On the road to a sleeved life.

[Besel]

Just wanted to pop in and say hi. My story echoes a lot of what I have read here. I've been chubby as long as I can remember and the past 15 years that has slowly but steadily crept up to morbidly obese. Have yoyo-ed my way through my teens and twenties. Had another attempt at weight loss in my thirties by seeing a specialist therapist. Very little weight came off, but I learned so much about myself and my completely messed up relationship with food. Now that I'm in a very good headspace I'm ready to take the plunge and change my life for the better. I'm still very very early in my journey and waiting to speak to surgeons and GP in the next 2 weeks. But I wanted to say thank you. So far, reading your stories on here has been inspirational, motivational, scary as hell, comical at times and educational. I'm looking forward to hanging out with you guys and share the good, the bad and the ugly. Going on the reactions from the handful of people I have told in real life, I'll need your support. Most seem to think I shouldn't be doing this and 'just eat less and burn more'. I'm sure that sounds familiar to a lot of you. Anyway, hi and see you around!

 

[los in it]

Hello newbie! Welcome to what I think of as a lifeline ! You will find supptive guys and gals here , all having in one way or another been where you are now
I wish you lots of lunch

 

[Kekse]

Welcome from me in Essex. My husband has had his sleeve for 2 months and is now 94.7kilos.

 

[LadyLumps]

What a lovely post, BESELondon!

Your story resonates with me - I too had to address my rubbish relationship with eating before I could even think about WLS.

It was hard as I had to completely set weight loss aside and not think about weight for as long as it took to get my head healthy again - I expect you had to do the same. Not easy when I knew I was very obese.

But anyway, now here we both are! And I think you're definitely doing things the right way around by having got your psychological ducks in a row first. The journey isn't without its challenges and pitfalls, and old demons can linger, but a strong start can make such a difference.

I have no doubt it'll stand you in good stead. And this site is a brilliant source of support as you know, so hi and see you around

 

[Besel]

Thanks guys!

First two appointments this week.

I've been very nervous the past week, completely preoccupied with still trying to find as much info as I can to prepare myself.

This is probably one of the hardest decisions I've ever made.

 

[Besel]

Oh and has anybody had any luck contacting their local CCG to get more info on their eligibility criteria or the local procedures?
Contacted them a week ago and nothing yet.

On a completely different note; as my BMI is just over 40, I'm scared to lose any more weight before seeing my GP and risk being told I don't qualify if I dip under 40.
Also, if I am referred for tier 3, lose the required 5 or 10% in 12 months, again, I'll be under 40.

Does that matter at all? How strict are they?

My head and stomach are most definitely confused at the moment. To lose or not to lose, has been the dilemma of the week!

 

[xk1rstyx]

Oh and has anybody had any luck contacting their local CCG to get more info on their eligibility criteria or the local procedures?
Contacted them a week ago and nothing yet.

On a completely different note; as my BMI is just over 40, I'm scared to lose any more weight before seeing my GP and risk being told I don't qualify if I dip under 40.
Also, if I am referred for tier 3, lose the required 5 or 10% in 12 months, again, I'll be under 40.

Does that matter at all? How strict are they?

My head and stomach are most definitely confused at the moment. To lose or not to lose, has been the dilemma of the week!

Hiya and welcome.

I'm in a similar position with bmi mine is 40.6 so only jus over 40 If I was to lose 2lb I wouldn't fit the criteria. I'm trying to maintain so that when i go I can prove iv been the same weight for 4 months which shows I'm in a gd place and not still gaining. My gp did say if I lost and fell below 40 to say that I was having trouble with sleep and snoring so possible sleep apnea so losing a fee pounds would help with that. Iv been told iv been accepted got surgery and already have funding over the phone.
I have my 1st appointment with surgical team on 18th September. I'm hoping as I'm at the right bmi n it's not too high and that iv proved I can maintain my weight as well that they won't set me a weight loss target.
I think the important think is that your bmi is over 40 at gp referral so it's on record then after that I think your fine unless it's drops drastically to like 30 but of we could make that happen we wouldn't b having surgery lol.
Gd luck and let me know how u get on this week plz.

