June Post Ops!

[Mel3620 299]

I am nervous because tomorrow I meet with the Dietician about my progress on the Bariatric Pathway. I typed up a three page note describing everything I have done and will complete this month. There really is no reason I should not be referred to the surgeon by mid June. I really want to have surgery in July or very early August. I am supposed to go to Canada the last weekend of Sept. and to Chattanooga TN to visit old friends and family. Both weekends are women's retreats and I need to be well enough to travel by then. I want to amaze my friends and family. If I don't have surgery in July or very early August I may lose too much weight before I am approved by insurance and I will have to wait until early Nov (sigh) because of my travel plans. I have lost about 17 lbs. since mid-March. The problem is the Dietician insists we stay in preparation for surgery for six months at least. I will have completed all requirements except for the wait. I want to get surgery behind me. I was referred to the Bariatric Pathway on April 9th so my six months will be up November 9th I think. That means waiting from the time I finish requirements in mid-June for five more months! Yikes!!! Pray that she will allow me to do my surgery when I want to do it.

Unfortunately, it's the insurance companies that hold you to the 6 month diet plan. I really wanted my surgery in March last year. I ended up not being able to have it until June, so I understand your frustration, but just remember that everything happens for a reason and trust that's it will all work out.

[Weight Warrior 445]

I am nervous because tomorrow I meet with the Dietician about my progress on the Bariatric Pathway. I typed up a three page note describing everything I have done and will complete this month. There really is no reason I should not be referred to the surgeon by mid June. I really want to have surgery in July or very early August. I am supposed to go to Canada the last weekend of Sept. and to Chattanooga TN to visit old friends and family. Both weekends are women's retreats and I need to be well enough to travel by then. I want to amaze my friends and family. If I don't have surgery in July or very early August I may lose too much weight before I am approved by insurance and I will have to wait until early Nov (sigh) because of my travel plans. I have lost about 17 lbs. since mid-March. The problem is the Dietician insists we stay in preparation for surgery for six months at least. I will have completed all requirements except for the wait. I want to get surgery behind me. I was referred to the Bariatric Pathway on April 9th so my six months will be up November 9th I think. That means waiting from the time I finish requirements in mid-June for five more months! Yikes!!! Pray that she will allow me to do my surgery when I want to do it.

I wouldnt put a firm timeline on the surgery date it could only lead to frustration. i was to have my surgery in late January but due to additional testing and getting to the appointments i didnt have my surgery until June 2013

While it took 9 months since the approval it was time well spent. i was able to adopt a menu that was and is healthy and start an exercise program that worked for me at the time. as Mel pointed out it will happen DO NOT loose hope.

those people you want to amaze are not the ones you need to amaze...its you. you are doing for you and only you.

[Mel3620 299]

Exactly, RJ! Amazing myself has been the greatest achievement!

I am about to head out for a "wog" this morning. Yesterday's 5k has inspired me to get moving again today. I have right at 2 months until my 1 year surgiversary! I'm ready to lose this last 25.

I can't say thank you enough to all of you on this thread. I have made it through some tough days and I know it's due to having each of you as a part of my support system.

[aeswtloss 12]

Thanks for the encouragement. I have already been on a medically supervised six month diet. I need to be patient I know. I can use extra time to eat better, exercise daily, organize my house and closet and slow down my eating. I am doing this for me - for my health - I have Type II Diabetes, sleep apnea, urinary incontinence and prior to last blood work high cholesterol and high triglycerides as well as high blood pressure but of course I am excited about the other perks of losing weight too. I think I am scared about surgery and want to get through it to stop worrying but I am more worried about my health and life if I don't have surgery. Take a deep breath - patience...

[aeswtloss 12]

Congrats on the 5 K Mel.

