Feeling Like My Surgery Is A LIFETIME Away

[mnmlst 249]

I've been working diligently on getting my paperwork together, and I have my first NUT meeting tomorrow. But, best case scenario, I get sleeved in late September. It seems SO. FAR. AWAY. 90 days of NUT, submit to insurance, get approved, get a surgery date. So, prob 4 mos at a minimum.

How are you handling / how did you handle the wait?

I am torn between being READY to lose this weight and wanting to start dieting and wanting to make every meal its own last supper, fearing the day when I won't be able to handle the foods I love. It's frustrating.

What did you do? Did the time seem to pass quickly? Should I be relishing my last days of gastrointestinal freedom, or working hard to make a dent in what I have to lose?

[Stephnance 8]

What paperwork are you having to get together? I just decided to get the surgery and I have a date of June 23rd, which seems a long time away!

I am getting super excited!

[LML8789 52]

Once I saw my nutritionist the 1st time, it seemed to go fairly quickly (though I can be pretty impatient). I personally started changing my ways the day I started with the nutritionist--I had a few slip ups but overall did well. I think it got me ready for my post-sleeve life and I've done really great at sticking to my surgeon's requirements. I've never had this kind of willpower before but I think a big part of that was slowly changing my eating habits over the 4 months before surgery.

I wish you much success in your weight loss surgery: I'm sure you'll be thrilled with your progress (and surgery will be here before you know it!) (and you are about right in your guesstimate---I saw my nutritionist for the first time on 7/8 and had surgery on 11/20.)

Lisa

[Pugmadkate 61]

My goal has been to not gain additional weight as I go through this process. I walk, I eat well, but I'm not pushing myself to the gym or dieting. I"m sure I'll lose weight during the two week pre-op liquid diet but other than that, I'm just trying to maintain an even keel. I think it's a good strategy for me.

[Bmjohnson 84]

The surgery does seem to be a long time away but I promise it will fly by. I had to go to the dr. for 6 months before my insurance would pay for it. I thought to myself, this is gonna take forever but low and behold it flew by. So be patient. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pinky4652 38]

i was sleeved april 2nd but started this whole process july of 2013 i had 6month NUT diet X_X it was all worth it and i got 1 cheat day a week before surgery so it helped.... dont make a meal like its ur last. one day you will get to eat it again...!! it will only hurt u to do that and add on more pounds!! i gained 5lb the day i had my cheat diet and was sick cus i went overboard!

[LynnRinKY 15]

I had a mandatory 3 month waiting/diet from my insurance company too. It ended last week! I should get the final ok and a date next week. Trust me, it goes by very quickly. I thought the same thing at first.

As for food, honestly I fit in some "goodbyes". I still managed to lose 12 lbs. In fact, during my worst craving-filled month, I swear all I wanted was taco bell and chocolate for a week, I still lost 7 pounds. The dietician said it was because overall I was moving more and watching the rest of my meals. So...my advice is don't deprive yourself and don't overdo it. Find a balance. This is just the start of your new eating lifestyle so give yourself permission to ease into it right now. I anticipate I'll be in my 2 - week liquid pre-op period next week and don't feel like I'm really grieving any specific food anymore.

[mnmlst 249]

What paperwork are you having to get together? I just decided to get the surgery and I have a date of June 23rd, which seems a long time away!

I am getting super excited!

Steph, I don't get my surgery date until after everything has been approved by insurance. It's just how my surgeon's office does it.

Thanks for all your responses. It helps!

[belunos 93]

Once I started the process it felt like it took forever. I had about four months as well. Everyone said it would fly by, but it didn't for me

[HalloweenBaby24 447]

I went for my first appointment with the Surgeon May 17th and was given a list of things my insurance wants before approval.

-Gastro Dr apt

-Nutritionist apt

-Phycological Eval

-Letter of medical necessity

-$25 course on ClairtyMD going over the procedure.

-Blood work

My insurance doesn't require a supervised diet thankfully.

I have a 3hr Pre-op class August 12th and my "Tentative" surgery date is September 8th.

[Stephnance 8]

I am going to a place called True Results and I am not having to go thru the Nutrition/6month process.

Which is good because if that was the case then I would probably just go to Mexico to have it done. They will get it done next week for only $4500.

My insurance is Not covering all of my procedure, I guess about half.

My surgery has been post-poned because I have an ulser. I am so mad!!

[dogloverlosingit 6]

Yes I feel the same way! I am doing the 6 month diet required by insurance. I am watching what I eat, trying to maybe get a head start, but on the other hand I do sometimes thing " I should eat this now, while I can!" I get that. I can't get a date until insurance approves, and I have heard that the surgeon's office is far behind for getting them scheduled. I have a high deductible plan which I have met this year and really need to have it this year. I really hope all the timing works out.

[Forsythia 882]

I had to have six months of classes, but by the time BCBS got off their butts and approved me it was March (I went to my first appointment in June.) So by the time I had my sleeve it was almost a year. But that just gave me time to get used to logging my food and going to the gym and detoxing from sugar.

Don't make every meal your last meal. I fully admit to having a last meal though, the weekend before my surgery. My hosptial doesn't do a pre-op liquid diet, just a low carb high Protein diet. So I made sure to have a steak! LOL!

[RayJunCayJun 41]

My own opinion, I think if you have "food funerals" (read that here) it would only make it worse for yourself- you will gain more weight and it would be like tricking your brain into thinking you will never get that again. Then once you have your sleeve that food monster in your brain will make you think you need to have it-just got to have it!

Train your brain now to make it think it prefers "healthly foods" the kind you will have to eat for your new life style.

Affirmations can work wonders.

[joy59 81]

I agree with liveoakgal when I decided to go this direction in December I started splurging.