OMG! What have I done!?!
I need help! I need friends. I need support. I need advice. 
I got a call from my surgeon's office today informing me that my insurance has approved me for weight loss surgery. I've been in shock most of the day trying to let it all sink in. I told myself that it was not real unless I got the approval. Well, I got the approval so I guess it must be real. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it. Frankly, I am terrified.
I have the feeling that I am on a ride at the amusement park. The year started with the tension slowly building up as the cart has been climbing up the rollercoaster. I need to fasten myself in because it is too late to get off this ride. It has already started moving.
It is at about this time one might wonder what they have gotten themselves into.
I got a call from my surgeon's office today informing me that my insurance has approved me for weight loss surgery. I've been in shock most of the day trying to let it all sink in. I told myself that it was not real unless I got the approval. Well, I got the approval so I guess it must be real. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it. Frankly, I am terrified.
I have the feeling that I am on a ride at the amusement park. The year started with the tension slowly building up as the cart has been climbing up the rollercoaster. I need to fasten myself in because it is too late to get off this ride. It has already started moving.
It is at about this time one might wonder what they have gotten themselves into.
You will do great! I am so happy for you and your approval. I've been denied 2 times this year and I totally agree it is such a roller coaster. I am trying a third time with a new doctor and for the sleeve instead of the RNY. Good luck and can't wait till I'm on the loser's bench with you! Congrats again!
Congratulations! I know it is somewhat daunting (more for some than others) at first, but once you have the surgery that "roller coaster cart" is going to be flying down hill and the ride really begins to get fun. You are in for some awesome times ahead!!!!
Don't let the nerves get the best of you!
Don't let the nerves get the best of you!
HW: 429 SW: 380 Height: 5'08"
Congratulations! I recall these same sort of feelings. Do everything your Dr. and NUT advises to prepare yourself for a great experience.
All the best!
~Nann
All the best!
~Nann
VSG/Dec 7, 2011 5'3" Female, HW 399, SW 371 Target Goal 135 lbs/BMI 23.9
Dec M1-23 Jan M2-15 Feb M3-11 Mar M4-13 Apr M5-13 May M6-15 Jun M7-?? Jul M8-??
Aug M9-?? Sep M10-?? Oct M11-?? Nov M12-?? Dec M1-?? Jan M2-?? Feb M3-??
(deactivated member)
on 1/18/12 12:09 pm
on 1/18/12 12:09 pm
It was about 6 weeks from my approval to surgery and it was a tough 6 weeks.
I spent a lot of time reading on here. Some things that I had to come to grips with:
You still have to watch what you eat.
You still need to exercise.
You may hate whey protein drinks and still have to drink them everyday. I don't hit my protein goal without one.
After surgery you may not be able to tolerate all the foods that you eat now. My trouble spots so far have been peanut butter and pork.
It is mentally tough to wrap your head around the tiny portions...or at least that's the case for me. I eat small bites, I try to go slow, I chew a lot, but I still have a little sad feeling when I miss out on tasting as much as I want. I cook for my family and I made a really good dinner tonight...BBQ chicken thighs, fresh baked sweet potatoes, and seasoned Italian green beans. I made my plate with mostly chicken, then beans, and a little sweet potatoes and even though I did small portions that looked lost and lonely on a small salad plate I couldn't fini**** I really wanted some more green beans.
Convenient food is quite limited. This really got my attention today when I was grocery shopping and noticed that pretty much every single item in the freezer case is high carb and has bread, rice, or noodles. Ditto for canned soups, not that those are such a big loss to me. I have a few ideas for fast food picks in a pinch, but I'm still in mushies. Didn't get my whey in this morning and was out running errands...ended up with a skinny latte from starbucks and an olive for breakfast. Very good olive, BTW, bought some after trying the sample. My first real food of the day wasn't until lunch at 1 PM.
It is a big, permanent lifestyle change and hopefully worth every bit of fear, loss, and plain ol' PITA inconvenience.
Don't think that I'm in any way against the surgery. My knee pain seems to be gone, I'm sleeping better, I have more energy...especially if I work out in the morning.
Just sharing my newbie experience with a scared pre-op which I certainly was myself.
I spent a lot of time reading on here. Some things that I had to come to grips with:
You still have to watch what you eat.
You still need to exercise.
You may hate whey protein drinks and still have to drink them everyday. I don't hit my protein goal without one.
After surgery you may not be able to tolerate all the foods that you eat now. My trouble spots so far have been peanut butter and pork.
