things are fine...

My appointment with Dr. B went fine yesterday (well, except I did cry again). He said that taking my band out ended up going better than he expected on the day of surgery(from when he did the upper GI and first saw how much of my band had gone through).  He looked at my incisions and said they look great. He asked if I had any restriction- nope. NADA. I explained that even though I thought I didn't have any restriction before my band was removed, I can now say I actually did have some restriction- and I think it was just that I was such a good rule follower that I could chew really well, small bites, etc. that I could eat whatever. I always would portion out an amount on my plate (bout 1-1/2 cups) and just stop when finished. So now that my band is gone I actually know and remember what it is like to have zero restriction. He also basically asked me if I had any episodes of binge eating ( a large amount at one sitting). I told him I am trying to continue to just eat the small portion on my little plate and that I haven't had any episodes where I just eat and eat and eat.... I am proud of myself for that. He and Dr. Julie (the Dr who specializes in women's health and weight loss, especially working with bariatric patients) have talked- I told him that I cried even more when I went to see her- I had been having a very difficult time with my moods (just very sad all the time and crying a lot!) but Dr. Julie gave me a prescription for appetite suppressants and that they have helped a lot- having control over food back really helped my mood too.  He was glad to hear all of it. I asked if I was still a good candidate for the sleeve now that he has actually removed my band. He said YES! and he thinks I will be very successful. So I guess that means I really have made up my mind that I will pursue getting the revision to sleeve as soon as I possibly can. (maybe during my winter break in December or next summer). I explained to him that one of the most difficult parts of this band removal is that most people think that I was doing ALL of the work and that I can just keep losing no problem- that what these people don't understand is that I had a tool that was helping me and now my fear is not so much that I will gain all of my weight back, but that I will not lose any more and meet my goal. Right now my insurance doesn't cover the sleeve, however we are going to submit a request for it anyway and when/if it is denied I will start the appeals process. The other thing Dr. B said was that he thinks that their practice will be meeting with my insurance carrier sooner than later and work out an agreement to get the surgery covered like other bariatric surgeries (they already cover lap band and RNY). So, maybe by the time I get through the insurance process it will be covered and I will be moving on to the next steps... first in line! I left feeling okay. Dr. B wants to see me again in about 2 months- just to check in and in his words "keep me accountable". I shared with him how appreciative I am of him and his entire staff- because really it was all of them who made such an awful experience bearable. They are the best! If anyone is thinking of WLS in Western Washington I would most highly recommend Puget Sound Surgical Center. They are top notch all the way! 


In other news, my roomie Maria texted me yesterday while I was at Costco getting my protein shakes that she "accidentally" went 12 miles on the bike at her gym in about an hour! Dang it! I couldn't be left in her dust, so I decided to ride on the trail instead of a run and I also went 12 miles in just over an hour (1 hour 6 minutes). I am a little sore today, but the scale is down a little so that is all good. I'm thinking of going for an easy run today, or I might just rest. Tomorrow is swimming laps with a friend at the pool. I don't even know what time I should expect for my first triathlon, but I am hoping to be under 3 hours. 
I hope Maria doesn't text me today to tell me that she did another 12 miles, that would just be showing off! I am heading in to work in about 20 minutes to be on an interview team, we are getting a new principal at our middle school next year. Our current principal is moving up to a position at one of the high schools- I am so happy for her, but sad for me. I love working for/with her. I hope change is good for us... I better go get my face on and get ready to interview!
loves ya!