FRUSTRATED!!!

I have waited so long for this in my life. The change that I so need. I am really trying to keep my eye on the prize and not give up altogether. But with every thing that pops up, it seems like it"s just slowly slipping out of my grasp.

I don't mean to sound rude, but each of us have had road blocks and frustrations in our lives and for long periods of time.....some much more than others. I am quite sure you have had your road blocks, but no more than anyone else has had to endure. What everyone on here has said to you is that they had problems reaching their dreams too and those dreams finally came to pass...Maybe not in their own timing but in God's timing.
We each have waited for this in our lives.....We each needed it. I myself have over 5 comorbidities including 3 stents and will die if I don't have this soon...Dr. Walton has told me this, as has my PCP doctor. This is not a compitition on who has had the worst road blocks....What I am saying is this.....So you have to wait a few days, a week, a few weeks or even months in order to be sure it is safe to operate. Isn't that more important?? This reminds me of the little girl in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory....Varouka...."I want it now Daddy"!  Fogive me if that sounds rude...but what choices do you have??? Give up and live like this the rest of your life feeling like Weight Wise was trying to keep you from reaching your goal?? Or wait until you are Ok'd by the cardiologist, knowing that soon you could have your dream? You have to rest in the trust of your doctors.
This may be nothing and you have been so freaked out for nothing.....
You see to me, this surgery isn't so much  about changing who I am on the outside or inside. I am who I am and it will not make or break me in those area's.....Sure I want to be thin but like I said, it is about  saving my life, literally. I realize that for some it is an urgency within them,but most I have met on here are willing to do whatever it takes, including waiting, and are here offering encouragment to others who are waiting too or there for those who are afraid of what lies ahead of them and need reassurance....No drama...just a wonderful support for those who need it. That is what we are trying to offer to you. I would think that the fact that we all have been in your place and some still are and will be for some time....that it would be a comforting knowledge that you too can do it and we will help you...
I do agree with Ruth... Yes, you live 2 hours away and it is hard to schedule an appointment with Dr. Keller, but in this case, I would say you really should make the time to do this.  He needs to know how frustrated you are over this....Maybe he can offer you some more reassurance that we are not able to offer you right now. It would be worth the drive to get some peace about all this.
I do hope all goes better for you and that your dreams will come soon. I will pray that God gives you some peace about all of it too.....Sherry

If you knew me, you would know what kind of road blocks I have had to face. I had throat cancer and they removed 1/2 of my voice box. I have lived 6 long years with a tube in my throat. The doctors say, there is a remote possibility that if I can get this surgery and loose enough weight that I can get the trach tube removed. Try walking through a store and have kids pointing at you, staring, laughing and acting like your something out of a 1950's frankenstein movie . Just see what that does to you. Plus I had a daughter try to commit suicide. By the way, Dr. Keller does know. I told him all this in my initial eval. So do forgive me if I am being rude, but this is what I am going through on a daily basis. I thought this was a place we could vent and we coould get someone to listen , outside of the sterile environment of a hopspital. But apparently I was wrong. I am so sorry I have taken up anyones time.

I can promise you that you have not taken up any of my time. This site has been one of my major supports, even when the support I need is totally off topic (see the recent one about my daughter). I can also promise you that I understand your frustration. Try not to think of the extra steps as roadblocks, but as one more step to a healthier you. Think about what you have overcome so far and go from there. I can understand your pain of dealing with stares and pointing. Kids can be cruel, that is no doubt, and it hurts, but they have no idea what you have overcome. You beat throat cancer! Dr Walton is thorough, and the extra testing needed is frustrating, but with the right testing and clearances you WILL have your surgery, and a safe one at that.
If you don't feel comfortable venting here, PM me and I will give you my email address.

Hang in there girlfriend.  I don't think that God ever closes one door without opening another.  He will do that for you I'm sure.  You sure don't want to add any major heart problems or the possibility of dying on the surgery table because Dr. W skipped sending you to the cardiologist to get clearance.  I think that it is a blessing that they found this prior and that it is being addressed.  Just think before long after you've crossed over this hurdle (which for me was the last one...the cardiology clearance) you most likely will get your date scheduled!!  I do hope and pray that you will also be able to get rid of your trach tube after your surgery and the weight loss has began.  This will be an awesome journey for you and you have so much to look forward to.  We've all been there.  You have not wasted anyone's time here.  This is what we're here for...to support, answer any questions the best we can and share our personal experiences in how we overcame some personal issues.  You too will get there...I just know you will and I will be praying for you and that it is soon.  Do you have your heart cath scheduled?  Hopefully it is soon and you can get on with all of this soon!!!  Please don't think we are bad and that anyone of us feel you are wasting our time.  That is so not our intent.  Hang in there girlfriend!!!

My heart cath is tomorrow and I ma scared to death. They said if they have to put a stint in, that will delay things even more.

I would be scared too.  I know of more than one who had to be sent for the cath and it ended up being "nothing".  May I ask you who your cardiologist is and where you will have it done?  I am praying for you right now that you will be at peace and that all will go well for you.  I'm hoping that you'll be one that they discover won't need the stint after all...

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Think of it this way -- a delay means that you WILL have your surgery, just maybe not as soon as you would have liked, but it will happen.

I know just how scary that is. Now days it is a skilled procedure that is safe and productive in treating heart issues.  I have had 6 Cath's and 3 stents. If they have to put a stent in, yes, it could delay it. That depends on your doctor. Mine will not release me until I am off the Plavix that I am required to take. Some do not require that, but the reason is that while on the blood thinner, they do not want you to skip any days because of clotting issues. It is necessary to be off it for 2 weeks for the surgery so that you don't bleed, but a heart doctor doesn't want you off the med and throwing clots that will end up in your heart causing more risks and more surgery. 

Again, yes it can delay your surgery but you have been through hell and are obviously a strong woman as you are still standing and still going on. That is something to be proud of. That shows that you have a tenacious spirit.  I did not mean to deminish what you have gone through and sure didn't want to hurt your feelings. I am sorry if you felt that, but I am just trying to help you see that if you check out just fine, then all these fears have been a waste of your energy. If it turns out that you have to have a stent, then going to Weight Wise maybe saved your life AND if you have to wait to do the surgery.....Though hard... you have a goal ahead of you that we can help you reach by supporting you and encouraging you. Believe me...waiting sucks, but once I accepted the fact that I can not have it NOW, I have begun to have peace about it ,as it really is what is in my best interest. I trust my doctors and will pull up my big girl panties and deal with it like the strong woman I am. I think no matter what happens tomorrow, you can do the same. Don't not come to the boards for help when you need encouragement, just because you felt I was being rude. I recommend seeing Dr. Keller again because he is skilled in treating this area. I felt that maybe he could reach your issues where we seemed unable to do so. I can not offer you skilled answers only personal experience and opinions. That is all I was saying....Again good luck and I will be praying for a safe and positive procedure tomorrow.

Thank You