Fingers Crossed

After doing research on the many options for surgery we have decided that we are going to do it privately and in Mexico. There are many different places to do it thru down there and we are making sure to do all our research into all the different options.

While looking into it we have found that it is quite expensive and we are not going to be able to fund it by ourselves. Ally has researched all the different avenues for funding the surgery, including personal loans, and we have decided to go the crowd funding route. We have set up a page that we are excited about. Both of us hope you will visit and pass it on.

Our crowd funding page on GoFundMe.com: Evie & Ally's Strive for Health

XOXO, Evie & Ally

A Letter with No Answers

Our doctor phoned and requested to see us as soon as she received the letter from the Red Deer Bariatric Specialty Clinic. We made the appointment and went for very long and intensive appointments.

When we first got there they (both our doctor and her resident) asked us lots and lots of questions trying to figure out what the problem could be that they felt the need to dismiss us from the program. An hour later they still did not have the answer. As far as they could see there was no problem and we were good candidates.

The letter they received was basically a form letter saying that they dismissed us from the program, we could come back in a year and a half, and there are no prerequisites to us being referred again. There was also a referral to an eating disorders clinic even though they said we don’t have an eating disorder (we got the feeling that this was just something they referred everyone to who was dismissed from the program). After all this she said that she is going to write a letter to them requesting more information. I am not sure how much luck she is going to have as this is the letter they told us would have all the answers.

After a lot of discussion Ally and I have decided to look into surgery in Mexico. We are tired of putting our life on hold and waiting especially when we can't see what the problem is and there is no end in sight.

XOXO, Evie & Ally

Not a Finish Line in Sight

When we showed up for our appointments we talked to the receptionist again about making an appointment to see the surgeon but she was insistent that the nurse wanted to see us. The receptionist told us that the surgeon was going to be on vacation for the next month anyway, and when we asked when he was getting back she said she didn’t know and that we should talk to the nurse.

Ally was supposed to see her Nurse first while I saw my Dietitian, then after we would do the opposite with Ally seeing her Dietitian and me seeing her nurse (mine was out). We were surprised when Ally`s nurse Darla came out and asked us both to follow her. She told us there had been a change and that we would both be seeing her. As they had not phoned and told us of a change we were confused.

She sat us down together and said “at this time we are dismissing you from the program.” To say we were shocked is an understatement. We asked her why and she gave us this whole spiel about it being a team decision and how we never should have had our scopes, all without actually giving us an answer. If we should not have had our scopes then they subjected us to unnecessary medical procedures and with Ally’s issues with sedation that was extremely dangerous and potentially life threatening, which made all of this that much worse. When asked how this had happened in between the surgeon asking to see us and now, she said that it was a team decision and when they got together they decided that now wasn’t the best time for us.

With every appointment we had and every person we say they had nothing but positive things to say, about how well we were doing and what good candidates we were. To go from that to this just floored us. She said that there was nothing that she could tell us, that we could have been told this over the phone. We didn’t understand why we had not heard any mention of this before, why no one had told us there was a problem. Ally asked if we could make an appointment with someone who could tell us more about this decision and she said that we would no longer be allowed to make appointments to see anyone and they would send our Doctor a report detailing out dismissal from the program/clinic. At one point she said that we were not ready for surgery and when we asked about the report from Dr. Singh, she said that she didn’t have the report and that it wasn’t just his findings that they went off of (obviously he was in favor of us having the surgery just like he told us). If they aren’t going to listen to their own experts then what are they doing?

At the end Darla told us that we could be submitted back to the program in a year and a half, but that we would have to go thru the entire process all over again which includes the waiting list, orientation, Dr. Singh and another scope. The last thing we asked is if there was anything we had to do before we could come back and she said no. If there was nothing for us to work on before being readmitted to the program then why have we been kick out?

