I was trying to decide between two different programs and went to my second informational meeting last night - made the decision then and there to go with that program after seeing how much more detailed and involved they are with their patients both pre and post-op. They've done over 2K bariatric surgeries in the past 15 years, with almost 400 being sleeves. I like those numbers!

SO I handed in my 20 pages of paperwork/history last night, put an insurance referral request in to my PCP when I got home, and await the call to set up my many appointments/classes/tests. Looks like they run about 4 - 6 months on average. My insurance is easy so it will mostly be the surgeon requirements- and since they'll require me to lose about 22 lbs before surgery, that will likely be a major factor in determining how long I'm in the pre-op process.

I freaked out a little on the drive there last night. Knowing that this is finally going to happen. I'm finally DOING something solid with regards to my weight. I've been obese since I was 5. I'm 36 now. I can't believe that by this time next year, I have a real chance of not being obese anymore, with a real chance of staying in the "normal" range for life. I can't even imagine what it feels like to be a normal size.

It's a bit terrifying, but exhilarating at the same time

Yay!

Edited May 3, 201610 yr by SarahSleeve

Congrats! I am really looking forward to seeing your progress!

Congratulations

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It's a long road, but it will be so worth it in the end!

Congratulations! This really is an exciting process, isn't it?

Got the call a couple days ago that my referral info and application docs were all in place, and scheduled my first three doctor's appointments (physical, nutritional, fitness) but they aren't until the middle of June! I will be heading in sometime this or next week so they can get an official start weight so I can get started on the 8% weight loss they require. It seems that will be the most time consuming part so I want to get started asap.

It's starting to feel real!

Anyone use Weight Watchers to lose the pre-op weight? I've got MFP on my phone but I've been using it on and off for years (like, 5 years) so I wonder if I should do something different right now to kinda shake things up and help me drop these first 20lbs. Or maybe I should just stick with MFP since I'll have to use it to track Protein and stuff after - make it easier if I start paying closer attention to those details now and it won't be such a shift after surgery. Hmmm. Choices choices

Edited May 10, 201610 yr by SarahSleeve

I have done WW twice, the first few weeks you loose a good amount if you stick to it and get some sort of fitness in.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have done WW twice, the first few weeks you loose a good amount if you stick to it and get some sort of fitness in.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've done it in the past as well but it's been a while. Thanks!

@@SarahSleeve My recommendation for losing weight pre-op is to go high protein/low carb, since that is what you will be doing for the rest of your life post-op. You could replace one meal a day with a protein shake or bar (be careful about which ones, some are high in sugar) and then focus on putting protein first at your other meals and eating high protein snacks. That will maybe give you a chance to start finding high protein recipes and foods that you enjoy and to experiment with different brands and flavors of protein shakes and bars.

Official starting weight is now on file! Time to get started on the 8% weight loss! (But I have to be careful, they won't submit until after I reach that goal and meet with the surgeon, and about 9% puts me under 40 bmi!!! And they didn't seem to think my hypertension - the only 'real' health issue I have - would count with my insurance as a co-morbidity if I drop below 40. Yikes!!).

Sent from my Nexus 5 using the BariatricPal App

Edited May 11, 201610 yr by SarahSleeve