So, I started my journey for wls over four years ago. My journey started with my mom's diagnosis of end-stage renal failure due to diabetic complications. At that moment, I knew I had to lose this weight. The day my mom got her kidney disease diagnosis, I went to my doctor and requested wls. She told me no and that I could just exercise it off. Well, one year later and 20 pounds heavier, I tried again. Still no luck. My mom lost her battle in 2009, and my life went into a tailspin. I grabbed a hold of the reigns in 2010 and decided it was time to take charge of my weight issue. I had been researching wls the entire time, so, I gathered all of my research and headed into my doctor's office ready to state my case. Over the last four years, I had changed doctors three times, and each doctor said no to giving me a recommendation. So, imagine my surprise when my fourth doctor said yes! When I asked the new doctor about wls, she was very supportive and started me in the bariatric program that day!

Fast forward to today, I am five months into my six-month nutrition program and, up until the holidays, everything was going great! At about the four month mark (which coincided with that Turkey, Christmas, New Year stretch) I gained 7 lbs!! On my fifth month appointment, I managed to lose 2 pounds, so I have to lose 2 pounds by February 24th in order for my nutritionist to approve me and send my paperwork on to the approving board of my insurance company,

I am with Kaiser of the Greater-DC area, and, according to their program, I can either have my surgery done at Holy Cross Hospital with Dr. Brain Cantor or some hospital in Virginia with some surgeon I do not know. As of my last nutritionist appointment, my nutritionist did not have this information available to me, so I guess, as for right now, I'm going with Dr. Brian Cantor. I have attended a couple of his pre-op informational sessions, and I do adore his straight-forward style. I don't, however, like the fact that his surgery waiting list is four months long from the initial appointment (which is another month, at least, from your approval with Kaiser, which, takes about two weeks after the board receives your paperwork).

Anyway, on this journey I have found out a lot of interesting information about myself. I am pre-diabetic, I have mild sleep apnea, and my blood pressure is erratic, but, not, at this point in time, continuously high without medication. I also found out that I have mild arthritis in both knees and elbows and possibly in my left shoulder. Without medical intervention and bariatric surgery, I am on the same path as my mom and I don't like the destination of that trip.

I don't really post often, but will try to update this posting with my journey updates. I'll probably get more detailed as I get closer (and get comfortable with the site and the members). Here's to the last two pounds melting away and staying gone (doing three days a week of all liquids until my approval so that the switch into the all liquid diet is not that drastic)

~Deevah~

So, I found out today that Kaiser postponed the 3/15 meeting so that is why I haven't heard from them. The meeting was postponed for tomorrow, so I hope to hear from them by week's end. I am so ready for the next chapter of this process. Until then, I'm trying to keep the faith. My nutritionist attempted to make me feel better by letting me know that I was well within the criteria for surgery. So, I'm back to waiting...and hoping...

Until next post,

Deevah

Keepng you in my thoughts!

I GOT IT I GOT IT I GOT IT!!!!! My referral was approved and on my KP website today! I'm so excited I can scream! YEAH BABY!!! On my way to a thinner me!! Thanks for all of the prayers and support. Talk to you later.

Deevah

Yay! I'm SO excited for you!!!

I GOT IT I GOT IT I GOT IT!!!!! My referral was approved and on my KP website today! I'm so excited I can scream! YEAH BABY!!! On my way to a thinner me!! Thanks for all of the prayers and support. Talk to you later.

Deevah

Oh Deevah I am so happy for you!! I read about all of your trials at work today while eating my lunch (my daily activity) and I was eager to get home to hear if you had heard anything yet and you did!! :cheer2: Congratulations! Let us know when your get your date scheduled!

Here's another update: I HAVE MY PRE-OP CONSULT TODAY @ 2PM!!! Just got the call from the doctor's office! Super excited, scared and nervous (because all of my information and questions are at HOME and I don't have time to go back before the appointment). Just thought I'd update. Thank you everyone for all of the support.

