Well, I spent the day on the medical safari in South Bend today. First it was a meeting with an old co-worker - the clinic's exercise physiologist - Greg. Had to keep on task as we could have chatted the whole hour away. He's got me doing 45-60 minutes of aerobic exercise 4-5 days per week. I found out that there's 215# of lean me under all these energy storage layers. He said I should do very well with the program.
Then it was on to my regular doctor's office, which happens to be in the same office as my former employer. I stopped in to say hi to the old gang before the usual poke an prod. It was a good thing I was on the schedule today. I'd forgotten about today's appointment, but had been concerned about a lump on my right calf. I called to see if they could squeeze me in, but Sadie said that I already had a 1:15pm appointment - good karma eh? Just as I suspected (via my google searching last night) my calf lump and pain is a superficial phlebitis. With that diagnosis, I can now officially say that I'm an old fart. Now I can gather with other "old farts" and complain about my phlebitis! Actually, it's a little thing he says, just some hot compresses and a little antibiotics and I'll be just fine.
Next was my 1st meeting with the surgeon! Duh dun da....... He seemed pretty nice, in that preoccupied, deeply introspective way that all people who disect others for a living have. He asked all the pertinent questions - how did you get to this point, what do you expect, etc. I sensed he was looking for any sign that I think this surgery is some "magic bullett". I reassured him that I fully expect to have to make serious lifestyle changes after surgery, and that I understand that the surgery is just a tool to help me lose the weight and keep it off. He asked what I thought my hardest part would be, and I said that it would be dealing with my psychological approach to food. He asked what my biggest fear of where I'd be in 2 years - I told him that it was that I'd learn how to beat the surgery and gain all the weight back. I don't think I'll be there, but I've heard some horror stories (nice how folks always feel compelled to tell you how a friend's cousin had the exact same thing but now talks with a lisp and can't digest food normally any more). To make this drastic decision, and then revisit the same bad approach to food is ridiculous. After surgery I'll have permanent vitamin defficiencies and will have to supplement, and may be more flatulent or have constant diarrhea (yummy), but add to that gaining the weight back - that's crazy.
Well, tomorrow's the shrink's visit. I guess I'll be meeting with him twice and he'll be making a report to the "team" so they can make a decision about my case (yes or no to surgery!). So now I've got that to worry about. I'm really psyched (pun) about the shrink's visit tomorrow. I've got to learn how to deal with stress better, and not eat when I'm bored or stressed. I wonder if they could remove that part of my brain that makes me do that while they've got me under....
Anyhow - more to follow.......
