This post is a conglomeration of a few months of appointments, so it will be very informative.
So, last we left off, I hadn't been seen at the Bariatric Surgery Center (BSC) yet. I am happy to say that I have now been there three times.
The first time I went to the BSC was a group informational, and it was pretty much useless. It was located in the giant lobby of the building the BSC shares with other offices. I have to say, it was very weird being in a giant room with a couple hundred morbidly obese people. Though, the chairs were soft, wide, and awesome... so that’s a plus.
They went over types of surgery available, outlined the pre and post-op diets, discussed the risks (and their center's history of very few complications), the benefits, and so much more. I'm sure they answered a lot of people's questions, but if you're like me: you research your choices so much that you learned all the information on your own already. I was already sick and tired of hearing the same information over and over… but alas, it will never end.
The real purpose (for me) was the paperwork. I received a folder with anything and everything I need. Including a giant stack of paperwork (remember, I said need not want). I was instructed to fill out the paperwork, include a non-refundable check for $150, and mail it back to the center to officially enroll in the program. The $150 required is a program fee not covered by insurance. This covers the cost of support group meetings specifically for bariatric patients (I'm required to attend 3).
After a few weeks of waiting and being disappointed by an empty mailbox, I took things into my own hands and called the center. My paperwork had been processed and I did have an appointment date on file... the paperwork just hadn't made it back to me yet. She gave me the date over the phone, and I felt like I finally made some real progress!
I was super excited but also very anxious on the day of my first true bariatric appointment. I was told that I would be there for a few hours, and boy were they not joking. Unfortunately, at least 1/3 of that was sitting around waiting for different people.
First, I was triaged by the nurse. This included taking my weight (the enormous scale was mildly amusing), going through the medical history I sent them in the mail, and more; it was basically a bunch of standard "doctor" stuff.
Next, I finally got to meet with my surgeon! My surgeon is Dr. Taewan Kim.
He was pretty awesome actually; he was laid back with great "bedside" manner, but he was also very clear and informative. We went through more stuff I have already heard (they really pound a lot of stuff into your head to make sure you really get that you need to change your lifestyle). We also talked about and chose what type of surgery I prefer.
We decided on the typical (and most prevalent) surgery that is
Roux-en-Y:
(Creates a separate small pouch, and bypasses the most absorbtive part of the intestine)
(The rest of the stomach is left for the digestive juices)
The other choices are:
Gastric Sleeve
(reduces stomach size, but does not limit absorption)
and
Gastric Banding
(adjustable band is placed around the stomach to create a small pouch that restricts food intake)
(this was specifically discouraged by my surgeon for multiple reasons)
We discussed all the things I have to do before surgery; many of which I have already completed. Though, I still need to get a psych evaluation, and go to the group meetings.
Finally, I had to meet with a nutritionist. She took notes about my current eating habits, and gave me info sheets that are tailored to people like me (on the run (fast food habit), eating in the evening, etc.). She again went over what the post-op diet is like. We talked a little bit about the food pyramid, and then we were done.
One cool thing I must mention: their office is covered in bulletin boards with before/after pictures and thank you notes. It was very inspirational.
My third appointment was a month later. I only met with the nurse practitioner this time. Basically, it was just a checkup. They checked my weight (which was indeed a bit lower), and talked about how the month went. It was short and simple.
My next checkup appointment is on August 9th, and I'm super excited. If things go well *crosses fingers* they will schedule my surgery then.
I have made weight loss progress, but I'll save that for another post because you probably have something else to be doing (now stop procrastinating and go do it).
... but before that, I just want to let you know: I know many of you may have questions for me. I am taking questions from my readers, and I will answer them in a follow up post. This can be from anything on the blog, not just this post. All you have to do is leave a comment with your question!
Photos retrieved from the Syracuse BSC website.
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