Calling all pre-oppers for a fun questionnaire & support!
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IslandSneezerooo wrote: »Had my EKG and bloodwork done this morning for the bariatric clinic. Also got an email from my NUT confirming they got my sleep study report... My doctor upped my PCOS metformin meds this morning to 500 mg 2x/day and while I was there we chatted about surgery and he's pushing me to go for the gastric bypass over the vertical sleeve. That's what I've been leaning towards anyways as that one seems much more successful longterm for people with PCOS...
The bariatrician I saw also said that gastric bypass was more effective than VGS for people with PCOS. Since one of my main reasons for surgery is to get/have a healthy pregnancy, that is what I'm choosing.
I have my second set of appointments next week - 1st with dietitian and 2nd with psychologist. Fingers crossed it will be a straightforward process to surgery, sooner rather than later!0 -
Interesting thing I learned about my program... There's no govt funding to cover mental health assessments, so they don't require them. If you are on meds for your mental health, they ask for a letter from your doctor, but that's it... Crazy how different our system is to other countries or even other provinces who require numerous psychologist appts!! Don't necessarily think it's a good thing...0
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Where you are in the WLS process? Do you have a surgery date yet?
I saw my PCP on February 23, 2015 for my annual physical. We discussed WLS and she agreed it would be the best thing for me. Bariatric seminar on March 12, and first appointment with the program April 1. I have my psych evaluation on April 28, EGD on May 20, follow-up on June 1. I'm still waiting for the sleep study to be scheduled. No surgery date yet.
Personal stats?
I'm 38 years old, living in the suburbs of Buffalo, NY. I am 5'6". My weight at home on the morning of my first appointment was 330, current weight 320. I haven't discussed a goal weight with the program, but I'd like to get to 180.
What is your weight loss/gain history?
I starting getting 'chunky' around 8 years old. I never really thought about it til junior high, when other kids started teasing me. I never let on that it bothered me, but looking back there were signs that it did.
When I was 13, I began having stomach pains that were so bad the doctor was concerned I had an ulcer. I even had to have an upper GI.
The next year was high school, and it was better. But I think that was because my older sister was there. She's also overweight, but has always seemed more at ease with it. I think she was a sort of buffer for me that year.
The next year was extremely difficult for me. I began having excruciating migraines, and developed depression/anxiety issues. At one point I literally couldn't leave my house. Eventually, when I turned 16 I dropped out of school, and home-schooled myself.
As I got older, everything got better; and I was able to get back out in the world. Through my 20's and 30's the weight just kept piling on. I've tried Weight Watchers, Atkins, Paleo; but I found them impossible to stick with and the weight always comes back.
What made you decide to get WLS?
The pain in my back and knees getting steadily worse, and watching the scale just creep up no matter what I do.
Do you have any co-mobidities or health challenges?
I'm actually in fairly good health, other than my weight. My cholesterol is slightly elevated, and I do have moderate back and knees pain.
Do you have a good support system?
My mother is actually going through the program with me, working towards getting surgery herself. My father and sister are somewhat supportive; they 'get' why we're doing this. One of my best friends got WLS several years ago, and she has been really great. Another of my best friends is actually driving my mom and I to our EGD appointments (we have them on the same day). Other family and friends have been incredibly supportive of us.
What kind of pre-op diet are you on right now?
The program uses the South Beach diet for pre-surgery weight loss. I'm currently on day 10 of the 2-week Phase 1.0 -
IslandSneezerooo wrote: »I thought it would be fun to get to know each other a little in order to better support each other as we get our surgeries... Feel free to answer these questions or add more... Skip any you don't want to share...
Where you are in the WLS process? Do you have a surgery date yet?
I was referred to my surgeon on November 9th, 2014. Had my first consult with my bariatric surgeon on Jan 22nd, and he referred me to his bariatric clinic. I have a group orientation on April 9th. After that session I can book my tests and NUT appts. They said I should have a surgery date by Nov of this year. *fingers crossed!*
Personal stats?
I live on a gulf island in BC Canada and my surgeon is in Victoria, BC. I'm turning 39 years old in May & am 5'4". I weighed in at 290 lbs on my home scale and 295 lbs at the surgeon's office the day of my consult (01/22/15), so that's my starting weight. I'm currently ~288 lbs on my home scale. My personal goal weight is 170 lbs, although I'm open to changing that, depending on how I feel when I get there.
What is your weight loss/gain history?
