A few questions....

[StacyD]

Hello everyone!
I'm just beginning my journey here and I've got a few months to go before my surgery. Was there any 'order' to seeing all the doctors and specialists? I have a lot and I don't want to schedule anything to early or wait to the last minute. Also (and I know it sounds ridiculous) but lately I've been obsessed with food. I mean knowing the surgery is inevitable it's becoming crazy as I think well I will never eat this or that again..... anyone else have these crazy thoughts?
Thanks for now - I'm sure I will have so many more questions as time goes on
Stacy

[Kay Thompson]

I would get your psych eval scheduled ASAP, those can take a while to get into. I am set to be sleeved on September 30th and I have been having farewell food (not in huge amounts) but none the less....Good-bye to buttered popcorn, to McDonald's food. I am a huge carb addict and head hunger is a very REAL thing for me to battle. You are not alone, and your thoughts are not crazy. Have a Great Day

[StacyD]

Thanks so much Kay. I had to laugh when you said get that psych eval asap (I was thinking she does think I'm crazy lol)
I see your surgery is coming up and I wish you well in this journey I hope when you have had the surgery you come back to let us know how it all went. In the meantime your only a couple of weeks away from a brand new life! Bravo!!!

[ms2tweet]

My doctors office took care of scheduling EVERYTHING for me. And yes food was on my mind the entire time I did my 6month research on having the surgery. I actually gained 10 lbs by eating what I thought I would never be able to eat again. Then right after my surgery I mourned food. It was a shock I didn't expect but food had been my best friend for so long that I got depressed. It took about 10 days to get my head strait then I was cool. If I want a bite of something now at 11 months out I take ONE bite. But usually I just don't want it. You will overcome the "food addiction" and get on a health kick and when I do eat something I read what's in it. Like for example my nut had us look up exactly what is in McDonalds fries, after reading that I never put one in my mouth and can't stand to think about it. They are flavored with beef. That is just yuck to me. Anywho...........this is a great site for information. Good luck as you begin your journey and remember it is YOUR journey , don't compare weight loss to others. Some loose fast, I lost slow.

[StacyD]

Thank you so much Ms2tweet. I'm gonna guess up here in NY the doctors are a little more relaxed and just want the patient to do all the leg work. I am just making sure I don't mis-schedule anything. I'm sure I will be in the same state of mind after my surgery where foods that seemed so be so important will not be anymore. I have to say congratulations to you on your journey!

[ms2tweet]

Thanks Stacy and feel free to friend me, if you ever have any questions I will help if I can

[Binkycyd]

Hi Stacy! So glad to see you here! My doctor did not put me on a pre-op diet-----I've never heard of any other doctor that doesn't. So...the last week before my surgery I had "good-bye" meals at my favorite restaurants and to my favorite home-cooked meals. I just had my surgery on Sept 11 and I feel terrific! I don't have cravings for anything....and I was a Coke Zero with Vanilla and popcorn junkie! It's strange not to have feelings of hunger; my doctor warned me about it. I'm on a full liquid diet (one ounce every fifteen minutes) for three weeks; this is good....I don't have to worry about forgetting to eat right now! I took notes about all the appts I needed and just went down the line setting them up. You're going to do just fine~~~welcome to the club!

[StacyD]

Binkycyd congratulations on your recent surgery! I have a ways to go before my surgery but reading all these wonderful posts and experiences that you and others have had has me in a good place right now I wish you continued success on your post op journey and look forward to hearing how your progress goes!

[Panda]

I'm looking forward to having the sleeve done probably in February. Just found this site yesterday. I have to be on a 3 month dr supervised weight loss program for 3 months before surgery can be scheduled. Between now and then I have so many doctor visits to do! (And I'm not one who really likes to go to the dr.) At least my dr's office is helping with getting all the appointments and stuff I need. I know I would probably procrastinate them otherwise.

I know the feeling of being obsessed with food. I am not hungry, but I'm wanting to constantly have something to munch on. I am trying to stay low carb, I know they are my weakness. I don't want to just binge out as I've heard someone say in my dr's office that if you gain too much before surgery, you might get denied and I don't want that.

[StacyD]

Hi Panda - I feel like I'm reading about myself with what you just wrote. I too don't like doctors. I procrastinate like no other and then end up stressing myself out having to make up time and get to where I have to be. I hear you on the eating when not hungry too. How sick is this....filling out the questionnaire and eating cookies - I mean really! I've gotta work on this mindless eating rage I've gotten myself into. I wish you well, very very well in your journey. I'd like to friend you just because I feel like we have a commonality of surgery month and where our heads are.

[greenmomma]

With respect to scheduling doctors, I wish I had known that the cardiologist and gastro are actually three appts, whereas the psych, nut and pulmonologist were one and done.

[StacyD]

Thanks so much for the heads up on that one! I'm gonna make the cardiologist for next week. The gastro guy though? I don't think I have one of those on my list....... I wish you much luck as I see you have 5 days to go until your surgery! Keep us all posted afterwards!

[greenmomma]

Thanks. The gastro did an endoscopy to make sure that my stomach is healthy. Since they are removing 85% they want to make sure what's left behind can do the job. It seemed to me that pretty much everyone that was having the endoscopy that day left with a prescription for prilosec for both before and after surgery.

[jactkb]

Every surgeon/insurance has slightly different dr visits required plus depending on existing health issues or age, different dr visits may be required. ie, my surgeon's office requires everyone 50+ to have cardiac clearance. Also depending on the dr you go to for clearance it may be 1 or more appts. When I had my lap band my psych appt was only 1 appt. For my sleeve, this psychologist does 2 appts. 2 weeks apart.

[StacyD]

Thanks Jack for the information! I'm gonna call them this week. My insurance company apparently does not require me to have the 6 months of being 'watched' If I can get everything done in a month I can have the surgery anytime. However I have it in my head that February is when I want it. I have winter break from school and will take an additional week afterwards. It's all in the details for each of us. Thank you so much for your input