IndplsEric
Well...here goes everything. I think.
Jul 16, 2010
Last week, I dipped my toe into the waters of this whole bariatric surgery thing. I went to one of the many hospitals in the area and sat through a three-hour long informational meeting before heading to an exam room and sitting down with one of the surgeons. A few minutes later, he and I agreed that the sleeve was going to be the best option for me and provide the most benefits without as much risk as RNY. Cool...I'm all for less risks.
But my insurance requires six-months in a medically supervised program before they will consider approval for the surgery. So I scheduled an appointment with the doctor who oversees that program (I see her for the first time in three days).
I figured since I was meeting basic requirements, I might as well crank out one of the two pre-op surgical group meetings the hospitals requires I attend. That took care of an hour and a half out of my schedule last night. (Well, actually less thanks to a massive traffic mess...but that's another issue altogether.) The meeting focused on a married couple--one five (or six) weeks post-op and one 10 months post-op. Looking at the before pictures, I was very surprised at the amount of weight lost by the husband in the 10 months since his surgery. But as he talked more and more, my mind started to question things.
He works out an hour a day. Everyday. He is off his diabetic medicines. He expects to be off his CPAP machine in the near future. All due to the weight loss. But my mind started wandering
What if I devoted an hour a day to exercising? Would the weight come off on its own? How long would it take for me to go from buying 5XLT shirts to 2XLT...or even XLT? (In the ten months, this guy went from 4XL to L.) What if I voluntarily cut my eating back to a handful of ounces of food everyday? Swap out my precious Mountain Dews for protein drinks from Sams Club? Could I do this on my own?
I mean if insurance requires me to give it a go for six months on my own, what happens if I drop a good chunk of weight? Will they deny the surgery because I was successful on my own? Will they approve it even if I shed 50 pounds? So why bother putting myself through a surgical procedure and putting myself out of work commission for six weeks? Why not just do it myself?
Those are the thoughts running through my head last night. Today…well, I’m seeing some of the reasons I should go ahead with the surgery. I’m in the final stretch of a massive project at work and my stress level is higher than it has ever been in the 12 years I’ve been with this company. I am fueled by Mountain Dew and sugary snacks at the office to keep the pace that I need to. As I write this, there is a partial six-pack of 24-ounce bottles on my desk along with some fried chicken. Not exactly weight-loss food.
I know my life is stressful. Aside from the work situation, I am in the midst of a nasty divorce that has been going on for nearly two years. I am coping with a job reclassification that has impacted my finances. And I am still sitting here at 440+ pounds with almost constant pain in my lower back, knees, and ankles.
I’m on medication for my heart and blood sugar. I have sleep apnea. I am exhausted constantly. I get winded climbing the one flight of stairs to my apartment or my office.
I know the weight has to go. I know it is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever experienced in my life. But is surgery my only option? I just don’t know right now.
