Questions regarding the EMMC appointments

Okay December 7^th I attended the initial information meeting and I stayed for the support group that same day.

 

Today I got my appointments letter.  My nutrition class and visit with the physical therapist are Dec. 26.  I can see now that this whole experience is going to be a test of priorities.  My children will be visiting me and that entire day I won’t even be there.  What rotten timing.  Anyway the only appointment left to be scheduled is the appointment with the psychologist.

 

So here are my questions:

 

1)      How long before I hear from the psychologist’s office with my appointment date and time?  Do they schedule that appointment to occur after the others?  My nutrition class and physical therapist appointments are in December and my individual dietitian appointment isn’t until February.  I’m hoping the psychologist’s appointment will be sometime in between those.

2)      The nutrition class is a group thing.  Approx how many people will be in it?  Is it going to be the same people I attended the information meeting with?  Oh I hope not but if it is I’ll find a way to get through it.  Do they weigh us before the actual appointment time (like weigh****chers meetings) or is the appointment time when everything begins.  The class is at 10 and it’s a 4 hour drive…never been there before so let’s call it 4.5 hours ‘cause I have to find the place.  What a long day it will be.

3)      Is the physical therapist also a group thing?

4)      What exactly takes place at these appointments?  I have a lot of questions for these professionals….will I be able to ask them at that time?  Do I need to wear something other than my usual suit jacket and pants to the physical therapist appointment?

 

I was going to email Lynn my questions but I’ve bothered her SO many times already I thought I would ask you guys who have been through the program already.

Hi, I'll do my best to answer your questions from my experience....so here goes!!! 1) My psych appointment came in the same envelope that the pt & nut class came in - but it was for a different day - about a month later. 2) There were about 12 people in my nut class, only one person was from the same info session that I went to. They do weigh you, they retrieve you individually from the waiting area and weigh you on the way in to the nut class.  3) The pt is a group thing - but I think much smaller, in my class there were only two of us - it sounded like there were suppose to be 4, but there were 2 no-shows.  4) The nut class is informational - most of what they go over is in the book you get at the info session. They also give visuals on portion sizes - I think this sticks out in my mind because I was so way off....things that were 3oz looked like 6 ozs.....I didn't guess one right.  You'll be able to ask questions in both sessions, and you don't need to wear anything other than what you would normally wear. PT was awesome....I'm having some issues physically due to my weight and she worked around it giving me alternatives that i CAN do. I cannot express how impressed I was with her. Hehe....now after a long drive like that....you didn't ask if there were restrooms that you could use before you go in.....yes there are two unisex ones that you pass before you get to the nutritionists area.  The location is fairly easy....I don't know the exit number, I'm from Maine and "it just down the road a piece" - you'll be using the union street exit and it's only like 1/2 mile fromthere. The nut's office is closest to the main entrance and the pt is in the same building but closer the the pharmacy entrance.  I'm happy to answer any questions I can.  Best wishes on your journey....and drive safe!!!! Candace

Oh thank you Candace and those who answered privately. I'm all excited getting the dates of my appointments already.  I thought I wouldn't get the letter with them until after Christmas so it was a surprise that my first appointment is the day after Christmas. I hope I didn't come off as being scared...I just don't like the unknown.  Maybe that's why I was rather bored at the information meeting.  I've read and read and read everything I can get my hands (and my computer) on for over 4 years now. It says in my appointment letter that my psychologist's office will contact me to set up the appointment.  I assumed that's how it's done.  I wonder why yours came in your letter and mine will be a call later?? As I understand it the appointment with the surgeon won't be made until after all the other appointments and after the doctor has reviewed my case.  I'm guessing that's the longest wait??  Waiting for the call with the surgeon appointment? I'm wondering what I'm going to do during the hour between the nutrition class and the physical therapist appointment.  I guess I'll take a book with me.  I've been taking my blue binder EVERYWHERE and I've already read it 4 times.  Not bad since I don't read it at home at all...just everywhere else.  LOL Are people allowed to bring their support person to those two appointments with them?  I have no one, that isn't why I'm asking.  I just have a very strong feeling a certain person will be at both my appointments and I'm really not looking forward to seeing him and his wife again.  Then again I do need to talk with them so it would be good for me to see them again...I just don't want to.  Gee I'm sounding kinda crazy, right?  It's just that this is all very private to me.  I haven't even told my boyfriend and I don't plan to tell anyone other than him.  But wouldn't you know it I drive 4 hours to that meeting and in walks two of my clients.  I hinted that this is not a public thing for me but this couple are very ummm....errr....well they talk a lot (they're overly friendly whereas I am quite shy) so I think I should be very direct and to the point with them.

