ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass and Lap Band® Forum - View Single Post

JenBear7 · 01-19-2007, 07:45 PM

Well the endless waiting for the first appointment with the surgeon has FLOWN by. I thought it was going to take forever once my PCP sent the referral into the surgeon. I saw the PCP Dec 18th, got the 16 page packet in the mail Dec 28th from the surgeon's office.. sent it back January 6th.. and got the appointment today (but whos counting?? LOL..).. sooooo...

My initial appointment with the surgeon is February 8th. WOOOOOOOOOT (thats only 3 weeks away!). I can say Im glad I quit smoking when I did.. I quit November 10th (and I hadnt made the decision for the surgery yet.. and I had no clue it was a requirement until a couple weeks ago!).. my doc says no smoking for months prior to the surgery.. so that puts me out to at least May 10th .. and I was thinking if I moved right along end of may beginning of June..

And they wont make the appointment until I have been with them for 3 months. They wont ask for insurance approval until I change my eating habits.. they "encourage" 3 months of support groups prior, and joining a gym before you start the process..

Now.. keep in mind these are the reasons I chose this place..I KNOW I need my ass kicked on a regular basis to remind me to keep myself on the right path.. They are a center of excellence.. I know their record is good.. I hand picked the surgeon at the center because he teaches the surgery in 2 hospitals.. I am So freaking excited I cant stand myself!

Now.. here are my questions.. lol

1. The letter they sent me with the initial date says that a stress test for patients with diabetes (I do NOT have this), patients over 50 (Im 35), or any patient with a history of cardiac symptoms.. ... Is High BLood pressure considered a cardiac symptom??

2. It also says I need cardiac clearance & Pulmonary Clearance.. any clues here??

It says I need to bring with me any of the following tests I had done prior to my initial apppointment...does that mean If I havent had the tests, they will take care of them??

3. If I bring my box of color-coded index cards with all my notes about the surgery (actually surgeries, I have researched lap band and RNY).. will I look like a doof?

I have started on the stationary bike (the only thing that doesnt kill my hip argh.. its been out of place since christmas shopping season!).. doing 15 minutes a day.. (which probably doesnt sound like a lot.. but it sure feels it right now LOL) I have also stopped eating candy & chips & soda (which I really only started drinking again once I decided to have the surgery).. which brings me to my last question.. If they are going to have me start losing weight when I go to them (which I am sure they are).. should I stop trying now.. so I am at my weight when I am there, and every pound I lose counts?? Ok.. nevermind answering that.. once I wrote it .. it looks assinine.. *slaps forehead* OY.. of course I should still try to lose.. it doesnt matter if I get credit for every pound..

I know I had more questions I was going to ask earlier.. but I cant remember them now... I may though... (warning!)..

*dances off to re-re-read my paperwork*... (I think that is reading cubed!)