Pre NHS seminar. What should I be doing now?

[LadyLumps]

Hi All,

I'm waiting for second half of my assessment thru NHS - so in other words I'm on square one of many!

I have my next appointment on 17th July and want to put the time to good use.

I am feeling so motivated and positive now I'm finally on this path so I want to harness that power. But how?

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

 

[LadyLumps]

Bump

 

[Crystalrainbow]

First step taken your here lol .....

lots of research.... know your stuff.....try and put small things into practice....ie stop smoking/fizzy drinks..... start moving a little more..... I even practised the 20 20 20 eating I wanted to be well informed and prepared.

Not sure how far from surgery you are..... don't peek lol and then fall foul if things take a little longer than expected .... keep looking forward to that end date, it comes around all too quickly.......I think we all start to falter in those last few months then bang its here.... stay focused..... do all the hospital ask of you and go along to everything they offer, the advise will set you up for post op.....

of course if your closer.....time well spent preparing foods etc for the freezer for immediately post op

either way hang in there........ and good luck x x x x

 

[los in it]

Here here cystal I agree with you , its all the little things you put in place BEFORE your impending WLS that can make all the difference ie making up some kind of exercise plan, nothing fancy just a short walk using weights , reducing your meal sizes, using a smaller plate trying not to drink for a least 30 minutes after a meal( now that I find still tough after nearly 9 months, so try to get use to that one!)
Try to be in the best shape psychological and in body and this will show commitment on your part
Last but not least do your research that will help you to really understand what is ahead of you , then always ask people on here for advise no question is ever daft someone would have thought about it long before you!
Good luck

 

[LadyLumps]

Thanks so much both of you. And sorry for not having replied sooner, been off the grid for a couple of days!

I haven't heard of 20 20 20 eating but will read up on it.

Also the drink ban at meal times. I think I too will find that one a challenge! So I'll get practising it now like you say

And to answer your question, Crystalrainbow, I'm still a long way off as just starting NHS route so square one but keen!

Thanks again! I appreciate your advice so much x

 

[LadyLumps]

Hi all! Quick update as I had my second appointment yesterday. Feel a bit down because I feel like the process will take longer than I thought.

Talked about what holds me back from losing weight. In short, planning, head hunger, physical issues that make exercise harder, sometimes overwhelming emotions, sometimes social pressure. These are the main ones for me.

Will be joining the next seminar cohort starting September. I think the group element will be good. Support and fun!

Will be keeping in touch with the lady who assessed me, will see her about every 3 months or so.

Will have a few dietics one-to-ones to crack portions/planning/nutrition issues (I do make it sound easy don't I! Haha)

And... I don't have a target weightloss yet..... but I requested for my weightloss since my very first appointment be counted cos I've been doing alright in the last month (1.8 kg down).

And I'm a bit frustrated to still not know much about timescales. I know 12 months is mandatory... but 12 months from when? I understand seeing the surgeon is key but no idea when this happens. Hmmmmmm. Why do I always think of the questions afterwards??!!

Love to you all, thanks for reading, and if you have any info/advice please do drop it into a reply. Ta!

 

[Foxy789]

Good morning lady lumps sorry to hear your appointment didn't go great, my nurse told me straight off the plan so think I'm lucky that way, I've not been told of any seminars but I think I'd find this hard I don't like group things more stress than support for me, I think the 12 months should start from 1st appointment I'm happy for your loss so far I was told a rough weight target on first appointment but again I gave my next in August so will see how that goes x x I'm sure everything will be ok xx

 

[LadyLumps]

Good morning lady lumps sorry to hear your appointment didn't go great, my nurse told me straight off the plan so think I'm lucky that way, I've not been told of any seminars but I think I'd find this hard I don't like group things more stress than support for me, I think the 12 months should start from 1st appointment I'm happy for your loss so far I was told a rough weight target on first appointment but again I gave my next in August so will see how that goes x x I'm sure everything will be ok xx

Aww thanks lovely! It was okay really but just not too clear on goals. So I am just going to continue to take care of myself. Was feeling quite down the other day and was contemplating private treatment facilities near me - until I saw the cost

I am apprehensive about the groups but I am going to give it a go as they've said I can switch if I don't like it. I am slightly concerned it'll remind me of my slimming club days but I think they try v hard to make sure there's not much similarity

I'm glad you're doing well. That's great! How do you feel about the target?

