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Some questions about communication with surgeon



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Hi everyone,

I just started my journey. I had my initial consultation with my surgeon on July 15. He told me I had to complete a six month diet monitoring plan with my regular doctor, and get a psych evaluation. I've started with my regular doctor, and completed the psych evaluation, but I haven't heard a peep out of my surgeon. I signed releases for my medical records...should I be calling them for a check up of how it's going or what the next step is?

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Call!! Bug em!! Be proactive. The number of people who start this process then never actually do anything to pursue it is astounding so I doubt they follow up with everyone. (And congrats on getting started!!!)

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Yeah, just beg them. Thats what I had to do for my first appointment. Now they are on top of everything.

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You have to contact them... I never wait for any doctor to contact me. I always ask them what do I do next and how soon can I call !!! You can rely on them you need to be in charge of how and what happens. Good luck and stay on top of the doctors !! :)

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Hi Everybody,

Well, I called them right away this morning, and I guess my medical records dictate that I've only seen the doctor twice for weight loss concerns, so I'll have to go ahead with the six month supervised diet plan. At first I was impatient about this, as I wanted the surgery now now totally now! But now, I think I can wait. They haven't received my psych evaluation yet, but I'll call in another week or so to make sure they have. They basically said the next step is just getting the whole six months of supervised dieting completed.

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The six months will fly by. Plus this 6 month period will prepare you well for the surgery. You have to prepared mentally as well has physically.

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I am so glad that my insurance requires 6 mos of supervised diet. For me, I needed that time to reflect on why I my health was so bad, why I need the surgery and how to get my self mentally and physically prepared. It does go by fast. My surgery is less then a month away and my focus this week is getting all my supplies I will need to together...like blender, food processor, electronic scale etc. The follow week will be gathering recipes to have pre and post op. Best of luck to you!

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Hi everyone' date='

I just started my journey. I had my initial consultation with my surgeon on July 15. He told me I had to complete a six month diet monitoring plan with my regular doctor, and get a psych evaluation. I've started with my regular doctor, and completed the psych evaluation, but I haven't heard a peep out of my surgeon. I signed releases for my medical records...should I be calling them for a check up of how it's going or what the next step is?[/quote']

I only saw my surgeon at my first appt in January and won't see him again until the day of surgery August 22. I had to do 6 months of dietician visits as well as the psych exam. Crazy how much surgeons differ for the same outcome :)

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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