Spring Dixie

I'm very sorry and empathize, I've been on this roller coaster for 10 years now. Just know this is a temporary speed bump. Have you talked to them to see what you can do to improve so that your lungs can handle the surgery?

I hope I look that great after only 5 weeks!

So far I'm on track for October 13 I haven't discussed recovery time with my physician yet so if he thinks I can manage with only 1 week off then I will have it in October. If not surgery will have to wait until my December break.

Thanks for the suggestions I bought the big book on GB last month and am just about through it.

You look fantastic! Keep up the good work! You're looking so much younger and healthier!

So I am approximately 50 days out from surgery (I am litterally still in shock and disbelief) and I'm trying to get myself to a place where I feel prepared. I wanted to see from y'all that have already been though this have any advice for me. Anything you recommend I do or get before hand. What helped you in the first couple of weeks. Mistakes you made that I may learn from. Any and all advice is welcome

Roller coasters are the worst. I went on one at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I was taking my little sister on the coaster and I figured I would fit because it was just a lab bar. Well I was wrong, I got in and realized I could not get it to click no matter how much I pushed. An attendant then came over and was litterally jumping trying to get it down. I told him I would just get off but he woudln't let me. Another attendant came over and they both went at trying to slam the bar down. After what seemed like forever they finally got it to click. It was absolutly humilating having to go through that while the line of 100 people stare and point and laugh at you. It was sooo painful as well, they had pinched my thighs with the lab bar and every twist and turn on the coaster, I litterally had bruises afterwards. Needless to say that was the last roller coaster I ever went on.

I don't think this dress flatters you at all either :/

You can't call today? That looks infected.

It all seems surreal. I've been waiting for this for 10 years and now suddenly it is 2 months away! It's a bit overwhelming actually. I've got to talk to my surgeon still and see if he thinks it'll be a good idea to have my surgery in October as I'll only have a week to recover, or if I should wait until December, where I'll have 2.5 weeks of recovery time. I have a high pain tolerance and don't think that will be a barrier for me. It's the "side effects" like fatigue, dizziness ect that worry me but I don't know how his patients usually fair afterwards. I want this done as soon as possible so if he thinks I will be able to return after I week I'll get it done in October

Just had mine today and it was supper easy peasy. Surgeon just went over the surgeries he'd recommend for me and we discussed the pros and cons-it was a short conversation because I've researched the crap out of them and already have my mind set-surgeon agreed with my choice. He also went over my health history and then a coordinator came and gave me a list of things I have to get done in order to submit to insurance (labs, pap, endoscopy, psych and nutrition class) and then set me up with some of those appointments. Done

Good news! The only things I need to get done are labs, pap, endoscopy, psych and nutrition class. My coordinator thinks there should be no reason why I can't get it done in October!

At my first appointment! Eeek! This is getting real!

I don't know if he'll be my actual surgeon. I would prefer Dr. Boone, but Friday was the only day I had to make my initial visit and my only option for that day was Dr. Ghiassi. Unless I get a horrible vibe from him on Friday I won't mind either way.

Hello! I have my first appointment with Dr. Ghiassi this coming week. I'm pretty excited! Dr. Boone did my fathers surgery about 10 years ago and has absolutely loved the support he's gotten from the staff all these years

Just subbing in on this because I'm curious, not that I plan on leaving my job anytime soon. But I wonder how the new healthcare laws and the no exculsions on pre-existing condtions will play into things like this.

Anyone who thinks it's easy just doesn't understand how the surgery works. They think it actually is a magic bullet and all you had to do was go under the knife, then sit back and take a vacation while the pounds flew off.

I already figured there was no hope for mine, they are already sad and have been sad for as long as I can remember. They are rittled with stretch marks and I can only expect they'll look like deflated ballons after the weight loss. But I would rather deflated boobs that I can stuff into a nice bra then looking like a hot air ballon that sticks out like a sore thumb.

Ya'll I could just cry right now! I just got my insurance card and was finally able to pull up my benefits-not just the form that states bariatric surgery is a covered benefit...my surgery is indeed completely covered and on top of that it doesn't look like I'll have a million hoops to jump through! Requirements: Morbid Obesity, performed at a CME facilty and formal request for surgery to be performed. The last insurance I got stated bariatric surgery was covered but when I finally got the benefit paperwork it only covered a quarter of the cost. I had hoped when I made this thread, but was holding my breath to be told I once again wouldn't be able to actually get it done. 10 years, this time will be different. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm so excited!

I've read it's not too bad ???? Good luck! You're not to far away!

Oh that sounds like great news! Praying this journey is not too hard for you and you come out healthy!

I'm very greatful to have stumbled upon this thread. If anything else your experiance has made it very clear to me how much WLS is ONLY a tool and it can be SO easy to sabotage oneself. I know I am prepared for the journey ahead but this thread has showed me how much work it truely is going to be and how watchful I need to be. OP I really hope you can figure it out. You may not "trust' your doctor (which I just don't understand-they're not there to sabotage your but help you, you're the one that is untrustworthy) but you need to discuss your behaviors with them and come up with a game plan. I really hope you can come around and make this work for yourself. For everyone freaking out over the 600 calorie diet...I'm sure he was put on that because he wasn't honest with the doctor with how many calories he was actually eating.

Woooo Whooo! That's amazing! Congratulations and way to go! Any before and afters?

I sympatize! I'm sure you'll do just fine though I'm with you with the fear of vomiting. There is nothing I hate more either-mainly because I rarely throw-up, but when I do, my body gives it everything it has which makes it much worse because I fear I'll damage something shortly after surgery. But that fear and the many other fears I have surrounding having this surgery, don't compare to the fear of continuing to live like this. Best of luck with your surgery!

Thank you all for the encouragement. I got my first appointment today, unfortunately not until Aug. 29 just because the facility is about an hour and a half away so I actually have to take a day off for the appointment. But from the sounds of it...what I've read at least is the insurance I currently have is pretty quick and easy going in regards to getting bariatric surgery approved. So there's hope this goes quickly. I have a vacation in October which is a pipe dream I know but if it happens I'll be elated, if not, surgery will have to wait until December, which feels like years away but would give me more recovery time. Well see how it all plays out, regardless I'm excited!