readyanxiousscared

Your results are amazing! Are you doing everything to the letter? What does your exercise plan look like? What are u eating? Girl you are doing the damn thing and definitely renewed my desire to have the procedure.

My surgeon nor dietician didn't specify how much weight I have to drop before surgery. Did your's say why?

Hi! I am..correction..was a heavy smoker (1pk daily). I was very honest with my doctor about my smoking and he informed me that smoking after the surgery could very well kill me, therefore I needed to be nicotine free for 3mo before he could perform the surgery. This decision is based solely on your doctor and insurance plays no part in this decision. Because my insurance usually goes through quickly I wonder if my smoking is the only thing that pushes me back til June. #18dayscigarettefree

Though I am not sure when I'll have the procedure, I am mourning the loss of food, my trusted friend. In good or bad and normally indifferent times it has been go-to. How did yall let it go and what does a normal relationship with food look like?

Hi guys and gals, I am starting to loose my excitement and I think I'm starting to feel as if this isn't gonna happen. I am sure that my lack of patience plays a very big role in this but this process is also very long. From the moment I found out my insurance would cover the sleeve procedure I was over the moon but because of depression it seemed like I had no follow through. Anyway, I finally made some effort and met with my surgeon and the dietician. At the same time I made an appt for the psychological eval but they didn't have any appts for more than a month. Needless to say with all the appts being s spread out and not really knowing the next step, it's starting to feel unreal again. In response to this I think I am eating more and self sabotaging. Does anyone understand or has experienced this?

You guys....OMG!!!!! I met with the nutritionist today Dr. Berger. She is freaking awesome and broke it done in plain English for me today. Ya''ll, if I hadn't been a smoker I would be having this surgery like next month....damn cigarettes lol. Anyway she explained the vitamins I should be taking and I completed blood work. I met with the dietician and both ladies said EARLY MAY....OMG...WTF....this news almost brought tears to my eyes because it was accompanied by a clearance from my dietician. So one more appt with nutrition and the official psyc appt. Folks the ball is rolling and I am freaking excited and nervous.... I am so glad I joined this forum. I appreciate your support and encouragement. Yall rock!!!!!!!

Ok folks I'm feeling a lot better today. Just left the doctors office and we are starting the various tests that are required. I feel like the ball is rolling and As BTW: I have reached the 14 day mark as a NON-SMOKER....OMFG I never thought it was possible but God is good! I think my surgery will be in June but I'm praying for May.

Andrew thank you soooooo much!

Congrats love! I can only imagine your excitement.

Food is my life...I think about it all the time. I am so f'ing tired of it but it's as if ignoring the thoughts is impossible. Planning what I'm going to eat is a unique feeling and when I have many options (like after grocery shopping) I am consumed. I take chocolate consumption to another level. So after this acknowledgement I am even more ready to not be this person with this overwhelming issue that often times I feel like no one on earth can understand.

Can you further explain head hunger...sounds like a silly question.

Thanks Andrew! That was very comforting to know these feelings about food will go away.

Hi guys, Does anybody have BCBS IL? I am curious about the pre-op process and length of time from orientation/ 1st consultation to procedure. Thanks so much.

Delove, Can u further explain that process from December til submission in January? Did BCBS of Illinois require 3 educational sessions? I'm not very clear on the requirements specific to my insurance. I attended the info meeting at UIC Jan. 15Th and met with my surgeon and dietician Jan 31st. Feb 18th is my next appt, it will be with the nutritionist and then dietician again. I'm just a little clueless....

Does it ever become a bit much, watching others take the steps we are anxiously awaiting? I want to write a post about my surgery date. I'm sorry guys I'm just venting. This is more mental than physical right now.

You are absolutely right, I will feel better once I'm closer but that's the thing, I don't know where I am exactly on this journey. No one has specifically stated I need 6mo of nutrition or what....I'm lost. I have an appt on Tuesday and hopefully they can give me a timeline.

