ENOUGH, ALREADY!!!!!!

I've just abot HAD IT!!!!!  I've had blood tests, nutritionist consults, freaking PSYCH consults, sleep studies, heart studies, etc., etc., and I know they want to be sure I.m o.k. for this surgery, but PULEEEEEEEASE!!!!!!  There's a co-pay or deductable for each of these, plus trying to schedule around my work schedule, plus trying to find the places I'm supposed to go to (and find PARKING for these places) and I'm TIRED OF IT!!!!!!!  If this has all been some sort of test of my resolve, then maybe I'm not good enough for this surgery.  You know, if I was a really strong person with all kinds of will power and personal resolve and all that, I could stick to a diet and I wouldn't NEED this surgery!!!  Does everybody have to jump through all these hoops, or is it just Dr. Alan White of Roanoke, Virginia that expects all this "compliance"?  I'm sorry to dump on you guys, but I'm at a really low point right now - this has been going on since early May, and I just don't know how much more I can take.... 

I understand exactly what you're going through and it is a bit frustrating.  It was extremely challenging to find time in my hectic work schedule to make these appointments, especially since they seemed to be all over the place.  I used a lot of gas and sick leave to accomodate this plethora of medical appointments, not to mention the various co-pays.  And, driving in Northern Virgina is a trial in itself...no matter the time of day. However, it's worth it.  I had my lap band surgery on 13 June and two months out I've lost 28 pounds.  I am so pleased with the results of my surgery, plus all the care Dr. Halmi and Dr. Tran took to ensure I was ready for this medical procedure.  Because of their diligence, my surgery went without a hitch and almost no pain. This too shall pass!

While you may be feeling weary .. and a bit at your end . There are many of us .. myself included that would have jumped through the highest mud puddle .. dug the deepest ditches ..and done what ever they asked to get this surgery .  Compilance - This surgery demands compliance .. and you must be able to do all that your surgeon ask you to do . Hundreds of people are turned down every day . People just like you , who have done all the testing .. the poking the proding .. and walk out of the office with out a date .. and remaining Obese ..  Now is the time to take a look at how you are feeling about just the pre-surgical items . It appears that you are very frustrated . I am not saying you do not have a right to be .. but you need to understand that WLS is for life .. and there will be days when you may feel as if you have had it .. but there is no turning back .. there may be a day when you eat something that gives you the foamies all day .. and you vomit for hours .. or you dump and sweat ... this you cannot change .. or wait for .. it happens .  You really need a positive - true resolve mind set for this surgery .. and you have to be willing to change .. change how you accept things .. as the life you know now will not be the same life after surgical intervention .  Do we all have to do what you are doing .. for the most part .. to some extent .. I for one had the cardiac clearance .. the h-pylori test .. the physc test .. and I tell you this .. I would do it all again today to land where I am ..  I ask that you take a long look .. take a deep breath .. and just let it happen ..  Your surgeon has his or her reason for these test .. this surgery is second on the list right under Open heart surgery as being the most invasive .. so I would welcome the test ..  This surgery .. saves lives .. and will save yours too .. just take a step back .. and remember Rome was not built in a day .. and you will get to your journey ..  Many come to where you are .. and never make it past the door .. I pray that you get your surgery date .. and can begin your journey , I just ask that you remember these test .. waiting are not in vain .. they are to save your life ..  Best wishes ..  Natalie 

Yep, very frustrating, all the tests, work schedules, dr.'s schedules, etc.  and having to wait til it is all done to get the surgery.  Try to remember they are looking out for you and getting to know your body so that they can do this life saving surgery.  The first leg of the journey is testing & trying, you can do it, and we are here for you.

Yep, CF, been there, done that!  It took me nearly a year to get all the stuff done that was needed to get my surgeon to agree to even DO the surgery.  And then when he finally agreed, my insurance turned me down!!  At first I wanted to say, "ahhhh, the heck with it!!"  but I stood my ground, appealed my case with the insurance & about 2 weeks later I got my approval.  I had my surgery July 16th!

Would I do it again??  You betcha!  Was it worth it?  Oh yeah.

Now, one thing I DID do to make it easier was instead of going to all the doctors that my surgeon was gonna send me to, I instead got them all done where I live.  It's a 70-mile-one-way trip to see my doc.  I wasn't about to spend that kinda time or gas hopping from place to place so far away from home.  I don't know that you can do anything about the co-pays, but if it's a long haul for you to get to all those different procedures, maybe you can get them done closer to home.

Finally, let me play devil's advocate for a few moments & ask you this...

Which would you rather do?  Jump through all the hoops or say "forget it" & remain obese, tired all the time, out of breath, in pain, unhappy with your life, unhappy with the way you feel, unhappy with the way you look?  Don't answer right away, sweetie...just think about it for a minute or two.  Go look in the mirror & ask yourself if you like what you see.

It's a frustrating process, but there is method to the madness.  It all comes down to how much do you trust your doctor & how much do you trust the decision you made to have this surgery.  You'll find the right answers that work for you, hon.  I wish you nothing but great succes!