[cuppycake22410]

I'll start with my venting (I really have nowhere else to vent and I'm sure some of you will agree with me)
I'm sick and tired of having injuries/problems blamed on my weight! I have a herniated disc in my back, which my primary told me was due to narrowing in my spine. Yet the stupid orthopedic says its because I'm overweight. I wanted to punch him so bad. Same with my knee, I fractured it in 2006 in some freak accident getting out of my car, and it didn't heal right. But nope, its because of my weight! Urrgghhh!
Anyways lol. I'm seeing the surgeon tomorrow and I'm nervous, anxious, excited, scared, etc. What happened at your first surgeon visit? How long were you there?

[jiffypop]

My first surgeon visit: he told me he wouldn't perform the surgery on me because he wasn't sure I'd make it off the table!!! I'd just gotten out of a 5-week stay in the hospital, followed by 3 weeks in a nursing home, and was dragging around an oxygen tank.

my next appointment was two months later - and i'd lost a total of 84 pounds since being in the hospital. it was scheduled for mid-february. in the meantime, though, i had to get every clearance imaginable!!

[Sunshine73]

I've not had the surgery so I can't help you there...but I wish you all the best!!!

I can relate to everything being blamed on weight though. Got a cold? Lose 10 lbs. Allergies? It's because you're fat. Headaches? Lose weight already. Seriously, I understand that my weight creates and/or worsens many issues but to hear my doctors talking you'd think that every thin person in the world is the picture of perfect health because all of my health issues are being caused by my weight. Ugh!

[cuppycake22410]

Yea, my migraine problems have been blamed on my weight. I've had numerous head injuries, which I told you, thanks for ignoring me!
*sigh* no longer excited for my appt. The surgery center called me and asked if I had been getting psychiatric treatment as per the reccomendation of the psychologist. He totally twisted around everything I said and told me he reccomended I see a psychiatrist and counselor for 6 months prior to surgery. I told him I wasn't going to because I know me better than he does. So they told me since I didn't do the psychiatric treatment my insurance company will deny coverage for the surgery. So I have to see a psychiatrist, get evaluated to prove that I'm not crazy. Yes I admit I had depression issues, I cut myself for years which I told him, history of sexual abuse. I was on meds that didn't work. But I'm fine now! I took things I learned in counseling, applied them myself and I'm perfectly fine! Ugh it made me so mad

[Sunshine73]

Hang in there. I've never had WLS but I know many people who have and, as I understand it, the therapy/psychology portion of the treatment plan isn't about you being crazy but rather to ensure that you fully understand the life changes required by WLS and that you're capable of handling those changes in an emotionally and psychologically healthy manner. I think (and I could be wrong here) that it's quite a normal part of the WLS process for many people.