Question:
Anyone else going through Hell to get surgery???

I started my journey along the WLS road in November of 2008. I met with my surgeon at that time and started the six-month process to the O.R.... after 6 months, he decided I needed to wait for a little bit to make sure I had some past eating/bingeing disorders under control, found this out in the Spring of 2009. Thinks drug on throughout the Summer and Fall and the nutritionist I was assigned to left the practice. I started seeing the new nutritionist and she got together with my therapist and we all came to an agreement in January 2010 that as long as I could have six months binge-free, I could plan on surgery for late June/early July. I called today to check in with my nutritionist to try to find a "ballpark" date of when I could plan on surgery as I am in school and planning to take Summer classes. She passed me along to the clinic manager who said that my surgery wouldn't be in late June/early July, but that's when I would be re-evaluated for surgery! According to her, as long as I'm still binge-free, the surgeon "should" schedule surgery and it would probably be late Sept/early October before I'd get in the O.R.! I AM LIVID! I feel this WLS clinic is just stringing me along and would love any advice. I've already contacted another clinic at another hospital system, but I would be starting the process over ( I think)... I'm so upset and not really sure what to do. I will not binge, I've been binge free since December, but I am wanting to just stop eating and try to lose that way. I know people say it doesn't work and that it puts our bodies into "starvation mode" but anorexics do it all the time, and they lose weight. Sorry so long and so blunt, but I need advice from people who I know can understand what I'm going through and empathize with how I am feeling :(... thanks.    — Clumsybarbie (posted on May 4, 2010)

May 4, 2010

   — imonly30yo

May 4, 2010
I totally understand what you're going through, because I had a very lengthy, drawn out wait also. I swear I think I went slightly insane with all the delays. The only advice people gave me at the time was to be the squeaky wheel; but frankly even that didn't make any difference. All I can tell you is that it is SO WORTH IT once you finally get there. My husband said I was just radiant with joy as they wheeled me into the O.R. You're in my prayers that this doesn't have to drag out much longer! Hang in there.
   — Janell C.

May 4, 2010
I am sorry you are so frustrated. I mean this in the kindest, gentlest way. If you are thinking of going into "starvation mode" to lose weight its important to think through why you are going to that line of thinking. That in itself is disordered thinking around eating. It is very important to figure out how not to sabotage with that kind of thinking or chances are the surgery won't be a success. I failed at my first weight loss surgery because I hadn't come to terms with disordered eating and thinking around my weight. I spent two years in intensive therapy working that all out, then had revision surgery and am doing very well. The practice may be keeping you waiting until they believe you've worked through that. They have to be extra careful. That said, maybe it is time for a new practice,only you know. I just wanted to share my experience in case it is helpful. I wish you all the luck in the world and that when you have your surgery you'll be in the best possible place to have it. As hard as it might be, take a look at the fact you are ready to go into starvation mode to lose weight. It won't work and research shows you'll end up gaining weight after losing. You'll be even more frustrated. The head work I think is the hardest part of the process.
   — FindingAndrea

May 4, 2010
Are we all talking about the same doctor/place ? I went to Ocala back in Oct/Nov. for an evaluation, then had to come back for another with the doctor then had to wait for a decision then have called several times and they take a message but no-one ever returns my calls. I have also emailed the office and - nothing ! I feel I'm left hanging and would rather be told there not interested or go elsewhere but hate just waiting in limbo.
   — Beth71864

May 5, 2010
I understand exactly what you are going through. I was being put off and decided to change doctors. I moved to a Center of Excellence. The new practice took all of my tests, because they were current. If you are already at a Center, you may want to stick it out. Remember that anorexia is a form of "unbinging" behavior, so please don't go there. All that being said, you have a right to know what is going on and even to see your own record. If the clinic is seeing some additional psych reason for holding you up, then you deserve to know. I will share what I think is the "real" reason for delay. The practice can not get sufficient operating time. The first person I went to indicated he got one morning a week and could only do 2 bands or 1 bypass each week. If this is what is really going on with your doctor, you deserve to know this too - so you can decide what's best for you. Tricia
   — hampsonbennett

May 5, 2010
I don't have any eating disorders but I sure can relate to you being strung along. I started my process back in Feb. 2009. Then came the 6 month continuous diets, then came the psych in Nov. and before that the nutritionist. from there all my medical records were in but a couple of them. I had foot surgery in dec. 2009 and had to wait for an okay from my Endocrinologist and my primary doctor. Was released from the Endo. doc the end if Feb 2010 and my primary released me March 2010 but he never sent my medical files so I had to go up there last week and they assured me they would be sent and then they sent 13 pages of medical but nothing else about my test or 6 month diet, so now in the morning I have to make another trip back to my doc. All of this while on May 17th, my psych evaluation expires and if I don't get my doc.'s papers in on time, then I have to drive 2 hours or so to get another one and pay out again. So, I understand the frustrations of what you are going through. I have in my past been anorexia and my ex husband got me eating again - I always tell him he git me eating too well...lol Don;t starve yourself - hang in there. One day everything will come together and it will all work out. JUST DON'T GIVE UP.
   — Ambria

May 6, 2010

   — Dr. Elias Kuster