An education on vitamins...a vita-cation.

At my last appointment with my dietician we discussed vitamins. After weight loss surgery, patients must commit to taking vitamin and mineral supplements for the rest of their lives or unwanted complications could occur. Patients who have these surgeries eat less food and consume fewer calories, therefore the body gets few nutrients. This is especially true for patients who have had the gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) which is the procedure that I am looking into. 
My current vitamin regime includes: 2 chewable multivitamins 1000 mg Calcium 4000 IU Vitamin D 5000 mcg Biotin 50,000 IU Vitamin A
These vitamins were recommended by my surgeon after I had all of my labs drawn and deficiencies were noted in Vitamin D & A, which isn't able normal for those of us who live in Michigan. Almost all Michiganders are Vitamin D deficient. Anyways, my typical dosing included taking all the vitamins with breakfast. At my appointment, I learned that this is not the correct method of taking vitamins. 

First, all multivitamins (MVI) have iron. Calcium can not be taken with multivitamins because the iron won't all the calcium to absorb. MVI's and Calcium supplements should be taken at least 2 hours apart. Also, the calcium and vitamin D supplements should be divided because the body can only absorb so much at a time. Therefore, my new vitamin regime is:
Breakfast Calcium 500 mg (1/2 dose) Vitamin D 2000 IU (1/2 dose) Biotin 5000 mcg
Lunch Multivitamin
Dinner Calcium 500 mg (2nd 1/2 dose) Vitamin D 2000 IU (2nd 1/2 dose) Vitamin A 50,000 IU
My next challenge is to find all of these vitamins in a chewable form - not gummy, but chewable. Liquid form is okay to. Any suggestions? My first stop will likely be the Vitamin Shoppe.  At my appointment, I learned that I have lost around 7 lbs since this process started. My highest weight (HW) was 310 lbs. I am currently 303.2 lb. However, this was before we ate a ton of food at the Grand Hotel. I am still off Diet Coke however, which is a huge accomplishment. Over a month and going strong. 

The psych evaluation that almost made me crazy.

Yesterday I went for my psychological evaluation, which is required by my insurance company for approval for weight loss surgery. I promise I'm not crazy. At least, I don't think I am...
Anyways, the experience was sub-par to say the least. First, I called to set this appointment up back in June when I first learned that it was a requirement. I gave my information to the receptionist over the phone and was told that the doctor would call me to set up the appointment. Weeks later, I still had heard nothing. So, I called back. I was told that they were still working on figuring out my insurance and what would be due the day of the appointment. A day or so later, I received a phone call because they lost all the information that I had given them over the phone previously.
I should have taken this as a sign of things to come.
Finally, they called me and told me that I hadn't met my deductible for the year, so the appointment would cost me around $250. I was told that I had to pay that amount the day of the appointment or they wouldn't send the report to my surgeon. Ok, fair enough. The psychologist finally calls me and we set an appointment for July 29th.
Since I work Monday through Friday, I made the appointment during my lunch hour yesterday. I leave and go to the appointment. I check in at the front desk and the receptionist tells me she has no record that I have an appointment. After shuffling the same papers about 15 times, she tells me the appointment is scheduled in the computer for September 29th. Uhm...no, it was CLEARLY scheduled for July, as I have to have this done ASAP. So, she gives me paperwork to fill out and has me sit down. Twenty minutes later, I walk back up to find out what I am supposed to do (I'm pretty sure she forgot I was even there) - stay or make an appointment for a different day. She calls the doctor and tells me "Yep, you're appointment is for today." Yeah, no crap.
I go back to be interviewed by the psychologist. This takes about 20 minutes. She asks me the usual questions about my support system, why I decided to have surgery, what my ultimate goal and expectations are following surgery, what changes I have made to get ready for my new lifestyle, and questions related to my overall mental health. That was easy...I think I am done at this point, which would have been perfect because I had to get back to work.
I was dead wrong. She tells me I now have to take a test. It is a true and false test. You read statements and you put if the statement is true for you or false. Easy peasy, right? NOT. It was 567 questions. Yeah...FIVE HUNDRED AND FREAKING SIXTY-SEVEN true or false statements. This took FOREVER. The actual name for this is the Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory (MMPI) Test. It s a psychological test that assesses personality traits and psychopathology. It is primarily intended to test people who are suspected of having mental health or other clinical issues...or I am hoping to rule out mental health disorders. 
I am a little nervous. Some questions were weird...like "I am not frightened by blood or the thought of bleeding"...well, this is true. I'm an ER nurse so...blood doesn't bother me. But on this test, I am likely to come across as a psychopath. Plus, by the end or somewhere around question 275, I was losing interest quickly and probably didn't answer accurately. I guess we will see if I turn out to be schizophrenic or something.

