New appointment - Patience is key

Today I booked an appointment with a different doctor, Dr. Leclerc at Hotel Dieu hospital in Montreal for the 14th of December. I am still keeping my other appointment, just in case, however I have a feeling that this doctor would be my best option. He only performs the Lap Band surgery, therefore the patient rotation is quicker and waiting time is reduced. I could, possibly, get operated within less than a year, maybe 5 to 6 months.

So I have to be patient. I have my first appointment in September, let's start with this, and I've got the other one in December. I'm going to take it a day at a time, not rush into anything and keep myself calm. I've been feeling really anxious these days from all the information that's been fed to me, I need to relax for a bit.

I met a lot of interesting and inspiring people on the online chat room, and on Facebook. I believe to have the best support system in the world: my family, my friends and my boyfriend are all very supportive. I'm lucky.

Pre-op blues??

So I joined an online chat room today . Many women who have had the surgery and others who like me are waiting can go online and share their thoughts and ask questions! That felt good for about 5 mins until I became super nervous and actually started crying from being so stressed out. I'm silly I know...

But anyway, I sort ofgot this fear that I was going to change after the operation. That I'm not going to be myself anymore, after all these changes... I still want to be the bubbly Gaby that I've always been... I guess feeling this way is normal and everyone experiences fears and doubts.

Lapband - My journey to weight loss

So since I finally got a confirmation for my very first appointment with the surgeon at Sacre-Coeur hospital, let's just say that I have been really excited and stressed, happy but scared at the same time!

I've being doing lots of research, and reading blogs and chat rooms online about women who have had the surgery or who are, like me, waiting for their surgery date.

So far, I have been happy with what I read, seems like the wait long might not be as long as I thought it would be! But I won't rely on any of that until I get my own surgery date confirmed by the doctor.

So I am waiting... waiting and waiting.

I realized that I am still so young. 22 years old, energetic and full of life, but I am overweight, and have been my whole life. I have gone on diets, joined two different gyms, seen a dietician and cut down on my portions all to no avail. I am 22 years old and I have been clinically diagnosed with depression, anxiety and I am borderline diabetic. I am 22 years old. So I began thinking: I am so young, I have my entire life ahead of me, I am in love and I have a great job. Why waste it all away because of my weight?

I am glad I took my doctor's advice when she suggested I looked into getting the lap band surgery. I realize that this will be life changing. Not easy, but not difficult. I see it more like a little push in the back to help me adjust to a healthy lifestyle.

Once I get back from my appointment, I will know when my surgery will take place and I am expecting to get on a special diet plan. This is when I will decide if I should start a weight diary: weighing myself either weekly or monthly.

Lap Band - the begining

So yesterday I finally got a response from the surgeon in my town (I live in Montreal, the clinic is in Town of Mount-Royal, working with the Hopital Sacre Coeur of Ville Saint-Laurent).

I have my very first appointment on September 26th 2011. Am I excited? Yes. Nervous? Very.

However I cannot help myself but think of all the things it will allow me to do... Go to the gym, go to the amusement park with my brothers and my boyfriend... or even sit on a swing at a park. All these things I cannot enjoy because I am overweight and have tried every trick in the book..

I remember being 10 years old, having to rush after school to go meet with the dietician. Is that fun for a 10 year old? Ya think? NOT! Kids that age want to eat those cookies in the jar, not count how many portions of 250ml of milk produce they had in one day. They just want those damn cookies.

So here I am, on my way to being healthy. A healthy 22 year old, hopefully if it is even completed before my next birthday, or the one after, and so on.

I am meeting with my family doctor on September 16th, to follow up on my medication and blood tests. I have to do some more in November to verify my Thyroid gland.

At the moment I take 45 grams of Celexa, 90 grams of Seroquel and some Rivotril every now and then when my anxiety is unmanageable. I also take OrthoCept birth control, which is obviously to prevent from getting pregnant, but also to maintain a regular menstrual cycle as this had also gone bonkers, probably due to the weight.

I am hoping that with the surgery, my mood will increase and that it will have such an impact on my body and my hormones that I will no longer have to take such medication!