In the Hat...

So, we made the trip ok and the roads weren't great from Calgary to just past Strathmore but then were ok until Bassano and then good from Brooks to the Hat. We got here and tried to call the hotel we'd made a reservation at and were told they have no record of our reservation. Oh, and the rate we were quoted is wrong and is actually TWICE what we were expecting. So, we said, "no, thanks!" and called around.

We're staying at the Travelodge. It's not too shabby, there are outer and inner doors (which is odd to me) but there is a pool with a hot tub, the showers/tubs are nice and big and the beds are comfy without being too hard or soft. All in all, ok place to be. Mom and I went to ABC Family Restaurant for dinner when we finally got here, got checked in and settled. We split corn bread (which I love and haven't had in a long time) had our own meals and when we came back to the hotel, my mom took some "before" pictures of me in this really cute bra and panty set that I bought specifically for before and after shots (so I don't own a lot of matchy-matchy stuff, sue me). Then we went to the pool and sat in the hot tub for a bit. We took random photos in the hot tub and my mom took a couple of pictures of me going down the slide and such too. (I'll post the pool pics to Facebook sometime...) I've since showered, talked to Mike on the phone, Matt, Dianne and Randi online and mom is asleep. I'm heading that way now too. I'm excited/nervous still but not having an emotional breakdown (which I was expecting/anticipating).

A couple of turns of event today (one or more that are slightly odd): my mom got a couple of e-mails about my surgery from people we didn't tell about it. Curiouser and curiouser. My auntie (mom's best friend) is getting married February 14! I'm SO happy for her! (When I last saw her, they had yet to set a date!) I sent my dad a letter (through Canada Post) telling him that I'm having surgery. I told him that I wrote a personal care directive and if anything were to happen, my brother will let him know. He doesn't know I'm going in for surgery at all so it'll be news to him... Last, but certainly not least, the hospital called around 4:30 to tell me I'm scheduled for surgery at 7:45am so I have to be there to check-in to admitting at 6am.

I'm all packed. I have everything I need... No clothes other than some PJ pants, a PJ top (I'm currently wearing it) and a couple of other tops (one I'm wearing in and another to wear once I can wear my own clothes). I'm taking some toiletry stuff, my laptop and some DVD's and a book that I'm in the process of reading. I also have a set of slippers, a set of sandals and my robe. My mom brought me a pillow, blanket and stuffed animal as well. I'll see if I decide I need/want those.

OMG, on my last random note before bed... I was at the mall on Saturday (when we went to see "Bride Wars") and wandered through the "Build-a-Bear Workshop"... They have their Valentine's animals and outfits out! There is a pink monkey who is freaking cute! When I'm feeling up to it, I might have to go build a monkey! :) On that note, I'm gone, wish me luck and I will talk to you all later!

"Oh, the places you'll go."

So, like "One fish two fish, red fish blue fish," and, "I do not like Green Eggs and Ham, I do not like them Sam I am," the title of this blog is a book. A very cute, Dr. Seuss book. One that was read aloud at my grade 12 graduation banquet. I have a copy of the book somewhere... Anyway, the way it relates... So, this week has been a good and bad example of friendship. I have had people tell me not to talk to them, they need to move on with their lives. So be it. I have had people I haven't talked to in a while message me or make an effort to see me or spend time with me. It's nice to know that people other than the 3 or 4 I've been spending a lot of time with care.

Last night, we went for dinner at BP's. I invited a few people, not figuring most would come. Many of them don't come out on a regular basis, let alone for something I'm inviting them to. I wanted to celebrate that Mike is done his exam and it was my last night out in a while. So, Randi, Brityn, Matt and I went for a swim and then headed for BP's. The group ended up being Brityn, Matt, Randi, Mike, Marshall, Kurtis, Ben, Jordan and I. It was an interesting combination and I took a bunch of pictures and will post them to Facebook soon! :) For now, I am keeping them on my camera, so while I'm in hospital I have people's pictures to look at. I'm told it's a good idea for keeping my spirits up. :)

For anyone who wants to come visit... The visiting hours at the hospital are noon to 8pm. I am allowed my cell phone on the unit so I will have one of them with me and will be checking Facebook as I feel up to it. My status will reflect how I'm feeling in general. You can text me and I will try to get back to you but I probably won't be answering too many phone calls. Also, if you are planning on bringing me anything, I can't have anything to eat but may be allowed sugar free hard candies (Lifesavers, etc) but watch the ingredients/nutritional information on them as they have to be sugar free and the sugar alcohols can't be too high. I love chap stick and prefer it not in a little jar, a tube is easier. Otherwise, I think I'm bringing everything I need... lol, and some people have asked if I'm taking anything good to read. I'm not taking more than maybe one book, I'm taking my laptop and some movies because it's not as much work to watch a movie and if I fall asleep through it, so be it.