So anyways, after I fill out this ridiculously LONG test, I go to check out. The lady says they will send me a bill, which contradicts everything I was told before. So, I tell her what I was told about needing to pay today so the report can be sent to my surgeon. She blinks at me for what seems like forever and calls someone. She tells me I owe $450. $450 to fill out 567 true/false statements? NOT happening. After arguing for a few minutes she tells me they will look into it and call me. I tell her they better send that report over to my surgeon ASAP, since they have been yanking me around all afternoon.
If this is what the mental health system is like, then I am not surprised people are nuts. 
End Psych Eval.  And another hoop jumpeth through.

Sweet treats...

I want something sweet. I think specifically, I am craving ice cream or cake or something of that nature. My dietician told me that every time I have a craving I need to stop and consider where I am and what my triggers are. Well, I am sitting in my family room watching TV. What is the trigger? I don't have any idea. I am on my period, during which I often crave sweets. We ate dinner so I shouldn't be hungry...but inside, I feel hungry. I could eat a whole other meal. Why do I have these cravings? Why is my appetite never satisfied? It is a very frustrating feeling.
I wish I didn't have cravings. I wish that I go one day without wanting to fill my body with crap that isn't good for me. This process is so incredibly hard. I know that everything that I go through will be worth it in the end. I want to be able to walk short distances without getting winded. I want to be able to cross my legs. I want to be able to reach my toes so I can paint them. I want to be able to run...to ride my bike long distances. I want to be able to go to a restaurant and not have to scope out the size of the booths to make sure I can fit. I need to keep reminding myself of these reasons, because these are the reasons that I am not running out to get ice cream. These are the reason that I am not drinking Diet Coke. These are the reasons that I need to remember.

Day #30: Fat Day.

Today is what I like to call a fat day. I have just felt fat all day. Bloated, like my pants will split if I bend over or squat down. A fat day. How does one deal with a fat day? This sums it up well:

Yep.

Yes, fat day equaled me eating: Turkey Tom from Jimmy Johns, bag of chips, 3 diet cokes, snickers bar, and chex mix. Heh...good plan right?

Oh dear, I'm not very good at this dieting thing am I?

Dieting is not easy. Especially when you are like me and crave everything that is wrong for you...like candy, chocolate, greasy food, pizza, etc etc. If only I craved veggies, fruit, rice cakes and tofu. Then maybe snacking all day wouldn't wind up with my ass getting larger, or me feeling bloated. 

My foot still hurts. I'm still not certain as to how I injured my foot, but perhaps it's my body's way of telling me to quit stuffing my face with junk food? Or maybe I just need new work shoes.

Also, I found another way I can save money now that I have cut my hair. Let's recall the first reason: by spending money on my hair cut, I will save money by cutting down on shampoo and conditioner. The second money saver: decreased electricity use because blow-drying my hair takes 10 minutes and not 25 minutes. See? I'm very "glass half-full". Always looking at the positives!

Right?

Until tomorrow,

Big, Beautiful & Broke... Chelsea