And just like that, I am into my final week pre-op.  I think I have done almost everything that I need to do – in the next couple of days I’ll order some of the bariatric meal replacements (rather than relying on Optifast), I need to pack my hospital bag and the day before I need to get a final round of blood tests.

I’m full of nervous excitement.

Last night we went to the movies and as we were walking back to the car, the movie theatre is in a large shopping complex, I walked past a store I have never ever ever been able to shop in.  I caught myself wondering “would I be able to wear that?”.
Whilst the previews were on before the movie, there was something on the screen that made me think of the Tongariro Crossing, an adventure I haven’t even been able to consider doing and I thought to myself “one day I could actually do that”.  So I added it to Blondie’s Goals.

From now on these will be my victories – and my rewards.  Not on the scale wins, but non-scale victories.
I’ve met my goal weight loss for the surgery and in four more sleeps I will be in that operating theatre ready for a whole new chapter in my life.  I can’t believe how fast it has come around.  Or that the pieces have all fallen in to place.

Let’s just have a quick look at private weight loss surgery in New Zealand;

• Visit your GP and discuss with them whether this is the best option for you.  You need their referral.
• Check your medical insurance. I’m with Southern Cross on the WellBeing One plan, I’ve been with them for three years so they could cover up to $7500.
• Get an appointment with the Surgery team – individual meetings with the nurse, surgeon, dietician and psychologist.  The team will meet and discuss your case and decide together whether to schedule your surgery.
• Costs are approximately $20,000 for the surgeon and the hospital.  This includes 12 most post op care and support.
• Medical procedure finance is available – Nova Medical Finance is often recommended.  Their process is slow and you must have all the paper work exact else it takes ages and can get very frustrating.
• Optifast (for the pre-op diet) is available instore at Life Pharmacy or online at Pharmacy Direct.  Alternatively, even though its been out of stock, ams nutrition.co.nz has the Celebrate range which is supposed to be a hundred times nicer.  I’ll let you know when I finally get my hands on it.

Wanna know the biggest issues I have come across to date?
I can’t stop buying water bottles.  Eco friendly, fruit infusion, squeezable.  I think I have a problem.

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