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Went to St. Joseph's yesterday. Wow, it was a day from hell. When I have to go back I'm going to have to make sure that my appointments are scheduled a bit better then they were. I left home at 5 in the morning. Had my first appointment at 8:30am, but didn't get in until about 8:45am. Was there until 9:30. I met with Dr. Pompaloni . He was okay with my choice of getting the vsg. I signed the consent form and made sure that it only said vsg. RNY is not an option for me. Apparently I was the first one to ask and sign for only one type of surgery. He did mention a few times that if I didn't lose all the weight that I wanted to, they could go back and do the second/lower half of the rny. I held my tongue about that one and just said 'okay'.  The dr also said that my thorax was quite large (is that good or bad?) and that my 'tummy wasn't that big, so maybe the vsg is a good option for me'. Dr. Anvari will probably be doing my surgery, I didn't meet him I just saw him as he was calling in another patient. Dr. Pompaloni  said he has to review the case with his boss and the other staff members but it shouldn't be a problem. My only concern is that he may want me to come back and talk to the psychiatrist. For what I don't know. Which is really frustrating on my part. Since I started this process in 2008 I've been cleared by a psychiatrist in Windsor. Then by family doctor in Windsor. Then by my family doctor in Sarnia. Then by the social workers at the Windsor Assessment centre. How much more "head" clearance do I need? I'm fine, if I was having problems I'd be the first one to say stop to the whole process. Maybe I'm worrying over nothing and in the next couple weeks I'll get my OR date. But, it doesn't keep me from worrying that this is just another unnecessary delay. I also got my prescription for optifast and for the meds were on after surgery.
I then had to wait all the way until 1:30pm for my surgical education class. Of course it was geared toward rny patients and it wasn't anything that I haven't heard before. That went on until about 3:20pm.
Next up was the gastroscopy. I had to be there at 3:30, to have my scope at 4:30. I got in at 4:40 but I still had to wait. I had the choice to not get sedated and I didn't. The whole procedure lasted less than 2 minutes. It was pretty bad and even more embarrassing but it just wasn't worth getting knocked out for such a minor thing. My throat is still sore this today. I gagged and heaved, drooled (all down the side of my face,my neck), belched, coughed. It was quiet the sight. They took a tissue sample because of my acid reflux. They also discovered a small hiatus hernia, which can be fixed during the wls. Back on the road by 5:20pm. I'm not thinking too much about the process, I'm just living my life. If I worry about time lines, and other people's progress I'll stress and that's the last thing I want. I just have to check these appointments off the ever shortening list.

I went to the assessment centre today for my last appointment today. All of my tests came back normal, except my iron was low, which is normal for me. I'll finally have my last appointment in Windsor to go to the pre-surgical class. It should be interesting because I'm sure that they'll focus on the RNY alone. Oh well, one more hurdle before I go to the surgeon in Guelph. I just have to make sure I'm armed with the info to let them know that I'm prepared for and want the VSG. Nothing else will do. I refuse to get sent away again and told to think about what I really want (what the doctors want me to have) and then come back, when I know what will work for me. Almost there, that's what I keep telling myself.

I had my final appointment with the Social Worker and the Dietitian this morning (August,6th). I, thankfully only had to see them both twice. My next appointment is with the Dr at the assessment centre, just to go over test results and for him to say that yes I can and should have surgery. The SW appointment took about 25 minutes. It wasn't with Sharmaine? again but I forget her name. She did go through almost every entry and then went over the same questions that were asked in my first meeting. I had the same dietitian as before, Sarah. She just skimmed a few entries and said I was doing fine.
The only bad news was I didn't lose any weight. Not a pound. I'm not surprised at all. I've never eaten so many carbs in my life. Good news is I didn't gain. Sarah suggested that I could up the exercise or decrease my portions. I'll keep working on it.

Since my last post, on this blog, things have finally started to move.

I went back for my 2nd sleep study and then the results. I have moderate sleep apnea. I still have to order the Cpap machine. I was delaying, but I don't think I'll have much choice, seeing as though many hospitals require you to bring it with you for the surgery. 

March 23rd- Got the call from Windsor Bariatric Assessment Centre. Questionnaire came in the mail, in less than a week.

