Need some answers please!

[s.rheal1990 1]

Okay my weight so far has affected me alot. Ive been house ridden and at my max weight of around 450pds. It all started from gaining alot in my stomach and being so heavy in the front it is killing my back and it hurts alot to walk far distance.. So i dont go out much or move around alot. My legs have gained alot of Water weight making it more difficult to exersize. I also have severe sleep apnea. My doctor recently referred me to the bariatric clinic and they are sending me my paper work both me and my doctor down has to fill out. Apparently there are some other tests and i asked her how long the process is before surgery.. And said up to 1 year.. Im freaking out and that felt like a shot to the heart because if my weight doesnt get better i could suffer worse health problems the road.. Not to mention i went to see a heart specialist to see if my heart is good for surgery and they said im good for surgery. But whats my health gonna be like in a year?? Im already dealing with some serious stuff... Anybody else had this problem? What can you recommed?

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[Bufflehead 6,358]

It won't necessarily take up to a year. It sounds like that is the maximum time, not the minimum. Work with your doctor's insurance coordinator and ask what you can do to speed up any testing or clearances that need to be taken care of before surgery. Make sure you keep on top of all your appointments and the requirements that need to be fulfilled -- treat it like your job!

And with respect to your current health, I know it's hard, but start trying to take small steps to preserve the health that you do have, instead of getting worse. It is great that your heart specialist gave you clearance! Be happy about that and focus on the good stuff instead of possibilities that may or may not happen. Try to improve your eating habits as much as you can -- get in the habit of eating high Protein and low carb, with lots of green veggies. Try to be as active as you can without hurting yourself. Check in with your doctors as much as you can and keep asking for their help with respect to both your current health and how you can be sure you are on track for surgery as quickly as possible.

I had to wait a year for my surgery and I had some of the same fears as you. But I worked really hard and managed to lose some weight before surgery and start exercising a bit. Everything went great for me. I'll bet it will for you too.

[Proud2BMe 1,016]

Sorry, but if you are wanting insurance to pay for it then you have no choice but to follow their timeline and plan. Otherwise, you can self pay and get it done rather immediately and without having to jump through so many hoops. You can self pay in the States or out of the country, like Mexico. I had mine in Tijuana and it was great.

[s.rheal1990 1]

It won't necessarily take up to a year. It sounds like that is the maximum time, not the minimum. Work with your doctor's insurance coordinator and ask what you can do to speed up any testing or clearances that need to be taken care of before surgery. Make sure you keep on top of all your appointments and the requirements that need to be fulfilled -- treat it like your job!

And with respect to your current health, I know it's hard, but start trying to take small steps to preserve the health that you do have, instead of getting worse. It is great that your heart specialist gave you clearance! Be happy about that and focus on the good stuff instead of possibilities that may or may not happen. Try to improve your eating habits as much as you can -- get in the habit of eating high Protein and low carb, with lots of green veggies. Try to be as active as you can without hurting yourself. Check in with your doctors as much as you can and keep asking for their help with respect to both your current health and how you can be sure you are on track for surgery as quickly as possible.

I had to wait a year for my surgery and I had some of the same fears as you. But I worked really hard and managed to lose some weight before surgery and start exercising a bit. Everything went great for me. I'll bet it will for you too.

Thanks a lot, it's been a constant struggle and I'm one of those type of people who is very impatient.. I guess I expected to loose s op me weight by the end of this summer. I am trying to eat better and do a little bit of walking around when I can. I show up for all my doctors appointments I'm just hoping that this wait times aren't too long. But thanks a bunch

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Edited April 22, 2016 by s.rheal1990

[NewAngela 60]

All I can say is go with the program and don't give up. You can ask your doctor why it is a year.. It is his requirement or your insurance. Communicate your concerns.. Also, follow your nutritionist's/dietary advice. Often people can loose weight pre op and that will help. Surgery isn't a quick fix, it is a lifetime commitment. Loosing weight before surgery will start you in the right direction and reduce your risk of complications. (most of us can loose, it is just keeping it off that is difficult) . A year will fly by. If your general health is good, you are not necessarily going to get that much sicker in within just 1 year unless you gain more weight. Also, sleep apnea is treatable. Be proactive. Listen to your doctors. Use your fear to motivate yourself. At a high BMI you qualify, you just need to jump through some hoops to get there.

But year, not being able to get the surgery was my only real fear. I was ready and desperate.

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Edited April 22, 2016 by NewAngela

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Okay my weight so far has affected me alot. Ive been house ridden and at my max weight of around 450pds. It all started from gaining alot in my stomach and being so heavy in the front it is killing my back and it hurts alot to walk far distance.. So i dont go out much or move around alot. My legs have gained alot of Water weight making it more difficult to exersize. I also have severe sleep apnea. My doctor recently referred me to the bariatric clinic and they are sending me my paper work both me and my doctor down has to fill out. Apparently there are some other tests and i asked her how long the process is before surgery.. And said up to 1 year.. Im freaking out and that felt like a shot to the heart because if my weight doesnt get better i could suffer worse health problems the road.. Not to mention i went to see a heart specialist to see if my heart is good for surgery and they said im good for surgery. But whats my health gonna be like in a year?? Im already dealing with some serious stuff... Anybody else had this problem? What can you recommed?

Sent from my LG-D852 using the BariatricPal App

I started at a higher weight than you and was dealing with being immobile, too. Once I started the process for surgery I experienced some delays because of some financing issues. In the end, it took longer than I had hoped but everything worked out well.

The first thing I would recommend is that you let go of the day expectation of losing a certain amount of weight on your timeline. Try to focus on the next step in front of you. That doesn't mean you can't make a list or journal about what you envision your life to be like in the future. Dream big!

A few things that helped me prepare for surgery:

Find some exercise you can do and work up to at least an hour a day. I got an exercise peddler and peddled it with my hands. I started at small five or ten minute increments while watching tv and worked up to over an hour a day. There are YouTube videos for chair exercises and walking exercises (like Leslie Sansone). My favorite exercise is Water exercise. If you have access to a pool, it is a great way to get in exercise and is easier on your joints.

Start tracking your food. Pre-op, I was using the Weight Watchers app so my NUT encouraged me to continue with that. Post-op, I switched to MyFitnessPal because 1) it's free and 2) it is better for tracking my Protein.

Does your surgeon or NUT have you on a pre-op food plan?

I also weaned myself off of carbonation and caffeine pre-op which I found to be really helpful.

You can also learn as much as you can about yourself, the disease of obesity, weight loss surgery, your relationship with food, etc., by reading, journaling, participating in support groups, and this website.

You may find that time will fly by.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.