Bariatric Update
The bariatric surgery information session was interesting. What I was doing last year before the grief hit again hard in December is exactly what the pre-op lifestyle eating plan is, so I know I can lose weight before the surgery if I elect to go forward. I also have to pass the rigorous approval test. What makes no sense is that to even proceed you have to prove that you've been unsuccessful losing weight in the past, that nothing else has ever worked and surgery is a final solution. For me, that's not true. I've shown that if I put my mind to it, I can lose the weight.
What fouls my weight loss attempts is my reaction to negative emotions or stress and the resulting lack of focus on motivation interferes with my decisions (or lack of) regarding health. I become (more) inactive and I eat junk. That situation is something that this surgery will not fix and it was clearly stated that unless I can prove I have conquered that, then surgery might not be for me.
The session covered everything I had considered and was upfront about the risks. Something I did not know is that it wasn't until 2009 that Ontario enforced its policies that a general surgeon couldn't just do bariatric operations. At that time, the requirement became 50 bariatric surgeries per year to be considered a bariatric surgeon and maintain that designation. The trio of doctors in Guelph do 100+ per year each. That was somewhat calming. Ontario's medical programs give precedence to Type II diabetics because it essentially cures us, and that means millions of dollars per year not spent in treatments nor a large burden on the health system.
The social worker on the bariatric staff covered the psychological issues that one might encounter. A large emphasis was placed on not living alone, preferably with someone in your support group during the surgery, and preferably through the entire journey from pre-op to maintenance. I don't know what to do about that. She also talked about issues of self-identity, love, and sexual attraction because of relationship changes. She emphasized that this surgery is performed on your physical body. The effects on the mind should be about your health. It should not be undertaken to try to improve your self-esteem or to make someone love you more. The self-esteem increase might happen naturally thanks to better health, but it can't be relied upon as a result of the surgery. As for the love, the quote was "If you're in a bad relationship now, your partner might still be a douche after surgery."
All of this made sense to me, and I wasn't planning to do it for any reason other than health.
I still wonder about doing it. I was left with a large sense of dread. There is also a consideration that whenever I do this, I'll be using up sick and vacation time to cover all of the appointments. After the last two years of using most of that time for medical stuff already, I am loath to go through another entire year without the ability to enjoy time off from work. That's a short-sighted view, but it's still there.
The team also offered a medical solution using a prescription weight loss program (opti-fast) for 12 weeks. It's not covered by OHIP but do-able. It also assumes a weekly 3-hour medical appointment for 26 weeks. Since the appointment is more than 2 hours, I would be required by my employer to take a 1/2 day of vacation for each appointment. They have been very adamant about this, and the lack of desire to create a precedent that would let me work extra time to cover, so even on this non-surgical version, I lose my time to relax from my job.
Regarding a solution to my health, someone recently posed the question "How much are you willing to give up?" My answer is "I need a break from giving things up." I'm not referring to giving up cookies or potato chips. I mean giving up my time and resources. I feel I need a pause before I go through another major change, but I only have a month to decide whether I'll start this process (even if I am rejected).
Now appear the doubts about whether I am being short-sighted or sanity-preserving. In either way, I'm getting myself back on that dietary change. That can be done, no matter what.
What fouls my weight loss attempts is my reaction to negative emotions or stress and the resulting lack of focus on motivation interferes with my decisions (or lack of) regarding health. I become (more) inactive and I eat junk. That situation is something that this surgery will not fix and it was clearly stated that unless I can prove I have conquered that, then surgery might not be for me.
The session covered everything I had considered and was upfront about the risks. Something I did not know is that it wasn't until 2009 that Ontario enforced its policies that a general surgeon couldn't just do bariatric operations. At that time, the requirement became 50 bariatric surgeries per year to be considered a bariatric surgeon and maintain that designation. The trio of doctors in Guelph do 100+ per year each. That was somewhat calming. Ontario's medical programs give precedence to Type II diabetics because it essentially cures us, and that means millions of dollars per year not spent in treatments nor a large burden on the health system.
The social worker on the bariatric staff covered the psychological issues that one might encounter. A large emphasis was placed on not living alone, preferably with someone in your support group during the surgery, and preferably through the entire journey from pre-op to maintenance. I don't know what to do about that. She also talked about issues of self-identity, love, and sexual attraction because of relationship changes. She emphasized that this surgery is performed on your physical body. The effects on the mind should be about your health. It should not be undertaken to try to improve your self-esteem or to make someone love you more. The self-esteem increase might happen naturally thanks to better health, but it can't be relied upon as a result of the surgery. As for the love, the quote was "If you're in a bad relationship now, your partner might still be a douche after surgery."
All of this made sense to me, and I wasn't planning to do it for any reason other than health.
I still wonder about doing it. I was left with a large sense of dread. There is also a consideration that whenever I do this, I'll be using up sick and vacation time to cover all of the appointments. After the last two years of using most of that time for medical stuff already, I am loath to go through another entire year without the ability to enjoy time off from work. That's a short-sighted view, but it's still there.
The team also offered a medical solution using a prescription weight loss program (opti-fast) for 12 weeks. It's not covered by OHIP but do-able. It also assumes a weekly 3-hour medical appointment for 26 weeks. Since the appointment is more than 2 hours, I would be required by my employer to take a 1/2 day of vacation for each appointment. They have been very adamant about this, and the lack of desire to create a precedent that would let me work extra time to cover, so even on this non-surgical version, I lose my time to relax from my job.
Regarding a solution to my health, someone recently posed the question "How much are you willing to give up?" My answer is "I need a break from giving things up." I'm not referring to giving up cookies or potato chips. I mean giving up my time and resources. I feel I need a pause before I go through another major change, but I only have a month to decide whether I'll start this process (even if I am rejected).
Now appear the doubts about whether I am being short-sighted or sanity-preserving. In either way, I'm getting myself back on that dietary change. That can be done, no matter what.