need some encouragement
I started the modules in January 2010 and am still waiting for the call to have an appointment to talk about my options. Please can anyone tell me how long I should expect to wait and after I have the first appt. how long does it take to have the surgery set up. I know I am in for the long haul, I just need to see some light.
debtren 
how many modules have you done. With the new rules they won't call you for your inicial assessment until you are done the required modules. Once I finished my required modules it took close to a year to get the call for my assessment. My assessment was originally booked for January and started calling the booking office almost daily till a cancellation opened up and I had it in the beginning of November. Then all hell broke loose with all the appointments I have to do, psychiatrist, psychologist, OT group, DR., Nurse, Diatician, .......not sure if I am missing anything but that is what comes to mind. It is intense and often, we have yet to discuss anything about surgery. But I am getting healthier and getting prepared.
My suggestion, start wearing a pedometer, documenting your food and calories, and activities.
My suggestion, start wearing a pedometer, documenting your food and calories, and activities.
thank you for your response. I have 3 modules left to do and will take them in the next couple of months. I live out of town so it takes a bit of planning. I am hoping I get a call soon to start the ball rolling. I just purchased a new journal for this year to start keeping track of my food and calories. I appreciate your suggestions and am going to start doing it all. I know it takes a long time, I just feel like I have been forgotten on the list sometime and I can't wait for my assessment so I can begin my journey.
debtren
If you smoke...QUIT NOW. They will NOT consider you for surgery if you smoke.
Start wearing a pedometer & document your steps everyday (I started out at about 1600 steps per day. I reached 10000 steps once when I was in Vegas. Most days I still average around only 4000 except for the days I go on the treadmill)
Document your food (Including any binge eating & eating fast food)
Document your activities
Honestly the process can be frustrating & slow at times. The team at the WW clinic are really good at what they do. They know what works & what doesn't, listen to them, take notes. They know you have food issues or you would not be there. They want you to be successful so be honest. It is my experience that you don't have to be perfect you just have to show improvement.
One thing you do NOT want to do is to cancel appointments at the last minute. They do keep a record of your canceled appointments & I don't know if it is still the same but last year if you had 3 canceled appointments you lost your spot in the program.
I live just north of Calgary so I know all about the travel. I once had to go up to see the surgeon & was in & out of the Clinic in less than 20 mins. 3 hour drive up, 20 mins in the clinic & 3 hour drive home. It sucks but I did what I had to do in order to get where I am today & I don't regret a minute of it.
I was on a waiting list for 1 year before orientation & It took me 1.5 years from orientation to surgery.
You mentioned that you were waiting for your journey to begin but Darling it already has.
Start wearing a pedometer & document your steps everyday (I started out at about 1600 steps per day. I reached 10000 steps once when I was in Vegas. Most days I still average around only 4000 except for the days I go on the treadmill)
Document your food (Including any binge eating & eating fast food)
Document your activities
Honestly the process can be frustrating & slow at times. The team at the WW clinic are really good at what they do. They know what works & what doesn't, listen to them, take notes. They know you have food issues or you would not be there. They want you to be successful so be honest. It is my experience that you don't have to be perfect you just have to show improvement.
One thing you do NOT want to do is to cancel appointments at the last minute. They do keep a record of your canceled appointments & I don't know if it is still the same but last year if you had 3 canceled appointments you lost your spot in the program.
I live just north of Calgary so I know all about the travel. I once had to go up to see the surgeon & was in & out of the Clinic in less than 20 mins. 3 hour drive up, 20 mins in the clinic & 3 hour drive home. It sucks but I did what I had to do in order to get where I am today & I don't regret a minute of it.
I was on a waiting list for 1 year before orientation & It took me 1.5 years from orientation to surgery.
You mentioned that you were waiting for your journey to begin but Darling it already has.
wow, I really appreciate your honesty and advise. That is why I went on this web site because I wanted to hear about other people's journeys and it is really helping me get back focused. I knew it was going to be a long journey but I guess I never really realized just how long. I am in it for how ever long it takes me now. I finally started my journal, which I really suck at, but I am going to stick to it.
So can you tell me which surgery you had and how you are doing now? I have been researching all of my options and have not made a choice yet, so I like hearing what choices others have made. I have met 3 people within my company that have all had different surgeries and different results. None of them have any regrets and all are doing well.
I have been on a roller coaster of diets for several years now, gone down to just about my goal and then gained it all back and more several times. Now I am determined not to ever go on a "diet" again, but to just start living healthy. Being more active and eating right is my main goal. I have a great big appetite so that is my biggest obstacle.
Yes, you are right, my journey has started.
Thank you
So can you tell me which surgery you had and how you are doing now? I have been researching all of my options and have not made a choice yet, so I like hearing what choices others have made. I have met 3 people within my company that have all had different surgeries and different results. None of them have any regrets and all are doing well.
