pennyt

Hi Tara, Making the appointment was your beginning, so yes, you are already on the journey. You don't have to lose to a 40 BMI to get the surgery! You have to be over 40 (or over 35 with the comorbidities), so don't stress too much about disqualifying yourself for surgery because you can't get to a 40 BMI during your 6 month diet. See, I told you that you were already on the journey! Good luck! And my three peices of best advice to you is to read this board, read this board, and read this board. This is a great place for support:thumbup:

I just had my surgery yesterday, and the surgeon came in to see me before the surgery. He asked if I wanted to go home, or if wanted to spend the night, and was OK with my choice to go home. I would like to have stayed the night, but my husband drove me, and he really needed to be at work today. I didn't have any problem going home within a few hours of the surgery. We even did drive throughs (no test-drives though) of several car dealership lots. We're trying to find a car for Thing 2 (17 year old daughter), and I thought we might as well look as long as we were in the neighborhood. All I had to do was sit in the car and look out the window at the vehicles, so it was not tiring. Once we started on the way home, I just tipped the seat back, and dozed away.

I have crohn's disease of the small intestine, and I'm allowed to take Miralax as often as needed. If it weren't safe to take over the long term, my gastroenterologist would not allow me to take it for the long term

<<<<<<<<kathy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It's not always picked up though. I know someone with some pretty serious issues, and who blames everyone else in life for making her life miserable. We're not the cause of her problems, but we're who she blames. Anyway, she had surgery, and wasn't compliant at first, but did manage to lose 122 pounds finally. Unfortunately, the weight loss has not made her life perfect, and she's still blaming everyone else for making her miserable. Heck, she thinks people that have cut off contact with her are still making her miserable.

I got this in my e-mail this week, and I think it's a perfect thing to think about. Did you brush your teeth last night? If you didn't, do you berate yourself and decide that you might as well give up and never brush your teeth again? No, you go ahead and brush your teeth in the future, and resolve to do better in the future Weight loss is the same thing. If you eat the wrong thing, or miss a day of exercise, you don't give up. Resolve to do better in the future. Don't let a slip ruin your progress or make you give up. Simply get back on track, and get on with the program to a healthier you.

That doesn't sound ethical on the part of the psychologist.

Dancing is excellent exercise, so dance your butt off!

Well, Huggie, you know those kids in detention are going to do everything they can to try to make your life as miserable as their lives. They aren't happy, and they want to reach out and spread that unhappiness. Juvenile justice is hard, because those kids need so much, and don't know how to ask for it, especially since they really don't know what they need. When I get cussed out by one of my juvenile probation clients, I just smile and tell them I really don't care what they think of me. I'm still going to do my job, and try to help them. I also tell them they may not realize it, but I'm the best friend they have at the moment, because I have a lot of influence over the rest of their lives. They can have a nice probation officer, or they can have an evil hateful probation officer, whichever one they want. They get to pick which one they want by their actions, and the joy of it is that either way, I'm that probation officer. Like I said, nice or evil, mean, and nasty, it's their choice. The best part of it all is when one comes back later and thanks me for doing the things that I've done. I've had several tell me that they hated me for the longest time, but by the time they finish, they liked me because they knew I really was their best friend since I was trying to get the best for their lives (even though it didn't feel like it at the time.)

I did an informational meeting one-on-one with a nurse, and then got to go to a seminar. After that I got to start the other qualifying things, like the Psych Eval. It'll be about 3 months between the first appt and my surgery date. I'm using the time to find out everything I can so that I can be successful for the long term. Don't get discouraged, just look at the time as an opportunity to prepare.

Graphical Tickers and Trackers: Weight Loss, Trying To Conceive, Pregnancy... After you design your ticker, go to User CP on the right-hand side of the screen, and then select edit signature to add your ticker to your signature so it comes up on every post you make.

I'm a juvenile probation officer. My doctor said he'd authorize a couple weeks off if I felt that I needed it, but I don't (usually) have to get physical with the clients, so I should be OK. We do have a shoot coming up about a month after I get banded, and I'm a little worried about it. I don't usually have to do the "drop and shoot" poses since I have arthritis, and the police officers who do our weapons training give me a pass on those. Everyone else drops to their knees, but I get to stay upright. Some of these kids just don't quite get it, do they? They think they can do anything and get away it. Well, at least until the police arrive.

Since the caloric intake will be lower than what most usually eat, most do lose weight. I've lost 20 pounds since I started the Slim-Fast pre-surgery diet recommended by my surgeon. I started about a three weeks, but then slacked off for a week, and am now going full force again on the Slim-Fast plan.

I was able to do some of the things on days I was going to be off work anyway. For example, the case management appointment with the nurse (to go over final details) was on election day, and my office was closed that day. I have had to be off a couple other days, but I have really great bosses, and they allow me to set my own schedule if I need to be off. I can schedule appointments with clients for after office hours, and then leave early (or come in late) on other days. Is there anyway you can rearrange your schedule, and then use comp time to be off for appointments?

I just wondered if it would be possible to create a sticky for this forum so that people could post their reports about their surgery day.

I'm having surgery next Wednesday, and then going in to work for an hour the next day for staff meeting. As soon as that's done, I'm out the door and back home. I also plan to just wear in sweat pants and a hoodie to be comfy! I will be on call starting Friday afternoon, so I'll have to run in to pick up the bag and pager. Most pages just require a phone call and I don't have to leave the house. If there are any major events, I might have to go to a police department for a half hour, but I think I should be able to handle that, especially since I can make one of the kids drive me. I'll really be back at work on Tuesday, and hopefully it won't be too busy. As long as few juveniles get arrrested, I should have an easy first week back, since I didn't schedule very many appointments. If very many get arrested, I'll be busy talking to people, but no heavy work.

Since I'm BC/BS FEP basic plan, I had to get preauthorization for the Psych Eval. The psychologist they recommended just happens to specialize in sex therapy. I guess if I don't feel frisky after I lose the weight, I can go back and see her again.

Uh-Oh. I had my pre-op testing on Friday morning, and went to the surgeon's office for my Case Management appt yesterday. It seems there is some sort of "shadow" on the chest x-ray, so they want a Pulmonary CT scan to see if anything of concern. The nurse said it may just be a rib shadow, but just in case... Anyone had one of these? I don't feel like I have heart problems, but I guess one never knows.

Why do you take Remicade? I get infusions also, but they were OK with me having my infusions on 5/6/08, and then on 6/3/08, and surgery on 5/21/08. I have Crohn's Disease (and rheumitoid arthritis), and maybe it's different for you because you get the Remicade for another reason.

Oh great, now, after I get banded, I'll have to ask our Court Deputy to wand me so I see if I set it off. I'll let you know at the end of May after my surgery.

This just goes to show how doctors make different recommendations. I'm getting banded on the 21st as well, and my doctor has me on a 14 day slim-fast diet. Two slim-fast shakes per day, with a sensible dinner, as well as a couple snacks allowed per day.

Congrats on the smaller jeans!

I told Thing One (21 year old son) and Thing Two (17 year old daughter), and they've just taken it in stride. Of course, I have had health concerns for just about all their lives because I have Crohn's Disease and they're used to that. Thing One said I've been through more invasive stuff, so he's not worried.

How do they remove the belly fat? Liposuction? Keep us updated as you learn more.

Great news on getting a date! You're having surgery down in New Albany, or thereabouts, aren't you? SydneyLouWho, where is your Indiana surgery? I'm getting banded in Indy/Beech Grove at St. Francis hospital.