MaidMarion

arrgghhh shhhhh don't tell me these things. I am literally taking out a loan to pay for my surgery as I don't have insurance that covers the surgery. I am trying to just think how this is going to be cost effective long term.

Yea! You are giving me hope for tomorrow. I have no clue why the psych evaluation freaks me out but I hope mine is quick and painless. I sure don't want to find out I am not sane!! Must practice counting backwards by 7. That actually sounds a bit straining!!

good luck tomorrow! I am so happy for you......only a blink away from a whole new you.

Oddly enough the thing I find the most interesting about being fat is the fatter you get and the more space you actually take up the more invisible you seem to be. You can't get help in stores, men certainly ignore you but also women. I just think it is so strange the opposite of what you would think. :crying: It really pisses me off sometimes. I want to scream.....yeah you know what I am still here!!

I think I am going to try to find a friend to help me with the dogs i would be taking care of and only figure maybe 5 days since my job doesn't require a lot of physical work for the most part it is let dogs out let dogs in feed them that sort of thing. I can pick and choose who I take and who will have to be kenneled. I just can't say 2 weeks and if I feel better only do 1 because other arrangements will have been made but maybe I could get help for several visits. This is perhaps the most stressful part for me since I am going so heavily in debt to pay for this surgery.

I will be watching this thread. Like you moonshadow if I don't work I don't get paid. I am a petsitter so I schedule myself but this surgery is really strapping me so I hate to take off too long. Let us know how that goes moonshadow.

Honestly I don't think there is typical. It seems different doctors do different things. I personally don't see my doctor for my first consult and I am dieting because I am really really freaked out that they even touch my liver. Don't have a clue why that seems so freaky to me but I want mine to be as tiny as I can get it. But really it seems some doctors have people on liquids up to 2 weeks some don't, some have patients diet some don't. I read a book from my library on a woman who had gastric bypass and two days before went out for Ruth Chris steak!! There is a poll on here about did your doctor require a pre op diet you might check out that thread. It made me decide there is no typical.

I had sent in my paperwork last Monday and was patiently....well kinda....waiting. I got a call today and my surgeon is going on vacation for a while so my first consult with him isn't until April 15 but when she asked if I wanted to do my psych evaluation the same day I said yes at first then I said no because I figure I might as well get it done. If I fail it at least I won't be paying to see the surgeon on the same day. I go next week for my psych evaluation.....don't know why that freaks me out. I don't like the thought of someone studying my psyche I guess. Feels good to have a start date at least!:thumbup:

Kristen I know someone last week was in the same boat and they were looking for a diet buddy for their 6 months. I think a lot of insurance companies and doctors feel that way. I think it is proof you can make those necessary changes in eating habits. I am self pay but I am starting to have thoughts of losing as much as I can then get banded since it would be easier than going through all this fat. Wish I had it done 2 years ago when I lost 75 lbs in 4 months.....that would have been the perfect time! Good luck. At least you get to see the surgeon. I am still waiting to talk to mine.

My problem isn't so much what the doctor thinks but what my insurance is going to think. I am self pay because my insurance sucks....ie it is fat woman's insurance of last resort. I am hoping when I get my weight down I can get insurance that would pay anything but even though I am 4'11" and weight almost 300 lbs I wear a 20. At 200 I wear a 12. I am not sure what I would wear at 98 lbs.......because the last time I was there I wore a 7 and if I wear a 12 at 200 how can I wear a 6 or 7 at 98?? either I am a big hunk of muscle or sizes are really getting bigger but weight charts haven't changed since when? I work out I am very very strong doesn't that count for something? I have no co morbidities at all. I just could see 400 over the next hill and that freaked me out.

Congratulations! That is so exciting.....not too long now to a new you!

Hey 4 out of 5 that is a B! that seems like a good grade to me. All the important one's came back great and the last one was kinda like getting a B in PE when you used to make an F. My current PCP is a doll. I almost didn't go to him because I heard he was young and cute but he has been a doll. He told me he lost 70 lbs in Med school using less than healthy practices. Oh anyway....he says he can tell how sick I feel based on what I am wearing. Jeans sweatshirt and hiking boots....very sick because I don't care about the extra 5 lbs that adds to the scale. I have actually refused to get on the scale before. Too much emphasis on my weight only depressed me and stressed me more. soon that will be changing! A weight loss of 70 lbs is so great. I always opted out of these type of tests........I was the ostrich with my head in the sand. Good luck with the next 70! I am sure you can do it....you have already been so successful! Marion

I am so happy to hear your good news! Your situation really got me to wondering how often it must happen that you pick up a cold out there right before surgery. Good luck! and congratulations!

I went down to Branson yesterday with Kelli and her kids to go.....swimming! Horrors!! I can not believe I put on a suit. Oh well it gives Kelli an idea of my start point. Cool thing was while we were at the condo Kelli was showing me around and there was a photo of Rosie and Kate at Kelli's brothers wedding. I am amazed at how large Rosie was! It makes me feel so much better about this decision I have made. I was thinking to myself if all I am going to lose is 50 or 75 lbs I can do that on my own but I can see if Rosie is in a 12 now (I have not seen her yet as Rosie and Kate have been living in Florida for the winter) she has to have lost at least down from a 24 would be my guess.....or at least a rich woman's size 22. I would be thrilled to be a 12. I even still have a pair of shorts I got up at the Lee outlet about 15 years ago I never got rid of......they are just too cute. I hope I hear from Dr. Edwards office this week so I can go in for my consult. Happily I am still losing some weight I think. I didn't get on the scales this morning partly because I had to be up and out to check dogs early but I will weight tomorrow.

