Myra's Blog

Myra's BlogSo this is Friday,
September 22, 2006. Big changes are underway in my life, I am happy to say.
For starters, on Monday I am scheduled to undergo psychological testing to determine if I will be accepted to undergo gastric bypass surgery. This is by no
way a small thing in my life. The past 6 weeks have led me to finally look forward
to this very day with great anticipation. I have no doubt that I will pass this test
with flying colors. That will then put me 1 step further towards the end result of
scheduling the actual surgery. Yes! Oh my gosh, I can't believe the whole thing
really. How this all came to be, I mean. This is life changing big time in my life.

My health has been a burning issue, especially, I would say in the last 6 months.
With the swelling in my legs and ankles, I was convinced that I must have congestive heart failure. My shortness of breath upon any type of exeurtion and
my wheezing, led me to believe that I must have enphseyma too.

How relieved I was upon finally being forced to visit my MD, because of an
infected finger that was throbbing for days, before I became willing to finally
bite the bullet and see my doctor. I was so afraid because of my blood sugar
isssues that I could possibly lose the finger or even the whole hand if I did not
address this infection professional.

On the morning of my doctor appointment, an article appeared in our local
newspaper regarding a less invasive type of bariatric surgery, referred to as
the sleeve. This procedure was performed orthoscopily (sp?). Wow, I thought
to myself, I should really disscus this procedure with my doctor and ask if
he thought it was a possibility for me to have this done and would anyone consider surgery on me because I'm a smoker and am having such difficulty breathing.

With my list in hand I drove in the pouring rain with rush hour traffice to my
doctors office. After urine and blood tests, my doctor informed me that
I did not have congestive heart failure and that my kidney's were fine. The
swelling was a reaction to medication I take. He went on to tell me that I also
did not have emphysema. I have a brochical blah, blah, with asmatic tendencies.
When I asked if I would be considered a candidate for bariatric surgery, he
turned around and looked me in the eye and said YES, it will save your life.
He told me that if I had it done it would be likely that I would get off all the
medications that I take and that further more, one of the reasons I'm having
difficulty with me breathing is because I am so fat!

So there you have it. This is what happened that fateful day one month ago
exactly today. I just looked it up on my calendar and see that it was on August
22nd, that I visited my doctor.

Also of note regarding the changes in my life, is that one week prior to the 22nd, on August 15th, I went for my first acupuncture treatment. This was
actually my first step in reaching out for help with my health.

Since the 15th of August, I have had no more coffee. I drink tea instead.
I also drink 160 oz. of water every day. These were specific requests from
the acupunture practioner. She also asked my to walk 15 minutes in the morning and 15 more at night. With this I have not been as successful.
I am making progress though and I am feeling somewhat better.

But the really big, big shift - and I mean large - stellar - is about to emerge
with the completion of this highly anticipated gastric bypass surgery.

I no not, that anyone will ever read this entry in my blog.
It matter not to me.
What matters, is that I have documented this to the best of my ability, for myself, for future reference.
May I never forget the agony and despiration that I have felt for so long, that
lead me to make this decision in my life.

As the Jewsih New Year begins tonight, may God bless me and inscribe me in
The Book of Life, for another year.

Amen.