[Weight Warrior 445]

Thanks for the encouragement. I have already been on a medically supervised six month diet. I need to be patient I know. I can use extra time to eat better, exercise daily, organize my house and closet and slow down my eating. I am doing this for me - for my health - I have Type II Diabetes, sleep apnea, urinary incontinence and prior to last blood work high cholesterol and high triglycerides as well as high blood pressure but of course I am excited about the other perks of losing weight too. I think I am scared about surgery and want to get through it to stop worrying but I am more worried about my health and life if I don't have surgery. Take a deep breath - patience...

These are all very normal feelings. the surgery is the easy part .... its after the surgery when it all begins. it sounds like you are prepared. trust me while there are some challenges ahead keep your eye on your goal. this is what will motivate you to suceed.

All of here will be glad to offer advice and help. alot of us are up late and rise early. ANY!!! questions ask..

[Baconville 578]

Has anybody experienced social changes after weight loss? I have been at my current job for three years. Clearly, when I was hired I was by far the fattest person in the office. It is a relatively small office of 14 women and one man. I am currently one of the slimmest in the office. Friday my boss had to speak with me about complaints from my co-workers. Apparently, I am "getting on their nerves". They no longer wish to have any conversations with me, about anything that isn't work related. Apparently even the sound of my voice when I am on work related phone calls has become grating. Nothing has changed in the past three years except my weight. Most days on my lunch I take a walk. I don't join in and eat the snack food that somebody brings into the office. I think there are some women that are threatened or feel guilty or just don't like the fact that I am now the size that I am. I think that I am paying a price for weight loss success.

I am emotionally crushed by this. My boss told me that I do my job wonderfully. The teachers that I work with love me. I get my work done and she has no complaints about the quality. In the past, this would have been the kind of thing that would have sent me into a half gallon of ice cream. I have been dealing with it by having some awesome workouts. Just wondering if anybody else has seen social ramifications from weight loss. My clinic warned me about this happening, they have a whole chapter about it in the materials they give out at the first visit. Believe me, it's hard to work in a small office and speak to no one. Makes me more grateful for the love and support of my family though!

[aeswtloss 12]

I am sorry about your experiences at work. Maybe over time they will get used to the new you and chill out. Sometimes when we lose wt we get more confident and assertive and some people can't take advantage of us any more. U r awesome! Hang in there!

I saw the Dietician today and gave her my three page list of changes and accomplishments since being in the Bariatric program. By the third wk of June I will have accomplishes everything they asked me too. My dietician says I will have to wait 6 mo. because Madigan requires it but she seemed so impressed that I will be done with everything but the D3 test results. She said if I don't have good D3 results I will be delayed an extra 3 months so she advised me to take two weeks of daily 10,000 IU of D3 then test D3 again. My first results won't get back until 1st wk of June. In any case she was delighted with all my changes esp my A1C dropping from a 12 to a 7.3 in such a short time. Today I took a Mediator Release test to ck for food allergies. Insurance doesn't pay the $300 so I hope it is worth it. She did say I had a very high score on the symptom checklist which probably means I have some problems with allergies. At any rate I presented my desire for a July/Aug surgery date and it is in her hands now. She said the hospital only requires an A1C under 8. Also the diet I have to follow when I get my test results back from today's test should enable me to lose a lot of wt and I don't have to worry about insurance declining me if I get too small because they use the wt I was when I signed up as my BMI wt. Sorry for writing such long emails - but better to get my nerves out here than to eat over it.

[Mel3620 299]

Exactly, RJ! Amazing myself has been the greatest achievement! I am about to head out for a "wog" this morning. Yesterday's 5k has inspired me to get moving again today. I have right at 2 months until my 1 year surgiversary! I'm ready to lose this last 25. I can't say thank you enough to all of you on this thread. I have made it through some tough days and I know it's due to having each of you as a part of my support system.

My wog turned into an hour and half elk with a friend! Wonderful time!