When we left we were really depressed and couldn’t even talk about it right then. We don’t know what happened. Everything they asked us to do we did, all of the appointments (which cost money to get to all the way out in Red Deer, not to mention parking), we lost our 10%, did the scope and put a lot of effort into making sure that we were ready and prepared for the changes that were to come, and all of it for nothing.

XOXO, Evie & Ally

Down The Hatch

In May we were told the date of our Scopes were going to be February 4, 2014 and that we were on the next day cancellation list. On June 26^th I got a call telling me that my scope was going to be in the morning on June 28^th. I was so excited. This was the last step needed to get my surgery.

I went in that morning and checked in. They took me to a room with a chair where they asked me to get undressed and into a hospital gown and robe (which by the way were really small). After they asked me some questions and took my blood pressure…or at least they tried. It took them nine tries, two cuffs and three different positions to finally get the number. Then they tried to get my IV line in (just some fluids to begin with), turned out to also be a non-starter. They finally warmed up some blankets and took me over to the area where they get you to lie down and wait before going in for your scope and they tried to get it there. Two tries latter it was in, they ended up having to go in my wrist because they couldn’t get it anywhere else. Although worried because I heard that it hurt worse than anywhere else, I was pleasantly surprised to find that not the case.  

After 2 hours of waiting (they said the surgeon had an emergency), I was wheeled into the procedure room. The surgeon was there and asked when I was seeing him next and when I told him I have a Nutritionist appointment next month he said that he wants me to call and make an appointment to see him as soon as possible. The anesthesiologist told me about the drugs that they are going to be using, and they had be sign something. Telling me to roll over onto my side they gave me two sprays of something into the back of my throat to numb the area and then that was all she wrote. Next thing I know I am waking up alone back in the waiting area.

I think I have a vague memory of maybe struggling a bit but I am not really sure. I waited alone for about an hour until I got it in my head that it was time to go. My pulse monitor had already fallen off so I decided to take the tape off of the IV to make it easier (and faster) for them to take out the line. Cue my mother (be prepared with someone to drive you home after the procedure) to come in and just about have a heart attack thinking I am taking out the line by myself, which she then goes and tells the nurse who was not a happy camper. Half an hour later we were on our way back home no worse for the wear. On the way home I did notice a bit of a sore throat so we stopped for something cold.

Ally got her call on July 9^th saying that her scope would be on the 12^th. Her scope was more routine than mine. They didn’t have a problem with her blood pressure or IV, although the surgeon was late again. He told her he wanted her next appointment to be with him and then after the throat spray she doesn’t remember anything. Considering whenever she had gone in the past she is always resistant to the anesthetic this went really well. She doesn’t remember anything, there was no negative reaction and they didn’t report any problems.

When we called to schedule an appointment with the surgeon we were told that we had to see a nurse first and she would say whether we were ready to see the surgeon on not. We didn’t understand this as the surgeon told us to call and make an appointment to see him right away but there didn’t seem to be anything we could do about it. Right now we both have Nurse and Dietitian appointments scheduled for later in the month.

XOXO, Evie & Ally

Padded Rooms and Eating Habits: Part II

After our appointments with the Psychiatrist we headed over for our June appointments at the clinic. Ally was seeing the Dietician assigned to her and I was going to be seeing my nurse. When we got there I was informed that the nurse was out for the week and that my appointment had been changed to another session with Patti. I was upset that no one had called to tell me of the change, and I had just seen her; but as I was going to have to see someone this month and she was the only one available I didn’t really have much of a choice.

Ally had dental surgery a week ago to get her wisdom teeth out. She ended up getting a really bad infection that spread and is having a really hard time eating. The Dietitian, Laura, while not very sympathetic didn’t really care that Ally couldn’t eat as long as she began drinking protein shakes. Other than that she gave her a recipe handout, recommended she begin with the prenatal vitamins and drink 10 cups of water a day. When ally got her weight she had lost 5lbs putting her weight down to 264lbs.

