Pre-Op Journey

[FlyAwayFree 58]

On 12/1/2018 at 2:14 PM, hwequestrian said:

Well, the surgery won’t be an option for me, so I’ll be moving to non-surgical threads. I will be continuing to go to Bailey Medical Center in Owasso as a non-surgical patient. Good luck to everyone pursuing surgery!

Oh, here's the link for the one my family has used in Mexico... https://www.tijuanabariatrics.com/cost-and-financing

[hwequestrian 38]

Okay, I left. I deleted the app and walked away. I thought after getting the news that I wouldn’t have surgery I’d take sometime before trying to lose weight. BUT I’ve waited long enough.

I didn’t feel that staying would help anyone since this is a bariatric surgery forum, but I’ve come to a few new realizations in the last month.

1. There will be others in this forum who don’t end up having their surgery, for many different reasons. You are not alone! You can still lose the weight!

2. It is still 100% necessary to continue to see your medical weight loss team for accountability and guidance.

3. Your mindset MUST change in order for you to change. This is not a diet. This is a lifestyle change. It sounds cliche until you wake up one morning and think “This change is not temporary. I can no longer be the way I have been in the past.”

SO I don’t want to leave the forum, and I prefer to continue on the pre-op thread. Some, like me, will never make it to the post-op threads. I feel that my presence in this place will be a reassurance to those in the same boat.


UPDATE: In 27 days, I have lost 10lbs! I’ve cut my calories down to 1000-1200 per day, and I’m walking for an hour a few times per week. I will see a dietician and exercise specialist on Thursday, and I imagine they’ll want me to bump up my calorie intake and exercise more. What I’ve been doing is a good jumpstart, and if it stays the same I’ll be satisfied as well. I will post then if any changes are made!

[Frustr8 7,886]

I dream of a world where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

[hwequestrian 38]

On 12/31/2018 at 07:49, Frustr8 said:

I dream of a world where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

I’ve always been the kind of person to explain my motives before and after I cross the road, whether questioned or not 😂 I can’t help it!

[Catmom88 0]

Hi there,I am new to this site. So far I have lost 20 lbs and I’m in my 5th month of check ups with my pcp. For some reason I feel like I’m still missing a lot of information,due to working in retail my schedule is never the same and attending my support meetings hasn’t really been able to happen. So any advice pre-op or post-op would be very helpful!!😊

[hwequestrian 38]

On 01/03/2019 at 12:25, Catmom88 said:

Hi there,I am new to this site. So far I have lost 20 lbs and I’m in my 5th month of check ups with my pcp. For some reason I feel like I’m still missing a lot of information,due to working in retail my schedule is never the same and attending my support meetings hasn’t really been able to happen. So any advice pre-op or post-op would be very helpful!!😊

Hello, and welcome! Have you attended a seminar with your surgery center? I received a notebook with tons of information at my seminar.

[Kimbero 167]

My name is Carly, and I’m new here. I’m from Oklahoma and pursuing WLS at Bailey Bariatrics in Owasso. I attended my center’s seminar on October 11th, and I had my first appointment on October 22nd. I just want to start somewhat of a journal to publicly keep track of my progress toward my WLS. My updates may be long, and I welcome anyone else who has information or questions to post here as well.
My first appointment went well. We went over my medical history, talked about the process and what challenges we may run into (my family medical history of heart problems and my bipolar 2 disorder). I also had labs drawn. We get binders with loads of information and a pre-op checklist, which I think will help with my impatience. I spent about an hour looking through it today to soak in as much info as possible.
Today I received a phone call to schedule my chest X-rays, liver ultrasound, and pulmonary function test. I’ll have all three tests on November 15th.
My next NP appointment for my medically supervised weight loss program is on November 19. My center also provides support groups that I will start attending monthly from November up to and after surgery (might as well start now!).
I’m looking forward to the whole process. I’m trying to wipe my brain clean for a fresh slate to take in the education given in the next several months leading up to surgery. Here’s to hoping for WLS in the next 6 months!

Anyone else just starting their journey want to be pre-op buddies?