I was a petite slim child who was very active and never gave my body or weight a second thought. I went through a big growth spurt when puberty hit and was full height, DD breasts, and had a curvy woman's body at age 13 - I suddenly became hyper aware and critical of my body and my mom put me on a WW diet even though I was only 130 lbs. At age 15 I started having PCOS symptoms. I had a cyst burst, had a lot of body hair, and heavy irregular cycles.. When I graduated high school I was 140 lbs but had to work hard at it, and was very active.
My 20's were intensely stressful and not in a good way. Lost my mom to cancer, hated my dad's new wife, married a guy who was physically and emotionally abusive, had infertility issues, miraculously had a baby, multiple cross continent moves, poverty, homelessness, separations, single parenting, divorce... by age 23 I was 210 lbs, and my weight yo-yo'd between 210 and 230 as I alternated between emotional/stress binge eating and strict dieting.
My 30's have been stressful too, but in a much better way... found the love of my life, remarried, did trauma counselling and stopped binge eating, hubs adopted my son and is an amazing father, moved to a gorgeous gulf island, made a career change, graduated from college, started a couple successful businesses, bought our first home... Despite switching to a primarily organic whole food diet, trying lots of different exercise regimes (C25K, boxing, gym workouts, pilates, walking), and going on metformin for a year to try to get pregnant again (had a miscarriage) I was up to 280 lbs by my 35th birthday. I got my tubes tied and went off of metformine and decided to try the HCG protocol. Initially I lost 45 lbs, but then I slowly regained it plus another 10...
What made you decide to get WLS?
Last year an old SI joint injury flared up quite badly affecting my mobility. All my weight loss efforts have been short lived and regain has always been a struggle, so after 3 years of discussing the option of WLS with my family doc, researching it thoroughly, and trying to lose weight on my own, I finally decided it was time to go for WLS.
Do you have any co-mobidities or health challenges?
In addition to the SI joint injury restricting my mobility in the past year, my PCOS symptoms are the worst they've ever been. I recently started taking metformin again for PCOS related insulin resistance, and had added inositol (Vit B8) which is supposed to help. I also take iron/B-complex, calcium/magnesium, Vit D & zinc supplements.
The only other health challenge I have is allergies, food and environmental... My allergy specialist recently diagnosed me with Oral Allergy Syndrome, and I have eliminated all the foods I'm allergic to (nuts, soy, wheat, hemp, whey, carrots, melons, bananas, MSG, artificial sweeteners, caffeine), plus take a daily antihistamine and use nasal sprays to control ongoing hayfever.
Do you have a good support system?
My support system is my husband, son, aunt, dad, and one friend. Most of my other friends and in-laws are very outspoken and opinionated and I just don't have the energy to deal with explaining myself or defending my decision. Not sure if I'll ever tell anyone else in my real life, honestly... I also vlog on YT (my username is IslandSneezer if you want to sub) and the WLS community there is very supportive. I'm also hoping this group will be a great support. I have an account on a WLS forum, but find the most active members to be quite harsh and lacking empathy for the most part, which isn't my style at all, so I rarely login (they don't let you delete your account).
What kind of pre-op diet are you on right now?
The day after my surgeon's consult I started weighing, measuring and logging everything I ate in MFP. I also started slowly adding in more activity. At first I could barely do 5 minutes of exercise because of my SI joint flare up, but now I can do 25 minutes of stretching/core yoga, walk up to 40 minutes, or do 15 min on my deskcycle. I'm using the default MFP macros to lose 1 lb/week, and am basically maintaining, weight is fluctuating up and down the same 2 lbs... Once I have instructions from my NUT next month I'll do whatever they say...
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lovebuckets wrote: »IslandSneezerooo wrote: »I thought it would be fun to get to know each other a little in order to better support each other as we get our surgeries... Feel free to answer these questions or add more... Skip any you don't want to share...
Where you are in the WLS process? Do you have a surgery date yet?
I was referred to my surgeon on November 9th, 2014. Had my first consult with my bariatric surgeon on Jan 22nd, and he referred me to his bariatric clinic. I have a group orientation on April 9th. After that session I can book my tests and NUT appts. They said I should have a surgery date by Nov of this year. *fingers crossed!*
Personal stats?
I live on a gulf island in BC Canada and my surgeon is in Victoria, BC. I'm turning 39 years old in May & am 5'4". I weighed in at 290 lbs on my home scale and 295 lbs at the surgeon's office the day of my consult (01/22/15), so that's my starting weight. I'm currently ~288 lbs on my home scale. My personal goal weight is 170 lbs, although I'm open to changing that, depending on how I feel when I get there.
What is your weight loss/gain history?
