Friday 2 December 2011

One week on from PCT Approval

Well I am not sure what to expect at this stage, but after making contact myself with the Primary Care Trust (PCT) last Friday (25/11/2011) and receiving confirmation over the phone that my funding had been approved

I was half hoping that the hospital would at least contact me by either e-mail or letter to finally give me some confidence that I am heading in the right direction.
The PCT did say that they would write to the hospital by Monday, Has the letter got lost?
I think it's time for an e-mail to confirm my conversation with the PCT and really get some confirmation has to the next stage of my journey.

My next appointment with the hospital is not until 27/03/2011, so is that it till then?





Not a day goes by that I am not thinking about my journey and the
 "what if's".

Friday 25 November 2011

Contacting the Primary Care Trust (PCT)

After not receiving any confirmation on the funding approval for my surgery from hospital 23/11/2011, I decided to phone the PCT direct myself on 25/11/2011.
Once I got through to the main switch board and explained I was trying to check on funding approval for Gastric Bypass surgery which had been sent by the hospital, I was directly patched through to the correct department. However with great disappointment no one answered and I was transferred directly to an answering machine.

I Left my name, Hospital reference number, and what I was calling about, hung up and hoped that someone in the near future may return my call or advise the hospital.
Well I should have had more faith, as within one hour of calling the senior PCT manager called me directly at home, confirmed that he would approve the surgery funding and additionally would write to the hospital next week (28/11/2011) to confirm.

Wow......I am now on the home run and now have the green light for surgery; the big question now is when.

Thursday 17 November 2011

Waiting for Funding Approval


After contacting the hospital back on 16/11/2011, I still hadn't received any confirmation
as to the next stage or in deed if the Local Authority, Primary Care Trust (PCT) had approved my funding for surgery. So as suggested by the hospital, if I hadn't heard anything within a week, then I was to again contact them.
I really didn't expect the hospital to phone me, however if any confirmation was to be sent by letter then going by the past this may take a number of weeks before I got any correspondence, assuming that nothing had been lost in the system.

Not really impatient, but just really needed to know what was happing as at this stage not a day goes by without me thinking about the surgery and my journey.
When I phoned the hospital again they advised me that this could take some weeks, which was totally different to the previous week, when they said they should have an answer within a week. Not happy with this and without sounding negative or obstructive I asked if I could have the details for the contact at the PCT. I was given a name and asked to quote my Hospital 8 digit reference number.

The hospital did help in providing the above and after searching the internet I was quite easily able to locate a central number for the Local Authority PCT.
Decided to contact PCT direct, not only check that they had received the letter, but in fact made a decision about the funding for my surgery.

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Hospital request Surgery Funding

Today (16/11/2011) I received a letter, typed 21/10/2011 from the hospital confirming that they had written a letter to the Local Authority Primary Care Trust (PCT) and that as soon as a decision had been made regarding the surgery funding for my Gastric Bypass I would be informed.

This is now of concern as originally I was under the impression that funding had already been agreed, based upon my Doctor referring me.

So a lesson here is to check as soon as possible if you’re funding has been approved.

All I can do is now wait...& wait......& wait.

Friday 30 September 2011

Dietetics Clinic

 
When I visted the hospital (29/09/2011) I was presented with a letter from the hospital dated the same requesting that I attend and see the Dietician in the Dietetics Clinic 27/03/2012. The hospital did ask if the date was ok before booking, which it was. I guess the date was based upon xx weeks from the hospital visit.

I know that if the surgery is to proceed I need to be in good health and that most importantly my weight cannot be above 186.6 Kg, fully clothed. This was the weight I was when I l visited the hospital.

It's now just a long wait, "thinking and research period" as I have to be 100% sure that surgery is for me.

Support and positive comments appreciated...........................