Hi Carly, I went thru my process at Baileys in Owasso also. Welcome. I am 7 months post op and I have lost 139 pounds. Im soooo glad I did it. Let me know how things are going. Are u from Owasso?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using BariatricPal mobile app

[hwequestrian 38]

On 01/03/2019 at 16:59, Kimbero said:

Hi Carly, I went thru my process at Baileys in Owasso also. Welcome. I am 7 months post op and I have lost 139 pounds. Im soooo glad I did it. Let me know how things are going. Are u from Owasso?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello! Those are amazing results! I didn’t end up qualifying for surgery, but I’m staying with BMC to continue non-surgical. I’ve lost 11lbs so far 😊 I actually live halfway between Oklahoma City and Tulsa, so Owasso is about an hour and a half away. I think it’s worth the drive for the staff there

[hwequestrian 38]

Update:

I have lost 14lbs total and 6 inches in the last two weeks! Ive had several NSVs!

1. I’ve gone down a jean size and can wear some shirts one size down as well.

2. I felt like running down the driveway to take some trash to the dumpster a few days ago, so I ran there and back (about 60 yards) without losing my breath!

3. I’m able to get on my horses easier. Less strain on them makes us both happier.

4. I’ve noticed my face is getting thinner.

5. I’ve had only 2-3 days of feeling bloated.

6. I’m feeling better mentally on a consistent basis.

I have applied and been accepted to a Horseshoeing school for 12 weeks starting February 4th. I’ll be on my feet about 7 hours per day doing manual labor, so I expect the weight loss will be dramatic. I’m also hoping that I get to ONE-derland before I leave for school, which should be a reasonable goal if I continue the trend I’ve been on.

I’ve started a goal list where I hit a goal every 2-4 pounds. I’m doing this because 5lbs may take 2-3 weeks, and I want to feel successful as often as possible. I’ve gone back through medical records to give myself encouragement (ex: I hit 208lbs yesterday. The last time I weighed 208 lbs was December 2016). This helps me because I imagine myself reversing the damage I’ve done to my body instead of feeling like it’s a long journey ahead.

Anyway, long post so if you’re still here, thank you for reading! I will update as soon as I hit the 15lb total loss that I’m expecting in the next couple of days!

[hwequestrian 38]

BTW we had nasty weather in my area on my appointment day for the dietician and exercise specialist, so I had to move those appointments to February (that’s the earliest they could do. I will have to move them out even further, at least May, because of my class being Monday-Saturday and 4 hours away from my weight loss center.

[Frustr8 7,886]

Congratulations Carly, I know you will become the Finest Farrier ever!

[AngeB 1]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this site! I have gone through the orientation, surgeon and psych appointments. I have made my pre-op goal weight and have my case manager appointment (where I will hopefully get my surgery appt) on Monday. I am wondering if others are going through Kaiser.

[hwequestrian 38]

Small victory.. I edit ALL of my pictures before posting on social media. In my opinion, I’m decent at photoshopping myself to look 20-30lbs smaller. I took a picture with my son and husband on Thursday and didn’t edit it before giving him the O.K. to post on Facebook :0 Also including a picture from last night because I didn’t edit it either, and we both look better.. My son looks drunk in the picture. He was just chocolate wasted lol.

[hwequestrian 38]

Two NSVs in one day!

1. I can stand in the doorways of our mobile home (they’re narrower than normal doors) without touching the frame on either side!

2. I can cross my legs without picking one up and pulling it onto the other!

[hwequestrian 38]

I’m officially down 18 lbs! I’ve only got 3lbs to ONE-derland, and two weeks until school.

I got a couple of things to assist me in my journey. I bought a waist trainer band to encourage more sweat and heat build up during workouts. I used it for the first time today. It forced me to engage my core during my workout, and it encourages good posture, because it’s uncomfortable to slump over on it. Win/win! I also bought ankle weights to wear while I’m walking around the house for chores. They’re good for weighted leg lifts, flutter kicks, pedal crunches, and other exercises that require you to lift your feet from the ground.

Disclaimer: I don’t recommend the weights for jogging or running due to the high possibility of injury with bad running form from fatigue.