I was a petite slim child who was very active and never gave my body or weight a second thought. I went through a big growth spurt when puberty hit and was full height, DD breasts, and had a curvy woman's body at age 13 - I suddenly became hyper aware and critical of my body and my mom put me on a WW diet even though I was only 130 lbs. At age 15 I started having PCOS symptoms. I had a cyst burst, had a lot of body hair, and heavy irregular cycles.. When I graduated high school I was 140 lbs but had to work hard at it, and was very active.
My 20's were intensely stressful and not in a good way. Lost my mom to cancer, hated my dad's new wife, married a guy who was physically and emotionally abusive, had infertility issues, miraculously had a baby, multiple cross continent moves, poverty, homelessness, separations, single parenting, divorce... by age 23 I was 210 lbs, and my weight yo-yo'd between 210 and 230 as I alternated between emotional/stress binge eating and strict dieting.
My 30's have been stressful too, but in a much better way... found the love of my life, remarried, did trauma counselling and stopped binge eating, hubs adopted my son and is an amazing father, moved to a gorgeous gulf island, made a career change, graduated from college, started a couple successful businesses, bought our first home... Despite switching to a primarily organic whole food diet, trying lots of different exercise regimes (C25K, boxing, gym workouts, pilates, walking), and going on metformin for a year to try to get pregnant again (had a miscarriage) I was up to 280 lbs by my 35th birthday. I got my tubes tied and went off of metformine and decided to try the HCG protocol. Initially I lost 45 lbs, but then I slowly regained it plus another 10...
What made you decide to get WLS?
Last year an old SI joint injury flared up quite badly affecting my mobility. All my weight loss efforts have been short lived and regain has always been a struggle, so after 3 years of discussing the option of WLS with my family doc, researching it thoroughly, and trying to lose weight on my own, I finally decided it was time to go for WLS.
Do you have any co-mobidities or health challenges?
In addition to the SI joint injury restricting my mobility in the past year, my PCOS symptoms are the worst they've ever been. I recently started taking metformin again for PCOS related insulin resistance, and had added inositol (Vit B8) which is supposed to help. I also take iron/B-complex, calcium/magnesium, Vit D & zinc supplements.
The only other health challenge I have is allergies, food and environmental... My allergy specialist recently diagnosed me with Oral Allergy Syndrome, and I have eliminated all the foods I'm allergic to (nuts, soy, wheat, hemp, whey, carrots, melons, bananas, MSG, artificial sweeteners, caffeine), plus take a daily antihistamine and use nasal sprays to control ongoing hayfever.
Do you have a good support system?
My support system is my husband, son, aunt, dad, and one friend. Most of my other friends and in-laws are very outspoken and opinionated and I just don't have the energy to deal with explaining myself or defending my decision. Not sure if I'll ever tell anyone else in my real life, honestly... I also vlog on YT (my username is IslandSneezer if you want to sub) and the WLS community there is very supportive. I'm also hoping this group will be a great support. I have an account on a WLS forum, but find the most active members to be quite harsh and lacking empathy for the most part, which isn't my style at all, so I rarely login (they don't let you delete your account).
What kind of pre-op diet are you on right now?
The day after my surgeon's consult I started weighing, measuring and logging everything I ate in MFP. I also started slowly adding in more activity. At first I could barely do 5 minutes of exercise because of my SI joint flare up, but now I can do 25 minutes of stretching/core yoga, walk up to 40 minutes, or do 15 min on my deskcycle. I'm using the default MFP macros to lose 1 lb/week, and am basically maintaining, weight is fluctuating up and down the same 2 lbs... Once I have instructions from my NUT next month I'll do whatever they say...
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Island sneezeroo don't let any one stop you your health and happiness is between you and you hubby. I got all kinds of *kitten* from my family including my hubby until I sat him down and explained I have to have this its not a choice, he's my biggest supporter now I explain nothing to anyone else. I just got my date 2 weeks ago May 6th I'm almost done with pre-ops lots of them. If you need to vent this is the place I went from 130 lbs to 218 today I have a bad back and every time I get a injection for pain I gain 5 to 10 lbs I loose some and get another shot it's a cycle that's killing me I can't fight the cravings anymore getting weak I guess lol. I can't wait till May. Good luck were here for you.
Jackie0 -
lovebuckets wrote: »Island sneezeroo don't let any one stop you your health and happiness is between you and you hubby. I got all kinds of *kitten* from my family including my hubby until I sat him down and explained I have to have this its not a choice, he's my biggest supporter now I explain nothing to anyone else. I just got my date 2 weeks ago May 6th I'm almost done with pre-ops lots of them. If you need to vent this is the place I went from 130 lbs to 218 today I have a bad back and every time I get a injection for pain I gain 5 to 10 lbs I loose some and get another shot it's a cycle that's killing me I can't fight the cravings anymore getting weak I guess lol. I can't wait till May. Good luck were here for you.