April 5th- went to GP to get a referral for an abdominal ultrasound.

April 27th- 1st consult with nurse (found out I am 5'8", not 5'7") and seminar

May 14th- 1st consult with Dr. Shaban, which didn't go well. He's insisting that my only option is RNY but more on that in the future. I also lost 2lbs, which isn't really anything but water weight. At least I didn't gain.

May 20th- Back at GP, to get remaining tests referred.

May 21st- Protocol blood work, glucose fasting( gave me horrible diarrhea, in less then 2 hrs).

May 26th- Abdominal Ultrasound

I'm still waiting to get the Upper GI scheduled. The booking clerk is insisting that the doctor won't do the test without more information. The order from my GP stated that it was for Bariatric surgery and it is a requirement. That wasn't good enough, so she said. She then called my doctor while I was there, because I said it doesn't make sense for me to make another appt. My GP's office gave her the same information that was on the order. She still insisted that it wasn't enough info and she would have to wait until the dr. was in again, before she could make an appt. Absolutely ridiculous and a waste of my time. I was looking at an open book while she was on the phone and someone else who went the Windsor Bariatric had the same order as me, was booked and ready to go. I call bullshit. Some of these people are on power trips, or just like to say no.

I had my first sleep study done last night. It was horrible . I didn't think I could sleep or feel any worse than I do now. I'm going to have a nap , even though it's after 5pm. I have to go back again next month for another over-nighter, this time to use a C-cap? machine. This is not fun, but another step in the right direction. Hopefully it'll be one less test to take care of when the ball really gets rolling.

I went to my GP just before Christmas to get my assessment forms sent to a Bariatric Centre. The office sent it to St. Joseph's in Hamilton. By the way there was no choice in which centre it went to. At least that's what the Dr's office told me, that OHIP told them. Anyway I called them to find out if they sent the fax and if they heard back from St. Joe's. It was but I won't hear back from them directly for 3-5 months minimum. It's not that long, in the long run but I started this whole process probably coming up on 2 years or so. I'm just impatient and frustrated. I guess all I can do is just wait and hope not to reach 400lbs.
I also went back to my rhuematologist and he gave me a cortisone shot in my chest (fibro and osteoarthritis). In his other patients in worked right away, for me I was in more pain then ever. He's really trying not to give me narcotics. I love how non-addicts have to pay because 10 yrs ago and back they gave out narcotics like candy.
I almost forgot that I have a sleep study this month. So I'll finally know if I have sleep apnea.

I went to my new doctor. Good news, he will help me the WLS process. Bad news, I now officially weigh 308lb/BMI 47.9. I guess this happens when your trying to not gain weight. Calories in vs. calories out. I shouldn't be surprised, if that worked for me I wouldn't be on this site. Tried not to cry all the way home, now I'm just angry and disgusted with myself. I actually started thinking about the RNY, because it's going to take me forever to save up for the DS.  But... I know the RNY is not for me. I don't know what to do.

Now at 290+lbs. I'm trying not to gain weight but it's going up anyway. I've been trying in vain over the last I don't know how long to lose weight, but it's just not working. I didn't give up on the surgery I just didn't want to think about what I may never get. Anyway I'm back to the search and hopefully will be able to get the surgery that I want. Somehow.

I just did a quick calculation and I would have to weigh 320lbs to have a bmi of 50.1. The damage to my body scares me. I've already put on a little weight  since the summer and I feel and look like crap. 34lbs more pounds doesn't sound like much but, to do it on purpose?

but it seems as though if you don't have a BMI of 50 plus, your out of luck. I finally get the okay to get wls but the DS 'deadline' has passed. I the other wls are not for me. Gaining 6 or more bmi points on purpose is not an option. I can hardly function as it is, now. An extra 35-40 thousand or self -pay, that's funny.
If I had gotten the red light in the summer when i first asked my dr, i would be a post-op and losing. People say things happen for a reason, or when they're supposed to. I think that's a bunch of bull. I'm so mad right now. At myself for not pushing and at my dr's, even though i know they were just doing their jobs. I'm also mad at OHIP, for not getting a wider range of opinions from various weightloss dr's. I don't know what to do.
Yes, I will still apply.