As for my appointment with Patti there was not much to talk about as I had just seen her not long before. We discussed potential stressors coming up, such as looking for a house and moving, and eating habits and why I choose certain food over others. At the end of the appointment Patti took my weight down and I had lost 3lbs putting me at 377lbs.

Ally and I left the clinic feeling like we hadn’t accomplished anything with these appointments. We had both the previous week gone to a clinic for a prescription for the prenatal vitamins and the Boost Protein Drink, and are just waiting for the special authorization to come thru on the protein drinks.

XOXO, Evie & Ally

Padded Rooms and Eating Habits: Part I

One of the program requirements is to meet with a Psychiatrist for a psychological assessment. With the Red Deer program the doctor we saw was Dr. Singh, a Psychiatrist outside of the program that they use to assess surgery candidates. Early on we got out referral in for the psychologist and we only had to wait three or four months to get the appointment. Now when making the appointment you need to remember that he is outside the program so this appointment won’t count as your mandatory monthly appointment at the clinic. Since we live in Calgary and can only come out to Red Deer once a month we made appointments to see others at the clinic on the same day, but more about those in part two of this post.

 We were both very nervous for this appointment as he will literally say “yes” you are mentally prepared/ready for surgery or “no” you are not, and just like that you can be out of the program. Both of us were picturing a long session in uncomfortable chairs having to watch what we said least he think we’re crazy. Thank god it was nothing like that.

When we arrived and checked in and sat down to wait. After 5 minutes Ally was called in to have her appointment first. She went in and they talked about family history, if she knew anybody who has had the surgery, what her expectations are, made sure she knew that surgery was just a tool and then told her that he would be sending a positive report to Dr. Farris (our surgeon). In total she was probably only in there for about twenty minutes.

After Ally is was my turn. I went in and sat down not really knowing what to expect, but hopeful because Ally was only in there for a short time and she had given me the thumbs up when she came out. My appointment was even shorter, at about ten to fifteen minutes because he didn’t have to go over family history having already done so with Ally. He went over the exact same things with me and then said he would be sending his report to our surgeon.

We left with a huge weight off our shoulders, having crossed off another step towards surgery. Our mandatory Clinic appointments will be coming in part 2 of this post.

XOXO, Evie & Ally

Food Ideas

Breakfast

For Breakfast I have been measuring out 3Tbs. Kellogg's All-Bran Buds into a 1 cup measure and then filling the rest with Oatmeal Crips: Maple Nut cereal. I then pour it into a bowl and cover with 1 cup of Skim Milk. Make sure to ask your nurse or dietitian about the milk because some say that the 1 cup includes the milk some say it doesn’t. To me since you are a loud to drink skim milk on top of your 1 cup it shouldn’t count.

Lunch

A wrap is a good idea for a quick lunch and easily filled with protein and vegetables. I have been eating them for lunch and can't get enough.

Ingredients

   - Lunch Meat (I use chicken or turkey)

   - Cheddar Cheese

   - 6” Flour Tortilla

   - Lettuce

   - Cucumber

   - Dressing (I like Tzatziki, Ranch, or Caesar)

Just throw all the ingredients onto the tortilla and enjoy, I know I do.

I also like just having 2 soft boiled eggs, 2 slices of lunch meat (chicken or turkey again), and a few baby carrot sticks or slices of cucumber.

Snack

Both of us prefer not to eat snacks if we can manage it. I know when we first started the 1 cup it was impossible. They say it takes three weeks to form a habit and after a while you just get used to eating the one cup and most of the time no snacks. For those times that we do need a snack here are some that we like.

1. belVita: Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuit – I have tried the Cranberry Orange flavor and the Banana Chocolate & Oatmeal flavor. I don’t recommend the Cranberry Orange, but did like the Banana Chocolate & Oatmeal.

2. Craisins: Ocean Spray 100 Calorie packs – Love these I throw them in my purse for those days I am out of the house and need a quick snack.

 

XOXO Evie & Ally