Anyway, I need to finish packing/deciding what to take so I'm going to go do that... And turn the dryer back on! :)

"Thank you falettinme be mice elf again..."

This week has been good and bad, had it's ups and downs and has made me look at a few things in a whole new light. And it's only Monday! ;)

I didn't tell a lot of people what was going on with me, other than the countdown on Facebook. Then I was like, "y'know, maybe people WILL care, I'll post the link to my blog." I've gotten a LOT of encouragement from people I haven't talked to in a long time and was surprised by some of their reactions.

For anyone who doesn't know, I don't have a HUGE group of friends anymore. Partially my choosing, partially the other people's. I got sick of the HS mentality and I don't like huge crowds so going to bars and such ALL the time isn't my idea of fun/relaxing. I've become a bit of a homebody and I'm ok with that. I do still go out, not as often as I used to though, and generally in groups of no more than 4-6 people.

Saturday I went to see "Bride Wars" (really funny but the trailer gives away too many of the funniest scenes) with some friends. It ended up being Mike, Matt, Danielle, Jenn and I. It was a large enough group that I was feeling pretty tired afterwards but a small enough group that I felt like I got to talk to everyone. We went for "dinner" (it was my first meal of the day... Bad for me, I know!) first at the food court (purposely had a bit of junk foodl) and just sat and talked for a while. Afterwards, Mike came over and we watched a movie (after dealing with the police, but that's a story for another day).

Sunday evening I spent time with my mom. I had just written my "Personal Care Directive" and a letter that is basically a will. (Mom and I figure that it's like insurance... If I have it, I won't need it.) She was really upset by it, partially because I'm her "baby" and partially because at the same age I am, she was pregnant with me. We went for Vietnamese and then to see "Bride Wars" (yes, I just said I saw it twice in a weekend) and then came home. Mike dropped by for a few minutes and we went for a little drive and I bawled about mom being so upset by the stuff I had to write. Matt dropped by for a few at almost midnight to witness the letters for me...

Today, I worked (Susan, my assistant manager hugged me when I left and told me to keep in touch and let her know how I'm doing), after work, I went to pick up some stuff from John Smith. I found out I might need to spend an extra 3 days in Medicine Hat post-surgery and that I need to take my nails off. I'm going to wait on the last one as long as possible! OUCH!!!

I have had some emotional stuff this week that frustrates me. I'm not sad about any of this; if anything, I'm excited! But watching people worry about me has made me more emotional than normal (yes, it IS possible). And the support and encouragement from others has been amazing.

I want to put a shout out to Kira... Thanks for all of the love and support you have given me this week. I really appreciate it and I look forward to seeing you when I can drive out! :)

On that note, I'm going to try and get some sleep... Mike is writing his Red Seal exam in the morning and I work tomorrow... I'm nervous about the exam and I'm not even the one writing it! I know he's going to rock it though! :)

*sigh*

So, this week has been tough with being sick the entire time and starting a new job and just dealing with the emotional side of the surgery. I have been reading a lot of people's posts on the forum about being depressed post-op in hospital and feeling more depressed as time goes on. Let's be honest... I'm already depressed (technically speaking) and while I don't expect it to immediately get better post-op, I know that in the long run, the entire process will improve my health which will, in turn, improve my mood.

A lot of people don't understand why I'm doing this. I have tried to explain it to them over and over and I can't say anymore than I have. I know that this is a "life-altering" surgery... Duh. That's why I'm doing it.

I don't want to be a woman who is afraid to have kids when she is over 30 because she is already high risk because she is obese. I want to have kids and live to see my grandkids and maybe even great-grandkids. I want to be able to climb several sets of stairs and not have to stop and take a breather or rest my knee. I want to look in the mirror and know that the person I see there is the same as the person I am inside. I want to go to the doctor and not have him send me for blood work because of some odd symptom that he can't diagnose. I want to swim 20+ lengths and not be completely worn out at the end. I want to ride my bike and not get exhausted halfway through. The only thing that is semi-superficial is I want to be able to go shopping and buy something that makes me look my age, not like I'm trying to dress like a woman in her 80's.

I wanted to say, for those of you who HAVE questions; I have been pretty open about what's going on, just freaking ASK ME!!!

For those of you who have been supportive, thank you. I cannot tell you often enough how much your support means to me.

I am looking forward to seeing those of you who want to come and visit.

