[jamer5]

My husband is going in for his exam in a few weeks for WLS-and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas, suggestions,comments, ect about their experinces? I know the exam is very intense and I just wanted to get an idea what he is in for. Is there anything he should or should not do?

Thanks for your help

Colleen

[FlourGirl]

it would be helpful if you told us what type of exam he's going in for. I know I had quiet a few and I am willing to share what I've experienced but I'll need to know what exam your talking about.....

[jiffypop]

colleen - hmmm. we could chatter on and on and on and on about what happened to us, but what's important is what's on your DH's mind - so, if you could provide a bit more information, maybe we could help more.

[jamer5]

he is having a 3 hour exam mental and physical-I guess after that they will decide weather or not he is a good canidate. I just wonder why they turn down people-health issues, depression ect?
What frame of mind should he be in when he goes? I am nervous for him but know that his is what he wants and will support him.
Any thoughts would be wonderful
thanks
colleen

[FlourGirl]

I didn't have to have a three hour physical and mental exam. Is this something that the insurance company is requiring him to do??

I had a physical done by my PCP to clear me for surgery. It included blood work and an EKG. My surgeon that did my operation did my EGD. An EGD is a scope that they put down your throat to see if your tummy is in good shape. They look for ulcers and things like that. Your asleep so your very comfy.

I did have a psych eval. It was probably the easiest thing I did for this whole journey. The psych I talked to was wonderful. She basically wanted to talk about my weight issues and how long I've been overweight. Then she asked me what I expected from the surgery as far as end results. She asked about my support system and encouraged me to go to the support meetings that my Dr has for his gastric bypass patients. I have heard of some people having to do a very lengthy test (questionaire) for their psychs. I didn't have to do one and this again might be something that has to do with insurance approval.

I'm wondering if since he has to be there for so long that maybe they are going to do all of his testing in one day....EGD, EKG etc....and then the psych eval. That's nice that way because then your all done in one day...

[Leenie]

What type of surgery is he going for? lapband, gbp ?

[jiffypop]

AAAAHHH!!! i see now - i think.

here's the deal - they're not about to EXCLUDE him based on health issues or depression or anxiety. but rather, they're looking to check out his overall health. we gotta be healthy enough to withstand the surgery, and that might mean some intervention beforehand - like iron supplements, or the implantation of a stent to prevent blood clots in the leg from reaching the heart, or other exciting things.

AND they're looking for mental health issues as well - can your husband follow directions? does he have any psychiatric issues that might get in the way of following directions and making the necessary life changes? that sort of thing.

think of it as an ASSESSMENT rather than a process that looks for reasons to NOT do the surgery.

[jamer5]

Yes i think the 3 hour exam is everything wrapped into one. After going to the 2 hour info meeting he decided that GB was best for him-thought he would fail to easy on lapband. Any thoughts about that?

Thanks for you help
Colleen

ps you said that the doctor would ask about support-any suggestions from you all that have had the Gb on support? Ofcourse I will make him the food he will need ect. I will also excersie with him( I walk myself 4 to 5 times a week)but in the past i felt like his mother telling him what to eat and what not to eat and that he needed to walk ect- i gave up
because i felt as tho he need to want it-not just me making him do it-know what i mean?

[FlourGirl]

Jamer5 - support is alot of different things rolled into one. And I think it's also an individual thing. I like support but....I don't want to be smothered and treated like a baby. Do you understand what I mean? Helping him with his meals is wonderful BUT...don't be surprised if after you make him something if he takes one or two bites or tastes and pushes it away...don't take it personally...our tastes change SO MUCH after surgery!! Exercise with him...he'll need to exercise and he'll probably start out slow...just encourage him to build as he goes doing a bit more each time. Listen to him....or encourage him to talk to a psych. if that's something he's open to. Let him know how proud you are of him for taking this step...it's a big choice and he will change alot. Not only on the outside but also mentally....When it comes down to it I think the best thing you could do is to not only be a wife to him but to be his biggest cheerleader.....GO!!GO!!GO!!

[jiffypop]

support is great, but one key point is that the REAL responsibility is HIS and HIS ALONE. he can ask for help and support, but he's the one who chooses how to live, what to eat, how to eat, when to exercise, etc.

soooo, as Chrissy said, this is going to be a balancing act for both of you - he has a lot of stuff to learn and to relearn, and he has to decide if the process is worth the effort.

for many of us, it is. but it's not the right choice for everyone.

[jamer5]

you are right about it being what he wants not what i want.
we went through this a few years back when i had my 3rd child. we both did atkins he lost 30 pounds, i lost all my baby weight plus some-we were health and fit-but started to slip-and it seemed i was always nagging him about food and excerise-i finally gave up. i think things are alittle different now because he went about this wls all on his own. So we will see how it goes.
thanks for your help ect
i'll keep you posted his appt is a week from next monday
we havent really talked about much-there are alot of things going on with the kids(baseball,parties ect)so it been easy to be distracted.
thanks again for your help
COlleen