Step 1

Ok so tomorrow I go to the patient education seminar at Cedars-Sinai. I feel sick. No not because I am nervous but I actually feel sick. Hopefully I will be fine tomorrow. Either way I am going so I guess it just doesn't matter. I don't expect to learn anything new or to change my mind. Just the process that needs to be done. I can't wait until i have an appoint with the doctor. I am hoping to be able to get this done before the end of the year. I'll let you know how it goes. Hey I almost forgot- Congratulations Laura on your surgery!!. Hope everything is going well

Day 1- Well not really!

Why

This adventure really started years ago when I first thought about having this surgery. Having tried so many diets, programs and hair brained ideas to lose weight and keep it off and having only short term success, I decided over a year ago to try and get this surgery. Why do you ask- so many reasons and so many stories - which I may get into later- but mainly to be a "normal sized" person. I want to be able to go into any store - let's say Target or Walmart and buy some clothes that fit- Hey I have simple tastes. I want to be able to have my children put their arms around me and be able to touch their own hands while hugging me. I want to be around to see my kids graduate from college, walk my daughters down the isle, see my grandchildren grow and spoil them. I want to grow old with the woman I love. I want to be able to be described by someone else to someone who does not know me and my weight or size never come up in the conversation. The "big guy", the "fat guy" Why do this blog? I don't know what's going to happen along this adventure but I know that if i can share my story and help someone else as well as keeping myself accountable then it will be worth it.

So it begins.

I actually started this process in June of 2008 but between doctors office mix ups and insurance mix ups and changing insurance companies and my lack of pushing hard enough it didn't happen. So when my new insurance kicked in I started over. It looked like i was once again getting the story that we were waiting for the insurance company, when i got authorization in the mail to get the office consultation with Cedar-Sinai Medical Group.

So yesterday I called to get my consult appointment with the group They informed me I needed to attend a pre-patient seminar and watch a couple of videos online before they would make me an appointment. Thankfully they have one scheduled for next week. Wednesday, August 26. They took down my information and sent me a confirmation of the seminar and a link to watch the videos. The first video was about the different types of surgery. Nothing I have not already seen or known. I have done lots of research on this prior. The second video was about giving a medication history, making sure to include all medications not just prescribed ones to ensure that there are no drug interactions. I have talked to two other people I know that have had the by pass surgery and both have shared how it has changed their lives. I hope to be able to do that as well.

Here Goes Everything

I have never been a person who follows the crowd or likes something because it's popular. In fact just the opposite is true. If something becomes so popular that everyone likes it - that turns me off. However this might be the first time I want to be just another person in the crowd. As you scan through a bunch of people that you pass right by me because there is nothing that stands out. So here we go on the Adventure To Normal!