Today is my BD and even though I'm receiving lovely best wishes from friends and family I'm still feeling a little down.  I watched a video this morning about Canadian wait times for surgery and even though I know I have to wait..it really struck me that I'm ready for this NOW..and worry I'll slide back down into old habits of "feeding" my emotions...because of these seriously long wait lists..my surgeon told me 3 to 5 yrs...BUT he also said that the BC Gov't might be announcing fast tracking these wait lists soon. Maybe a year then..maybe....so I'm stuck with hurry up and wait..

I've been using My Fitness Pal this past 2 weeks and have seen a loss of 9.1 lbs..but the little voice in the back of my head keeps saying "but you know this won't work in the long run" I'm trying to stay positive..trying to work through all the head issues with food. 
 
I think BD tend to make us reflect..I'm 53 today and want to get on with living...

Birthday's are tough and so is waiting for surgery.  Your prepartion is not in vain! Continue tracking your food and working through your emotional eating. Stay plugged in (on here or my fitness pal) as they will help to remain focused!

Fay

 Thank you Fay! I will keep tracking and remembering to stay honest when I track..it helps to see where improvements can be made and insights into days when I slip a little...and days when I've been really successful 

I feel for you gurl. That is a long wait, I'm not gonna lie. Try to hang in there. I think it's awesome that you have already started to get your eating habits on track & have lost weight already. Eye on the prize gurl. Keep focused as you are. We are here for you!!

 Thanks Jenn!  I really appreciate the support!

Hi MyTurn 

First of all.............HAPPY BIRTHDAY!   

 Thank you 

Ann

For some reason, most of what I wrote didn't show up in my first post -- hoping it will this time!

Fay gave you good advice.  Keep tracking your food -- every little tiny bite of it.  I can't remember who said it, but I keep this phrase in my head when tracking my food:

       If you nibble it, scribble it, if you bite it, write it..............again, I wish I could credit the author.

It helps makes me accountable for everything that I eat.

Work on removing any negative thoughts about this not working this time.  Yes, you have a long wait, but you can get a head start and be totally prepped to have your surgery when it's your turn.  I hope they do fast track for you.  Is it possible your surgeon could move you ahead if you have comorbidities? 

You've lost 9 pounds in 2 weeks...........that's pretty much on pace with the faster losers here.  You're already doing an amazing job -- keep it going!

If you want, feel free to add me to your friends on MFP.  I'm Justme72847 there. 

Keep posting here -- we want to help you, support you, and give you as much encouragement as we can!

Good luck!

Ree

 Hi Ree thanks for the encouragement! I do have comorbidities of Sleep Apnea and a fatty liver if that is one.  I am wondering if I will get it a bit sooner..I see the internal med Dr next week..and I'm guessing after him I'll be referred to the NUT..my surgeon has me coming back in Jan to "see how I've been doing on my own"..I get the feeling the surgeons here keep a watch on who is ready and committed..these patients might get a higher priority.  While in his office there was a man who chatted me up..saying he's been going for 4 yrs to see his surgeon in same office waiting for his surgery! But after talking to him for a while it became clear he isn't truly committed in the process and not following the surgeons plan for him. 

I have lost a good amount these past 2 weeks..it was a good jumpstart for sure..I was moving during that time and was putting in 12 to 16hr days with the move/working..surprisingly it didn't kill me lol. Sure sweated in all the heat and physical activity 

First - Happy Birthday!

I hear you about frustration with wait times. They're shorter here in Alberta, but with so many people in need of WLS and funding being what it is (500 surgeries being done this year) it can feel like an exercise in futility to keep going to appointments.

So - I looked over our finances, did my research, talked to my husband and GP (aftercare) and headed south. I'll be honest - it was scary, but I can tell you now that it's by far the best thing I've EVER done for myself - and I got much better care at the hospital in Mexicali than I would have here. I'm off my pain and BP meds and feel years younger - and I've only lost 31# so far. I'm going to be a force to reckon with by the time I'm done.

   Thank you    and yes I have looked at Mexico...I'm a single parent of a special needs child..so both cost and needing to be here for her makes that almost impossible. I'm pretty sure I'll need plastics afterwards so scrapping pennies together for that. 

And there's no such "only" lost 31lbs so far! In less then 2 months..that's wonderful!! Think of 31 blocks of butter stacked...not so small a feat now ;-) 

Thank you! That 31 includes the 7 I lost during my pre-op diet, so in 2.5 months, but it's way more than I'd have managed without the surgery, even given several times the amount of time.
I see other people losing faster, and forget that for *me* I'm losing at a brisk pace - and already being off all pain Meds (arthritis, bursitis, sciatica AND fibromyalgia - basically everything hurt, all the time) and my BP Meds is truly fabulous.

About plastics. BC covers the same things as Alberta does, I believe, after major weight loss. That is, panniculectomy, mons lift and breast reduction. For myself, I'll likely go for the panniculectomy and mons lift, but that'll probably be it.

 I also have fibromyalgia and arthritis, really bad knees, varicous veins.. hurt so bad sometimes that I can't sleep without pain meds! I hear that in some cases you can get plastics covered for excess skin..I'll need the panni..and hopefully upper arms..but I also feel I'd want reconsructive breast surgery..I'm sure I'll have nothing left afterwards :-((  What is a Mons lift??

I'm single and don't want to pursue any kind of relationship until I get healthy/fit/attractive again...I've tried to meet nice "healthy" normal men..but they are of course looking for the same. 

I just want to get on with it!!! I've been thinking for  3 years about WLS and made my decision that VGS was the right option for me almost a year ago, it took 7 months to see the surgeon and now another 6 months between visits. I'm doing all I can to learn, prepare, work through my issues with food. I've been researching, reading for years and understand many of my issues..threads of info that are finally weaving together in a constructive way...it's certainly a journey!  

A mons lift lifts the mons pubis. If you google mons lift you can see what's done on plastic surgery sites.

Yeah make sure you get the Mons Lift.  Some doctors don't do them automatically with a Tummy Tuck or LBL and it can be very unslightly - flat tummy and mons that is hanging down low.  I had a tummy tuck and my mons was lifted and I really love it!  Flat tummies are the best!  I am sure I'll need a revision when I get to my final goal.   I had it done early for mobility issues.

My insurance didn't pay for anything, so I paid cash.

First of all happy birthday my turn!! I totally understand your frustration but hang in there and don't give up.  I had to wait 8 months before my surgery and also felt that frustration because it seemed like the day would never come.  Now I am two weeks out and it seems like I started the process yesterday for some reason.

Would you ever consider having the surgery in another country?

Stay strong you'll get there.  Good luck!

 Thank you    and yes I have looked at Mexico...I'm a single parent of a special needs child..so both cost and needing to be here for her makes that almost impossible. I'm pretty sure I'll need plastics afterwards so scrapping pennies together for that. 

Happy birthday, happy birthday!

It must be very frustrating to have to wait so long, but try to keep you eye on the prize. Starting to log your food and activity now is a great way to get prepared for life after surgery. Sending lots of good luck wishes to you!