Ivanova8

@@cab127 Yes, I guess I'd have. I'm still amazed by it. I'm taking it as a good sign that all is as it's meant to be. This list of recipes I got from Tracey 112205 on Obesity Help so I want to give her credit. There's a group there called OH Ontario Recipes. I hope you like them. Queen of Opti and I loved it so here goes some ideas. Always use extra liquid and lots of ice, blended is best,not just shaken. Vanilla with rootbeer extract. Vanilla with cinnamon mixed in. Vanilla made with cold coffee. Vanilla made with pineapple passionfruit crystal light, add some rum extract, coconut extract, banana extract, instant pina colada Vanilla made with water and add a splash of SF caramel syrup Vanilla made with extra strong cold chai tea and extra cardammon. Vanilla with tangerine grapefruit crystal light Vanilla made with coffee and 1/2 tsp of pumpkie pie spice Vanilla with 1 tsp of instant coffee and some maple extract Chocolate with some coconut extract. Chocolate with SF caramel syrup. Chocolate with mint extract (very small amount and this one is super strong) Chocolate with orange extract Chocolate with cold coffee. Chocolate with banana extract. Chocolate made with strong mint tea Nice compromise on the 2.5 weeks on Opti! The less the better it seems like. Staying focused and practicing good habits now. Those are my two biggest tasks.

@@cab127 It's amazing. First I'm thinking I have to wait until April or later and now it's just a month away. Wow! I guess someone must have cancelled their surgery. Now it's time to start practicing some of my new habits in earnest. Good luck to you as well with the Opt-fast. I start Dec 29. I've been collecting Opti-fast recipes so hopefully that will help. Plus they had chocolate in stock when I ordered on Friday. When do you start the Opti? By the way do you go to the TWH bariatric support group meetings on Wednesday evenings? I haven't gone since October and I'd like to get in some visits in before surgery. Just wondering if they were meeting on the 17 and 31 of December. Ivanova

So I contacted my nurse practitioner earlier this week and told her about the big wait with the other doctor. Long story short I met the new surgeon yesterday and my surgery is scheduled for January 12. I'm tickled pink, a lot nervous all of a sudden and I couldn't be happier! Thanks cab127 for your suggestions.

@@cab127 Thanks for all the information cab127. I really appreciate it. I've been calling the doc's office all morning but I keep getting voice mail. I'm holding out for a real person since you said they didn't return your messages. In the meantime though I went ahead and wrote to my nurse and asked her if she could help move up my surgery dates. Basically I outlined to her what you said without mentioning that I got it from here. It's funny sometime back in November I actually did get through to Dr. Grantcharov's office and the receptionist said they were booking dates in the Spring. It was such a shock and she was in such a rush that I didn't ask any follow-up questions. After I hung up I remember thinking though that maybe that was for "other" people and that the patients in the bariatric program were somehow different. So although I was initially alarmed I blew it off. Boy was that a mistake! Thanks for the encouragement and the reminder that we have to advocate for ourselves. I'm so glad we have this forum as a resource. Thanks again.

@@cab127 Okay so you spoke to the doctor's receptionist and she said booking starts in April 2015. Then you called your nurse and told her about the April 2015 booking dates and she got you an earlier date. So do you have a new surgeon too? Will you get to meet them before the surgery date? So this morning I'll call Dr. Grantcharov's office and see what dates they are up to. If it's still April 2015 or after then I'll contact my nurse now and not wait until I see the doc next week. I hope I got it right. Thanks for clarifying. Why do they make this so difficult?

Best of luck in your search.

@@cab127 So you met with a St. Michael's doctor and then got a surgery date at TWH? I don't understand what you're saying you did and how you did it. Your nurse intervened for you? When I asked about having my surgery at TWH they said they don't switch you once you're assigned a doctor. Gosh January would be sooooo much more inviting.

@@BriWLS So from orientation to surgery you were done in 5 months? That is pretty awesome. Since orientation it's been 3 months and I meet the surgeon next week. But I was told he doesn't give a date. His office calls you back some weeks later. I have a feeling it's going to be a long anxious nail-biting wait for a surgery date. But I sure hope I'm wrong.

My referral was sent in in June 2014. I did my orientation in September 2014. I have my meeting with the surgeon next week. He's one of the docs from St. Michael's. I hope they are not too backed up. So since orientation it's been a 3 month process so far. Calling helped a lot! My original schedule didn't have me seeing the nurse practitioner until February 2015 - and that was just the first half of the necessary appointments. Now all of my required appointments are behind me. I hope the doc will give me an appointment day next week. But from what I've heard his office may call after the holidays sometime in January. I'm hoping to be on the loser's bench before Spring. You definitely have to practice patience in this process.

Has anyone found fasting all day to be a problem? Like on Yom Kippur do you do okay?

@@cab127 Congrats on having a date! Yeah you!

Hi everyone. I'm wondering if a regular exercise program before surgery will help with your recovery, weight loss and the dreaded skin sag? I've heard that if you have more muscle before surgery you'll burn fat better and you'll possibly have less saggy skin issues. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

@@CanadianGirl74 Congratulations! You must be on cloud 9!

I haven't done the Optifast diet yet. I can only suggest keeping your eye on the prize. That's my plan when I get to that stage. Good luck!

@@HilaryInRC They have a very nice selection of bracelets. Thanks for posting the website.

http://asmbs.org/resources/bariatric-surgery-postoperative-concerns-2 For the operations that have a malabsorptive component (Roux-en-y gastric bypass and Duodenal switch), the gastrointestinal tract may adapt over time to its new anatomic change. This adaptation may allow for better absorption of the consumed food, especially fats reducing the benefit of the surgery. Unfortunately, nothing short of further surgery can avert this adaptation effect. However, once again adhering to eating small meals high in Protein may limit this effect.

I don't have a link readily available, but I read that the cilia in the small intestines do adapt and regrow after a certain amount of time ( I think it said about a year out) . So the intestines it said was then able to absorb fats and calories but still not handle absorbing all the nutrients you need from food which is why you still needed to take your Vitamins. If I can find the link I will post it here.

Here in Toronto during orientation they tell us we should be prepared to buy a medical alert bracelet before surgery. I was really surprised when I heard that. But they explained why and then it made perfect sense. You definitely don't want someone blindly putting a tube down your throat or giving you any NSAIDs and include any other allergies you may have, so giving emergency personnel a heads up is an excellent idea.

I'd love to have that kind of luck. March is five months from now and I'd really like to get this show on the road. Thanks cab127 for the encouragement. =)

@@gwunderle I love that thought! My birthday was two days ago and I like having that to look forward to. By my next birthday I'll be able to shop for clothes anywhere! Good luck on your journey!

What's a sugar scrub? I'm trying to learn to eat slower. It's not easy. Figured I'd better start now.

@@Tikvah Thank you.

For sure you should appeal their decision. I've read somewhere, maybe on this site, about the best way to appeal a denial. Maybe try searching for denial or appeal. I've also read a lot of appeals get approved when done right. There's work involved in fighting their decision, but if the goal is worth it, and we all know it is, then you should go for it. Don't give up!

I call every couple of days for an earlier dietitian or surgeon consult appointment. But so far no luck. They are both scheduled in December. The person I talked to today said that my December surgeon consult might result in a March surgery. Ugh! That's forever! (No patience is not my strongest asset.) So of course I'll keep calling.

@@GalileeGal Thanks, I'll send you message.