It is mentally tough to wrap your head around the tiny portions...or at least that's the case for me. I eat small bites, I try to go slow, I chew a lot, but I still have a little sad feeling when I miss out on tasting as much as I want. I cook for my family and I made a really good dinner tonight...BBQ chicken thighs, fresh baked sweet potatoes, and seasoned Italian green beans. I made my plate with mostly chicken, then beans, and a little sweet potatoes and even though I did small portions that looked lost and lonely on a small salad plate I couldn't fini**** I really wanted some more green beans.
Convenient food is quite limited. This really got my attention today when I was grocery shopping and noticed that pretty much every single item in the freezer case is high carb and has bread, rice, or noodles. Ditto for canned soups, not that those are such a big loss to me. I have a few ideas for fast food picks in a pinch, but I'm still in mushies. Didn't get my whey in this morning and was out running errands...ended up with a skinny latte from starbucks and an olive for breakfast. Very good olive, BTW, bought some after trying the sample. My first real food of the day wasn't until lunch at 1 PM.
It is a big, permanent lifestyle change and hopefully worth every bit of fear, loss, and plain ol' PITA inconvenience.
Don't think that I'm in any way against the surgery. My knee pain seems to be gone, I'm sleeping better, I have more energy...especially if I work out in the morning.
Just sharing my newbie experience with a scared pre-op which I certainly was myself.
for me, I had thought about this, and thought about it for a long long time before I started researching, then I read everything out there to read, then I joined here, read back about a year on every type of surgery, read about good results, bad results, problems, solutions, feelings, opinions. Then I made an appt with my primary doc. Once I had made up my mind, I was on a straight course....my mind was set, and I KNEW what I needed to do.
Yes, I had some scary moments wondering about the surgery itself, but no regrets, so second thoughts. Spend enough time ahead of time, to make sure this is what you really want. You cannot go back once it's done !!!
Would I do it again ? YEP. In a hearbeat.
Yes, I had some scary moments wondering about the surgery itself, but no regrets, so second thoughts. Spend enough time ahead of time, to make sure this is what you really want. You cannot go back once it's done !!!
Would I do it again ? YEP. In a hearbeat.
Briar Rose 
High Wt 300 lbs. Pre-op Wt loss 34 lbs.
High Wt 300 lbs. Pre-op Wt loss 34 lbs. I had surgery almost 2 weeks ago, and I remember distinctly feeling like I was jumping off of a very high cliff with no idea what was at the bottom. It's scary to make this commitment. But I just kept thinking about the alternative - high blood pressure, painful knees, incipient diabetes - and the 28 years worth of failed diets that I had tried to remedy the situation, and I felt like surgery was the better choice for me. I don't think the surgery is for everyone. If you can't control your eating while you're healing, you could die. And if you don't control your eating once you can eat normal food, you won't lose weight and/or you will gain it back. I watched my dad go through RNY several years ago, and it was not easy.
BUT, 2 weeks out I'm very happy I had the surgery. The surgery itself was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be, and the recovery has been pretty simple. I did have one morning, the day after I got home from the hospital, where everything I swallowed was giving me trouble and I spent a few hours wanting to cry and thinking, "oh my god, what did I DO to myself?" But other than those few hours, it's been a positive experience.
I miss eating food, I won't lie. The protein drinks all taste awful to me and i miss tasting good things. I smell other people's meals just to get the taste into my mouth. But I'm not hungry, and I'm not tempted to actually eat things I shouldn't (the consequences are far too dire!). And the time is really flying past. On Friday I get to start the pureed food stage, which I never thought I'd be looking forward to!
If you can handle sticking to the plan your doctor gives you - for the long haul! - I'm sure you'll do great!
BUT, 2 weeks out I'm very happy I had the surgery. The surgery itself was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be, and the recovery has been pretty simple. I did have one morning, the day after I got home from the hospital, where everything I swallowed was giving me trouble and I spent a few hours wanting to cry and thinking, "oh my god, what did I DO to myself?" But other than those few hours, it's been a positive experience.
I miss eating food, I won't lie. The protein drinks all taste awful to me and i miss tasting good things. I smell other people's meals just to get the taste into my mouth. But I'm not hungry, and I'm not tempted to actually eat things I shouldn't (the consequences are far too dire!). And the time is really flying past. On Friday I get to start the pureed food stage, which I never thought I'd be looking forward to!
If you can handle sticking to the plan your doctor gives you - for the long haul! - I'm sure you'll do great!
| HW: 315 | SW: 288 | GW: 180 | Surgery Date: 1/5/12
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