Pre-Op Forms

[JillC878 59]

I received a giant stack of forms that I need to fill out and take with me to my first appt. I have read over it and am having serious anxiety over filling it out. It is just a very extensive questionnaire about my history.

Couple concerns.....it ask you to check what diets you have tried and it has a list about a page and half long. One of them is vomiting/not eating and on the next page is ask "Have you ever tried vomiting to loose weight?". Can I answer this honestly? Of coarse I have, when you are young and stupid you will do anything, even if you know better. It did not last long and was not constant, just here and there. I am afraid to say yes and them think that I am not stable to have surgery. Also, they ask for names of diet pills you have tried. I started trying pill some time in the 90s. I can't remember the names and most of them are not even on the market anymore.

In another place is ask you to tell them how the "following people in your life feel about your surgery". It list children, partner, parents, friends....well, my husband could not be more supportive, I have no kids, but one of my stepdaughters is just like her dad and behind me 100% (we do not have much to do with the other 2 unfortunately). The other people is where I have concern...no one knows and I want to keep it that way. I do not feel like I should have to tell anyone and I afraid that will make me look unfit for surgery. I will more then likely tell my mom after the date is set, but no other family. I will probably tell my best girlfriend after it is all set-up. I am sure that the people I choose to tell will be supportive, I am not ready to tell them. I might not ever be approved by insurance....why do they need to know.

The more I read over it, the more stressed I am getting. Maybe I am thinking too much. Anyone have any words of wisdom? Please.

[Leena 108]

Just answer the forms honestly. They know that most people have tried just about everything under the sun before getting to the surgery point. Let's see here's a brief list of mine: my mom's dexatrim when I was 12, slimfast at 13, bulimia at 14, the cabbage Soup diet, WW, hypnosis, Atkins, South Beach...

Trust me you'll be fine. If your program is good, you'll have a support group, psych, nutritionist and of course the forums here.

I think we've all over thought it at some point, because it's really a big step that no one wants to jinx. Maybe just do a couple pages a day, after a nice relaxing bath. You'll get through the paperwork.

[Corridor72 518]

Just be honest. I filled out a whole stack of forms in the beginning of the whole process and then had my first appointment with the surgeon. He didn't say much about it. The psychologist gave me a really long quiz and then another shorter quiz. He encourages people to be very honest and says that the reason they ask those questions is NOT so that they can turn you away or decide you're not a good candidate for the surgery. The reason is so that they can make sure that all of the support and resources you will need are available to you. They WANT to help you but they need to know as much about you as they possibly can in order to do that.