Need help choosing a surgery date!

[ralambert511 4]

I had my first in-person consult with my surgeon today. He was impressed with what I have been working on. Since I meet all the requirements and my insurance will most likely approve my surgery quickly, they want me to schedule my surgery date! I was not expecting to have a date so early let alone get to pick!! Since I have yet to tell anyone about my decision to have surgery I have no one to bounce my options off of so I'm coming to here for your insight

I had originally wanted to have surgery in the beginning of January.

PROS

-I'll be on break from my college classes.

-My husband will most likely be laid off from work for the winter.

-My mom also has off from work in January. So she could help watch my daughter if she chooses to support me.

- It's after the holidays.

-It's the New Years resolution time so I will "fit" in with everyone else getting healthy/losing weight and hopefully won't have to explain too much to my acquaintances.

CONS

- 4 months away (what feels like a long time)

- Cold outside so exercise would have to be at the gym.

- Trip planned to Paris a week before surgery.

BUT the first date available is as early as November 3! Which feels right around the corner! And is exciting and scary all at the same time lol

PROS

-I'd already be losing weight by the holidays.

- No fear of gaining weight over the holidays.

- Could start exercising outside before going to the gym.

- Be on a (mostly) regular diet by holidays.

- Be 3 months out and thinner for planned trip to Paris.

CONS

- I will have to juggle classes with my recovery.

- My husband will have to take time off from work.

- Most likely will not have family support by then.

My husband suggests flipping a coin lol But I wanted to get some insight from you guys. What would you do and why? Am I missing any pros or cons?

[Bufflehead 6,358]

If it were me, I would take the earlier date. Honestly, in my opinion, things like what you might need to explain to people and where you would exercise shouldn't really be factors. Getting healthy as soon as possible should be your no. 1 priority. You will be much happier on your trip to Paris if you are slimmer and more active rather than trying to comply with a pre-op diet or something.

I don't understand your timing though -- if you have a late December trip to Paris planned, you'll be less than two months post-op, not three months out.

Anyway, I would if at all possible hire a babysitter or caregiver to help with your child and around the house for the first few weeks while you recover (rather than have your husband take time off) and go for it ASAP.

Tell your professors a bit ahead of time that your doctor has scheduled you for surgery and come up with a plan to make up any missed classes, labs, etc. I am a professor myself and this is not an unusual occurrence -- I and all of the colleagues that I know put our students' health first and want to do what we can to help and support them. Good luck!

[ralambert511 4]

I got lost in my months lol You are correct my trip to Paris will only be 2 months out. Thanks for your thoughts

[laylay33 20]

I say go for it! The sooner the better! The sooner to start a healthier you! The semester will be almost over. You may be able to make some arrangements with your professors by then about your course work possibly taking exams earlier ect. With me I have my first consult on next Monday. I've only told a select few about my decision cuz not everybody will understand & most will try to talk me out of it!! I wish I could get mines that early but I have to do a 3 month supervised diet. So I'm looking at December for my surgery. If u want to private message me I'm here. I will cheer u on thru out your journey!! ????????????????????????????????????????❤️

[Half of Bri 115]

I don't have my surgery date yet but I'm already getting impatient...I wish I could have it tomorrow! I'd definitely take the earlier date if it was me...think of how far along you'll be by your trip!

[laylay33 20]

@ how long has it been for you 3 months or 6 months supervised diet?

[Thinside 155]

I'm going to buck the trend here and say I would wait. Not everyone has a perfectly smooth recovery, and even if you do, you'll still be tired and adjusting to your new eating habits. I can't imagine going to classes right after having the surgery, much less taking care of a child without the additional help.

I also took a trip right before surgery. I had lost 19 pounds in the 6 weeks leading up to surgery, and lost none the last week before, but my doctor was fine with this because my liver had shrunk from the recent weight loss. I wouldn't gorge in Paris, but . . . it would also be a chance to have some amazing food (food funeral of sorts). If you go after, you won't be able to eat much of anything, depending on how your doctor schedules the stages. Ditto for the holidays. Just speaking for myself, I would find it hard to be sleeved right before Thanksgiving, etc. Again, I would still try to eat healthy and lose some weight during this time. Just my two cents. Only you can decide what's right for you.