Keep us posted. Don't worry about your stuff. I know you're like me and have it all memorized anyway. Good luck!

Just wanted to stop by and update. I've been in a holding pattern since my initial consult appoitment. My doctor has a 6-8 month waiting period for my insurance and I'm at month 3. This really sucks! I am not the most patient person in the world, and my weight has fluctuated with my impatience. I finally started to get back on track a few weeks ago and have lost somewhere close to 7 pounds. I've started a version of a liquid diet (2 protein shakes and 1 low carb meal a day) to aid in my weight loss. I'm trying to stay motivated as I wait until my name comes up on the surgery list...

I wish you the best of luck on your weight loss journey!

UUUrrrggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! :frusty: OK, patience is NOT a virtue I possess!! Apparently, the July dates have already started to be given out and I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL!! :censored: I am so not good at waiting. I suck at waiting actually. I'm trying to hold on and keep hope alive, but, I'm so ready to go that I want to cry!! Part of it is that, as of right now, I am not scared and want to get my surgery over with before fear can take hold. The more I read, the more I feel fear trying to creep in. I have a very vivid imagination and it is taking all of my energy to keep my mind focused away from the fear factor of this surgery. I am losing ground on that front, however, and now, I just want to cry! I am so tired of being on the waiting side of this. The Bariatric Coordinator at the hospital where I am having my surgery always says "You didn't get this way overnight", so you should be able to wait to get the surgery (or something to this effect) and every time she says this I want to HIT HER!!! :angry: OK, forgive my ranting, I'm just extremely frustrated and want my surgery! :frusty:

Hi Deevah!

I just wanted to let you know that I started my journey with WLS last September 2010. I was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure in the spring of 2010 and that just was not going to work for me! I have several family member with type 2 diabetes, including my mother and I see the effects first hand this disease can do. I WAS NOT going to let that happen to me.

I know waiting is frustrating, but just know that this is truely a gift from GOD and that it took me 6 months to go thru the program with Kaiser here in California. Yes, it seemed like a lifetime, but it WAS SO WORTH IT!! You are worth it and you will get there, just be paitent and it will all work out!

Best of luck to you!

Kelly

Hi Deevah (& Lexusgirl),

Just wanted to check in and say that I can so relate to this process. I live in Bowie, MD and I have been at the process with Kaiser mid-Atlantic since June of 2010. I too attended the sessions at Holy Cross with Dr. Cantor. I also really liked his no nonsense approach, however, his waiting list, as already stated by Deevah, was incredibly long. Interestingly enough my approval was supposed to go to the board on 3/15 as well and was delayed, but I didn't know the meeting had been postponed. We actually received our approval during the same week.

I am seeing Dr. von Rueden who is affiliated with St. Agnes in Baltimore. After following my surgeon's process for the past couple of months, I have finally received my surgery date of August 2. I too, was hoping for a July date, but alas it was not to be.

So happy to meet fellow Marylanders, going through the process around the same time as I am.

Virtygirl

So.....I GOT MY DATE!!! FINALLY!!!! I will be sleeved on August 31st and I am...scared, ready and anxious all rolled into one! I am supposed to start my pre-op diet on 8/17, but I'm going to start 8/15 with a fellow Dr. Cantor patient who will be sleeved a few days before me (hey Ms E!! :wave: ). I will update after my physical appointment which is some time next month. I am so excited to FINALLY be on my way! A new me is just around the corner! ttyl

Deevah :woot:

Congratulations! I am happy for you to have your surgery date. I had a thought to help you pass the time since you will be impatiently waiting for your date. One thing you could do sometime in this interim before surgery is to organize your closet into sizes. I didn't do that before surgery and it would have helped. You will be changing sizes rapidly, and it is easier to have the different sizes easily accessible when you need them. I had clothes stashed all over my house and in storage - and by the time I found some things - I had already shrunk past the size they were - so they went to the donation pile.

Good luck!

Happy Dance for Deevah! Congrats...love the idea about organizing your closet into sizes between now and then! GREAT idea.