Getting Ready for the Referral

I asked my doctor for a referral for bariatric surgery. I told her I was reading a lot about it online and think it's for me.

She explained that a referral would be not for surgery, but for the bariatric program. Once in the program, it would be decided whether or not I would get the surgery. She also recommended I see the registered dietitian at our health centre, while I take care of other prerequisites.

I had some bloodwork, an electrocardiogram, and an in-home sleep apnea test. And I made an appointment with the RD.

RD was wonderful. Maybe they're all wonderful, I don't know, but I really enjoyed meeting her and working with her. We talked about goal-setting, motivations, how we make change in our lives. She had some great resources that I wouldn't have known about.

RD made a few suggestions on how I might be able to be less hungry, and how to put healthy snacks back in my daily routine -- something I used to do, but fell out of the habit.

I saw her once a month for four meetings. My work with her led to several changes.

• I bought this blender.
• I am drinking green smoothies.
• I bought this awesome container and bring four healthy snacks to work daily.
• I am making these babies which are delicious and so filling.
• I'm no longer eating pre-sweetened fruit yogurt, or eating them only occasionally as a treat. I was relying on them for convenient snacks, but they are very high in sugar. This was not a big deal to give up.

Meeting with the RD also gave me an opportunity to talk about my former eating disorder with someone who understands. But I learned that if I'm accepted into the bariatric program, I'll see a specialist RD who works only with bariatric patients. She's based in the city where the surgery will take place, a seven-hour drive from where I live. I don't know how many of those meetings will be in person and how many can be by videoconference.