I honestly feel like I've completely lost my mind. I HAVE to know if anybody else has dealt with this...

I decided to go forwad with the sleeve after my PCP recommended surgery to help me achieve my long term weight loss goals. I've been overweight my whole life- obese for most of it, and right now I'm at my highest weight ever and absolutely miserable. Like all of you, I've tried other diets to no avail. During my greatest effort, I only lost 30 pounds and quickly regained it plus another 70.

Because of my insurance, I have to do the 6 month supervised weight loss so I'm going to be waiting at LEAST 6 or 7 months before this surgery can even happen for me. My problem is that even though it's so far away, I'm completely obsessed with it. It's all I think about- even when I don't want to. I can't concentrate at work- I'm either on here reading posts or just day dreaming. I think of the good, the bad, the future, the past, I cry, then I'm happy... One minute I want to stuff my face and the next I can't eat because I'm so anxious.

For example, today I have my first NUT appointment and for some reason I'm so nervous I couldn't even eat a few bites of Breakfast so I could take my pills. It's JUST an appointment... Tomorrow I have my sleep study and when they called me to schedule it the other day I got this huge knot in my stomach. I don't know if I'm excited or scared, I just feel like I'm going insane. I can't stay this way for the next 7 months, LOL. Will this feeling ever go away??

Please- any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Bubbles

It may not quite go away, to be honest. But it will get tolerateable.

For now focus on the positive things you can do while waiting. Eating better, reading the recommended books, figuring out how to deal with the people who will be less than supportive...

Anything you do will feel like something...adn keep a list, keep a list!!!! That way you can look back at your progress...and you make progress just by preparing.

Good luck, may your date be as soon as it can be!

I know exactly what you mean. I am pretty obsessed about it too! My surgery date is July 2 and my paperwork was only sent for approval on 6/12. I am obsessively looking at my email, checking my phone and to pass time i am on the boards both here and on obesityhelp.com. So i know exactly what your saying. Early on i started a blog and that did help out a bit.

Just know that the process has already begun! You are on your way and just take things one day at a time. For some folks (like my husband for example) the process is very fast - I had a very long journey before my recent vsg - my family went to the seminar on April 13, 2011 - I finally had my surgery on may 21, 2012. Just the way work schedules work out and the 6 month MWL requirement (which they changed and eliminated the month after I finished my 6 months lol.) can sometimes push the surgery out.

I am grateful for the time I had prior to surgery to learn and plan and try out lots of different Proteins and Vitamins. I lost 44 lbs pre-op, which is 44 more lbs. I dont have to lose after surgery

Hang in there, everyday is a bit closer!

Waiting 6 months sounds similar to being pregnant. It's going to happen eventually and there is a lot to do before it happens but you still have wait for it to happen. No point obsessing over it. You're just going to have to go through the process and wait.

For the record I'm in the same boat. I'm looking at November at the earliest.

I had to do the 6 months too. My first stint I quit because my husband lost his insurance. The second time I joined healthy4life, I could not handle the writing of my food log down and I ended up getting pneumonia after the first few weeks and I quit again, I gained even more weight.

If you are doing this, then I suggest putting 100% effort into it. Sign up for my fitness pal.. Start working on the things you NEED to work on to succeed. The sleeve is only a tool. It does not guarantee you will not gain weight back, it does not guarantee you success. ONLY YOU can guarantee it.

I did my best to follow the 80 grams of ap rotein, lower carb diet. I still drank beer or overate on some days, but I started following the program again and when I was seeing improvement I called and remade my appointment with them. I had my first appointment in November and the day of surgery (7 months later) I had lost 70 pounds...on my own!!! I still have 100 to lose, but I made necessary changes in my lifestyle, learning not to drink with my meals, giving up caffeine, learning to chew my food, learning to eat meat first, vegies second, then carbs.

I had days I indulged, but I kept myself honest. I think too many people go into this thinking the sleeve is going to cure their food issues. IT WILL NOT!!!! You will still have issues with being a food addict and if you can change it before surgery, you will do much better after surgery.

Take each day as it comes and learn that only you can control if you will succeed, the sleeve is just a tool and tools do break if you don't use them correctly.

I agree with everybody who already posted. Start making the changes now that you will have to do anyway post-op. Stop drinking during meals, order a bunch of Protein powders to try, start walking or exercising if you haven't already, lower or eliminate carbs. All of these things will help you feel better as well as make the time go quicker. My insurance required the six month diet program as well and I'm grateful for it. It's given me time to read, research and take up residence on this board to learn as much as I possibly can, the good, the bad and the ugly. Believe me, the time will fly. I have my last "NUT" visit (actually with my PCP) at the end of this month. Since all my other requirements are taken care of, they should be able to submit the paperwork for approval immediately after my visit. It really went very quickly.

Hang in there, you can do it!

I have become obsessed. I think about my sleeve all the time. It dominates my thoughts. I come on line here now more than Facebook or any of my pre sleeve haunts. I read and research constantly stuff to do with sleeve, ghrelin, food and nutrition. I look in the mirror more than I care to admit, lol.

This is a massive change, so I consider the obsession I have to be quite normal. I know in time I will again have balance in my life but for now, I am enjoying my obsession. I think it is a healthy part of this life changing time I am going through.

Sent from my iPad using VST

When I first started I was just doing the time. When I had the surgery I became totally obsessed. I would drive my hinny craZy. Now at 8omonths out it's not so bad. I am about to transition to maintenance. This scarese bc I am worried about dropping my guard and all my old bad behaviors coming back. I will do it and be very successful.

I want to thank everybody for their comments. I just came home from my first NUT appointment and it was so great!! She gave me lots of "homework" to do and included are all the suggestions people have made: Not drinking during meals, eating my protien then veggies, then carbs... etc. She even had a sample of the unjury chocolate splendor for me!

I'm going to try and use my nervous/anxious/excited energy to push myself in the right direction during the months leading up to surgery. I just want to be really successful at this and I know the extra time I have with my NUT is priceless. I still can't help obsessing though- but I guess if I obsess in the right direction then all will be ok!! Thanks again!