I have been on a roller coaster of diets for several years now, gone down to just about my goal and then gained it all back and more several times. Now I am determined not to ever go on a "diet" again, but to just start living healthy. Being more active and eating right is my main goal. I have a great big appetite so that is my biggest obstacle.
Yes, you are right, my journey has started.
Thank you
debtren
I also HATE journaling! I really don't like to do it, when I get busy or stressed it is the first thing to go. I wish I would get myself into a routine about it especially now.
I had the RNY surgery. When I first started my journey I was sure I would get The Sleeve but once at the clinic I decided that RNY was right for me. My husband came with me the first time I met with Dr. Birch (my surgeon). Dr. Birch sat down with us & went over all 3 options. He explained the benefits & risks. He answered all of our questions. Dr. Birch felt that I was the perfect candidate for RNY but he made it very clear that the decision was 100 % mine.
Before I tell you about my process I want you to know that everyone's experience is different. I weighted 420lbs at my first WW clinic weigh in. They will weigh you in Kilos & talk to you about your weight in Kilos but I always have to get them to tell me the lbs. LOL. At my height & weight my BMI was to high for surgery. Dr. Birch felt that the risks of complications during surgery are just to high when your BMI is so high. So I had to get my BMI down before I could have surgery. He wanted me to weigh 380 lbs before doing surgery. On the day of surgery I weighed 379 lbs. I also had an enlarged fatty liver. (Dr. Birch sent me for an CT in order to find out the size of my liver) This becomes a problem because when they do laproscopic surgery they have to push your liver out of the way to do the surgery. If your liver is fatty & enlarged it is hard and during the pushing processes it can crack & bleed causing a lot more complications. The good thing is that your liver is extremely responsive to rapid weight loss & will shrink quickly with a minimum amount of effort. (As surgery approaches the clinic helps you shrink your liver IF you have this problem) So during my surgery I had NO liver problems!
My surgery went really well & there were not complications. I had 7 incisions ranging from 2" wide to 1/4" wide. I had no external stitches. It hurt a lot for the first week. Some people get depressed after surgery, I was one of them. I cried a lot, I found everything very overwhelming. This lasted about a week after I got out of the hospital.
After about 4 weeks I got really sick & it turned out that I had a stricture. The opening at the bottom of my new pouch closed. They had to stretch the hole & I had to take a bunch of medicine. I was in the hospital overnight. 2 weeks later I went back for a check & the opening had to be stretched again but not as much at the first time. I have not had any problems since.
Before my surgery I had sleep apnea, high blood pressure & extremely high cholesterol. I had chronic back pain & foot pain. I have none of these problems anymore! I have a lot more energy.
Wow...I hope all of this is not too much or too overwhelming.
Katrina
I had the RNY surgery. When I first started my journey I was sure I would get The Sleeve but once at the clinic I decided that RNY was right for me. My husband came with me the first time I met with Dr. Birch (my surgeon). Dr. Birch sat down with us & went over all 3 options. He explained the benefits & risks. He answered all of our questions. Dr. Birch felt that I was the perfect candidate for RNY but he made it very clear that the decision was 100 % mine.
Before I tell you about my process I want you to know that everyone's experience is different. I weighted 420lbs at my first WW clinic weigh in. They will weigh you in Kilos & talk to you about your weight in Kilos but I always have to get them to tell me the lbs. LOL. At my height & weight my BMI was to high for surgery. Dr. Birch felt that the risks of complications during surgery are just to high when your BMI is so high. So I had to get my BMI down before I could have surgery. He wanted me to weigh 380 lbs before doing surgery. On the day of surgery I weighed 379 lbs. I also had an enlarged fatty liver. (Dr. Birch sent me for an CT in order to find out the size of my liver) This becomes a problem because when they do laproscopic surgery they have to push your liver out of the way to do the surgery. If your liver is fatty & enlarged it is hard and during the pushing processes it can crack & bleed causing a lot more complications. The good thing is that your liver is extremely responsive to rapid weight loss & will shrink quickly with a minimum amount of effort. (As surgery approaches the clinic helps you shrink your liver IF you have this problem) So during my surgery I had NO liver problems!
My surgery went really well & there were not complications. I had 7 incisions ranging from 2" wide to 1/4" wide. I had no external stitches. It hurt a lot for the first week. Some people get depressed after surgery, I was one of them. I cried a lot, I found everything very overwhelming. This lasted about a week after I got out of the hospital.
After about 4 weeks I got really sick & it turned out that I had a stricture. The opening at the bottom of my new pouch closed. They had to stretch the hole & I had to take a bunch of medicine. I was in the hospital overnight. 2 weeks later I went back for a check & the opening had to be stretched again but not as much at the first time. I have not had any problems since.
Before my surgery I had sleep apnea, high blood pressure & extremely high cholesterol. I had chronic back pain & foot pain. I have none of these problems anymore! I have a lot more energy.
Wow...I hope all of this is not too much or too overwhelming.
Katrina
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