I may go crazy!

So today I met with Dr. Karmali and we are a go for VSG.  I've booked my fluoroscopy for next week and then a chart review apparently happens???  All the other pieces are booked between now and April 15th.  When do you guys think I will hear about a surgery date?  If I understand it correctly they don't even send the file over to surgery booking until after the chart review?  I know I sound impatient but also know you all will well understand where I am coming from!  Any guidelines out there so I don't drive myself nuts checking my voicemail?

Thanks
D.

Congrats on getting the go ahead for VSG! 

I'm just a bit ahead of you.  Tomorrow I go to the Preparing for Bariatric Surgery class and I'm REALLY hoping I'll be hearing about a surgery date soon.  I'm trying to occupy my time with, well, anything so I don't go nuts waiting to get that call too!

You aren't going to like my message...

I have a friend who was approved for surgery with Dr Karmali in October who is still waiting for the call. I honestly don't know how she keeps calm about it. So - I suggest getting your ducks in a row, but don't expect a call any too soon. (although miracles happen and surely my friend and you deserve one!)

Kelly-Anne (who tells herself she's getting close to where you are, but knows she needn't get too excited yet)

PS. How are you doing with the dietitian? Are you having good results? I read somewhere on here that the more we can lose before surgery the better our long term results will be. I remind myself of that a LOT.

Kelly-Anne,
  I am doing pretty well with the dietician.  I see Lee, he made some great recommendations to me as I have always struggled with breakfast.  Now I am starving if I don't eat in the morning.  I've increased the fibre a tonne and that helped for satiety as well.  Other than that no big changes other than portion and regularity.  I hope you are right about the long term results piece..

D.

You are looking at about 6-8 months from now.....

Jen is right.... unfortunately, the wait for VSG's is long...longer than the clinic or Dr. K really likes to tell people. I know two people that were approved in October (one is the same person that Kelly-Anne knows) and they are still waiting for their call. And they are both booked with Dr. K.

I had my approval on May 3, 2010 and had my surgery on July 13, 2010. So I waited just under 2 1/2 months for my surgery and got my date exactly a month before surgery. But I know someone else that was approved on the exact same day at me and didn't have her surgery until September...so 5 1/5 months after approval.

All I really could do while I waited was keep busy and keep my phone beside me as much as I possibily could. And it drove me nuts!! But that's what worked for me...

If you ever need to rant/vent, feel free! We are here for you. This is one place that pretty much everyone knows what you're going through or will go through.

Hi D-

I'm one of the poor souls being mentioned above who was approved in October. It sucks... It really, really does..

So my advice to you, don't check your phone and don't circle s magic date on your calendar that everything is going to happen by, because when that dates passes it just ****** you off.

I'm not trying to be Debbie downer and ruin the amazing feeling you get when your hard work pays off and Dr.K signs off because that feeling is brilliant, I just know that its super disappointing to get your hopes up.

The window that we were given for surgery to happen by has changed five times for both Sarah and I. I was approved a week before she was and initially we were told it would be the beginning of January, then February, then end of March and now I'm to the point of not believing anything. When I get the call, then I will do my peeing myself with excitement dance but until then... I just don't book anything too far out.

On a side note, I'm having a get together on the south side on Friday evening. I am a rep for Stella & Dot jewelry and I'm hosting my official launch party. If you would like to come, let me know and I will send you the address. So far, it will be OH people coming.

Hi Chance,
  Thanks for the information and the invite.  You are not being a Debbie downer, I would rather know now what to expect rather than just hoping and hoping...I heard through the grapevine at work today ( I work for AHS)  that there may be more OR times for Dr. Karmali to help reduce his backlog...has anyone else heard this? 
On the invite side of things, I am not able to make it Friday we have a family event for my hubby.  Thanks so much though!

D.

I work for AHS too! I'm a secretary for Pharmacy Services downtown. I haven't heard anything specific about Dr. K getting more OR time but I would welcome it!

Seriously! I hope you get through quickly because this waiting bullshoot is the worst.

There is monthly support group that meets, you guessed it, monthly. Alex usually posts the next date, time and location a few days before and it is definitely worth attending. We can get a group together for coffee afterwards too so you can meet some of the regulars from the OH site.