And so it begins.............

Today I start prepping for the surgery.  Only clear liquids from now on.  The next time I will actually eat food  (and that will be pureed) will be August 11th, not that I am counting!  (yes I am).  I used to work with a doctor who fasted several days every month for religious reasons, and I keep thinking about him.  It would have been great training for this.  The hardest part so far is just remembering not to eat!  And yes, I know, it's only 9 am on day one.  Sad.  :)

Mom and I are going shopping this afternoon.  Shopping always includes lunch.  I looked at her and said "Uh oh, no lunch for us."  Mom came up with Plan B:  lunch at Denny's.  Food for her, chicken broth from their chicken noodle soup for me.  Rearranging my mental attitude about food is going to be the biggest hurdle in this.  My new mantra:  Eat to nourish.  Mantra #2 (I need extras):  It's JUST food!

Today I start protein drinks three times daily to build me up for surgery.  Also start injections twice daily to prevent blood clots during and after surgery.  I have been taking extra vitamins and calcium for a month.  This is a well-thought-out process and I get to reap the benefits of all of their years of experience at the Weight Loss Center in Peoria.

Surgery is at St Francis, and I feel at home there after roaming their halls for a few decades.  It will be laparoscopic surgery, meaning several tiny incisions instead of one big one, and a faster and easier recovery.  I will probably only be at the hospital 2 days post-op and off work for 2 weeks. My procedure is called Roux-en-y or Gastric Bypass surgery.  There are 4 types of surgery, but this is the one they recommend to diabetic patients because it has been shown to help.  This is one of the most exciting aspects to this surgery.  I don't expect to be cured of my diabetes, like most Type 2 diabetics are.  They get to stop all medications and insulin immediately after surgery.  The cure is not in the weight loss per se, but in the lack of secretion of a hormone from the small intestine that suppresses the pancreas because that part of the small intestine is bypassed.  With the hormone out of the picture, the pancreas is able to function more normally again.  In my case, as a Type 1 diabetic, I am hoping for increased performance of my insulin (resistance to insulin increases with weight) and needing much less insulin due to the drastic decrease in carbohydrate intake.  But I would take a cure too, if by some miracle it is bestowed upon me.  Wouldn't that be sweet?

I told myself to keep these short, but it's so cathartic!  I feel so calm afterwards.
Diana