worm2872

Thanks!!!

Hello All, Long time no blog! I have been traveling a lot lately for work but I managed to get in my pre-op testing and I am waiting for the insurance submittal. Let me tell you, it all has tried my patience. My surgeon's team has been really great but the nutritionist piece was a nightmare. Under staffed and they are mean! The office staff treats me like I have the plague and I have read about how others have been treated. So I have some words to share. Dear Nutritionists, PCP's and others involved in this process: Don't get me wrong, I get that people start this process and think it is a magic pill or quick fix as the media portrays it, but I do not. I have studied and read and read and read books, websites, blogs, etc. I have a friend who has been through RNY WLS. I know you do not know this about me but please don't judge me. Please try to get to know me and treat me like I have feelings. I am SCARED! I am so scared it makes me shake. This is life altering. We NEED your help and your compassion. I am a patient and human being. I have been picked on, ignored and belittled my whole life for my weight. I want you to be able to answer my questions and not look at me with disgust. I NEED this surgery. I really have tried to lose weight and I need help. It took everything I have to walk in the seminar that day. I had to ADMIT I was Morbidly Obese. Don't get mad when we are desperate for our medical records. We are clinging to a string of hope and terrified that we will be denied. Oh and it is not funny. It is not 'elective surgery' to us. We just want to be happy and healthy. We want to start our lives and not be and feel humiliated on planes, in amusement parks, at the movies, on buses....... We don't want to be the fat person in the room or the fat friend anymore. Contrary to popular belief, WE WANT TO BE IN CONTROL. You are our life line. Every day that passes we die a little inside. Please remember this the next time you dismiss me or my community. Signed, The Scared Fat Girl

Wow. Thanks for your post and sharing your photos. You have no idea how much they help us and the inspiration they give us. It keeps me moving ahead and not giving up on HOPE!! Thank you

Great!! Good job

That's awesome!!! You are so much closer now!!!

Oh I'll tell him how much I lose but not the starting point. Lol. He's best friend has a creepy way of figuring out what I weigh. Ugh.

I had my first appointment yesterday too!! Waiting on some final things about the insurance before I start to make my appointments. Good luck to you on the financing. Prayers!!!!

I had my first meeting with the surgeon yesterday and it went really well. I am seeing Dr. McCloskey at UPMC Magee in Pittsburgh. The staff has been nice and helpful but they are just swamped. They reviewed my medical history and took my height and weight. She went over the RNY process in detail. I found out I will have no preop liquid diet which is great since I have to work that whole time. I probably will do mostly liquid protein shakes and high protein and veggies the two weeks before anyway. It can't hurt. I was told I will have to get an upper GI, EKG, chest Xray, recent OB/GYN records and of course the psych and nutrition eval. She thinks there will be no issues with my surgery since I am pretty healthy, thank God! I do have slight high blood pressure which is a reason for me to get the surgery. Also, my dad died last year at 61 from heart failure. Scary! I am now waiting for them to call the insurance to verify if I need a three or six month diet plan. I was told three but they think Aetna is six. Fingers crossed. I have my second meeting tomorrow. I want this surgery before the end of the year. Yes, we all want it ASAP but Hubby and I have the time to take so it would be easiest. I have a few work things that will shoot most of Dec.so it may not happen but it sure would be nice. Once I have all the tests done and the timefram solidified maybe a date??? Dare to hope....

WOW Peter Luger's. Sounds great! I could see my hubby having sushi. I think I will probably have a DQ blizzard with tons of crap in it. I hope I will never eat one again. It is exciting isn't it!!

I'm so happy to hear this!! Thanks

That's wonderful!!

Thanks all!! Still no answer. They are calling this week to see of three months is ok. But my dr said my dr counseling from last year may count or at least couldn't hurt. Ugh the waiting is killing me. :-)

I find out today if the surgeon will let me do three months instead of six for preop. I'm so nervous. I would LOVE to have this by the end of the year. I have a plane trip next week and I'm tired of the anxiety and being the biggest person at my new job. But I blessed the insurance does not excluded it. If it is six it will be ok but I'll be afraid holiday weight gain. Fingers crossed!! Thanks.

Yea!!

Good questions. Never thought about some of these esp the one about stricture. Thanks!

Hey guys! I'm really excited to meet with my surgeon tomorrow!! Any questions I should ask? Anything you wish you knew sooner in the process? I know we don't get a lot of time with them so I want to make it count. Thanks!!

I'm glad to hear all is going well. I hope it all goes smoothly. Congrats!!!

20 bucks per nutritionist visit.

Yes... Good luck to you. My dad passed last Jan. at 61. I know his weight had a strain on his heart. I know I will have to have counseling to get through this but, like you, I have put my foot down.

Cool have to check it out. thanks for sharing!

Nice job!!!

Good luck to you!!! You both have each other and the boards here for support. Carbs are a killer. I started my diet on the 17th. Not too good so far but I traveled last week and did much better than I usually do.

Paula, Welcome!! This is a great place for tips and support! Everyone here is very nice and they share the REAL details with you which is so great. I hear you on the carb deal. I need to cut them out too but this time I am struggling. I have my first Dr. on Tuesday. Good luck to you!!!

I started my diet on 8-17. I did well the first few days then I was traveling for a week. It was a slow downward spiral. I had lost three pounds and gained them back. But... I can say the cookie eating in the hotel was not there. Which I was proud of myself for. I ate very healthy but I was still over the 1400 calories per day. I kind of took this weekend off and I am back on track today. It is such a hard process. I need to get my head in the game. I have to meet with my surgoen next Tuesday and I want SOME weight off even if it is just 2 pounds. I will say I am really scared about my weight going up. I am really trying to drink water and plan meals. I travel almost all of Sept. It is going to be brutal. Maybe I should limit myself to protein bars and then a regular dinner?? It would at least track the calories. One thing I can say that has been positive is I have been taking vitimins with iron. They are Flintstones but this is a major milestone for me. Iron has always made me really sick. So that is one worry off of my mind.