Getting Ready
Hi - great to see so many people on the AB forum!
I am just getting ready for the surgery now. I began Weight Wise in early 2009, and finished all of the modules available, as well as the Emotional Eating group. I wondered in the beginning that even if I lost all of the weight, would I still feel "crazy" worrying about food/ dieting. The Emotional Eating group was amazing and I feel like I am in a much calmer place, able to deal with stress and pressures better.
I met with Dr. Karmali for the first time last week and was approved for VSG- he patiently explained them all and answered my questions, then said I qualified for all three and could pick one that I preferred.
This week I wrenched my back helping someone move, and swimming probably too much. In the waiting room I had to pace around because sitting is terrible. I think everyone thought I was super nervous.
Yesterday I went for the xray test of the esophagus/ stomach. Gross, barium. They had me jump up on a tall table and roll around a lot. The lady was barking at me to do it faster... but my back hurt so it was really hard!!
Now I am waiting for a surgery date. Wish me luck.
-Mtrai
I am just getting ready for the surgery now. I began Weight Wise in early 2009, and finished all of the modules available, as well as the Emotional Eating group. I wondered in the beginning that even if I lost all of the weight, would I still feel "crazy" worrying about food/ dieting. The Emotional Eating group was amazing and I feel like I am in a much calmer place, able to deal with stress and pressures better.
I met with Dr. Karmali for the first time last week and was approved for VSG- he patiently explained them all and answered my questions, then said I qualified for all three and could pick one that I preferred.
This week I wrenched my back helping someone move, and swimming probably too much. In the waiting room I had to pace around because sitting is terrible. I think everyone thought I was super nervous.
Yesterday I went for the xray test of the esophagus/ stomach. Gross, barium. They had me jump up on a tall table and roll around a lot. The lady was barking at me to do it faster... but my back hurt so it was really hard!!
Now I am waiting for a surgery date. Wish me luck.
-Mtrai
Surgery VSG Oct.8 2010. 23pds lost pre-op. I am 5'6" tall. Feeling amazing!
Congrats on getting approved and thanks for posting. It is always great to hear the stories of others!
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin
Highest Weight: 242 lbs 1st Clinic visit: 236.8lbs
Weight at Surgery: 193.1 Surgery Date: May 18, 2011 Current Weight: 134.4 lbs
Congratulations :)
I will be seeing the same surgeon in June. Any thought on what he's like. Any tips are more than welcome.
Oh god my biggest fear isn't the barium x-ray it's the endoscope procedure. I had it done years ago in a different province and they didn't sedate me. Oh god by the time it was done i looked like I had been in a bar fight. I have pictures that I keep with me and I've showed my nurse and she said oh god what did they do to you. I'm so hoping in the end i won't need to get it done.
Good luck with everything and keep us all posted.
Keelan.
I will be seeing the same surgeon in June. Any thought on what he's like. Any tips are more than welcome.
Oh god my biggest fear isn't the barium x-ray it's the endoscope procedure. I had it done years ago in a different province and they didn't sedate me. Oh god by the time it was done i looked like I had been in a bar fight. I have pictures that I keep with me and I've showed my nurse and she said oh god what did they do to you. I'm so hoping in the end i won't need to get it done.
Good luck with everything and keep us all posted.
Keelan.
HW:274 SW:238 CW: 150.0 1St goal: 199.8 2nd goal:174 (100 pound lost)
My Persoanl Goal: (HIgh)150 (Low)140
1st goal acheived December 27th/2010. 1 week after my 3rd month surgery anniversary.
2nd goal acheived June 4th/2011. 2 weeks after my 8th Month Surgiversary.
Gall Bladder surgery April 12,2012
You can either believe it will happen.....or believe it won't. Both are self fulfilled prophesies. For Me it has happened. My Surgery was September 21/2010
Thanks very much! Yes, it seems to be happening very quickly now which is making me panic just a teeny bit. I have told my staff at work that I will be away for a few weeks, but don't really want the entire office to know the reason why. I am going to go to my family's home to recover after the surgery.
Keelan - I am not sure that I have to do an endoscopy (though your description of it was hilarious! - it sounded horrible!). At least they have not mentioned it so far. Just that I had to do the xray for stomach/ esophagus.
I have already done the sleep study, and no apnea. Although the test was funny - I toss and turn quite a bit so had wrapped myself up in wires and ripped them all out by the am. I am booked to meet with the sleep specialist to talk about my 'overactive' sleep patterns. Ha.
And also for the presurgery and postsurgery sessions at the clinic in early June. Though they said I could be called for surgery during this time.
I am getting a bit nervous!! that is a lot of stomach removed! yikes. I have never had surgery before. So still unsure about the little details that are freaking me out like: catheter? pain? etc.
Dr. Karmali was very kind actually. He had read my file, and we talked about my history a bit. Then he said that I qualified. He drew very detailed drawings of each procedues, talked about the time each one took in terms of surgery hours, percentage of risks and what each risk was, and the long term research indicated for success etc. He asked if I needed time to consider the options and I said no, and picked the VSG. He dictated a note to my family doctor and filled out a package, and assured me about the next steps.
Before you meet with the surgeon, I would do a lot of research so you are prepared to decide.
Now I am just trying to strech my back out so I can get back to exercising and prepare my body for this big procedure.
Thanks all for your kind notes! mtrai
Keelan - I am not sure that I have to do an endoscopy (though your description of it was hilarious! - it sounded horrible!). At least they have not mentioned it so far. Just that I had to do the xray for stomach/ esophagus.
I have already done the sleep study, and no apnea. Although the test was funny - I toss and turn quite a bit so had wrapped myself up in wires and ripped them all out by the am. I am booked to meet with the sleep specialist to talk about my 'overactive' sleep patterns. Ha.
And also for the presurgery and postsurgery sessions at the clinic in early June. Though they said I could be called for surgery during this time.
I am getting a bit nervous!! that is a lot of stomach removed! yikes. I have never had surgery before. So still unsure about the little details that are freaking me out like: catheter? pain? etc.
Dr. Karmali was very kind actually. He had read my file, and we talked about my history a bit. Then he said that I qualified. He drew very detailed drawings of each procedues, talked about the time each one took in terms of surgery hours, percentage of risks and what each risk was, and the long term research indicated for success etc. He asked if I needed time to consider the options and I said no, and picked the VSG. He dictated a note to my family doctor and filled out a package, and assured me about the next steps.
Before you meet with the surgeon, I would do a lot of research so you are prepared to decide.
Now I am just trying to strech my back out so I can get back to exercising and prepare my body for this big procedure.
Thanks all for your kind notes! mtrai
Surgery VSG Oct.8 2010. 23pds lost pre-op. I am 5'6" tall. Feeling amazing!
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