I can completey understand you feelings about the people you know.....I had a similar problem - I'm not telling my elderly parents, do to their age and that they are not the most supportive people in world.....and at the group support meeting - who walks in but my cousin. I remember that in my first meeting it was addressed that we are not suppose indicate that we even recognize people on the outside world and especially bring up about wls surgery unless we know it's ok for the other person. It's an akward situation for sure. You are allowed to bring a support person, in fact they encourage it. I didn't have anyone with me for the meetings. Quite honestly I was bored at all the meetings except the pt. You will get an appointment with the surgeon after the nutritionist signs off and you have been through all the other appointments. I got my appointment in the mail with a few days of the nut signing off. I think the unknown is the worst - this whole process was driving me crazy...now that I have a surgery date, I'm totally relaxed. I expected a lot more than I got out of the individual nutrionists appointment. That was the one place that I didn't feel like it was ok to ask questions. In fact I'm sure with the distance you have to drive it will be a little frustrating to go there for essentially to be weighed and take a quick test, but it's part of the process and we just have to get through it. The do have a cafe in the healthcare mall, many people go there between appointments. There also is a small mall about 1/4 mile beyond - there is a Marshall's, some kind of dollar store, a fashion bug and staples there, bet there will be some good after Christmas sales!!!

Hmmm.  So if I have nutrition/dietary questions I should ask in the nutrition class instead of at the individual apppointment?  Good to know.  I had planned to wait.   My individual nutrition appointment is Feb 10.  Judging by your surgery date if all goes well I could have surgery in late March or April?  Oh how perfect.  I do want to be comfortable for a 3 day drive to the midwest at the end of June. What a shock for your cousin to walk in.  Did it present any problems or did he/she keep quiet?  Did you confront him/her?  I don't have any family around here except my daughter but I do have hundred's of clients.  I happen to sell health insurance and one of several issues I have is I don't want them complaining that people like me are the reason individual rates are so high.  Also I'm not telling anyone I work with.  I'm already an "outcast" because I'm the only person in the building that does what I do.  Everyone else does one thing and it's only me doing my thing.

Yeah, I had lots of questions that I thought were more appropriate for the individual session - such as dealing with numerous food allergies - it just didn't work in the individual session, although I have had some people tell me that it was easier getting the questions answered after surgery than before. Generally speaking, it seems as if this process goes in 30 day increments....so I would expect your surgery to be mid-April as long as you don't have to go back for a second nut appointment like I did. (what a waste of time that was) My cousin didn't acknowledge me at all - I come from one of the all-time dysfunctional families, so it's no biggie. I have no idea if she told my parents - although I suspect she may have given a question my mother asked me. I'm not going to spend much energy worrying about it at this point, 20 years ago I would have been a wreck.  I'm lucky at work - there have been so many that have gone through wls and people are really supportive, I'm also lucky that my friends are as well.

Why did you have a second nutritionist appointment?

Hi, I think everyone's experience is different, I don't really know why - it mostly felt like a stall tactic and this could have been now that we know that Lalor is gone. The whole thing was weird and not like what I had heard others experiences to be - I also know someone else who went through about the same time I have had a similiar experience. I think the key is they just want to see that you are committed to the wls and want to see you down in weight from your first weighin. Candace

Wow I think I have met myself. i thought i worried about all the details (I am saying that nicely) Take a deep breath and calm down. It is all informative meetings they do not do anything to you even in the physical therapists group. They do weigh you all by your self and they do not "announce" what you weigh. Questions is what they want to hear. If your children are not going to be here for long you might reshedule I think that is a good reason and in no way means the surgery is NOT important to you. I think it will depend on all the appointments(Doctors schedules) as to how many are schuduled as to how long it will take. BUT you are going to be starting your journey. It can seem like a long time at first but believe me take it one step at a time and you will have your surgery date soon. Good luck on your journey and welcome to the family. Pam