Patient/Guest Information

If you click on the title of this post, it will take you to a website that is a handout about the amenities at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. It includes close places to stay, visiting hours, close restaurants, etc. If you want to know something that's not in there, let me know!

Oh, as an FYI, the number for the Best Western on the list is the WRONG number. I had to look it up online when I needed it both times!

Album - Pre-Op

I made an album of pre-op photos from the past couple of years on the forum I joined. If you click on the title of this post, it should take you to the album! :) It's basically face shots as I don't have many photos of me as more than my face. I may try to find a few to post with my pre-op pics taken the day before.

Crap-tastic...

So, I went to Zoolights the other night and was feeling GREAT! But then, as we were walking out, the temperature drastically dropped and the wind picked up. I didn't realize as I was walking in how much of a downhill slant it was. I DEFINITELY noticed on my way out that it was mostly uphill! My asthma was really bugging me by the time we got back to Mike's truck so I took my inhaler and tipped the seat back enough to be able to stretch out and breathe for a while. I HATE asthma attacks!

So, then I woke up the next morning and my nose was a little stuffy and my throat hurt a bit. I didn't think much of it, went through my day and then yesterday woke up with a bad cough on top of the stuffy nose and sore throat. I took some Sudafed and slept for most of the day. I went out in the evening with Kurtis, Matt and Michelle and then hit Timmy's with my mom, Mike and Matt. I came home and went straight to bed with the intention of getting up and going to church this morning.

When my alarm went off at 8:00am I couldn't swallow and was feeling a little out of breath. I called and cancelled meeting Matt and went back to sleep. My mom woke me up when she got home at noon and aid I'd been coughing with a croup-like cough most of the night. I didn't know but that would explain the breathlessness and sore throat to a point. I called the nearest walk-in clinic and was told there was a 2 hour wait but I could go over, sign in and go back in a couple of hours if I want. Mom offered to drive me over and off we went.

Here's where I get frustrated. In a city this size, you'd think that finding a walk-in clinic that is open on a Sunday wouldn't be that difficult. Well, I was wrong... Here's what happened:
- We went to the one by my house and they had a sign up saying they were closing in an hour and weren't taking anymore patients. My mom called and was told they have a 2 hour wait and when she asked what time they were closing, they said about an hour. They recommended two other clinics...
- We started to head to her school so she could print some stuff and I called the clinic that my family doctor works out of. Turns out, they're CLOSED. Lack of physicians so they weren't open.
- I called both of the recommended clinics and one had a two hour wait and was closing in three so they weren't taking any other patients. The other had a "long wait" and told me they "should be open until 10 o-clock..." Oy vay.
- The one by my mom's school had 16 people ahead of me when I went to sign-in. I was told by the receptionist to call and check to see approximately how long. I told her that I had tried to call and couldn't get anyone. Her response was, "oh."
- I called 13 clinics in the NE and NW. THIRTEEN!!! Something like 5 were closed (it's a Sunday after all), one answered and then told me they were already closed (WHY did she answer the phone???), 4 had a 2-3 hour wait, 2 there was no answer and the last one I tried told me they had 6 or 7 patients in the waiting room and were open until 8. At this point, I was in Rundle and the clinic was in Ranchlands. Again... oy vay.
- Mom drove me to the clinic (it's by the DQ) and dropped me off. I signed in and a little over an hour later saw a doctor.

Bad news: I have a cold and it's viral so there isn't much they can do.

Good news: Just a cold! She put me on antibiotics so if it turns bacterial I'm already on something that should kill it! She also gave me a steroidal inhaler to take for a few days. I'm not a fan of them but if I feel like I need it, I'll take it.

Matt picked me up from the doctor and drove me to the pharmacy and then I took him out for something to eat - as a thank you and because I realized I hadn't eaten anything all day. Bad, I know. He dropped me off and I napped for a few hours. My mom picked up my prescription and brought it home so I could take it before bed.

So, surgery is in 11 days and I'm not completely healthy but I'm hopefully on the mend. I CANNOT be sick when I go in for surgery! So, if anyone wants to pray that I'm healthy by then, I would appreciate it!!!

Things people wished they knew pre-op...

I sent this link to Mike and to my mom to read. There is a lot of good information within the posts. The two that kind of surprised/bothered me were:

I wish I'd known how many friends I would lose.

and

I wish I'd known that people who thought I was attractive when I was fat would no longer find me attractive when I was skinny.

(Click on the title of this post to go to the Forum post.)

Open RNY Website

I found this website from the Mayo Clinic that explains what I'm having done. There are three procedures covered within this and what I'm having done is the first.

(Click on the title of this post to go to the website.)