Meems

Zoefruitcake...,best wishes for a successful surgery.....normal to be nervous but remember what a good decision this is and how many positive things that will come from this!...let us all know how it goes......

Oh boy, I started my journey December 24, 2012!!! My insurance required a year supervised, weight management classes, and a once a month weigh in! Also the normal dietician and social worker appointments and group sessions. I finally got approved in January and now my meeting with my surgeon is on February 24th, I'll get my surgery date at that meeting. By the time I have surgery it will be 15-16 months since I started the process til my surgery and at first I was frustrated with the lengthy process but now I am so thankful for it. I have learned so much attending the classes and they really prepare us on how to use our new tools. I am starting to get very emotional and stressing about everything now that I know it's getting closer. I'm losing my patients again and just want it to be over with so I can stop worrying about it and live! It may not seem like it now but it will be here before we know it! And I look at it like hey, it gives me that much more time to lose weight before surgery and that's like money in the bank! goodluck and keep on keepin on it will be here before you know it.

Most insurance requirements are 6 months or so. My surgical group actually won't even submit your paperwork to insurance until you attend a 6 month nutrition class. Between all the appointments and insurance requirements, my entire process was about 1 year from initial seminar to surgery. You most definitely are not the only one that went or are going through it. You should actually feel thankful that your insurance will even accept you. Many flat out deny requests for WLS.
Unfortunately it's just one of those things you have no control over and need to patient about. Pushing the surgeon's office certainly won't help. What might help is starting to prepare yourself now for some of the post surgery things you'll have to do.
1. Work on the 30/30 rule. This is probably something you have been introduced to already. Don't drink 30 minutes before your meal, take about 30 minutes to eat your meal, then don't drink anything for 30 minutes afterward. Trust me, it's harder than it looks and takes time. Getting used to it now is better than trying to learn later and hurting yourself by drinking with a meal.
2. Get used to taking Vitamins. Find chewable or liquid options for after surgery. Vitamins will be your friends for the rest of your life.
3. Research Protein supplements and find one that you like. Just be warned, your tastes will change after your bypass surgery.
4. Find other online resources for recipes. You'll most likely be on a liquid diet for a bit after surgery, then will progress to mushy/purees. Resources like Eggface or Bariatric Foodie might help you learn a bit before the surgery. Education is the most important part of your journey.
5. Work on weighting and tracking your food. You'll be on a strict portion limit for at least the first 6 months or so after surgery. Get used to weighing foods and forming the habit now.
Just be patient. I know it's not what you want hear, but it's the truth. And remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint, even after surgery. It won't happen overnight.

I am crossing my fingers that I will get a date within the next couple of weeks. My journey probably started a couple of years ago when two of my good friends had weight loss surgery. Also, two of my daughter's bridesmaids have been successful with their surgeries. One did the lap band. She lost her weight slowly but looks fantastic and has kept it off for more than 4 years now. The other one had the gastric bypass, lost a great deal of weight, got pregnant, and has kept most of her weight off since. Her son is two. A very good friend had the lap band surgery but had some complications and had to have it removed. However, she still looks fantastic and doesn't seem to be having any trouble staying fit now. I do have one friend who did the bypass who lost over 100 lbs but has put more than half back on. She has been very encouraging though because she states that she did not follow the rules and tells me that if I do what I am supposed to do, I should be successful. She did not exercise at all and has not kept up with her Vitamins and supplements.
I took a long time deciding to do this but since then it seems like it has gone by really fast. I have one more workshop to attend, an appointment next week with my husband and the surgical nurse and my final appt with the surgeon both set for Feb 5th. I am confident that I will be able to lose the weight. My doubts are centered around handling my stress and problems in a new way. I made a major life decision in December which has greatly reduced the stress in my life but I already feel like I am coming down from that success as I get used to my new surroundings and circumstances. My family is supportive but doesn't always really understand what it is I really need. They are also not used to having to put aside their own needs and wants for mine. I have kind of drawn a line in the sand with them, allowing myself to take care of me, even though my feelings of being selfish and self centered are never too far below the surface.
I keep waffling back and forth between trying to watch what I eat with the maddening urge to eat all those things I won't be able to have after surgery. It's intimidating to think of all the things I cant have anymore but then I remember that losing this weight will allow me to do so many things I haven't done in year or ever. Please, any comments about how you all have handled any of this stuff would be very welcome at this point. Thanks.