My surgery is also scheduled for 3/19, but I haven't gotten certified yet, does anyone know how long this process takes?

Hi There! I am almost 4 years post-op, I had my surgery March 31, 2004. I did write letters to my children, they were little at the time, 7 years old and 3 years old. Did that mean that I did not have complete faith in my doctor NO, I never realyl considered the fact that I would die, but I wanted them to have my thoughts in my hand for when they needed it. It was more a time for me to reflect on what I wanted them to REALLY know, about WHY I had the surgery, what my expectations were and some other things that I really was not able to tell them at 7 and 3. My son is now 11 and a few months ago he asked to see my scar again and so I showed him and he started to cry asking why I had to have surgery?? why I just didn't go to the gym and work out, evidently he saw something on tv about WLS patients having complications or somethinga guy here in town died a few years ago and the case was just settled. I talked to him and then I gave him the letter to read, he read it and it really seemed to help, he had a few more questions but then was a bit better, he worries a lot. "momma did you take your vitamins?" that said I will tell you that after 4 years the only complication I have is that I have not completely dealt with my stress eating and when my mom got sick I completely reverted to OH MY GOD...stress======EAT!!! and gained back some weight about 30 pounds...now my friends are saying things like you look better a *****ubbier!@@ but they WERE saying before you are tooo thin so ...go figure...I want to be back in my size 10 pants and I will get there. I don't say any of this to frighten you because I really and truly beieve I got my health and my life back after having this surgery. But please make sure to deal wit hyour food demons! And TRULY deal with them not just think they are gone because food is not your life anymore right after surgery! My sister had weightloss surgery 4 1/2 years ago and has not gained back any of her weight at all but she traded a food addiction for a bizarre eating pattern and an extreme exercise addiction. She didn't take care of her food demons either in fact she refuses to even talk about food, or eating...see what I mean DEAL WITH YOUR FOOD ISSUES start now, keep at it! It is a wild ride but not one I would change at all! I hope this has been some kind of help and not the ramblings of a sleepy momma! Hugs to you all! nic

hi rick - welcome to the WL Family I started my journey Oct07 & finished testing by Dec07 my surg dat is mar07 - so figure 6mths or so. This is an agressive pace, but i wanted to get it done soon. i met with pshyc eval, NUT, carardic, sleep ap testing, gastro testing & a few others. also ins. companies are diff, so appv. quicker than others. chk with yr surgeon, he/she should be able to give you an appx date when yr surg should be.

Heidi, Welcome to this amazing journey. My program director called mw with my surgery date, but I had to go through about a three month process before I found out. I had to have a phsycological evaluation and meet with the nutritonist before I could meet with the surgeon. The surgeons office put together a report and along with the other information it was submitted to my insurance company for approval. After approval (which for me took less then a week) I got a call with my surgery date. The whole process took about 3 months from start to surgery. Use this time to learn all you can about the surgery and what will be required of you. If I can answer any of your questions please let me know. You can also read my profile by clicking my name under my picture. Good luck on the most exciting thing to happen to you in your lifetime. Life is great, Rick

Hello all! I am in the process of getting approved for gastric bypass surgery and I was just wondering if anyone could tell me at what point they were given their surgery date? I am scheduled for meetings with a bariatric doctor, physical therapist, and dietician next week and then I believe everything will be submitted to my insurance company for final approval. I was just wondering if the hospital will call me and let me know that I have been approved and give me a surgery date then or if I will have to meet with my doctor to be given my date. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!