Question:
The waiting is killing me....

Hi all. This has been a long road to hoe. I started out with Dr. Cowan in Memphis, TN. After I waited for 6 LONG months just to get in and see him, I find out that he has retired from doing surgeries! So, then I was transferred to Dr. Madan, a new surgeon taking Dr. Cowan's place. After waiting 2 months to see him, I was told that it would be several months until he was to start doing surgeries! So, I searched for another surgeon and found Dr. King in Oxford, MS. I waited two months to see him and then, 2 weeks before my appointment, get this-I HAD TO MOVE OUT OF STATE! I have since found another surgeon where I live now, and my appointment is scheuled for next Monday. I just don't know what I am going to do if something goes wrong again. This process has taken over a year now, and to be quite honest, I am tired of fighting with people just to make myself healthier. Is there anyone else in this situation? If so, how do you cope with the waiting? I feel so hopeless and vulnerable right now. Any words of encouragement would be appreciated.    — Wendie G. (posted on November 26, 2002)

November 26, 2002
Yes, Wendie. The waiting is terribly difficult! All I can tell ya is to hang tough! Keep on reading the sites and posting and e-mailing people. Good luck to you. Hopefully, time will fly by and your surgery date will be here before you know it!
   — Barbara B.

November 26, 2002
Oh Hun, your road sounds bumpy! I'm very sad to hear about all of your misfortunate appointments. The wait is VERY hard.... it drives me crazy, and I've only been at this a few months. HUGS, hang in there. I get hope by reading other people's profiles and seeing how the journey was long for them too. I think in the end we will find it was worth it. HUGS!
   — w8free

November 26, 2002
LORD YESSSSSSSS!!!!!! that sounds like me. It took over 2 years, 2 jobs, 2 insurance companies, and 4 surgeons for me, but I did it. I did it because it was important to ME. Read my profile for the whole story. I'm 2weeks post-op and down 40 POUNDS. Like Tim Allen said in that movie GALAXY QUEST, "Never give up, Never surrender". You can do it. You control your own destiny. GOOD LUCK!!!!
   — dkinson

November 26, 2002
Wendie, I can sure sympathize!! It took me ten months to see my surgeon for a consult, then another year wait for surgery. The only thing is I didn't have to deal with any insurance being in Canada, although the waits are horribly long. The only advice I can offer is don't give up hope. This is your health, and you deserve to have this surgery. Keep fighting for it!! Hugs, Kim S. Open RNY Nov. 4/02, -23 lbs.
   — Kim S.

November 26, 2002
hi wendie, im very sorry for the frustration i know you must be feeling. waiting is terrible. my process, thankfully went very fast but even so, i know how i felt just waitng to hear aproval or waitng for a pre op test result. talk about frazzled nerves! anyhow, i wish you the best of luck and dont give up. i truly believe things happen when they are suppose to. im confident that when the time is right, all will go your way! :) hang in there.
   — carrie M.

November 26, 2002
Your wait is long, you poor thing! What is really funny is I remember thinking my wait was long (9 months from beginning to end) and that it would NEVER get here. Then, it got here and the night before, I was wishing I had another few months because I was scared silly! That is just like me! Take it easy and I pray you become a big loser quickly!
   — Nell C.

November 29, 2002
HI WENDIE. I DIDN'T HAVE ALONG WAIT LIKE YOU, OR THE CHANGING OF DOCTORS. BUT I DID HAVE A FEW MONTHS TO WAIT, THINK AND WORRY. THAT'S NORMAL. WHAT I DID TO PASS THE TIME WAS I WROTE DOWN ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH BEING OBESE, THE THINGS I COULD NO LONGER DO. THE WORRY ON FAMILY MEMBERS FACES WHEN I TRIED TO FUNCTION. THE HORRIBLE COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO NEVER BATTLED OBESITY. THEN I WROTE DOWN ALL THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO AGAIN,, WALK IN THE WOODS, A WALK ANYWHERE WITHOUT LOOKING FOR A RESTING PLACE. GOING TO MOVIES, SHOPPING. LIVING LONG ENOUGH TO SEE MY GRANDKIDS GROW UP.. I WANTED TO BE A NORMAL WEIGHT SO MUCH THAT IT OUT WEIGHED ALL OF MY OTHER FEARS OF THE W.L.S. I TRUSTED IN GOD TO GIVE ME THE STRENGHT TO GO ON, AND HE DIDN'T FAIL ME. LOSING 240#'S IN 10 MONTHS, GOING FROM 425#'S TO 185#'S HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL JOURNEY.. THE FIRST MONTH WAS BAD, BUT IT WAS ONLY DOWN HILL FROM THERE. TO HAVE MY LIFE BACK IS SO WONDERFUL THAT I CAN'T TELL YOU. SOMEONE ASKED ON THIS WEB-SITE 6 MONTHS AGO,"IF W.L.S. IS SO GREAT "WHERE" ARE ALL THE W.L.S. PEOPLE WHO ARE A YEAR OR TWO OUT"? DO YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE? THEY ARE OUT THERE ENJOYING LIFE AGAIN.. AND IT IS EASY TO FALL AWAY FROM THIS WEB-SITE AND THE HELPING OF OTHERS WHO ARE WHERE I WAS, WHERE MANY OF US WERE.. I DID IT FOR AWHILE,, THINKING I'M O.K. NOW. WHY COME TO THIS WEB-SITE? WELL I COME TO HELP OTHERS, I HOPE I CAN HELP OTHERS. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS WHERE EACH POSTER WAS AS HE AND SHE ASKES THEIR QUESTIONS.. BE HERE FOREVER? I'D LIKE TO THINK WE ARE NEVER TOO BUSY TO HELP EACH OTHER, WE NEED EACH OTHER MORE THAN WE'LL EVER KNOW.. SO GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP US POSTED ON YOUR PROGRESS..
   — bruce M.