Kirsty xx

 

[Besel]

I know this is a WLS forum, so not sure you want to hear about the very first steps leading up to making the decision and wading through the different professionals and mountains of info available online.

So please tell me to go away :wave_cry:

Until then...

I had my GP appointment today.

I was so prepared to present my case, but completely forgot I had to cram 20 years of food/eating/weight loss history into 10 minutes!
Oh well, I think I got the most important bits across.
GP, bless him, didn't really know much about the local protocol and didn't have any answers re the borderline BMI.

He was reading out the guidelines and said I would probably have to try medication first and do the 12 month MDT thing. None of what I have been doing in the past few years counts towards that.

Does anybody have any experience with Orlistat? Not too keen on it to be honest.

He got the ball rolling by ordering bloods to check for co-morbidities. Next week is my official health check to record my weight, height, blood pressure,...
(No idea why he couldn't do that right there and then...oh yeah...the 10 minute slot.)
Once he's got all that, he'll call me back to discuss the next step (the 5 minute phone call - you've got to love the NHS! )

He was happy to provide follow up for bloods, medication, vitamins if I would go abroad, so that is helpful to know.

I'll wait and see what the surgeons abroad say next week, but at the moment, I'm leaning towards doing it the NHS-way (if I qualify) so let the hoop jumping begin.

I also ventured over to a US WLS forum yesterday and o my word. The complications section scared the living daylights out of me.
I know this is major surgery and things can and do go wrong. But reading post after post of how people were in septic shock, had to be resuscitated, spent weeks or months in hospital really made me think.
Yes, this is serious stuff.

I'll read a few more of your motivational posts on here tonight to balance things out in my head

 

[Besel]

Hiya and welcome.

I'm in a similar position with bmi mine is 40.6 so only jus over 40 If I was to lose 2lb I wouldn't fit the criteria. I'm trying to maintain so that when i go I can prove iv been the same weight for 4 months which shows I'm in a gd place and not still gaining. My gp did say if I lost and fell below 40 to say that I was having trouble with sleep and snoring so possible sleep apnea so losing a fee pounds would help with that. Iv been told iv been accepted got surgery and already have funding over the phone.
I have my 1st appointment with surgical team on 18th September. I'm hoping as I'm at the right bmi n it's not too high and that iv proved I can maintain my weight as well that they won't set me a weight loss target.
I think the important think is that your bmi is over 40 at gp referral so it's on record then after that I think your fine unless it's drops drastically to like 30 but of we could make that happen we wouldn't b having surgery lol.
Gd luck and let me know how u get on this week plz.

Kirsty xx

Hi Kirsty,

your first appointment with the surgical team on the 18th, is that the beginning of your MDT intervention?

Did you say you got accepted for surgery already, regardless of the outcome of the MDT intervention? If so, that sounds a bit more reassuring. I don't mind a very long prep time, as long as they don't turn around after 12 or 18 months saying it won't be happening after all.

 

[xk1rstyx]

Hi Kirsty,

your first appointment with the surgical team on the 18th, is that the beginning of your MDT intervention?

Did you say you got accepted for surgery already, regardless of the outcome of the MDT intervention? If so, that sounds a bit more reassuring. I don't mind a very long prep time, as long as they don't turn around after 12 or 18 months saying it won't be happening after all.

Hiya what does MDT mean??

I have been working with my gp since 2008 to lose weight and back in 2009 I took reductil also known as sibutramine for 10 months and lost almost 6 stone it was brill. The medication was an appetite suppressant so stopped me being hungry and I was on less than 1000 calories a day. The med has since been banned as it cause heart attacks or something.

After I stopped taking meds I put 2 stone on in a year then had a baby and out another few stone on.

My gp gave me orlistat foe about a year which I hated tbh, I did lose some weight but after stopped taking them gained it all back plus some more.

It was my gp who recommended surgery as he believed we had tried everything else. I think this is why iv gone straight to surgery team and not tier 3 as iv tried all the diets and medications already.

My first appointment is with the surgeon, bariatric nurse, and dietician all in the same day, then said I will have to see the psychiatrist, anesatist and attend a group meeting. After all that hopefully pre op and surgery date.