Friday 9 September 2011

Vitamin D

Following the first visit to the hospital on 27/03/2011 a number of blood test had been taken and it was quite a shock when I received a letter from the hospital dated 25/08/2011 advising that vitamin D was insufficient at 42 nmol/L.
  When checking the letter another observation was that this letter was copied to me but addressed to another doctor within my local Doctors Clinic.
The hospital recommended that I commence on vitamin D supplement, prescribing Calcium Ergocalciferol BD, providing this did not contra-indicated by any other medical condition - which it did not.
Currently I am on no other medication and apart from being overweight I seem to be very healthy and fit. What did this mean.............?
Made an appointment to see my Doctor 09/09/2011 and said he it "was nothing to worry about "and that a simple tablet taken twice a day may well correct this situation.
The doctor prescribed Ddcal-D3 chewable tablets (box of 112 fruit flavoured tablets)





Starting taking these tablets 09/09/2011.




After searching the internet I found a number of key points and information:-

•Our main source of vitamin D is that made by our own bodies. 90% of our vitamin D is made in the skin with the help of sunlight.
 •A main action of vitamin D is to help calcium and phosphorus in our diet to be absorbed from the gut. The calcium and phosphorus are essential for the structure and strength of our bones. So, vitamin D is really important for strong bones. In addition, vitamin D seems to be important for muscles and general health. Scientists have also found that vitamin D may also help to prevent other diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
•Surprising as it may seem, many doctors are unfamiliar with the different vitamin D tests. If your doctor unknowingly orders the wrong test, he could conclude that you have a normal Vitamin D level when you are actually severely deficient.
•A normal vitamin D level has traditionally been set at between 20-56ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter). However, more recent studies have indicated that anything less than 50ng/ml should be considered deficient, as in my case.

·  Current guidelines for vitamin D blood levels are:
        Deficient: lower than 50ng/ml.
        
        Optimal: between 50-65ng/ml.                            

        Excess: greater than 100ng/ml




Tuesday 16 August 2011

Gastric Bypass operation


One of the treatments for morbid obesity is Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery, where major alterations are made to the digestive tract to decrease food intake.

Not for the faint hearted.
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery - Part `1 of 2

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery - Part  of 2

Wednesday 10 August 2011

Gastric Band or Gastric Bypass


I have decided to go with the Gastric Bypass surgery, rather than then Gastric Band.

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Whats on my mind?

For those who have gone through the same journey I have to say that I am thinking about a number of things, including but not limited to:-


•Weight Loss - How much over what time?
•Excess Skin - Well I guess additionally surgery can solve this if needed. 
 What looks better now or then?
•Food intake - Ok I have to change - no bread, rice burger in a bun,
  think I need to research more?
•Drinking - well not really a beer drinker these days, but like a pint like
  every man. Love my Whiskey?
•The operation and the risks - 1 in 200 people die with Gastric Bypass 
  and 1 in 500 with Gastric Band?
•Recovery - Will this be 2 or 3 weeks or even longer?
•Work - I know I am sad, but everyone has to make a living?
•Family - support and will they cope?
•Talk to - Who should I tell, why and when?
•Cloths -Will they fit me or will the weight loss be over a longer period of time?
•Cost - How much?
•Operation - Which one?
•Social interaction - Will I ever be able to go out for a meal.
•Lifelong medication - How long, yes for life and every day?
•Support - Can I get any?

So many questions and now time to think hard and do my research.

Is this journey for me?

Tuesday 2 August 2011

Follow up letter from Consultant

Today (02/08/2011) I received a letter from the hospital, and oh boy did my heart drop.

Good news or bad?

Well my jaw dropped to the ground, the letter seemed to detail all of the points raised in my 1st hospital appointment (15/07/2011), almost to word. Very detailed....well impressed.

The consultant that I saw was a Professor of Surgery and this of course gave me some confidence at the time that I was seeing a professional and not just some junior doctor.
The letter included weight loss history, medical history, employment, social history, support network, exercise, diet, motivation / current barriers to weight loss &| recommendations. The offer to make contact by e-mail to hissecretary was made and this was very reassuring in the modern day of communication.

