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What Do You Do While Waiting Several Months For Surgery?



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Hello everybody. So, the hospital I'm trying to go to isnt having another seminar until late summer. On top of that I'll likely be having surgery at a military hospital which I've been told can be wait list for 6-9mo. So it may be a full year before I can have surgery. I feel trapped. I don't want to just remain this weight for another year but I am worried if I lose too much I wont qualify. I dont have comorbidities and I'm a 41 bmi. My insurance requires I be 40+ without comorbids. So to those who had to wait, what did you do in the meantime?

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I just look at the calendar everyday hoping the time will pass quickly.

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Not going to be a popular answer but eat! Don't pack on the weight or anything but if I wanted something I ate it.

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I started my journey one year ago & just got my approval from the external review today. Just dont loose hope. Keep trucking along. Live like you normally would.

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I'd get in shape. Not dieting to lose weight, but getting my fitness as good as it could be so that recovery might be smooth.

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I waited and cried. I try eatting less. since you have to be 40+ bmi try to maintain your weight and don't gain anything

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These are really good answers. I think I will try and excerise.

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Have you checked with the insurance Co. or the surgeon to see if there are other procedures they want done before surgery. I had to see a weight loss dr. to document a 6 mo. course. Also had to have an endoscopy, cardiac clearance which was a stress test followed by cardiac cath and some crazy swallow test which was rather like being waterboarded! If you are required to do any of these things might be able to do some during this time. Good luck!

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Start getting into the habits you will be forced to get into when you get the surgery. Not drinking when eating, eating Protein first, walking...you will lose some weight even if you are eating normally and you will gain fitness that will help you through surgery.

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It seems that most insurances go by your starting bmi, not the one you have on day of surgery. Start breaking the bad habits now. It will make post op so much less miserable. You don't need to go all uber Ashley aerobics and fitness Phil, but cutting down on simple carbs, eating more vegetables and lean Protein and walking is probably a perfect start, and not all that difficult to maintain. GL.

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I would check and ask the nurse in charge of the program if you must be 40% BF and above and if you fall below that will you still qualify. I also had treatment at a Military Hospital and can't imagine that once you start the program if you lose a little wt you can't get the surgery. Most physicians want you to start losing wt and get healthy ASAP. Civilian hospitals however are different. Once you know the answer for sure, I would start a good walking/exercise program because recovery will be easier if you are more fit.

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Thank ya'll for the suggestions and advice. I recalculated my bmi it's actually 43.2. I thought it was lower. I figured it out and I can lose 17lbs and be at a 40 bmi. So before the seminar, which is in 3 months, I can lose that 17lbs have my initial weight be good. Those who have had it at an MTF did they use your seminar weight or your first visit weight? I had started the process at a civ hospital and they took my weight at my first visit.

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They used my seminar WT, which was the first time I steped on the scale in the hospital.

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    • Theweightisover2024🙌💪

      Question for anyone, how did you get your mind right before surgery? Like as far as eating better foods and just doing better in general? I'm having a really hard time with this. Any help is appreciated 🙏❤️
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      1. NickelChip

        I had about 6 months between deciding to do surgery and getting scheduled. I came across the book The Pound of Cure by Dr. Matthew Weiner, a bariatric surgeon in Arizona, and started to implement some of the changes he recommended (and lost 13 lbs in the process without ever feeling deprived). The book is very simple, and the focus is on whole, plant based foods, but within reason. It's not an all or nothing approach, or going vegan or something, but focuses on improvement and aiming for getting it right 80-90% of the time. His suggestions are divided into 12 sections that you can tackle over time, perhaps one per month for a year if a person is just trying to improve nutrition and build good habits. They range from things like cutting out artificial sweetener or eating more beans to eating a pound of vegetables per day. I found it really effective pre-surgery and it's an eating style I will be working to get back to as I am further out from surgery and have more capacity. Small changes you can sustain will do the most for building good habits for life.

      2. Theweightisover2024🙌💪

        That sounds awesome. I'll have to check that out thanks!

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