What hospital?

That is very helpful but I have one more question, are u a smoker? And I'm not sure if the difference in procedure matters. Are u excited? Or nervous? Why the band?

Hi everyone! I wanted to start a dialogue about the PRE pre-op feelings, issues, concerns and desires. Please give feedback... So, did you start your process looking at tons of YouTube videos? I did and quite frankly I am obsessed. I have the basic background story, give or take a few details BUT none of that is important anymore, at least I don't think so. I have made a real decision to have WLS and I am ready now, more than ever. Originally I wanted the LapBand; I thought it was a God send because that meant no cutting of my insides. WELL the surgeon definitely busted my bubble, he basically told me I was too overweight and it would me no good...WTF (LOL). He gave me the option of either the VSG or RNY...talk about stuck...anyway I quickly made a decision (I felt extremely rushed), choosing the RNY. After meeting with the nutritionist (how is she different from the dietician?), I was informed I had time to change my mind....thank you Jesus! Okay I am clearly still at the beginning of this process, however, my surgeon spoke life (dramatic I know) when he said "oh this will go pretty quickly, your insurance takes no time." If that wasn’t the best new I'd heard all week, hell all month. BUT this was short lived because he followed that with "you need to quit smoking or you will die!!!!!!" WOW is all I could say. Since then I have been struggling to drop the habit. I am 2days cigarette free and this only came after I had a REAL talk with self "Do you want to smoke and be fat or do you want to improve your health in more ways than one?" I agreed and I do mean to toot my own horn because I have not gone one day without smoking in 10yrs, 2 down the rest of my life to go. Back to these YouTube videos, I have watched so many and have subscribed to a few people. I watch them and can envision myself loosing the weight and going shopping and even working out HARD. To be honest it is all I think about at this point and I do not even have a date yet, hell I haven't even had the psych eval. I feel like my obsession is PREMATURE...is it? I decided on VSG because I do not want to take millions of Vitamins for the rest of my life, I want the weight to come off slower just so my body can catch up (not guaranteed, a girl can hope) and lastly I believe this surgery provides a sense of normalcy that RNY does not. So, I find that because I am unsure if I want to go public with my decision and journey, I only have one person to talk to about this....good old dependable and supportive MOMMY. Because she is the only person, I talk to her about this constantly. She reiterated the fact that I should not care what people think because this is what I believe; know without a shadow of doubt this IS THE BEST DECISION FOR ME. I agree but I am still on the fence... If you have made it this far, THANK YOU for reading and please let me know what you think.

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!

Girl yes it is just that simple! I started with that basic phrase and slowly added different details that interested me. I'm sure you will become obsessed for a short time but its beyond informative and inspiring. Whenever I am like f*** this eating better and exercise I watch a video and I am reminded what I want and why. YouTube videos are the TRUTH!!!!!

Ok so I thought I was the only one who felt as if life was on pause until this surgery had been completed. I think more often than not "I cant wait until...." and it makes me more anxious and yet I dont want to stop because I do not want to loose this drive. I have always been a person who was motivated to work out only by results. Dont get me wrong I would go to the gym but I had no true certainity that this workout would really count. OMG, if I dont think all the time about how hard I will work out and better plan my meals. I feel like I am waiting to really start living. BTW: I am trying altoids when the cravings get crazy.

Girl you better brag about the extreme achievement! I'm proud of you! Somtimes I can't believe that I'm doing it...there has never been anything I've wanted more and I refuse to let cigarettes keep me from it. And yes it does stink.

150 sounds great. What's left to do? Do you think you're ready for all the stuff that comes with the surgery? I'm slightly afraid of the pain.

Well I have been too the informational meeting in Jan. then met with Dr. Ellie and Brenda on 1/31. I am supposed to meet Berger on the 18th of this month and psychological eval mid March. I don't know what to expect during these breaks in between appts, especially since he said I should be having surgery in June.