And my appointments are booked! How do they determine if your a good candidate for wls?

I got the call yesterday that they have all my paperwork and i was able to book 3 appts. First one is consult, 2nd one is nutrtionist, and 3rd one is exercise physiologist. I am also trying to book my 6 week lifestlye change classed that start the 22nd on the 15th when i go in for my consult. I am hoping they are not booked up. Anything i should know before my consult appt on Monday??

CONGRATS!!!! I just had my consult 2 nights ago and my nutritionist last night. My suregon answered ALL the questions I had while he went over a 'packet' of info and even explained all 3 surgeries even though I chose the band. It was probably about a 45minure visit but it was great. I wanted to know all the bad stuff. He also is having me attend his seminar that has post and pre op patients for all 3 surgeries so I can hear them talk as to what they have experienced or are experiencing right now. I want to be prepared for all the 'bad stuff' (vomiting, heartburn, depression days when I want to shove food in my face and cant, etc)
He also told me that when filling he does it under ( i forget exactly what it is) some type of X-Ray machine, so He can see exactly where to inject, and then makes you drink some liquid that shows up on the x-ray to make sure its filled enough and not too much and no problems with the liquid going down.

The nutritionist basically told me I have a 'chemical imbalance' which is why i have been heavy my entire life, and when i was little I had tests done ages 8-10 in special hospitals because I developed VERY early due to these imbalances. She told me that weigh****chers is 'bad' for me. Good because it helps me lose weight, but one slip and i can gain back 3lbs or more in a week. So, Now i have a 'new' diet plan, pre op, to help with post op as well.

My psych appointment is just a general psych eval- its about 90 minutes. I dont have that for another 2 week. I also have to have an Endoscopy so I have a consultation with a GI specialist next week, then I will book an appt for the Endoscopy. My dr said not all surgeons do that but he likes to be prepared before surgery incase of anything and he doenst like surprises.

 Congratulations on your upcoming surgery. It is very exciting. I live in NJ also. Who is doing your surgery?

 I am very excited and still a process to go before booking the date. My surgeon is Dr. Garrison, in Dover NJ, he also has an office/facility in Montclair I believe. 

 He sounds very good and very cautious. I just wanted to make sure you didn't go to my original surgeon. You said that you also had to do 90 minutes with a psychologist. I don't know if anyone else on OH agrees or not but I would also recommend seeing the psychologist after your surgery too. There is do much going on with your body and relearning a new lifestyle of eating and accepting our new body image that its nice to have that extra support. Good luck in your journey. It's a very exciting time and also remember that your new OH friends are here to support you and to answer any of your questions or concerns. There are so many on this site that at least one of us would be able to answer your question. 😃

Thank you so much for being concerned and giving advice. My surgeon also said he wants me to attend his sessions with pre and post op patients that have had all 3 surgeries. Its a huge support group it meets once a month. I will defeintely go to them, especially the one next month- i missed the one this month. I also enjoy this website and all the supporters and even "non" supporters- those who have experienced bad things and give their advice on what they feel you should do/try. It is all very helpful. I have the 90 minute psych eval in 2 weeks. I will ask him if he thinks i should come back if I am having problems. Good advice!

Today I had 9 tubes of  blood taken, a urine test, and a breath test- never had that before! I had to blow in a bag, then drink this solution and wait 15 minutes and blow in another bag. I looked it up and I think its to test for H Pylori. He said as long as I do everything he says he can do his job and get it approved (hopefully) by insurance. I am fine with that. I am not looking forward to the Endoscopy though, yuck! But its a huge process and I am onboard for all of it.. thank you, and to everyone who is so helpful!

 Don't worry about the endoscopy. I've had my share of them and out of all your tests this is the easiest. They knock you out so you feel and remember nothing. And it only takes about 15-20 minutes from start to fini****'s a breeze.

Darlin, with your BMI, the Band is not a good choice. The Band has the lowest success rate, especially for people with a BMI over 45. And as for that 'chemical imbalance'---well, more likely, you have a super-efficient metabolism that allows you to store most of the food you eat. That is also a contraindication for the Band.

What you need to be looking at is the Duodenal Switch. It has the very BEST long-term, maintained weight-loss stats for patients of ANY size, but especially so for those of us with a BMI greater than 50. It's also the most effective form of WLS for those os us with metabolic problems/super-efficient metabolisms.

Please think VERY hard before you have WLS. Many insurance companies have instituted an on-per-lifetime policy on WLS. Don't blow your chance.