings.  I woke up in this version of myself and I wasn't disappointed.  I have a ton of respect for this body and what it does for me.

I only have energy to absorb positivity at this point so I am still not announcing publicly that I am doing this.  If you are reading this please understand that I need YOU to support me because I desire to live a nice long life with my loved ones.  Please only comment if you can oblige.  Peace.