I have appointment tomorrow to see the dietician

Well I went to the 2 hour seminar on Jan 7, 2009. I finally finish the paperwork yesterday. I fax it last night. And today I had a call to set up the dietician and psychologist appt. So tomorrow March 13 already have the dietician appt with Kimberly. And the psychologist Brenda Reed I will be seeing on March 30. I am seeing them both at the same place I went to for the seminar.As I am having knee surgery on March 18th to remove a tear in my left knee. So didn't know how long it would before I could drive so figure give it a week and half before I came into see her. So what is the next step after these 2 appts. I have been seeing a weight management doctor since Jan 8, 2009 and was put on phentermine. I also had a sleep study done and have sleep apnea and using a cpap machine. I also failed a stress test so had a heart cath that turn out negative just had that done this week. So I am clear for my knee surgery. I recently had to go of metformin and lisionpril due to kidneys. then was put on glimepiride and then try glipizide and had bad side effects. So now been on byetta now for a week. That is going well for me. I have lost 27 lbs being on phentermine. But feel I have hit a plateau. Also been having alot of issues with edema in my legs as well. I have venious insuffiency as well. So many health problems to list.

Where is the surgery held at. I have badger care united health care hmo-t19. The only hospitals I can't go to is St. Lukes hospital. I had my heart cath at St Francis and also having my knee surgery there. But I am not happy with the service there. It is a very dirty hospital as well. Both of my doctors are from St Lukes office building. It is weird the insurance pays for me to see them but not St Lukes. I did look in the united health care book it show aurora sinai medical center in there book. But not St Lukes really weird. I just hope I don't have to have it at St Francis hospital. Should see my arms so badly bruise from them trying to get iv in me. Took 3 nurses and several tries.

So what happens to me next after these 2 appts. They already have the doctor recommendation letter, the referrals and all the info I needed to provide.

Congratulations on your start!  Good for you to jump right into it.  The appointments are great. You will learn alot about your new life to come, how things change, and you'll get a good undertanding of your future appointments. Some other doctors don't do these steps, but I thought they were the most valuable. I had no surprises after surgery and felt very prepared.  After these appointments comes more homework and more appointments. You'll have a couple with the dietician and maybe even the psychologist.  They are only trying to determine how prepared you are and educated you are to be ready for this life-changing surgery. Having a great support system is key. Don't feel bad if you have more appointments. They feel worse if you have the surgery, and aren't successful with your weightloss.

Dr. Chua has privileges at Sinai, St. Lukes, Froedert, and a couple others. The office gals will figure out the place to have it for you. And besides, you're usually only there overnight.  It'll all come together in the end! 

Thanks, I ask the dietician Jessica how many calories I should be on and she said 1500 calories. So I am working on that. Also to stop my diet soda even though I am only having a half a can a day. Also to include exercise 3 times a week even it is from a chair. I see her again next month. Also see the psychologist on March 30th. I also been under a weight management doctor since Jan 8th so she said that would be counted towards the 6 months I need for insurance. I have had seen him Jan, Feb and March now. I have April, May and June schedule already with him. Plus now with there dietician will be working on 2nd visit on April 13th. So not sure how many visits I will need before I get my phsycial from them and to see Dr. Chua. I told her I was thinking of having the gastric bypass surgery. Also discussed with her about pt/ot as my doctor filled out the order in the packet and fax it with the whole packet. They said they should be calling me. She gave me the number and I called and they told me the lady who runs it is on medical leave and have to wait to they talk to there supervisor about it. The paper she filled out said before and after surgery. Have you had any of the pt or ot from the program. How does it work?

Well I am going for my knee surgery on Wednesday March 18th. To repair or remove a tear in my left knee. It will be a day surgery so will get to come home the same day.

Congratulation Robin on your decision to change your life. Don't get discourage if you have to see the psychologist and / or the dietitian more than once. I had to see the dietitian 3 or 4 times before i was cleared to move to the next step which was the insurance approval.

I never had the PT/OT. You'll see the dietician and psych a couple times. Every week, they all sit down with Dr. Chua and discuss upcoming patients. They discuss the readiness of each person, which surgery is recommended, and a ton of other variables. Then, when all agree that you are ready and fully understand what you are taknig on, you'll have your next appointment with Dr. Chua. After that, the insurance game begins. That can take up to 30 days for approval as well. It's a trying process, but stay strong and look to your new future for support !

Hi Robin..
  Congratulations on your start to a new life. Dr. Chua and his team are wonderful. You'll be pleased with them. I had my surgery 18 months ago and have never regret it.
I also work at Sinai  and loved being a patient here as much as I love working here. It's the diamond in the ruff as far as hospitals go. Keep us updated on your progress and feel free to write anytime with any questions you may have.
Shari Latawiec
Oak Creek, WI
RNY 10/15/07

Thanks, I have seen the dietician 2 times now. And now have appts with her May and June. My last visit with her is June 9th then it goes to Dr Chua office then I get a call to meet with him. Then it goes to the insurance company. I had already started to see a weight management started in Jan 2009 which counts as well been seeing him since Jan and still see him once a month. So that counts towards the 6 months. The weight management dr has me on phentermine. I lost 35 lbs and now seem to plateau. 
Today while I was at aurora sinai medical center. I pick up the bariatric advantage multivitamin, calcium, b-12, and unjury strawberry sorbert protein mix. I was hoping to get the unflavor one but she said that many ask for the flavor kind so they haven't stock the unflavor kind. I want to try them before the surgery. To get my body prepared for it. I am doing some comparison shopping online and looking for samples. So if anyone knows where I can get samples cheap or for free please let me know. I also thinking of going to get a food scale as well. I want to be prepared as much as possible. I try the low carb slim fast. Does't taste as good as the slim fast optima kind. I got chocolate in both and prefer the optima. The low carb I just got it down as I want to increase my protein. My protein was at 44 yesterday. I did it on food plate site. Need to get up to 60 to 80 gms a day. Anyone try the unjury strawberry sorbert protein mix or any other flavors of it. Other brands that are better and cheaper same with the vitamins? Please let me know. Thanks