The letter detailed my first choice, which was the Gastric band surgery and was very clear that whilst they will plan a final assessment nearer the time of surgery if my weight had increased they would have to regretfully cancel the operation.

Friday 15 July 2011

1st Hospital visit

My first appointment, how exciting…….. Visiting the hospital on the 15/07/2011 was really the commitment to seriously consider the option for surgery as I knew that something had to change in my life.

For anyone else who has taken the same steps, it's a demanding time and for many can only be experienced on the day by those who have take the same stepping stones.

I hate hospitals at the best of times, not only for that distinct spell they seem to give but the knowledge that this is a place of both happiness and sadness. The thought of all these things seemed to somewhat disappear as all I had on my mind was the potential journey I was about to undertake. I needed to remain positive so that the hospital could see that I was serious about the change and appreciated the risk and the life changing circumstances that if I proceeded I would have to undergo.

The appointment first involved a meeting with the dietician and then anaesthetist then finally the Consultant. After all this I returned to the main reception where I was directed to the to the department that took blood.

I was told by the Dietician that I must ensure that a weight loss has occurred and that most importantly I hadn't gained any more weight.

Some of the paper work I had received indicated that I must loose 5Kg? however when I last raised this all I was told was that I mustn't put any weight on.....easier said than done.

Did you know that in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales training is overseen by the Royal College of Anaesthetists. Anaesthetists in the United Kingdom are doctors who have completed either a five-year or six-year undergraduate training program or a four-year program open only to holders of a first degree.

Tuesday 5 July 2011

1st Hospital Appointment

Today (05/07/2011) I received my 1st appointment letter from the hospital.
This appointment will give me the chance to discuss some of my main concerns I hope and is due to take place 29/09/2011, meeting with the Dietician at the Dietetics Clinic.



At the moment I feel quite excited but also very nervous in moving forward.

Will I go ahead.......who know at this stage?


Tuesday 17 May 2011

1st Hospital Letter


Well here we go..................,
Today (17/05/2011) I received by first letter from the hospital dated 10/05/2011 to see the Bariatric (weight loss) Team following written request from my local general practitioner (GP)...... Doctor.
The issuing clinic was General Surgery and the letter was signed Surgical Outpatient Department.
The letter didn't give me an appointment time, but did state that the waiting time from Doctors referral was 13 weeks and that they would be in touch in the near future to confirm the date of the 1st appointment. 
OMG this seems a long time, but then again it’s a major decision moving forward.
Excited now and I am starting to think and take time to investigate on the Internet, especially about the hospital and the rate of success.
The internet is a great tool and search engines like www.google.com can provide a wealth of information for you.
What surgery was I to have....Initially I am thinking the Gastric Band, but hey let's wait and see.

Weight loss surgery is a serious surgical procedure that decreases the size of the stomach, reduces food intake and this will enable me to lose a significant amount of weight. It is a permanent procedure that requires a lifetime commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and this is my number one concern. Weight loss surgery not only helps you to lose weight, but can help improve your overall health, well-being and self-esteem which is just what I need mid-life.

Types of Weight Loss Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery, Lap-Band surgery and the gastric sleeve procedures are the three most widely practiced types of weight loss surgery so I am advised.
Gastric bypass surgery, the weight loss involves the surgeon using staples to the smaller, upper part of the stomach, separating it from the rest of the main stomach. The end result is that the amount of food I will be able to eat will be reduced. The small intestine is rerouted and connected to the smaller stomach pouch that the surgeon would create from the main stomach.

Lap-Band surgery, the surgeon would place a silicone rubber band around the top of my stomach; this would create a very small stomach pouch. When I would eat, I would feel full very quickly. Food slowly flows from the smaller pouch into the lower part of my stomach and then into the rest of the digestive tract.
Gastric sleeve surgery uses a keyhole approach that involves the use of a laparoscopic tool that is inserted through small incisions. The laparoscopic tool provides a visual guide to the inside of the abdomen during the procedure.