Day 4 Pre-Op..Surgery in 4 days!

miasmommy21407

Hi everyone! I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm new here (to the group...not MFP). My bariatric journey has been a complete whirlwind so far. I had my first appointment on July 17th to discuss the POSSIBILITY of having the Sleeve done and I go into surgery this Friday! I have a September 1st deadline due to insurance purposes so all of my required testing (some for the insurance and some for the doctor) was all completed within a week of my appointment, surgery was scheduled for August 8th a couple of days after that, and I started my liquid diet 3 days after that. I feel like I really didn't have time to mentally prepare myself for this whole thing but I'm getting more prepared by the day.

My pre-op diet consisted of milk/water/protein mix shakes (no fruit or additives allowed in the pre-op phase) and things from the clear liquid diet. I've lost 8 lbs so far.

I say all of THAT to say...I started a blog and I've been writing and video blogging about my experience each day but so far I've only shared it with my sister (who is have the sleeve done 2 weeks after me) and my husband. I'm afraid to go very "public" with it because I'm not sure what kind of reaction I'll get.

What kinds of reactions have you had when telling people that you are having/had weight loss surgery? Negative? Positive?

kittenincalgary

Hello! Allison here. Wow, that sounds like you're getting things done really quickly. I'm up in Canada, and things are different here. I started taking classes in July/Aug of last year and just found out last week that I get to finally meet with my surgeon at the end of Aug.
Im sure you're trying to get as much info as you can. Reading the threads in all the Bariatric forums can be a great source.
As far as telling people or not, only my sister and one good friend know. I may let a few other family members know once I get a confirmed surgery date. I see that "Surgery in 4 days!" at the top of this thread and even though I don't know you, I'm excited for you. Good luck with everything!

Mangopickle

Family only, until my rapid wt loss garnered attention. Occasionally I will get the eye roll, I point out that the surgery will give you 20-30 lbs of automatic wt loss, after that it is all you. I point out that I don't eat wheat, rice or potato anymore.

2BeHappy2

WOW!
Where do you live?!?
Mine did not go anything remotely like that!
I went to the seminar last thurs of jan.
Didn't get an appt w/ bariatric till around mid feb.
I had TONS to do...people to see and tests to go through (physical & mental) and the stomach test which here its considered a surgery because they have to induce sleep to place the tub down your throat but the fear (time) was worse than the actual "surgery"
I don't know how long it takes a typical person but because I was running late, they took others which put me to being last.
It was awful because the day before I had to do a clear liquid diet then not eat anything after a certain time so it was like the next evening by the time I was able to eat.
By that point I was so hungry from only having had liquids the day before and not having had anything all that day.
Im sure if everything had gone accordingly that I wouldn't have been as uncomfortable.
It took me a good 2-3 wks to fully complete all my requirements (referrals included from private Dr, EKG specialist, PT, Psychologist etc )
My insurance required a 3 month dietician and 5% weight loss which I was not prepared for so when I thought I was doing so great on meeting my check off list of things I was asked for, I still had 3 months of this to do!
I last weighed in June 11 and I just got my call today when she asked me if "I was ready" :noway:
I couldn't believe she would have to ask...I was "ready" a long time ago :ohwell:
I wasn't expecting this but I guess that I have to go get an updated referral from EKG (I guess to make sure Im still kickn' and lab work (maybe if they wouldn't have waited so long, they wouldn't need these things (again)!
So I will go in on the 26th for once again an all day event and at that time I will get my actual date :bigsmile: !!

ChaCha575

2 be Happy- hang in there. You've come too far to give up now. It sounds like you have had a lot of hoops to jump through but it will be all worth it.

2BeHappy2

2 be Happy- hang in there. You've come too far to give up now. It sounds like you have had a lot of hoops to jump through but it will be all worth it.

Thanks!
I know its a "process" but it still amazes me how different Dr's, states & insurances works.
When I turned everything into bariatrics they were shocked that Id completed my whole check off list so fast (minus the 3 month and 5%).
My thing is that I HATE winter and while I know that working out inside isn't a deal breaker, Id still like to be able to exercise outdoors, weather permitting!
Since I was completely done w/ Everything including my 3 month stuff, Ive been done for like 2 months and that's 2 months I could've had under my belt (no pun intended)!
Im not trying to rush the actual process, I just want a good running start on my initial weight loss because I know as time progresses that it wont come off as easily and that's pretty much why Id hoped to get more summer time in.
My insurance runs from Dec-Dec and since Ive already had to pay 20% plus meet all my out of pocket requirements, I really need to have it done before Dec. otherwise Id have to start over and we cant financially afford to do that again.
I can deal w/ Fall but not winter...I was that way as a child too.
Snow is pretty to look at when Im safely inside :happy:

miasmommy21407

Hello! Allison here. Wow, that sounds like you're getting things done really quickly. I'm up in Canada, and things are different here. I started taking classes in July/Aug of last year and just found out last week that I get to finally meet with my surgeon at the end of Aug.
Im sure you're trying to get as much info as you can. Reading the threads in all the Bariatric forums can be a great source.
As far as telling people or not, only my sister and one good friend know. I may let a few other family members know once I get a confirmed surgery date. I see that "Surgery in 4 days!" at the top of this thread and even though I don't know you, I'm excited for you. Good luck with everything!

Thank you! It was a VERY fast process for me and even though I'm still in a TON of pain, I'm very excited to start my new life.

miasmommy21407

WOW!
Where do you live?!?
Mine did not go anything remotely like that!
I went to the seminar last thurs of jan.
Didn't get an appt w/ bariatric till around mid feb.
I had TONS to do...people to see and tests to go through (physical & mental) and the stomach test which here its considered a surgery because they have to induce sleep to place the tub down your throat but the fear (time) was worse than the actual "surgery"
I don't know how long it takes a typical person but because I was running late, they took others which put me to being last.
It was awful because the day before I had to do a clear liquid diet then not eat anything after a certain time so it was like the next evening by the time I was able to eat.
By that point I was so hungry from only having had liquids the day before and not having had anything all that day.
Im sure if everything had gone accordingly that I wouldn't have been as uncomfortable.
It took me a good 2-3 wks to fully complete all my requirements (referrals included from private Dr, EKG specialist, PT, Psychologist etc )
My insurance required a 3 month dietician and 5% weight loss which I was not prepared for so when I thought I was doing so great on meeting my check off list of things I was asked for, I still had 3 months of this to do!
I last weighed in June 11 and I just got my call today when she asked me if "I was ready" :noway:
I couldn't believe she would have to ask...I was "ready" a long time ago :ohwell:
I wasn't expecting this but I guess that I have to go get an updated referral from EKG (I guess to make sure Im still kickn' and lab work (maybe if they wouldn't have waited so long, they wouldn't need these things (again)!
So I will go in on the 26th for once again an all day event and at that time I will get my actual date :bigsmile: !!

I know I already messaged you but I don't think I told you...I'm in Texas. My insurance only required a psych eval and my doctor required a cardiac clearance and a sleep study. My doctor works with companies that expedite the process. The cardiac clearance people have a 48 hour turn around, the psyc eval people have a 3-7 day turn around and the sleep study people have a 24 hour turn around from the time the test is completed. Then my insurance company happens to have one of the fastest approval times in the business so they approved everything very quickly. Lab work and a chest xray weren't required until the day before surgery.

eewb42

Good Morning All!

My surgery for gastric sleeve is scheduled for 9/22/14 and I too am excited and nervous. Support and encouragement is needed, so I joined this group in order to communicate and learn from others that are preparing and/or already on this journey.