Hello everyone
My name is Chris. I Just went to my first seminar last night and made my appointment with a surgeon for a consultation next month.
Although I am excited I am a bit nervous as I know many of you are or were in the begininng. I have a BMI of 40, a high insulin level. shortness of breath, knee and foot pain and also have MS. I want tog get as healthy as possible as MS can sometimes affect my Mobility and I am sure all this excess wight isn't helping.
I am in the process of getting all my paperwork together including info from weigh****chers, a Diet Dr I saw and a naturopath who has been monitoring my MS but also my weight and insulin level. I also made a appointment with my PCP for a full physical.  
I have been overweight all my lifeit's time I take control of it.
Looking forward to talking with all of you as I begin this Journey

chrissy

Welcome! My friend from work was at the seminar last night too. She is excited too. Good luck with everything and remember, most of us have been there and have had questions so feel fre to ask.

You will really like Dr Aranow.  He's very thorough (so make sure your questionaire is filled out to the best of your knowledge) and will take his time with you.  He's one of the only surgeons around that meets you in the beginning of the whole process, which is good, because you learn of his expectations of you and you can ask all of your questions up front and can continue to call him (or Lois, his nurse) to answer those nagging questions and concern questions.

He's a toughie, he expects a lot out of us.  Don't be intimidated by him, he's just got our interests at heart and is truly "there" for you.

The process can go as quickly or a slowly as you want it to be.  My start to finish from the day I met with him was about 3 months, my husband has it and his was about one month, because he started his testing prior to seeing Dr Aranow.  He knew what he had to get done, and did it...ie: stress test, upper and lower gi series (gastroscopy and colonoscopy), gall bladder ultrasound etc.

Sounds like you're already starting to get all of your paperwork in order and that's a plus, too.

When do you meet with him?  Prepare yourself with reading materials, for he is often late from surgery and makes you wait int he office...he backs up, a lot.  has had to cancel out on some of my appts cause he was tied up in surgery...but, that didn't bother me, for I knew he'd take all the time he needed with me in the OR when it was my turn.  One off-sets the other, in my opinion.

Good luck, keep coming in and filling us in on your progress...you've made a good decision to better your life and health!

paula

Yeah what Paula said about the waiting. I know I personally put him back an hour and a half when I had mine done cause we couldn't find a place for my I.V.

Wow thanks ladies. I'm really excited!
I can't wait to get started amd find my way to good health.
Thank you all so much for your help

chrissy

Chrissy,
Welcome and good luck with your journey. Let me know if I could help in any way.  It's a great tool and worth every minute of it.
Cheers.
JA

Hi Chris!

Welcome to the board!

I wish you all the best...you already took the best step...

I have mobility problems too from an accident though.  I am hoping that once I start losing weight it will improve.

Thanks for sharing your journey. 

I hope things improve for you too.

Many prayers,
Katie