passion4film

WOW!!! Congratulations!!!

Hope it went well!

I went to my consult wanting the bypass and my surgeon was glad I didn't want the VSG because he is starting to be put off by how common they are when some patients really should be doing the bypass or DS, and they see it as "easy." He was glad I came in with the seriousness of wanting more, so he suggested the DS to me. I trusted him immediately, and went foward from there without another thought about it. He thinks I can have great success with it. Good luck!

I am pre-op still as well, and always learning! Welcome!

I am getting the duodenal switch done later this summer; my doctor ballparked August. I just recently started my 3-month pre-op diet period. I'm getting all my appointments taken care of in that time, and then we'll submit for approval and wait! My question is about getting a date. Do you just get one assigned to you? Can you say you can't do certain dates? Is there any input you get? I have a big weekend trip planned for the first weekend of August, and I am so nervous that my surgery will be scheduled for then. Of course my surgery is important to me, but this is too. Thanks for any experience/input!

I just read the original question post, not all the replies, but here's my two cents. I, too, am perfectly healthy, except for having a BMI of 53ish. No issues with anything so far. Except I'm not; I'm 180+ pounds overweight. So that is not healthy in and of itself. And you know what? My doctors keep saying this phrase; I've heard it over and over: "You're a great candidate for this." We will not keep healthy for long. You've done all this, you're scheduled, and it's GREAT. Go with it. Nip this in the bud. They keep telling me I'm a great candidate for this because my lack of issues makes the surgery easier to do and deal with it, it makes things easier for recovery, it makes everyone's jobs easier regarding this whole thing. Please, I implore you, don't wait. You're already here. From what I see, everyone gets nerves closer to. Like, "OMG, what am I doing?!" But that's normal. Take the leap, get the weight off, and have that much of a better life that much more quickly. Do it while you're young and able, and do the procedure your doctor, the expert, recommends. If there is one sentence I have heard from post-op patients/vets, it's this: "I wish I had done it sooner." Best of luck to you!

You're welcome! I noticed just now I made an error. I put 'WTF' instead of 'WTG' - LOL!

This is great! I typed it up, as well, so it will show up in searches. WLS - Weight Loss Surgery RNY - Roux-en-Y (Gastric Bypass) VSG - Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (The Sleeve) DS - Duodenal Switch HW - Heaviest/Highest Weight SW - Starting/Surgery Weight LW - Lowest Weight CW - Current Weight NSV - Non-Scale Victory ASMBS - American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome TT - Tummy Tuck SF - Sugar Free PCP - Primary Care Physician OH - Obesity Help TMI - Too Much Information WTF - Way To Go TY - Thank You YW - You're Welcome Nut - Nutritionist glossary dictionary define abbreviations terms

Congrats!!! I am in the first month of my 3-month pre-op and I've told everyone, far and wide, from family to friends to co-workers. Everyone has been just great! Totally supportive, asking appropriate questions, listening to my updates, etc. My co-workers weren't quite sure if my news was good news right away, but I assured them it is!

Good luck and best wishes!

YAY! I hope this part of the process - and all the rest! - goes smoothly and quickly! Keep us posted!

I've seen DS patients around here with a lower starting weight. I'm "only" 313 and I'm getting the DS. Good luck, swantu! I think you'll come up with questions as you listen! Just start thinking about all the parts of this process - pre-op, surgery, post-op, etc. and questions will come to you. Also maybe ask about the gallbladder - a lot of DS patients get them taken out at the same time.

Thank you! This helps put my mind at ease!

I'm 30, and my significant weight gain started about 12 years ago. I was a freshman in college and severely depressed. Literally all I did all day was sit in my dorm room and eat from the great meal plan my school offered. It went up from there. Boredom, coping, hunger... Up and up and up. No more!

I just got my packet in the mail yesterday. "Overwhelmed" is a good word. lol Insurance requires a 3-month supervised diet period. I need to lose at least 1 lb. but the surgeon would like me to lose 5% of my weight, which is 16 lbs. My first official day was yesterday! I have to have a psych eval done - I already did it last week! I have to get two EKGs - I did one yesterday and have to do one closer to surgery, which is projected to be in August. I must attend a bariatric nutrition class. I have to go to at least one support group meeting - I already attend monthly. I have to see a pulmonologist - Not sure what this is about yet. I have to get bloodwork a few times throughout the process. I have to watch some materials on the center's website. I must get an abdominal ultrasound. I have to get final approval from my primary care physician for some reason.

Hello all! I'm Sarah, age 30, from northern Illinois, and it looks like I will be getting the DS this late summer! That is my track so far. One of my good friends got the sleeve last summer, and then summer activities were harder than ever for me, so I said enough is enough and went to her support group with her this January. I was inspired to get a referral from my PCP and now here I am, on the path to surgery! I went in asking for RNY, but the surgeon - one of the best in the region, I understand - suggested the switch for me, thinking I am a great candidate for it, and could have great success. He thinks I can do 100 lbs. in 3-4 months post-op! I'm so excited, and my family and friends are thrilled for me, and I have learned SO MUCH in the last couple of months. I'm nervous, too, as anyone sane would be, but I think this is just the thing I need to get my active life back! Anyway, I just wanted to officially say hello! I had my mandatory psych eval today, and it went really well. I filled out a 338-question MMPI2 test and then talked to the psychologist for about 20 minutes, and he said I'm a great candidate and he'd like to recommend me for the surgery! I had been so nervous about the psychologist, but it was really simple and non-stressful. I have my first appointment with the dietitian next week on the 11th, and that will be the first official day of my 3-month required pre-op! My surgeon ballparked mid-August for my surgery, if all goes well!!!

Thank you both! This board has already been so great to read through. I can't wait to continue. Good luck to you coming up, Chaos!

I completely understand. I am just starting the WLS process, and I am ready, but I am so scared of losing who I am along with the weight, or not liking what's left. Will I still be funny, and well-liked, and interesting? Will everyone only see a nice body, and not the interesting, fun person I am inside? Am I even that person? I am with you. I hope to get into therapy soon.