SEPTEMBER 30-ORIENTATION MEETING

Larry and I went to Fremont(100 miles from Sacramento) today for the first of many trips to Fremont which is where my surgery will be. After signing in and being given a rather extensive manual about the process, expectations, and all that goes with it we sat through a 2 hour meeting with Dr. Christine Chu, a bariatric surgeon who talked all about the various types of surgery out there and the ones Kaiser performs which at the moment is the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Lap banding. She discussed the surgical process, the potential risks and the certain benefits, She also discussed the philosophy of weight loss being a 3 fold effort, surgery, exercise and mindful eating. Basically the philosphy is the surgery provides an 18 month to 2 year window to start over at square one and relearn good eating habits. If after 2 years you choose to ignore the new habits you've learned the entire process will be undone and you will end up where you started-FAT!
She discussed resolving any medical problems before considering surgery and the requirements of no smoking for 3 months prior to surgery (Lucky I'm Mormon!), giving up drinking alcohol, specifically beer (sugared and carbonated)and carbonated sodas. They had a nutitionist come in and discuss the need for proper nutrition prior to sugery and the supplements you need to start now (vitamins, protein) and diet. They discussed the post surgical diet and healing process so how to eat as you heal. The diet is protein based meaning you must learn to eat protein first, complex carbs next and anything else last. Because your stomach is made to be so small you risk a real problem with protein deficiency unless you change your eating habits. Vitamins can easily be supplemented (while protein will be supplemented in the beginning, it is not realistic to have to supplement it forever).

So after being instructed to go home and read this manual cover to cover we were informed we should be getting a phone call within the next month scheduling a consult with the surgeon and one with the nutritionist to actually start getting ready for the surgery. If all goes well at the Bariatric consult, surgery is scheduled, if there are things to be worked out the doctor decides what and prescribes appropriate measures to better prepare you for surgery. I am hoping things run smoothly and maybe I'll be a surgical candidate before Chrismas!