[Mel3620 299]

Thanks for the encouragement. I have already been on a medically supervised six month diet. I need to be patient I know. I can use extra time to eat better, exercise daily, organize my house and closet and slow down my eating. I am doing this for me - for my health - I have Type II Diabetes, sleep apnea, urinary incontinence and prior to last blood work high cholesterol and high triglycerides as well as high blood pressure but of course I am excited about the other perks of losing weight too. I think I am scared about surgery and want to get through it to stop worrying but I am more worried about my health and life if I don't have surgery. Take a deep breath - patience...

I had all of those same issues. The day I came home from hospital (less than 24hours) I was off all of my medicines except a half blood pressure pill. Praise God! You can do this! You will be do glad you did trust me!

[Mel3620 299]

Congrats on the 5 K Mel.[/quote

Thanks, girl!

[Mel3620 299]

These are all very normal feelings. the surgery is the easy part .... its after the surgery when it all begins. it sounds like you are prepared. trust me while there are some challenges ahead keep your eye on your goal. this is what will motivate you to suceed. All of here will be glad to offer advice and help. alot of us are up late and rise early. ANY!!! questions ask..

It seems like we never sleep, RJ! Lol

[Mel3620 299]

Thanks for the encouragement. I have already been on a medically supervised six month diet. I need to be patient I know. I can use extra time to eat better, exercise daily, organize my house and closet and slow down my eating. I am doing this for me - for my health - I have Type II Diabetes, sleep apnea, urinary incontinence and prior to last blood work high cholesterol and high triglycerides as well as high blood pressure but of course I am excited about the other perks of losing weight too. I think I am scared about surgery and want to get through it to stop worrying but I am more worried about my health and life if I don't have surgery. Take a deep breath - patience...

Oh yeah- no more sleep machine for me either!

[Mel3620 299]

I am sorry about your experiences at work. Maybe over time they will get used to the new you and chill out. Sometimes when we lose wt we get more confident and assertive and some people can't take advantage of us any more. U r awesome! Hang in there! I saw the Dietician today and gave her my three page list of changes and accomplishments since being in the Bariatric program. By the third wk of June I will have accomplishes everything they asked me too. My dietician says I will have to wait 6 mo. because Madigan requires it but she seemed so impressed that I will be done with everything but the D3 test results. She said if I don't have good D3 results I will be delayed an extra 3 months so she advised me to take two weeks of daily 10,000 IU of D3 then test D3 again. My first results won't get back until 1st wk of June. In any case she was delighted with all my changes esp my A1C dropping from a 12 to a 7.3 in such a short time. Today I took a Mediator Release test to ck for food allergies. Insurance doesn't pay the $300 so I hope it is worth it. She did say I had a very high score on the symptom checklist which probably means I have some problems with allergies. At any rate I presented my desire for a July/Aug surgery date and it is in her hands now. She said the hospital only requires an A1C under 8. Also the diet I have to follow when I get my test results back from today's test should enable me to lose a lot of wt and I don't have to worry about insurance declining me if I get too small because they use the wt I was when I signed up as my BMI wt. Sorry for writing such long emails - but better to get my nerves out here than to eat over it.

You write away! We have all been there and totally understand. Have you read this whole thread? I know it's long, but you can probably find lots of encourager throughout the pages.

Great group of people up in here!

[aeswtloss 12]

Lots of great people on here! I was told I won't have to keep track of as many variables re: my food as I have been doing with the Mediator Release Diet. That was my cue to make bad food choices tonight. The worst part was when I bought two Big Macs. I have never eaten two Big Macs at once and I thought this is crazy and gave my second one to a homeless man so I wouldn't eat it. I helped myself and someone else too (except he also looked a bit chubby so he probably didn't need that Big Mac either!). Actually since Big Macs are bad for us no one really needs to eat them. In the past this choice would have sent me on a six month eating binge but fortunately I can nip it in the bud tonight and get back on track in the am. That Big Mac was 550 calories( more than half my daily calories!)

Have a good night everyone! I get my psych eval in the am. Hope he doesn't ask about McDonalds...