saminjax

Hello All,

I am hoping to have gastric bypass surgery at some point in the near future. I've been battling my weight for so many years and obesity runs rampant in my family. I've been reading entries in this forum for a couple of weeks as part of my learning process, which has included information from my doctor, a good friend who had the procedure, and the internet.

I'm told my insurance will cover the procedure, which will be done at Mayo Clinic (I live in Florida), so I don't have to face a battle over insurance coverage. I feel very fortunate about that, based on what I've read. I've had one appointment with the surgeon and was told that appointments will be made for me to see the nutritionist, a psychologist, a nurse, and the surgeon. I asked a nurse I spoke to on the phone about what kind of time frame I could expect and I got the vaguest reply - she said, "When the team feels you are ready." Can any of you elaborate on what that means? Perhaps speculate would be a better word. Generally speaking, how long is the road to surgery?

I've done a liquid diet, under the supervision of a physician, for six months, which ended a couple of months ago. I lost 30 pounds on it, but I have so much more than that to lose, so I couldn't continue indefinitely on the liquid diet (verrrry expensive). Once I started back on regular food, I gained 10 pounds back. I'm so tired of spinning my wheels. I want to get the weight off! For once in my life, I would like to know what it is like not to have the weight. I'm not looking for an easy fix and I fully understand that GB surgery is not that. However, I have always sacrificed and struggled to lose weight and I know I can do what I need to post-op to free myself from this ongoing problem. If nothing else, I have been committed. Anyway, does the physician-supervised liquid diet count towards whatever time I have to wait to have my gastric bypass surgery?

I wish the "team" would send me some information, as far as what I am to expect. Any advice? Is there anything I should be doing right now to prepare? All the surgeon did was give me a food diary, a GB brochure, tell me to walk for exercise, and say that he will "see me next month." Seems like there should be a clear plan. Maybe the upcoming appointments will enlighten me. I don't even know when they are yet...

Thanks for any advice and/or guidance you can provide.

-Sam(antha)

LyndasRoom

Hi Sam,
Welcome to TT...
every doctor has a different process...usually the biggest stumbling block that people encounter is that darn 6 month supervised weight loss program. You've done that! You've got your referral to the surgeon, so you're on your way! You will probably get more info with each visit to the surgeon. In the meantime, there are thousands of topics here...and by the time you get to it, you'll feel like you've 'been there, done that'!
Good luck.

__________________
Lynda
July 11,2006
Dr. Callery
309/197/150
Century 6/1/2007
Onederland 8/26/2007

2bmeagain

I wasn't fortunate enough to have my insurance company agree to the surgery on the first go around. My Doctor was good enough to help the surgen push the issue. Insurance companies do not understand what it is like to battle with your weight, or your mind set.
When my surgery was approved, I was given a date the same day. They called on the 19th of May and scheduled me for the 15th of June. I am nervous but I am also looking forward to getting my life back. Hang in there, and you can call and sort of push your surgen for a date.

saminjax

Well, the nurse told me that I "will not have a problem getting approved," that my insurance "always covers these and has paid for everyone they have requested coverage for." I have not officially been granted coverage from my insurance yet. I work for Mayo Clinic, so I have its universal coverage plan. I guess that once the "team" submits for coverage, I will be given a date then, right? I'll be so glad when I know more.

saminjax

I am sure I will be nervous, too, when I am as close as you are. That said, I am envious of where you are. I can't wait to have the procedure and work towards getting my weight off...finally. 25 years of this struggle. I'm ready to know that I am working towards winning, instead of just struggling and getting nowhere!

LyndasRoom

Does your surgeon have informational seminars? That might be one way to get some answers...did they give you a binder with info? a list of tests to have done? From what the nurse has said, it sounds like you're on your way...just on THEIR timetable...it's frustrating to be a patient patient...kwim?