My next appt is 7th Aug (can't remember if I mentioned that in my update above, and can't see it any more!) so not long to wait before hopefully finding out a bit more. xx

 

[Foxy789]

She said I had to loose 1 stone and a half in a year I believe it's doable I've not changed anything really but lost a little bit helped by a lung infection but now I'm using the chocolate again to make me feel better ? which is ultimately my down fall and the reason my weight has rocketed in the last year again is managed to keep 6 stone off for 5 years till a number of things combated against me. I'm confident that I will be able to take it off and keep it off till surgery I hope x

 

[sheffieldamanda]

It took me 18 months from referral from GP to having my op....attended sessions with dieticians, physio's, psycgologist. After a year I was referred to the hospital.....though it was more like 14 mths before I got an appointment, then a 4 month weight for surgery. Obviously every health trust is different & have their own criteria....but do you know what? The time went by really quick! I also knew that after all that wait I was definitely sure I wanted the surgery & I'd done lots of research so I was fully prepared. Good luck.....and cut down on the chocolate!! x

 

[LadyLumps]

She said I had to loose 1 stone and a half in a year I believe it's doable I've not changed anything really but lost a little bit helped by a lung infection but now I'm using the chocolate again to make me feel better ? which is ultimately my down fall and the reason my weight has rocketed in the last year again is managed to keep 6 stone off for 5 years till a number of things combated against me. I'm confident that I will be able to take it off and keep it off till surgery I hope x

Aw nooo sounds like you've been through the mill. It's great that you kept 6 stone off for five years though. Losing weight is v hard but if you ask me, maintaining is also very hard in so many ways - maybe even harder than losing! So if you've done that, you are so right to be confident in your ability to get the 1.5 stone off! xxx

 

[LadyLumps]

It took me 18 months from referral from GP to having my op....attended sessions with dieticians, physio's, psycgologist. After a year I was referred to the hospital.....though it was more like 14 mths before I got an appointment, then a 4 month weight for surgery. Obviously every health trust is different & have their own criteria....but do you know what? The time went by really quick! I also knew that after all that wait I was definitely sure I wanted the surgery & I'd done lots of research so I was fully prepared. Good luck.....and cut down on the chocolate!! x

Hi Amanda,

Thank you so much for sharing your timescale and the structure of your journey through the system! I find it reassuring that the time went quickly. So far I'm finding the same and I guess while 18 months sounds like a long time it's really not when you're in the middle of it just getting on with life. I am glad that by the time I arrive at the surgery I'll be absolutely sure and hopefully pretty well sorted in my head too.

I've just moved the fruit bowl so that I have to pass it to get into the kitchen. You wouldn't think so but it's stopped me grabbing so many other snacks. And I am a pro snacker so I'm shocked it's working but it is!

 

[LadyLumps]

Hi all!

So... another update. Had my third appointment today, and was asking about timings. Fortunately, because I have sleep apnea, I only have to stay in Tier 3 for six months and I only have to lose 5% of my body weight. Both of these pieces of news were very much welcomed by me

Unfortunately, the surgeon's waiting list is long and a 9 month wait once referred for surgery isn't uncommon. But I'm just glad for any reduction in time at all! On that basis, I'd be having surgery next September and actually that feels pretty close.

So it's just seminars, dietician and more weightloss really. And getting my head around new habits. But yay

 

[sundown]

Hi all!

So... another update. Had my third appointment today, and was asking about timings. Fortunately, because I have sleep apnea, I only have to stay in Tier 3 for six months and I only have to lose 5% of my body weight. Both of these pieces of news were very much welcomed by me

That's really good news! I don't have any co-morbidities so that would probably be why I got the much longer wait and bigger weight target

 

[LadyLumps]

Yeah, sounds about right, sundown! It's a shame really because there are so many more ailments that come with being overweight than the ones that qualify for fast track.

Saw the dietician yesterday and she was pleased with what I'm doing so that's good news.

Next thing is seminar no.1 on 17th September!

 

[helenpizzey]

What qualifies you for fast track? Also if they ask you the lose 1 stone in a year for example and you lose it in 6 months do you get seen 6 months earlier?

 

[LadyLumps]

Hi Helen.

As far as I can tell, fast track = meeting the usual criteria for being referred to Tier 3 in first place + suffering from one of a list of weight-related conditions.

I'm not totally sure on everything that might be on that list (and it might vary place to place) but the two I know of are sleep apnea and diabetes. If you have one of those then in many places you only have to lose 5% body weight over six months before the team can consider referring you.

In my NHS trust (Gloucestershire), for anyone without a qualifying co-morbidity, they will need to achieve a 10% loss over 12 months. So the rate of loss is the same but you don't have to get as far if you have one of the conditions recognised.

That said, the staff said to me that it's not just about the numbers, so if you don't quite lose it all in the given timescale they will look at the bigger picture and will be kind. I don't think losing the weight more quickly will necessarily change things, sadly, as I think there are minimum timescales given by NICE. But always worth asking your care team in your area ;-)

 

[helenpizzey]

No diabetes or sleep apnea (I don't think) I do have awful restless sleep but think I'm just a fidget lol

 

[helenpizzey]

Looking into sleep apnea it looks like I do have a lot of the symptoms so I presume I'll be tested.

 

[sophiapink100]

Looking into sleep apnea it looks like I do have a lot of the symptoms so I presume I'll be tested.

Ask to be tested. I was tested