Jackie
Thanks and I totally agree... Congrats on getting your surgery date!!
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@new_me_jrp Sounds like we're in pretty similar places in the pre-op process. I'm doing a LCHF (low carb high fat) diet while waiting for my appointment on June 12th with the dietician and with the bariatric clinic's in-house doctor who does the pre-op tests and assessment. I've had my EKG, blood work and sleep study done. Once I have my appt in June I'll find out when they are putting me on my pre-op diet, which is 1 month of liquids. YIKES! I'm determined to get through this though and not going to be scared out of the program because I want to feel WELL.0
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I met with the psych and dietitian yesterday. It was my second appointment with the psych and first with the dietitian.
I've officially passed the psych eval - although I was a little affronted when he said I was of average intelligence (AS IF).
I have my next appointment with the dietitian on May 11. I'm to continue tracking my food and following the eating guidelines for post WLS. If I go in there successful with those things, then I should get the green light to meet the surgeon and schedule my surgery.
I'm super annoyed though. I've been off pop for 3 weeks now, completely cold turkey. And I've improved what I'm eating. And still gained 2 lbs from the last time I was there. ARGH.0 -
@chckmeowt how rude of that psych guy to tell you that! Average, indeed!! I feel your pain on the slow to no results... I started logging, exercising, cut WAY back on carbs and 10 weeks later was the exact same weight... What kind of eating plan does your program have you on? I'm doing low carb high fat now and the scale is finally moving a bit... In the right direction, for once!
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Not a strict plan by any means - focusing on eating protein, no drinking while eating, and eating slowly. And using those methods along with tracking my foods.0
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Anyone else feeling READY and sick of waiting?! I just want this surgery already!!!0
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It shouldn't be waiting. It is preparing.0
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@rpyle111 I don't have my first dietician appt or results from my bloodwork and EKG (done on April 10th) till mid June... Feels a lot like waiting... Don't get me wrong, I hear what you're saying and I'm doing my best to prepare in the meantime, but it is still a whole lot of hurry up and wait... Semantics schmantics0
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Where you are in the WLS process? Do you have a surgery date yet?
January 2015 I saw a doctor about four hernias. He told me that I'm an excellent candidate for WLS. I have completed everything and see the dietician for the last time this Monday. I was told to lose 5 pounds and I have lost 15. I wasn't going to have them tell me they made a mistake because 5 pounds seems to little to me.
I was told to get my A1C under 9 and it's now 7.6.
Personal stats?
I'm almost 56 years old. Live in the frozen tundra of Minnesota. Hubby and I are empty nesters.
What is your weight loss/gain history?
Because of a tramatic childhood, mentally - my obesity served as a protection against further abuse. Well, that's how my mind perceived it. I'm 5'1" and managed to weigh in at over 325 pounds. I went through five years of therapy, but never managed to lose the weight.
In 2000, I had my stomach stapled. I lost 157 pounds. The only education I had was a 20-minute video. I managed to keep it off for over six years, then I started gaining weight back. In 2010, I sought out a gastric by-pass sugery. I went through the entire process only to be told by insurance company they would not pay for the surgery. I appealed, but still denied. The insurance company said it wasn't medically nescessary, even though I have sleep apnea, A1C of 12, insulin dependant, and have had two knee surgeries.
I always felt so guitly that I was given a gift of WLS and I failed.
These last few years, I have been having terrible stomach issues, which have landed me twice in the hospital with psuedo heart attacks. After two endoscopies and a cat scan, it was discovered that I had four hernias. I went to a hernia specialiast (who was also a bariatric specialist) who told me that according to my cat scan, I also had a hole in my staple line. It wasn't me that failed, it was my surgery. He told me I was an excellent candidate for WLS. I told him that I was denied before. He said because my previous surgery had failed, that he was sure he could get this one approved. So, I'm approaching this positively.
What made you decide to get WLS?
The desire to be healthy. Since I'm insulin depedant and have had diabetes for so long, it is unlikely that it will go away when I have the surgery. But as long as I can keep it under control, I will be happy. I want to walk without pain. I want to live and enjoy my retirement.
I'm not looking to be model thin. I know that won't happen. If I could lose the 75 pounds that I've gained, I would be estatic.
Do you have any co-mobidities or health challenges?