I went down to Branson yesterday with Kelli and her kids to go.....swimming! Horrors!! I can not believe I put on a suit. Oh well it gives Kelli an idea of my start point. Cool thing was while we were at the condo Kelli was showing me around and there was a photo of Rosie and Kate at Kelli's brothers wedding. I am amazed at how large Rosie was! It makes me feel so much better about this decision I have made. I was thinking to myself if all I am going to lose is 50 or 75 lbs I can do that on my own but I can see if Rosie is in a 12 now (I have not seen her yet as Rosie and Kate have been living in Florida for the winter) she has to have lost at least down from a 24 would be my guess.....or at least a rich woman's size 22. I would be thrilled to be a 12. I even still have a pair of shorts I got up at the Lee outlet about 15 years ago I never got rid of......they are just too cute. I hope I hear from Dr. Edwards office this week so I can go in for my consult. Happily I am still losing some weight I think. I didn't get on the scales this morning partly because I had to be up and out to check dogs early but I will weight tomorrow.

There is a whole thread about everyone's favorite protein shakes. I think Ungery was the first one listed.

Hey that is great! Lose is lose! cool if it is 16 lbs in a month. I am the same way....I lose weight quickly up to about 75 lbs but I always gain it back plus a little more for what ever reason it is...... I think suddenly your clothes will fit you totally different and it is possible that at that time you won't have lost near as much. I think the body just has to catch up and go....oh yeah..smaller. Good for you!

Hi everyone! I have been lurking for a while. I finally went to a seminar on Saturday. I have been working today on getting my information together. A little about me. I am 47 a pet sitter....no there isn't that much money in it but I love it, life time successful dieter. Just 2 years ago I lost 75 lbs doing a program that was diet exercise nutrition and psychological through a local hospital. Kept most of it off until I decided to date perhaps the most miserable person in the world. I would leave his house and stop at the nearest fast food drive up every single time I was around him. Ugh why I didn't just break up long before the 9 month mark I have no clue. I am going to self pay for my surgery. It will run about 18000 although I am going to see if they will let me skip the nutritional info because I could teach a class, of course it would be a do as I say not as I do. I will be charging 15000 on a Care Credit CC, For the first 2 years it is free of interest if you keep up the payments. Funny thing is I heard about it from a medical spa because I told them I couldn't afford Botox! I have been filling out a huge medical history. It even asks about grandparents and siblings. It makes me seem to come from a healthy family and actually my health is really pretty good. I am fat enough to get the surgery done without co-morbidities though. Only my sister and I suffer from weight problems. I am actually looking forward to getting into the doctor and starting my 2 week liquid diet before surgery. I have not even gone on my first appt yet. I should be approved quicker because I don't have to wait on insurance. The doctor who does the surgery here in Springfield said he had performed about 250 of them although he has done probably the same number of bypasses too. I liked Dr. Edwards he seems to have a good bedside manner. I am looking forward to this journey. You have all been an inspiration already....as the photos have been my favorite lurk area. I am excited except I have never had any surgery and it freaks me out a bit but it will be a good thing.:thumbup:

try drwells.info. she is a local weight loss doctor who has a lot of high protein products for sale on her site. You can at least look at some nutrition labels and get ideas and see some different brands.

Okay I turned in my paperwork on Monday and I am now waiting to get in with the doctor. In the mean time I had my allergies flare up. I stupidly didn't mention the nasal spray (flonase type) I use when they get bad. Now I am worried. Anyone know how long before surgery you have to give them up? Just curious if anyone else with allergies has any information. I know I can ask the surgeon but as a self pay patient I am hoping to get this done asap. Don't want to screw it up but honestly I enjoy breathing.:smile2:

I have just always heard steroids caused you to heal slowly after surgery. I know it isn't a lot of steroids but I just kinda freaked out when I used it this morning. Oh that and the eye drops. I am just full of stuff I didn't put on my history. I need to just remember to tell them. Thanks for the info on your use of Flonase in the hospital Sharon it makes me feel better

I was told that the pre surgery liquid diet for 2 weeks can shrink a liver to half it's size. The surgeon said at the seminars he has only come across one he couldn't do laprascopically and they admitted they ate crazily right up until the day before. He did the surgery but he did it as an open surgery. I think you will be okay, your surgeon has a proctor there. Have you talked to your surgeon about your liver concerns?

Oh don't do it Tom. Doctors have you on a pre-diet to shrink your liver so that they can get to your stomach without having to lift a big huge fatty liver out of the way. If you are having laparoscopic surgery you sure don't want them to have to open you up to do surgery instead because you ate a fatty steak!

Is the metformin a new med for you? I know I have a friend who took it for two weeks and felt horrible the whole time although I have no clue if that is normal. I agree though there are so many different Protein shakes out there now. you might try mixing some sugar free syrups in like all the flavors they have for coffee.

Thanks ya'll. I sent off all my forms this morning. Hopefully my doctor will get all my records to them this week. I am hoping to get in within the next 6 weeks. Odd thing about this surgeon is everyone pays out of pocket and gets reimbursed from insurance basically.....I think. Oh maybe I am talking stuff I don't know. Doesn't matter my fat woman insurance doesn't cover anything...well I do get $5 off my mammogram. I will keep everyone posted. This has been such a great experience already for me because I have had lots of support and that means the world to me. Thanks for the support and information. My fingers are crossed that I get to see the surgeon for the first time within two weeks.