Terrified yet excited! - ThinnerTimes

Ladybird · 04-28-2005, 04:59 PM

HI,

I am in the U.K and have been reading the forum with great fascination,joy and excitement..with a sprinkling of fear creeping in!i have had two assesments here,and am now waiting for my health authority to agree funding and the dates fingers crossed!!,i have been told i will now have a wait if all goes according to plan of either the end of the year or beginning of 2006 to get a slot on the surgeons table.From what i gather,most of the U.S ops are insurance/healthcare funded? here its available on the National Health Service,but a very slow moving machine.
So,i do not know anyone who has had this surgery,and i am really looking for some help and any guidance,im not too sure on the long term routines..this is gone through at length before surgery,but the way i look at it is forewarned..forearmed! and any input from anyone who has been where i am is very valuable to me and i would appreciate it very much.I will look forward to adding my BEFORE shots and even more so the AFTER ones...
Thanking you for your time.
xx

Anne · 04-28-2005, 05:32 PM

Ladybird,

Welcome. You are the first I've seen from UK. I quess our insurances are different from over there. It took about 6 mos from consult to surgery. I am now 5 weeks out and feeling pretty good. I'm still getting used to food again, tho. I think that's gonna take awhile.

This is a great place for questions and information, as I'm sure you've seen. Good luck with everything and hope to talk to you again soon.

bridgetgirl · 04-28-2005, 05:46 PM

We have all been or are pretty much going through what you are! Do you have any specific questions for us?

* Note* at the top of the blue toll bar there is a search button, you can type in a topic there and it will pull up everything ever discussed about that topic. We are here for ya babe, no matter what! Welcome!

VanessaSFL · 04-28-2005, 05:49 PM

Welcome!Everyone here is great.Best wishes!

Vanessa

lealphachienne · 04-28-2005, 06:20 PM

Whooo hooo, we've gone international

Most of us here have some sort of insurance through our employers. We don't have a national health care plan like Canada or the UK. I've heard from my Canadian friends that getting anything done through a national plan takes a long time.

Even with the HMOs/private insurance that we have here, it is a long journey for most of us. It was 10 months for my surgery to get done. Hang in there and it will happen in it's own course of time.

Ladybird · 04-29-2005, 01:23 AM

Thankyou very much for your words of wisdom...
In actual fact i first consulted my GP 3 yrs ago,but then my paperwork was "lost"and then i went back to the GP and he referred me to the appropriate clinic and it took about 8months for a reply,then i had an appointment,the initial consultation and blood tests which was nov 2004 and then met with the consultant on weds 27th who gave me the green light! yipeee,now i have to wait "several" months for funding to come through from my local health authority and then i can be slotted in,im told end of the year,beginning of next...well i have already waited 3 yrs so whats another few months!

Specific questions ...well,i know we have to have a liquid diet,but when do u introduce food,and how much do u eat whilst losing,and what about when you have reached a satisfactory weight?
My consultant described the surgery as "giving yourself a disability for life"but hey aint i been disabled for the most part of my life!? lol.
xxxx

watergirl · 04-29-2005, 07:39 AM

yipeee,now i have to wait "several" months for funding to come through from my local health authority and then i can be slotted in,im told end of the year,beginning of next...well i have already waited 3 yrs so whats another few months!
xxxx[/quote]

Great attitude! You'll do well! Welcome to the forum!

Anne · 04-29-2005, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladybird

Specific questions ...well,i know we have to have a liquid diet,but when do u introduce food,and how much do u eat whilst losing,and what about when you have reached a satisfactory weight?
My consultant described the surgery as "giving yourself a disability for life"but hey aint i been disabled for the most part of my life!? lol.
xxxx

Ladybird,

I definitely do not think of this as a "disability for life"!!! We are given a "tool" to help us regain a healthy life. In the beginning, I know cuz I'm there, we can't eat much and it's like relearning how to eat. But, I'm told, eventually, we will be able to eat just about anything we want again, just in much smaller portions.

Our doctor had us on liguids for the first 5 days, after that we could add cream soups and yogert. After 10 days, we could have "soft" foods, eggs, warm cereal, steamed vegs, tofu, etc. I still cannot have a salad yet, which I am actually craving!

I'm sure your physician will give you guidelines when the time comes. In the beginning, all I kept getting told to was sip water all the time, walk as much as I could and rest.

Good luck, it sounds like you're on your way!!

LizardQueen · 04-29-2005, 09:39 AM

Welcome! Great to have you here!! Please keep us updated on things go for you. I have no clue how your health care system works, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that things will go quickly for you!!!

Amber

Ladybird · 04-29-2005, 04:02 PM

[i]Thankyou thankyou!
i would love to keep you posted, its very interesting reading how your system works so i guess the English system would be interesting for u guys.I too hope that i get a date very soon,i have opted for any cancellation slots which may come up.
But will keep u all informed.
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