BS 7 - Psych Appt

This is where things get real for me. I knew leading up to this appt that I had one of two options. I could give my standard "things are fine" responses and pass the eval or I could get real about the state of my mental health and struggles and face a potential delay in surgery.

I didn't really know how I was going to answer the questions until they were asked. The doctor asked about my current state of things and I paused. I looked at my phone and saw the picture of R & W and started to cry. This surgery journey is about getting healthy so that I can live longer and enjoy more of my grandchildren. If I don't address my mental health, along with my physical health, what is the point? 

So I answered honestly. "I'm not okay." The very kind doctor stopped. He took a breath. He said, "I'm sorry things are hard right now. I want you to see a therapist. And if you can't find a therapist, call me and I will listen and help." 

We made a safety plan, something I haven't needed in a really long time. He made a follow-up appointment. I made an appointment with a therapist. 

Yes, there will be a little delay in surgery clearance. Yes, it will be totally worth it. Yes, it's hard. It's hard to say "I'm not okay", it's hard to need help, and it's hard to put my mental health a priority. I'm also convinced that it's the only way I want to have surgery. No amount of weight loss will matter if I can't enjoy life and my family and myself.  

BS 6 - Nuclear Med Study

The follow-up to my upper GI test was the Nuclear Medicine Gastric Emptying Study. 

The nurse emailed me and asked if I wanted the next available appointment. She said they only do them on Wed mornings. Ok. Works for me, let's get it done. So at 5:15 AM, I left for Omaha. I was TIRED, to say the least. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight. I'm getting used to that at this point. 

The first thing we do is laugh at the tech's statement "this is a judgment-free zone" as he presented me with microwaved egg whites, a slice of white bread that he called toast even though it was not toasted, and a tiny cup of water. 

I had been warned about these eggs. I was allowed to salt them, then put them on my bread and just tried to eat them as fast as I could because they really did taste unpleasant. They were extremely wet. I like my eggs well done. I saved a little piece of the bread so that I could finish my meal with a little bit of grape jelly on it. 

Then it was time for pictures. They did x-rays every 30 minutes for the first hour and then an hour in between the next sets of pictures. 

This was a super easy test. The test of the eggs went away when I got some real breakfast after I left the hospital.

Best part...I passed! 

Next up, the dreaded psych appointment and the EGD. 

Cooking

 I love to cook. 

Yes, sometimes it's hard for me to gather the energy to cook for my family. Yes, sometimes it seems like a huge chore. Yes, I am guilty of repeating quick, easy, cheap recipes that are staples for our family. No, I don't typically cook things that I don't like. I just saw a "save your family cheap pasta dish" headline and so I quickly ran to the recipe. Chickpeas and pasta. I don't like chickpeas. I'm not making that. 

Ultimately, I like the challenge. I love finding new recipes, and I actually usually measure ingredients the first time I make a new dish. Typically, if I've made the recipe more than once, I measure with my heart. :) I love finding new styles of cooking and new ingredients to cook with. I have even been found to be super annoying by posting a bunch of pictures of the new recipes I make.

Feeding my family brings me joy. Not much makes me happier than when the family sits down and says that the best part of the day is whatever I've just cooked them. I am a sucker for a "that looks super yummy" comment on my annoying food pics. It may be just lip service but I'm mostly even okay with that. 

For Christmas, I made a figgy pudding. Not my cup of tea but the people who liked it really loved it! One of my favorite recipes was a Greek salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, etc...It was super yummy and fresh. We had that for "Greek Night" for family dinner. 

I am a fan of TikTok recipes, I have a couple of people I follow that I really like to try their recipes. I am a huge fan of Pinterest. Facebook recipes and the good monthly ad magazine that Hy-Vee puts out. 

Recently I made a traditional oxtail pho. First time making my own broth, my first time cooking (and eating) oxtail. That was a two-day cooking prep. While that was cooking, I tried my hand at a copy-cat Chili's chili recipe. With the help of the family, we had homemade egg rolls, homemade crab rangoon, and handmade spring rolls with a yummy sweet chili dipping sauce. That meal was a huge success! 

I've recently made a Lancashire Hotpot dish with a lamb roast. It had juicy lamb pieces with veggies and sliced potatoes on top. I sliced my potatoes too thinly and the sauce was a little loose but the flavor was good. 

Next up, I'm trying my hand at Baria tacos with homemade tortillas! Wish me luck! What are some fun recipes that I should try out that are favorites of yours?