Tips & Tricks - Please Add To The List!

I was thinking this morning of what I would have done differently in this pre-op process had I known what I know now.  Please add your tips and tricks and by all means include post-op experiences as well!

My Pre-Op Experiences
1.  Over the years, keep everything you can in regards to your medical records in your personal files...all insurance claims, receipts, prescription stubs, etc.  If you haven't before now, start.  You never know when you may need these small things as "proof!"  (As in PROOF that I WAS your patient, so WHERE are my records?!)

2.  Request personal copies of everything sent to your weight-loss clinic, surgeon's office, etc. and have them with you at all of your visits.  (In case something is lost/misplaced, you can whip it out right then and there and say, "Here's another copy!")

3.  Pick up your medical records, letter of referral, etc. and hand deliver them personally.  (Fax machines totally suck.)

4.  Don't wait on someone to call you or make appointments for you.  Take the initiative and make the calls yourself.  (This will eliminate much of the waiting game!)

5.  If you don't have to diet pre-op, don't!  Don't overindulge, don't diet, don't stress about the scale.  (This has been a big revelation for me.  I am going to lose, lose, lose soon enough...no need to continue stressing out trying to do things on my own!)

Take before photos, full body, front, side and back... remember to try and smile!

Take before measurements. Go to www.thinnerself.com to find a very comprehensive list of measurements. Log them once a month as you make your decent and you will see a graphic that will literally 'show' you the progress that you are making.

After surgery you will want to take photos and measurements once a month on your surgery anniversary to track and document your amazing metamorphosis. This will help you make it through stalls and help your head try to keep up the with amazing changes your body is going through.

Barb

Good suggestions, and I second Barb's suggestions too.

Also, journal.  Journal how it feels to be obese.  And not just the big things, but the little things too.  Physical things and emotional things.  Once you lose the weight and start living life, it's nice to be able to look back on those things and remind yourself of how that used to feel and how great it is to feel different now.

You are soooo right! I am so glad that I post to my profile. It's been a big help to look back ... and to be honest, looking back helps me keep looking forward.

Barb

P.S. Do you think you'll be able to make it up for the next meetup in Raleigh? If not... or maybe even so, let's see about getting together. Hugs, B.

I do plan on making this next one.  But...if something happens, we'll have to arrange to get together.  :)

Great! On both accounts...

Hugs,

B

I've got a Pink 3 ring binder that I have titled "My WLS Bible".

 There's a recipe section - as I've come across recipes (from protein shakes to soft foods) they get copied and put in.
 
There's a section to use as my weight log.
 
There's a section for all my co-pay receipts and reports from the different doctors offices. This will help if you want to figure up exactly how much you've spent (taxes if you itemize?)

There's  a section for goals (long term and shorter). This section was hard for me because I went on to write a list of things that I felt I couldn't do because of being obese (waterskiing, softball, dating etc).

There's a section that for exercise. In part it's a log but there are other suggested videos, print outs of walking programs etc.

There's also a section for quotes that I find motivational.

And the dreaded Before pictures

In short this notebook is my bible for this journey. There's a little of everything and a whole lot of ME in it.Hope this helps.

- Iris

What a wonderful idea!

Barb

Great idea Iris.... it's a "scrapbook" without all the fancy stuff! 

Pretty much - yep!
- Iris