i finally have my first appointment

I have not posted for awhile. I had to have a paraoidectomey for two bening tumors. then i had to have a squamous cell carcenoma removed off of my face last week. Then they finally called me after 3 years of waiting. March 21st is my first appointment and my insurance is already approved. they said they will schedule the surgery for 6 weeks from then. So what do i expect from the surgery. I feel like they are going to remove all my insides. I know that is not true. I just don't quite know how too feel. Yes i am excited to have the surgery. Not too nervous about having it done. more concerned about after.

woo hoooooo! Exciting things are in store for you!! You'll do great.

I see that you had your surgery. I am having mine done in ft. collins. I live in denver. What is it like after surgery and what can i expect. I am really excited and motivated. I know the weight will come off. But what about your psychi. What does your mind think. I think that is what worries me the most.

Hello, I am Anna and I live here in Aurora, This surgery is all kinds of things, Amazing and life changing! Are you in theropy (SP) if not please go. you change so fast and you go through so much! Ask any question and I will be happy to help. TTFN Anna

Hi anna, good to hear from you. I do not know of any support groups around here. I know the one in aurora. Is that the only one? I have got to stop drinking pepsi. I quit smoking 1 week ago. That is killing me, but not like my weight. Pepsi should be easier. Do you know what happens the first appointment. They said they were giving me my surgery date then. 6 weeks later. So it is really getting close.

I use Dr. Quaid in the same office. The workers are WONDERFUL. I mean it. I have just had the Lap Band Surgery one month ago. If I remember correctly, the first meeting will be for you to ask questions to the Nurse, and she will give you plenty of reading materials to start. Then you will talk with Dr. Pettine to get more questions answered and what to expect kind of thing. During the 6 week time you will go for a Nutrition consultation, required. If you did not have a psych eval, they could hook you up with one. That group has a few support group meetings if you wish to use them. The EVENTS section (on the left side of this board) has dates and times. I go to the Longmont support group. A fantastic bunch of support people. Yes, this journey is fabulous. The ride seems to be bumpy sometimes but then will smooth out for a while. Just stick with it and have a great attitude. I figured out today that I need a smaller bathing suit to exercise in. A happy problem for me! Hope this helps.

I am trying to find a support group now that the appt is here. Did you have to quit smoking? It is being a pain for me. But I will make it. And then of course there is pepsi. What happens at the psych eval. Did you get your surgery date at your first appt.? Stefani told me it would be in 6 weeks after that. And do you have to have alot of appts. during the wait for the surgery? I know alot of questions. sry

I am having my surgery (3/15) at Fort Carson. I think everyone has alot of appointments that make sure you and your body are ready for the surgery. Nutritional classes to teach you how to eat after the surgery. The psych eval is talking about why you want to have surgery and to make sure you can handle all of the changes. Therapy is highly suggested for everyone. There is no reason why but alot of people get depressed after surgery and those that are already depressed get more depressed. (per my support group) Therapy can help us get through all of the big changes we will go through. I mean we are changing into entirely new people! I gave up soda's too. I drank 6+ soda's a day. I never drank water. To be good I drank very sugary caffienated tea. It was so much easier than I thought. I put crystal light lemonade with my water and I love it. I thought it would be horrible and I'd desperately want more soda but I don't. After only about a week I went ahead and had some soda and it tasted sooo exessively sweet and sugary I couldn't even drink it. Good luck and remember to take care of yourself!!! Let us know how your appointments and everything is going. ~Christal/dionysus_star

Hi Christal. Thank you for writing me back. I am so excited for you and your upcoming surgery. I will be watching and praying for you for a safe journey. When did you stop drinking the soda. Are you on the liquid diet now and what does that entail.

The Denver Bariatric open support meetings might be available for you to try. This is sponsored by Dr. Snyder's practice. He sponsors the one in Longmont too. Do you know if you are having gastric bypass or Lap band? There are other websites which have support groups online, for a more at your fingertips need. I use them as well. I did not have to quit smoking, Asthma did it for me. The pepsi need, and I hope you mean diet soda pop, is a challenge. First it is caffeinated and then it has the carbonation that is soooo satisfying. The caffeine is addicting of course and can cause the need to eat, along with the other taboos. The carbonation can cause the "pouch" to expand. After all this healthy living, you would not want that to happen, would you? I have been told that once in a while if you have a soda pop you should flatten it by opening it and letting it sit and/or putting ice cubes in to de-gas it. I did have the pop challenge. I find that having to drink so much more liquids in a day than I am used to is enough to give up the soda. Remember you have to either eat food or drink, but not together. Protein drinks and water with lemon, lime, or diet tea mixes are enough. The psych eval is a meeting to make sure you understand that the changes you are going through will be a mental challenge as well. The evaluator will be able to tell this from the questions asked, and then be able to write a note to the doctor that you are good to go. I think of it as a pre meeting of a person I could go to if I need to. The one suggested at Dr. Pettine's is a specialist in this field. Not too many of these people around from what I understand. I did have a date set at the first meeting, but the medical benefits changed so I had to wait. Easy now that it is passed that time. I was a bit stressed at that time. I went to the support meetings to get support. I believe the first meeting is the big one. and the next one is a pre-op check a few days before the surgery. That day is even bigger. First you meet with the doctor, then you go to the hospital a few miles away to sign documents and then to give blood and meet with a person who will give you even more documents and soap. I had a 2 pm appointment with the dr. and then the hospital was another 2 and half hours or so. I am happy to try to answer any questions you have.