LisaCee

Hi, I just started with a Bariatric Center with the goal of gastric sleeve, and I'm confused enough it's frustrating. Had my first visit with surgeon, he told me that for my insurance, I should lose 10 lbs (no more without endangering my insurance).. Seems like it's five months until surgery, possibly six. I then attended a (no lies, pretty bad) online group nutritional presentation, that really skimmed over things like no caffeine and no carbonated bees, and was also informed that I had responsibilities to make ALL my pre op appointments myself, but I haven't been given any list of labs/tests to do so. I have no diet assigned... ? No instructions were specific about what I should be eating right now, but am trying to go for a LOT more protein and a LOT less carbs. Am I supposed to be starting with protein shakes? They mentioned, but no real clear direction. No followup appointments with the bariatric center have been scheduled as yet, no one has returned my call of last week, basically begging for my pre op appointment list. I try to be patient but am definitely a type A person who likes to plan. I am worried about losing too much weight and very confused about what specifically my diet IS. Already down about 2.5 pounds. I don't do well with uncertainty I guess. Also, the changes over the past two weeks, eating less, the ever=present journalling of food, the appointments I have been called for (apparently, not everything was my responsibility), the trying to lessen the caffeine, and my beloved sodastream plain seltzers, is difficult. I'm definitely planning to call the center with more specific questions this week, and in hopes I receive a call back, but can anyone give me a feel for what the first couple weeks in a program are like, and should I relax about what feels like chaos?

Thanks! That's helpful, I guess this is what they mean. I'm doing the same, trying to lower my caffeine, and slowly weaning off the seltzer, the amount of water they suggested is mad crazy though. I'm now 3.5 lbs down out of 10. I lose weight easily initially, just seems like they could have spelled this out in simple terms! The insurance requirements are rough for me, as I have little margin for loss, but really need this for my health!

I know as a retiree that I couldn't afford this if insurance doesn't cover it, heck just the copays will be costly. Yeah, psych eval is part of this too, although they haven't called me for it, nor have I seen it in the document I'm raking for possible appointments to make (since they seem very slow to get me the information, after insisting I don't wait to make them!)

Gee, that sounds very similar, although they told me (on this WEIRD group chat) that I could set everything for ASAP. Won't it be fun if that isn't correct? I have endoscopy, sleep study, cardiac clearance, upper GI, some other lung study (X-ray?) to do. I have a sneaking suspicion I'm going to have to carbo-load near the end of this stress, just to ensure that I don't lose too much weight. The whole 'lose but not too much!' thing is likely to drive me batty! Plus it seems extremely unproductive and antithetical to learning new habits. Trying to stay positive, but like I say, I'd prefer to type-A it, making specific goals of weight per week, IF they tell me the 'by when' date for losing.