starting with Ellis

Jul 01, 2010

The orientation group at Ellis Hospital was wonderful.  There were a lot of people there...more than I thought.  I hadn't realized that so many people are trying to get this surgery.  Anyhow, we got to meet some of the nursing staff and one of the doctors gave the lecture.  They all gave a good first impression.  What surprised me (as well as gave me renewed hope for this endeavor) was the fact that they try to give you a tentative surgery date at your initial intake appointment.  I realize that different programs have different requirements, but I participated in the AMCH program for 2 years and didn't even see one of the surgeons beyond that initial orientation lecture let alone get a tentative date for the procedure.  At least with a tentative date, I will have a concrete deadline to work toward.  The "as soon as you get down 10% we'll give you a date" approach was definitely not working for me.  (Although I appreciate all the experienced staff at Albany Medical Center, their program was just not working for me.)

The Ellis staff were very up-front and well informed about the aspects of their program.  They spoke about the dietary requirements, the options we had pre-op, the number of office visits they require, and the other pre-surgery requirements/clearances.  It was actually quite refreshing to have so much information given right at the start.  It was rather funny to hear the nursing staff keep apologizing for giving us so much information at once.  I actually appreciated it!  The more informed the better.

I have scheduled my intake appointment on July 12.  I am feeling both happy and dreading it at the same time.  I haven't been on the scale since I "threw in the towel" at AMCH in December.  I am betting that I have put on even more weight since.  I have been trying not to, and have finally submitted to my SO's suggestion of feeding him the same things I make for myself.  I was actually trying to give him his favorite stuff while I prepared and ate my "diet" stuff.  LOL - didn't work.  It has been going well for this past month, and he happily told me he has lost 10 lbs.  I've been too scared to weigh myself at home....just gets me discouraged.  I think I have been doing OK though, 'cause I can wear some of the shirts I had "closeted" as long as I leave the bottom button undone so they don't pop off when I'm sitting.  Gosh, that looks like a terrible thing to say, even if it is the truth.

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