Is it ironic that my first day at treatment will be during National Eating Disorder Awareness Week?

Read the rest of this post at my other blog, One Life to Live…

*Huge sigh of relief* I heard from my doctor tonight that she faxed over all my paperwork and test results to the treatment center today. I’ve been worrying about that for days now. They absolutely had to have everything five days before I go in. Now I can relax!…

Read the rest of this post at my other blog, One Life to Live.

Today I finished a project I’ve been working on for the past month or so. I compiled my very first HSB blog with my current main blog into ONE at the new address of http://mandygrace.wordpress.com. I think it’s time for me to move on from A Touch of Grace to something new, so this is the result. Now I have everything nice and neat in one place where I don’t have to worry about losing anything. Gotta love WordPress.

Today has been a busy day. This morning – bright and early – I had my bone density scan and some more blood drawn. Then on the way home from the doctor’s office, we stopped by Supercuts where I got my hair trimmed to shoulder length again. After lunch we went shopping, and I stocked up on almost all the travel supplies I’ll need for going to treatment. Upon our return home, I found that the new cute pair of shoes I ordered had been delivered. Whew. I’m glad they came in time.

We’ve been having a torrential downpouring of rain here for the past few days. Doesn’t make for good shopping weather, but we have to deal. I can’t wait to get out of here! No seriously, it’s supposed to rain on the day of my arrival in the city where I’m going to. Oh well.

Still on my to-do list….

• Find an iPod charger
• Go to Borders to stock up on magazines and to find a mini-sized Bible to bring
• Verify that my treatment center received ALL my paperwork and test results
• Cancel nutrition appointment that I won’t be here for
• Take all my change to the machine at Safeway to exchange for cash
• Clean my room
• Oh yeah, and PACK

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I have an official date! The residential treatment center wants me to come on February 23rd! I take back every single harsh word I ever said about my insurance company. Talk about an answer to prayer – they’re stepping in BIG.

I can’t believe it’s really happening. I only have two days of work left – this Saturday and next Wednesday (Monday’s a holiday – woohoo!). Praise God for that because I really can’t take it anymore. My concentration and focus are out of whack and my energy level is so so low. I’m looking forward to going back though, once I’m actually in recovery.

Today I had a physical and got my blood work done. My EKG was normal, which is good. Next week I have a bone density scan scheduled for Tuesday plus I have to do a TB test, then I’ll be all done with my paperwork!

By the way, last week my nutrition appointment went way better than I thought it would. It was kind of sad, because it was our last appointment before my leaving. She gave me a hug when I left. I will say that it feels very freeing not having to keep food records anymore.

After my appointment today we went to Kohl’s, and I got some new pretty purple luggage! Hopefully I’ll be able to fit everything.

I think that’s about all for now. So much to do, and so little time…

Hey everyone,

I guess it’s time for an update. Things are moving along. This week I had my second assessment with a therapist from the residential treatment center I’m applying to, and I’m now officially on the waiting list. I sent them my paperwork and everything. Next week I have to get a physical, labwork and a boatload of tests done (EKG, bone density test, TB test, and a bunch more).

Once they tell me when they want me to come, we’ll find out how much the insurance is going to cover, so we’re crossing our fingers. Everyone I’ve talked to at this place has been super nice and helpful. They’ve told us that they’ll do everything they can to get the insurance company to cover as much as possible, so that was encouraging to hear.

All this seems kind of surreal, like, is this really happening? I’m excited and terrified at the same time. I really want to work towards recovery, but I’m also afraid of how hard it’s going to be. I don’t know. I just know that this is the right next step.

In other food-related news, I tried the famous Peanut Butter Puffins cereal the other day for the first time and am in love with them!! The taste reminds me of the inside part of a Butterfinger candy. You know, the orange, crunchy part? Yum.

I have an appointment with my nutritionist on Tuesday next week. It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve seen her, and I’m not really looking forward to it because I don’t want to follow my meal plan for these last couple/few weeks I’ll be home. Sigh. Whatev.

That’s all for now…

Hi girls,

I’m sorry to have left you with such a depressing post last time. Thank you all for your comments.

SO much has been happening lately. Where to start? (Just a warning – this post may be triggering because I’m going to mention numbers.)

First of all, IOP. A week or so ago, I found an intensive outpatient program for eating disorders at a hospital nearby. Actually, my dietitian recommended it. The program looked really good. It was M-F, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM for about 8-12 weeks. As I was investigating it, I inquired at work and did get permission to go on leave if accepted to the program.

However, when I talked to one of the ED therapists there for an assessment, she said they only accept patients who are at 80-85% of their ideal body weight. She said I’m at 78%, so I’m too underweight to get in. Instead she recommended residential treatment and gave me the names of some programs to look into.

So this week I’ve been doing research. Today I had an hour-long phone assessment with my current number one choice of programs. I’m not going to mention names for privacy reasons, but this program is HIGHLY individualized. They only accept 6 people at a time, and they usually have a waiting list (but right now the waiting list is very short). My dietitian highly recommended this particular program, and I would honestly love to get into it. At this point, I feel like I can’t gain the weight I need to on my own. I need something intensive like this, and I want to go to the best place possible (that we can afford) to ENSURE my recovery!

So now the next step involves paperwork and hearing back from the insurance company. If for some reason I don’t get in, I know there are other options, but like I said, right now this is my number one choice. I’m ready to get better.

Anyway, thank you all for listening, for your support and prayers. I’ll be sure to keep you updated!

These past couple weeks have been horrible. My insurance company officially sucks. I feel like everything is being taken away from me and that in the end I’ll be left with no help whatsoever. Not to mention that my bank account will be drained.

My doctor told me if I was 17 she would put me in the hospital.

Sorry, can’t afford it.

At least with no one to push me now I can get as thin as I want.

Okay, maybe not, but that’s what Ed thinks.

In other news I might be enrolling in an intensive outpatient program, but it’s really going to depend on $. We will see…

ETA:
Just a note, my nutritionist did shed some light on the subject for me and said that my weight has stabilized which means I don’t need hospitalization. So, yeah.

I’m going to be taking a break from food blogging for awhile. Thanks for understanding.

Last night’s after-dinner snack: coconut-almond granola

Breakfast: Van’s wheat-free blueberry waffles with soy yogurt and banana slices
 
Lunch: Turkey sandwich with cranberry apple butter

Afternoon snack: Kashi Heart to Heart cereal with almond milk
 
Dinner: baked chicken, wild rice pilaf, piece of whole wheat bread

Just another sunny, warm day here in CA!

Thankfully work wasn’t too bad today. I unexpectedly got the office to myself for the majority of the day. And now I have my day off to look forward to tomorrow. I love it when we have nice weather on my days off.

Breakfast this morning was a bowl of Kashi Heart to Heart cereal with almond milk and banana slices on top.

Lunch was the usual turkey sandwich with cranberry apple butter and a glass of soy milk.

Afternoon snack was a Jocalat Chocolate Larabar. This was my last one. Boohoo.

My mom had a school meeting tonight, so she was already gone by the time I got home from work. For dinner, I had a repeat of breakfast. Yes I did. I think I’m officially addicted to cereal!

That’s all for now. Ta ta…