QUESTION OF THE DAY...

Helllllloooo! How was your weekend?? I hope it was great. I met with the nutritionist for the last time and she gave me a letter for insurance concerning behaviour modification. My last doc appt. is Fri. and then I can "resubmit" my 6 month diet info. My birthday is the tenth so wouldn't the words "APPROVED" be a VERY happy late BD present for me? That is what I am praying for! My nutritionist is not only a certified dietician but also has a Masters in behavioral modification... basically she handles the emotional aspect of weightloss and eat disorders as well. In our discussion she made it clear that she thinks WLS should include psychiatric counseling both before and after. She sees and deals with on a regular basis, WLS patients as well as overweight people who come to her for dietary counsel. Most struggle with self-image. She sees alot of what we see here on the board... the mind not catching up with the body. So what do you think? Counseling or not? If you have tried it, what is your opinion? How has it affected you? Post-oppers, what has been the biggest emotional struggle for you since surgery? Jee****'s Monday. Sorry to be so serious! Have a Happy day! Sallykate

Hi Sallykate, I am not post op so I can not answer the question for you. But I did want to say I hope you get everything you want and more on your birthday. My sons bday is on the 11th. Wow my baby will be 23. Makes me feel really old Good Luck to you. Vickie

Gosh, thanx Vickie! All I really want this year is those magic words.... "approved". HB to your son! Sallykate

Sallykate... Yes I am totally in agreement with your nutritionist. Counseling before surgery is vital in ensuring that you are emotionally stable to handle this GIANT change. I also agree that counseling after surgery is needed. I did not participate in either, and should have. I was fully educated going into the surgery and looking back, I don't think it really would have benefited me. However, counseling afterward would have saved me much heartache not only for myself but for my family. The biggest emotional struggle was dealing with the life changes that come with the new found confidence and the new attention that it brings. Not only dealing with its effects on me, but my family as well. My 11 year marriage nearly fell apart because no one really knew how to deal with all of the changes that came so quickly. It's been 4 years now and everything has since leveled off, but the first 2 years were a giant roller coaster. Good luck to you and I wish you the best.

WOW Rebecca! Thanx for the truth. I am so glad that everything is going better for you now. We appreciate your candor! It can help us in making better decisions regarding counseling. Sallykate

Hey Jack, I'll be thinking about you on your "re-birthday" while I am celebrating my birthday! Congratulations! Sallykate

Morning SallyKate, well I'm still preoperative but I agree with your nutriontist. I think you should certainly have counseling both before and after surgery. It will make your transition easier for you and your family. Of course I mean it will help everyone involved in WLS, not just you and I plan to follow the same advice myself. Good luck and I hope that I too can join you in a new year with that magical word, APPROVED!

yes i go to councling for that very reason....