__________________
Lynda
July 11,2006
Dr. Callery
309/197/150
Century 6/1/2007
Onederland 8/26/2007

saminjax

Hmmm...don't know what kwim means... No, the doctor didn't give me any of that stuff, just a food record and a GB pamphlet. His office sent me a video link to watch on the computer and I watched it. It talked about the surgery and what happens post-op, but didn't talk at all about a time frame or plan before the surgery, except for what to expect a few days before surgery. No binder or list of tests, though. I had soooo much bloodwork during the liquid diet (every other week).

I guess they will eventually tell me...so that I will know when to show up - LOL! I have to be a patient patient...

Gotta leave for a little while. I will check in later. I love this site! So much info.

-Sam

poet_kelly

It took me abut four months from the time I first saw the surgeon to the time I actually had the surgery. For some people it can be longer, though. I was pretty busy with appointments during that time, and it seemed to go by pretty fast.

While you're waiting, you can work on changing your eating habits. Yes, I know that's hard to do when you haven't had the surgery yet. To be honest, I wasn't very successful at it. I would really try, though. Start cutting down on fatty foods and carbs, and start increasing your protein intake. You need lots of protein after the surgery, and you might as well get started now.

Exercising is really important, too. You're going to have to exercise after the surgery, so you might as well get started on that now, too.

Hopefully the time will go by fast for you.

Kelly

__________________
RNY 11/4/08

surgery/current/goal
270/152/130

RNCCRN9706

I started with my 6 months of required PCP visits 5 months before I saw the surgeon. I knew I wanted to have GB surgery and I also knew the PCP visit requirements so I started them ahead of time. I saw the surgeon for the first time on 1/8/09, got my pre-requisite stuff done by the beginning of March. It took 3 weeks for the psychologists office to transcribe the psych eval and fax it to my surgeons office!

I had surgery 4/20/09. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner!

Good luck to you on your journey!

__________________
Kelly
Surgery Lap RNY---Monday April 20, 2009
Pre surgery weight 258.1# BMI 39.1
Day of Surgery--255#
4/26/09--wt 232--down 23 POUNDS!!
6/10/09--wt 211--down 44lbs! 4 inches gone from waist!!
6/29/09--wt 203# 52 lbs GONE FOREVER!!!
7/16/09--wt 195# 60 lbs gone for good!!!
10/13/09--186.5lbs--72.5lbs gone forever!!!

SandyKae

How frusrating for you to not know an approximate time frame. As others have said every doctor and insurance is different. My first step was a seminar and that was Jan 12th 2009 and my surgery was April 21st 2009. During those months I had all sorts of testing, Stress Test, EKG, Sleep Study, Lab work of course and an Echocardiogram, also the psych eval and the appointment with the nutrientists. It was appointments all the time. I certainly don't know if you will be required to go through all of that or not but there is a chance, I also had to have a blood clot filter inserted to protect me from blood clots that can occur with surgeries on over weight patients.
Some things that I did to prepare myself for after surgery ( at my psych doctors recommendations) and ended up being greatly helpful, If you don't already drink 64 ounces of water a day start doing so now, you are going to have to get use to it after surgery, so doing it before hand is greatly helpful, also it was a great help to me for find protein supplements that I liked and get started on those, I stopped eating breakfast and started having protein shakes instead, and the weight loss started there. It was good training. However, since you were already on a liquid diet you perhaps already have the protein shake thing down.
Also, even though it sounds like at this point your doctor hasn't recommended it something that my surgeon required of us before surgery was to attend a surgery weight loss support group meeting and I am so glad that I did, talking with many different people who had already had the procedure and people that were waiting to have it was so wonderful and really made me feel more comfortable and prepared for surgery. I would highly recommend it.
Good luck and for your sake I hope that your wait for surgery isn't long, I know that the time before surgery seems so long and stressful, you just want to see that light at the end of the tunnel, the light that tells you weight loss is just ahead. It will come.
Good luck
Sandy

__________________

Sandy Kae

First Step: Seminar Jan 12th 2009
First Dr. Appointment Feb 5th
Testing began Feb 17th
Still testing through March 31st
Surgery Date April 21st 2009
Start weight 357
Almost 5 months out and have lost 98 pounds as of today. YeahOH... What a feeling!!!
Changing the things I can and letting the things I can't just float away.