docbree

Beautiful! Why is it bittersweet and not just sweet?

Keep me posted, too . I plan on taking 3-4 weeks off afterward, as well. Good luck!

With that many questions, you are probably going to be taking the MMPI. You can google it for more information - but it's basically true/false questions that look for signs of depression, mental illness, panic disorders, etc. even if it does show that you have something like that it doesn't mean you'll necessarily "fail."

My surgeon wants me off Humira for a month before surgery. Asking my rheumatologist about it at next visit. The surgeon would prefer I would be off of the plaquenil and sulfasalazine, too, but he said those aren't as important (not as helpful, either, unfortunately). I don't know how long I need to be off after surgery. Pretty much resigned myself to a big flare. I went off for a few months when I had skin cancer and was pretty miserable.

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! @@Ethomas15 - the psych eval today went great (I think). I really liked the psychologist. There were several questionnaires, a face to face evaluation and then I took the MMPI. I don't have the results yet - but it really sounded like she's planning on clearing me. I was completely upfront with all of my issues - and she gave me the names of several books she recommended for me. I was a little worried about the emotional eating thing, but she said she never believes it when obese people claim they don't have issues with food. Don't worry about your eval - it will be a piece of cake

Congratulations!!! That's wonderful

I finished all my pre-op requirements today. Assuming I pass the psych eval, paperwork should be submitted to my insurance next week.

Congratulations - and good luck Monday!

My surgeon requires each patient to lose 10% of their weight prior to surgery. In fact, if someone shows up for surgery and hasn't done so, he has been known to send them home. In most cases (depending on your insurance) this pre-op weight loss will not keep you from getting approved - in fact, it shows them than you can stick with a weight loss plan. Weight loss before surgery is very important, primarily to shrink your liver. This makes the surgery quicker and less risky. Exercise isn't an efficient way to lose weight. Decreasing calories is the only way to lose weight quickly. I think a trial of the pre-op diet is a great idea. I still have about 10 pounds to lose before my surgery - and I'm completely stuck. I'm going to try the pre-op diet for a week or so myself. Good luck!

Praying for a normal biopsy!

I will! And good luck to you!

What are your doctors doing about the anemia? Maybe you need an iron infusion if you can't get enough/absorb enough orally. I hope they get to the bottom of this and that you start feeling better!

I've read some research that indicates that a very low carb diet can contribute to depression

There are a ton of posts on this topic on this site. If you use the search function, you should be able to find a wealth of information.

I have my psych eval tomorrow. I'm a little worried due to chronic depression (controlled with medication) and emotional eating. I am going to be completely honest and I pray that I still pass.

Following this thread and very interested to hear responses from veterans. I think it's wonderful that you gave that very important information to the pre-op attendee. There are a couple of people who are more than ten years out from surgery who attend my support group and their input is really appreciated by all of us. They are inspiring role models.

Sorry that didn't work

If you have an EGD or upper GI before surgery, it should be discovered then. If not, I believe it will be discovered and corrected during surgery in most cases (gastric sleeve and bypass)

I don't know if you can delete a post, but you can edit it - and that might let you delete the photo. The method for editing differs depending on which type of device you are using.

Wow!!! Congratulations!

I'm planning on getting the gastric sleeve in early December with dr james Davidson at Presbyterian, dallas

Just my two cent's worth (I am pre-op, so maybe I shouldn't even be responding). I think there are a lot of reasons to keep such a private matter to yourself. I think some valid responses to questions about how you are losing a lot of weight could include "mostly, a LOT of hard work," or if you are being consistent with your reasoning about how your sex life, plastic surgery, etc. are nobody's business then "that's a personal issue," or "I don't want to talk about it." I do think it's dishonest to say "I'm just eating better and exercising more." An obese person (or family member/friend) who asks with genuine interest will get a false sense of what is possible and may put off surgery because "if he/she can do it with diet and exercise - then so can I!" About a year ago, someone posted on one of these threads (or maybe on another site) about a friend of hers who lost a lot of weight after VGS. She was telling friends and co-workers that she did so with the help of an "herbal supplement" and the proceeded to sell it to these "friends." Dishonest. Even if she did use the supplement post-op. It's also dishonest in my opinion to make up fake surgeries as explanations for your time off of work. Once again, can't "I'm sorry, but that's personal" be used in a tactful way instead of falsehoods?

The Methodist hospital system also has free groups and you don't need to have a Methodist surgeon. I know they have locations in mansfield and dallas. There is a thread on here somewhere with a monthly calendar of Dallas area support groups but I'm not sure where to find it anymore. I'll look for it.

I am actually having my surgery at Presbyterian, Dallas (where the three most recent American Ebola cases have been). Not going to lose any sleep over it.