Joint pain, Diabetes II, Sleep Apnea, Obesity related asthma
Do you have a good support system?
My husband is my cheer leader. He has changed his eating habits along with mine to help me. I am on a "eating schedule" and recently we went out of town and he planned all of our activities around my schedule and sought out places to eat that would offer me various heathly choices. There isn't anything he wouldn't do for me.
What kind of pre-op diet are you on right now?
As I mentioned, I was told to lose FIVE pounds. It didn't seem like a challenge, but I was surprised that it wasn't as easy as I thought. I was also told to give up my Coke Zero. I was only drinking 15 - 18 cans a day. I did that. I'm now drinking close to 120 ounces of water. I was told no snacking. I was a grazer and now I only eat at meal times. I'm totally shocked that I'm able to go five hours without eating. I never realized I could do that. Eating a healthy, low cal, high protein meal three times a day has helped me lose the 15 pounds. Also, hubby and I take a 3-mile walk every morning. My daily goal is to get those 10K steps/5 miles.0 -
I met with the psych and dietitian yesterday. It was my second appointment with the psych and first with the dietitian.
I've officially passed the psych eval - although I was a little affronted when he said I was of average intelligence (AS IF).
My psych guy said that I'm easily manipulated by men....then he told me that if my husband was in the room, he would tell him to withhold sex from me if I fell off my eating routine. I think he needs a psych evalu.0 -
Ramia_J; you've got a great attitude going in! Use the pre-op time to get as much weight off and exercise in as possible. It will make the post-op time most useful and get you best prepared for surgery!
Rob0 -
I met with the psych and dietitian yesterday. It was my second appointment with the psych and first with the dietitian.
I've officially passed the psych eval - although I was a little affronted when he said I was of average intelligence (AS IF).
My psych guy said that I'm easily manipulated by men....then he told me that if my husband was in the room, he would tell him to withhold sex from me if I fell off my eating routine. I think he needs a psych evalu.
@Ramla_J what a jerk!
who is your surgeon. I'm also in MN and my husband just got 4 hernias fixed.0 -
@Ramla_J Sounds like you're off to a great start! Well done on getting a jump start on your weight loss. And WOW... that psych guys needs to be reported, that's SO out of line...0
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I met with the psych and dietitian yesterday. It was my second appointment with the psych and first with the dietitian.
I've officially passed the psych eval - although I was a little affronted when he said I was of average intelligence (AS IF).
My psych guy said that I'm easily manipulated by men....then he told me that if my husband was in the room, he would tell him to withhold sex from me if I fell off my eating routine. I think he needs a psych evalu.
@Ramla_J what a jerk!
who is your surgeon. I'm also in MN and my husband just got 4 hernias fixed.
Dr. Bradley Pierce at Southdale Hosp.0 -
IslandSneezerooo wrote: »@Ramla_J Sounds like you're off to a great start! Well done on getting a jump start on your weight loss. And WOW... that psych guys needs to be reported, that's SO out of line...
I told the psych guy that sex should never be used as a condition in a relationship and then he tells me that conditions are a part of life. We went back and forth on the subject and he saw that he wasn't going to shut me up, so he caved and changed the subject. I was just glad to be done with the process.0 -
IslandSneezerooo wrote: »@Ramla_J Sounds like you're off to a great start! Well done on getting a jump start on your weight loss. And WOW... that psych guys needs to be reported, that's SO out of line...
I told the psych guy that sex should never be used as a condition in a relationship and then he tells me that conditions are a part of life. We went back and forth on the subject and he saw that he wasn't going to shut me up, so he caved and changed the subject. I was just glad to be done with the process.
Wow, I bet his wife just LOVES being blackmailed and manipulated... Not... Good for you challenging that comment... I would have too!!
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IslandSneezerooo wrote: »@Ramla_J Sounds like you're off to a great start! Well done on getting a jump start on your weight loss. And WOW... that psych guys needs to be reported, that's SO out of line...I met with the psych and dietitian yesterday. It was my second appointment with the psych and first with the dietitian.
I've officially passed the psych eval - although I was a little affronted when he said I was of average intelligence (AS IF).
My psych guy said that I'm easily manipulated by men....then he told me that if my husband was in the room, he would tell him to withhold sex from me if I fell off my eating routine. I think he needs a psych evalu.
@Ramla_J what a jerk!
who is your surgeon. I'm also in MN and my husband just got 4 hernias fixed.
Dr. Bradley Pierce at Southdale Hosp.
the hospital has a patient advocate, I'd start by giving them his name0
This discussion has been closed.