Josey Quinn

Congratulations!!!

You're not alone. My surgery is in 2 days (12/2) and I've been feeling the same way. I'm trying to remember I've felt like this with every surgery I've ever had from my c-section to my foot to my wisdom teeth, up until the moment I conked out on the table. Once I'm recovered I always look back and say, "see, you made it". I think our nerves prove that we understand that major surgery is a big deal, and yet we are still willing to do it to become happy, healthier versions of ourselves.

I hope you breeze through surgery tomorrow!

I'm glad you started this thread. As I sit here during my preop diet, telling myself that I do not need to go downstairs and eat again before bedtime, it's helpful to know that the temptation doesn't end with my surgery. This is merely phase one. And I will get stronger because I have to if I want to have the life I envision.

I can definitely see the difference! Awesome work!

I have UHC through my employer. My surgeon submitted paperwork to UHC on 11/11, and I received approval on 11/24. Surgery is scheduled for 12/17. But your mileage may vary wildly! :-) I was given my surgery date after someone else cancelled, so I'm not sure if I would have made it in December otherwise.

Are you enrolled in the Bariatric Resource Services program through UHC/Optum? My employer required it, and we had last-minute confusion over whether or not I had to submit 5 years of weight history showing BMI >35. It put my approval in jeopardy for a day or so. I met the weight requirement, but producing records was the problem. It turns out that when I started the Bariatric program, the 5-year weight history was not a requirement under my employer's benefits, so I was "grandfathered" in.

Anyway, I hope that information helps.

Oops, I just realized I posted this under the wrong topic! I guess I'm required to be a success now!

I've waited years to type that sentence: My surgery date is 12/17/15. I've worked especially hard over the last six months to make it a reality. My insurance company requires a physician-supervised diet, psychological evaluation, and other health workups before approving surgery. At the last minute, they threw me a curveball by asking for more weight history. I scrambled to produce the requested records, but at the same time, they realized I had started my process before that information was a requirement. They approved me the same day.

I started my preop diet on 11/25/15. Yes, the day before the U.S. Thanksgiving Day. :-) My surgeon uses Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet as the preop diet. For the first three days, I thought I was going to starve to death. The carb withdrawal was fierce. Fierce, I tell you. Day 4 was better. Today is day 5. It's still early, but I feel good so far. I lost a pound since yesterday.

I'm trying not to focus too much on my weight for now, though. I've been obsessed with my weight for as long as I can remember, from the time I was 11 years old, 5'6", and weighed 106 pounds. Today, I am 43 years old, 5'9", and weigh 278.8 pounds. I've been overweight since my first pregnancy at 24. I'm now morbidly obese with a BMI of more than 41. I know the facts, of course, but I'm doing my best to focus on what I want to gain rather than what I need to lose. I want to wake up without shooting pain throughout my body. I want to make it through a day at work without swollen ankles. I want to walk up two flights of stairs without losing my breath. I want to look forward to exercise every day. I want my energy back.

I will continue to update this thread with my progress. It's great to meet you. :-) I wish you wild success as we take this journey together!