Edited August 21, 2015 by Thinside

[Half of Bri 115]

@ how long has it been for you 3 months or 6 months supervised diet?

I actually don't have to do a supervised diet, but I was due to have surgery in August 2012 and had a major health issue that was discovered 2 wks before my surgery and I had to cancel it while I recovered. So technically it feels like I've been waiting 3 years! Haha

[laylay33 20]

I actually don't have to do a supervised diet, but I was due to have surgery in August 2012 and had a major health issue that was discovered 2 wks before my surgery and I had to cancel it while I recovered. So technically it feels like I've been waiting 3 years! Haha

Oh okay! Lol! Have they given u a approximate time your surgery date could be?

[laylay33 20]

@

[Half of Bri 115]

I have my psych evaluation the end of this month, still need clearance from my PCP and an Upper GI, before meeting again with my surgeon on 10/2. Once that's done then we can schedule, which can be as soon as 2 wks after that. Fingers crossed!

Oh and my NUT meeting, too!

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

@@Thinside and i are standing alone from the crowd

we both think you should wait til January for WLS

i think pros out weigh the cons

hubby home, mom help, college break

what more can you ask for

confusion

no date for WLS has been confirmed

how do you know that Paris would be exactly one week before surgery??

you could schedule the surgery for a few days after you plan to be home from Paris (january)

it is a bummer that you need to wait 4 months

4 months is NOT that long

some people in other countries have to wait up to a year + before they can have surgery

puts things in perspective that 4 months isn't that long

4 months is (i mean feels like ) a lifetime

it isn't, really

you have more time for preparation

watch u-tube

get more info from boards

look into one of the below books

they are written by our "leader " @@Alex Brecher

(i receive a free Quest Protein Bar when i send business his way )

• - The BIG Book On Bariatric Surgery
• - The BIG Book On The Gastric Sleeve
• - The BIG Book On The Gastric Bypass
• - The BIG Book On The LAP-BAND®

work on food now (consider it pre-op)

dr. doesn't require pre-op - but you can do it for YOU

loose as much weight as you can now (some people loose 20 +lbs)

work/practice the new rules you will do for the rest of your life

try and eat, drink, exercise now

do or do not, there is no try

(Yoda from Star Wars)

eat wisely over the holiday, trip

don't take a 2-3 week funeral

you don't want to gain weight in Paris, or over holidays

but if you loose now, those lbs you have lost could work to your advantage

example - you loose 20 lbs before WLS but gain 3-4 lbs over the holidays.........

you still win !!!

(not encouraging you to gain weight )

enjoy your Paris excursion (i'm jealous)

i'm much smaller now (goal)

i could fit in one suitcase !!!

(i''ll pay extra weight charge of course )

can i come with you, PLEASE

i'm rooting for WLS in January

if you choose November - we can still be friends

good luck with your hard decision

kathy

[Teesaa 30]

If it was me I would go earlier. Also check with your doctor about flying so close to surgery. My friend doctor won't do surgery within a month of flying due to risk of clots.

[Miss Mac 6,261]

In August of 2013, I had my first consultation at the bariatric clinic. I got my appontments lined up and had a three month supervised diet, during which I lost 22 pounds, which was an encouraging head start. I had my surgery on 12/23/2013. The time actually passed fairly quickly and gave me the opportunity to develop the eating habits that would carry me through recovery and future success.

My vote is for waiting until you return from Paris. You will have more energy for your trip and have the help you need for your recovery. Just put your own self on a low carb diet similar to what most of the rest of us have to do anyway. I suppose your trip to Paris could be yor official "food funeral" that many of us had. Or.....you can start researching how to maintain a low carb diet while travelling.

On the website "The World According to Eggface", the blogger traveled around the world freshly post-op and had a wonderful time. So, low carb can be done in Europe the same as it can be done anywhere. I know that I did not have any noticeable energy for a couple of months post-op after I was well into eating regular foods and had built up my nutrient levels.

So, I would delay the surgery and use that time to prepare for my new re-invented life. Whatever you decide, I insist that yo enjoy your trip. Bon Voyage from Chicago!

[NaomiAus 104]

I would take the earlier one, you would enjoy your trip to Paris even more if you've been out of surgery and lost a bit already.