This Is My Now...
So it's been interesting to say the least...
A week ago yesterday, I decided to attend a weight loss surgery support group that I had heard about that meets once a month in my area. The normal monthly meeting is more of a mingling, questions and info group; but the first time I decided to go; it happened to be the one month they had invited a surgeon who does Roux-en-Y and lap band procedures in Utica, NY which is about 3 hours away from my city...
I must say that I was nervous and a little anxious about going... not sure what it might be like. I asked my mother to come along with me as besides Sean I am hoping to plan my surgery so that she can be there for more support if needed. She drove, we used her new gps system to find the place and still missed the last turn - lol... but I am so glad she is able to be there for me, as at the last minute, my anxieties got the best of me and sitting in the parking lot, I suggested we go shopping or for coffee instead... Of course, she was not surprised that I had worked my nerves up a little, but she said well we're here, what will it hurt to go in; and I am so glad we did... I guess part of me is a little overwhelmed and scared as much as the other parts of me are excited, hopeful and ready to get this process on the ball so I can be on the other side and healthier and happier in my life...
One of my two closest girlfriends who I've had since highschool was also at the seminar, it was nice to see a familiar face. And funnily enough when the moderator greeted us, I realized she looked more familiar in person than the photo on her profile as I happened to be emailing back and forth on the obesityhelp.com website forumns before the meeting with her. She was someone I worked with at a prior job, such a nice lady and close to my age. She's had weight loss surgery already and lost quite a bit of weight and she really seems to be willing to help as much as she can so that people who choose this route do so for the right reasons and know all the risks so they can make informed choices. Not only did I know her, but she remembered my mother as the lady who matched her best friend up with one of the babies from one of my mom's previous litters of yorkie puppies. So that again made it a little easier for me to be less nervous.
So the surgeon explained a few items, then took questions from the audience that spurred the info session far into the second half which would normally have been more of a group meeting. My mom asked a lot of questions, I think this meeting really resolved some of her doubts and concerns as of course as my mother she is concerned with the risks as much as with the positive aspect of what kind of better quality of life this surgery might give me. He also highlighted what makes a successful candidate, what steps you need to take to start the process. He also brought his nutritionist, one of his nurses and his office manager with him to answer additional questions.
It was good to hear some of the bad experiences of other patients, as well as the successes. The surgeon wore a bow tie, he's fairly tall and balding, but he was open, seemed to be honest and respectful. He reassured people that weight is an issue for everyone, and I appreciated that he seemed to practice what he preaches when he said if he doesn't exercise and eat well, that he too could gain too much... Surgery is not going to magically make my weight disappear, but it will be a jump start to give me the time and the restriction to learn a new healthy lifestyle to not only lengthen the years I have on my life, but to give those added years the quality I deserve as well.
We were there from 1 until about 4pm, but once the mingling started and I was able to talk directly to the surgeon with my mom; we decided we had quite a lot of information, the room was pretty warm from the amount of people, and after talking to a few people, we decided to go. It was a very informative and informal session that made me feel better about my concerns and my choice to take such a drastic route to better my health.
So last Monday morning, I called the clinic this surgeon is related to and booked a consultation for early June and I am so excited about this, I feel like I am finally on the right track and finally have some real options as my appointment in Toronto is most likely to result in more waiting - almost 2 years if not more - whereas there is a real possibility once my province's insurance plan approves me to go out of country, I could have surgery in August, September or October - pretty freaking unbelievable if you ask me...
This has all left me a little overwhelmed, but more than anything inspired and excited, with of course a lot of nerves thrown in... I think I need to find an icon that I can relate to this journey...
A week ago yesterday, I decided to attend a weight loss surgery support group that I had heard about that meets once a month in my area. The normal monthly meeting is more of a mingling, questions and info group; but the first time I decided to go; it happened to be the one month they had invited a surgeon who does Roux-en-Y and lap band procedures in Utica, NY which is about 3 hours away from my city...
I must say that I was nervous and a little anxious about going... not sure what it might be like. I asked my mother to come along with me as besides Sean I am hoping to plan my surgery so that she can be there for more support if needed. She drove, we used her new gps system to find the place and still missed the last turn - lol... but I am so glad she is able to be there for me, as at the last minute, my anxieties got the best of me and sitting in the parking lot, I suggested we go shopping or for coffee instead... Of course, she was not surprised that I had worked my nerves up a little, but she said well we're here, what will it hurt to go in; and I am so glad we did... I guess part of me is a little overwhelmed and scared as much as the other parts of me are excited, hopeful and ready to get this process on the ball so I can be on the other side and healthier and happier in my life...
One of my two closest girlfriends who I've had since highschool was also at the seminar, it was nice to see a familiar face. And funnily enough when the moderator greeted us, I realized she looked more familiar in person than the photo on her profile as I happened to be emailing back and forth on the obesityhelp.com website forumns before the meeting with her. She was someone I worked with at a prior job, such a nice lady and close to my age. She's had weight loss surgery already and lost quite a bit of weight and she really seems to be willing to help as much as she can so that people who choose this route do so for the right reasons and know all the risks so they can make informed choices. Not only did I know her, but she remembered my mother as the lady who matched her best friend up with one of the babies from one of my mom's previous litters of yorkie puppies. So that again made it a little easier for me to be less nervous.
So the surgeon explained a few items, then took questions from the audience that spurred the info session far into the second half which would normally have been more of a group meeting. My mom asked a lot of questions, I think this meeting really resolved some of her doubts and concerns as of course as my mother she is concerned with the risks as much as with the positive aspect of what kind of better quality of life this surgery might give me. He also highlighted what makes a successful candidate, what steps you need to take to start the process. He also brought his nutritionist, one of his nurses and his office manager with him to answer additional questions.
It was good to hear some of the bad experiences of other patients, as well as the successes. The surgeon wore a bow tie, he's fairly tall and balding, but he was open, seemed to be honest and respectful. He reassured people that weight is an issue for everyone, and I appreciated that he seemed to practice what he preaches when he said if he doesn't exercise and eat well, that he too could gain too much... Surgery is not going to magically make my weight disappear, but it will be a jump start to give me the time and the restriction to learn a new healthy lifestyle to not only lengthen the years I have on my life, but to give those added years the quality I deserve as well.
We were there from 1 until about 4pm, but once the mingling started and I was able to talk directly to the surgeon with my mom; we decided we had quite a lot of information, the room was pretty warm from the amount of people, and after talking to a few people, we decided to go. It was a very informative and informal session that made me feel better about my concerns and my choice to take such a drastic route to better my health.
So last Monday morning, I called the clinic this surgeon is related to and booked a consultation for early June and I am so excited about this, I feel like I am finally on the right track and finally have some real options as my appointment in Toronto is most likely to result in more waiting - almost 2 years if not more - whereas there is a real possibility once my province's insurance plan approves me to go out of country, I could have surgery in August, September or October - pretty freaking unbelievable if you ask me...
This has all left me a little overwhelmed, but more than anything inspired and excited, with of course a lot of nerves thrown in... I think I need to find an icon that I can relate to this journey...