JUST A ROOKIE QUESTION

All of the clearences you will need need to be done within a certain amount of time of surgery.....every surgeon has different protocol...but i haven't seen one that doesn't require a pulmonary test (most require sleep tests), cardiology clearance, endoscopy, and routine blood work and a chest xray before you walk into surgery.  You should call your surgeons office and make sure you don't need to make apts. for any specialists. Scott

THANKS EVERYONE!!!! you are all a ton of help! i just cant wait to be done with all of this. i keep trying to picture my life a year from now or 2 years from now and it really is exciting. i laugh when i vision my self actually beiing able to play soccer with my sons.( they might figure out im not very good) CAn you imagine being able to jog???? just jogging with no pain, no hurting joints no sore hips or feet??? just focusing on well...... whatever makes us happy!!!!  or better yet tucking in a shirt with a pair of jeans!!!!  the silly things i look forward to! did any one else think about things like this before hand???

I am a year post-op and I could not have even imagined the WOW moments I would have as it has been SO long since I was able to do much of anything.....things like going to a restaurant and sitting ANYwhere without worrying if I'll be able to slide into a booth comfortably.  I find it amazing how far I used to pull the seat up in the car just to be close enough to the accelerator...now I am ALWAYS too close!!  lol  There is space on both sides of my legs and hips when I go to a move theatre now, I used to cross my arms over my stomach so that I wouldn't spill over into either seat on the sides of me....now I can cross my legs and sit in almost any position without taking over the seat next to me....it is SO weird.  I now shop without looking for a bench to sit on if I get exhausted.  I can bend over and pick something up if I drop it.  Showering seems ...easier somehow.  I cancelled my catalogs to both Lane Bryant and Roamans...oh happy day!!  as I got tired of seeing them in my mailbox and no longer fit in much of their matronly styles anyways.  Yippee!!  I can shop at places like...Kohls, Target, Walmart and find cheap clothes in normal sizes.  I actually found a blazer on a clearence rack in Kohls over the weekend...and it fit!!  Wow.  THAT has never happened.  I almost never can finish a meal at a restaurant even if its just soup and salad...simply amazing.  I find my portions to always be generous now even though as morbidly obese I found people to skimp on my portions.  There is so much more I could write, but you will discover these things for yourself....it will simply be amazing and all so well worth it.  Nothng tastes as good a being thin feels.....you will discover a new you!!  Good luck!!

thank you soooo much!!! you have no idea how many times i think about these things! I was just on my way back to the office and i found myslef thinking wow next time i see the leaves changing i could be a new me! to be honest there is still that part of me that thinks "yup, ill be the one that doesnt loose a pound" But to try and picture me jogging now , not a pretty vision. But for some reason thats my hope when i loose this weight. I want to jog. I never even liked running as a kid but i think now that im older and am going to be given this second chance i need to take in the "small "things!

good for you on the blazer from kohls!!!! i cant wait to not be stuffed in a back corner of a store to buy clothes! i want to be able to enjoy shopping and i want tobe able to buy a pair of boots that fit and arent to tight when i try and zip them  up my calf!!!!(god how i hate that) good luck and thanks so much!!!!!

Shopping is my new addiction!!  I find myself just trying clothes on in smaller and smaller sizes just to see where I am.  Sometimes I get shocked!!  Thinking oh yeah like a size 14 will fit me? and then ....it does!!  (heart attack)  I used to be size 4x (30-32) and now I'm getting into 14 and 16's....can I get ANY smaller than this?  dunno??  And the boots, well, you may find your feet get smaller and legs, some of the stuff I was waiting to get back into ended up being donated because I flew past those sizes really quickly and it was summer and not boot time.  But I do have a few hidden treasures in my closet that I am enjoying today.  As Justin Timberlake sings..."i'm bringing sexy back"....oh yeah baby!! lol  You WILL be having so much fun with this.  But be careful of that jogging vision....you may want to rethink that.  I could forget an underwire at this point...I need suspenders to hold up my boobs...lookin' like fruit roll ups....and jogging, well, I have joint problems and still do.  They may not disappear but moving and housework is alot easier and I get my walking in.  That will have to do for now.  I was sure that I would be the one who would have complications and hit road blocks, so far it's been smooth sailing.  I am so blessed.  Now if Mr. Wonderful would just come along....I can die happy....lol  Any bachelors out there? 

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH BETTER YOU HAVE MADE ME FEEL!!!! THANKS SOOO MUCH!

Hi,I'm about 10 months out and down 140 lbs .Just about at goal.I had all of the above tests along with sleep study,stress tests,needless to say I failed them all !! I had to see the excersize therepist,and the nutritionist.It all took about 3 months from the time I met with the surgeon to the operation.A lot has to do with your insurance as well.Don't worry,it all goes by so fast.I wish you well and if there is any information you need,feel free to ask.Take care, Bob

WOW!!! WOW!!! and did i say WOW!!! you must feel amazing!  i cant believe your weight loss! how does it make you feel?????? 

Thank you so much.Words can't explain how i feel.The surgeon said to me before the surgery "you won't know how bad you felt until you lose the weight".He was right.I always thought I felt great before.I am in the meat business and I have always lifted and was very active.Now even I'm amazed.The energy level is awsome! I see so many people each day and I have not had a day without a compliment from someone.It really boosts your spirits.Again,the best of luck to you.By the way,I really like saratoga.I ride through there on the way home from lake george Bike Week.Yea, I'm one of those bad bikers! I'll beep next spring when i pass through !! Take care, Bob