I called my surgeons secretary as the letter explain all that shocked me as I was expecting to do 12 months weight management but she told me that I qualify for funding and have been accepted else I wouldn't be attending the clinic and that my appointments are jus to make sure I'm fit for surgery.

They recently cancelled my appointment and put it back two months so I called the secretary back and had a moan. She personally spoke to the surgeon about my case and he was happy to bring my appointment forward so I know I'm definitely being seen for the op.

All I can do is wait and see what happens on the 18th but iv been led to believe I'm guaranteed the op and it should be around 6-9 months maybe sooner. I hope that's right but time will tell.

Hope this helps sorry iv rambled on a little haha

Kirsty xx

 

[Besel]

Ahh. Yes that makes sense. Thanks!

MDT is the multidisciplinary team (nutritionist, psychologist, physio,...).

Glad all is moving along for you!

Keep us posted.

 

[xk1rstyx]

Ah so I suppose my first appointment is sort of with MDT then but it's not to prove I qualify or get funding as iv been passed for both already it's more for my health and to see if I'm in the right mind set for what the op and life after op entails. I can't wait to get the first appointment out the way so can stop hoping and guessing and get the facts.

Kirsty xx

 

[xk1rstyx]

Had a call today from the specialist nurse and she told me my funding is already in place. I don't have to do tier 3 as there isn't one in my area. I'm pretty much guaranteed the op my appointments are to help me choose the surgery type but I'm gna choose a sleeve. Examine my history or diets etc and help me change my lifestyle for the future said will b a minimum of 6 months till op and they will set me a weight loss target I have to achieve before they give me surgery date. I'm so excited for September 18th and 6 months won't b too bad as with Xmas and everything to focus on and having 3 kids the time will fly by plus all the hospital appointments I will b going to.

Kirsty xx

 

[Besel]

That's great Kirsty!

Good luck!

 

[vickyryz]

Hi Kirsty
That sounds really great, would you mind me asking where you live and what your BMI is? I think I'm in a similar situation and am anxiously awaiting my MDT on Friday! I so hope they will recommend me for surgery - thanks
Vicky

 

[Becg7]

Hiya I'm from London too

 

[Foxy789]

I'm really happy for you dead disappointed i need to do tier 3 for a year ? bet you can't wait not long now x

 

[xk1rstyx]

Hi Kirsty
That sounds really great, would you mind me asking where you live and what your BMI is? I think I'm in a similar situation and am anxiously awaiting my MDT on Friday! I so hope they will recommend me for surgery - thanks
Vicky

Hey Vicki I'm from walsall ish so I'm under walsall manor. My bmi is 40.6 so only jus qualify as no Co morbids. I do have arthritis but as Iv not been in medication long term for it may not count. But as my BMI is over 40 I qualify without Co morbids. Where are you from and what stage are you at?

Kirsty xx

 

[vickyryz]

Hi Kirsty
My BMI is 44 with no cor morbits either and I've just been referred to tier 3! I live in West Sussex and should have read your thread probably then I would have known where your from - sorry!
My first meeting with tier 3 is tmr and I'm just so desperate to find out whether they'll make me by
I through exercise and diet hoops for a year or if they'll pop me straight onto the pathway to surgery! I guess I'll just have to wait and see (I'm a bit of a control freak) but I gather everything WLS related within the nhs has changed recently so will see and let you know how I get on. All the best of luck I. Your journey x

 

[xk1rstyx]

Hi Kirsty
My BMI is 44 with no cor morbits either and I've just been referred to tier 3! I live in West Sussex and should have read your thread probably then I would have known where your from - sorry!
My first meeting with tier 3 is tmr and I'm just so desperate to find out whether they'll make me by
I through exercise and diet hoops for a year or if they'll pop me straight onto the pathway to surgery! I guess I'll just have to wait and see (I'm a bit of a control freak) but I gather everything WLS related within the nhs has changed recently so will see and let you know how I get on. All the best of luck I. Your journey x

Hi Vicky the main reason I haven't had to do tier 3 I'd because there isn't one in my area which is lucky for me but unfair for other. Iv been told iv qualified for surgery and already have funding jus gotta go through the motions of initial appointments then get my surgery date said about 6 months plus. Let me know how u get on tomorrow.
Good luck
Kirsty xx