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Hi, my name is Ronda. I have been a bariatric patient for 10 years now. Initially, I had RNY done and lost 85 pounds with it. My maintenance was steady for about 5 years, but started declining--regained weight, bone loss, anemia, circulatory and cardiac problems. I have hypertension, but am severely allergic to those drugs for treatment. Weightloss and management is the only way I have of keeping my health in good shape. In 2007, I went to a new bariatric surgeon to seek an evaluation on my prognosis; he said revision surgery was needed to attend to severely stretched stoma. Insurance always held strong opposition to any treatment for my problems. This visit, Dr. tried 2 times to appeal the insurance for treatment--failed both times. Some time passed, and I had changed employment status and my healthcare needs were being covered on State Medicaid. This time, I learned that my bariatric treatment was covered under my Medicaid plan, but would need evaluations from the pulmonologist, cardiologist, psychologist, and dietician/nutritionist, in addition to following a dr-supervised weightloss plan with my pcp--I started all of this last September. It took solid 9 months of negotiating coverage and ultimate surgery that I had with my doctor on May 31st here in Phoenix. AZ. I am 3 weeks postop now. My loss is 23 pounds, and still mostly blender shakes and some pureed foods. I find that I don't really like what I ate preoperatively. Most of the foods taste too sweet--even if sugarfree. I had laparoscopic surgery so the healing is great--just unable to lift anything yet. I am driving, and doing most of my chores as long as I don't lift anything over 15 pounds. I walk the malls, and try to keep busy per dr's orders. Yet that is a challenge now that we have 110 or hotter days coming this summer. I still keep at it, tho. I know my surgery was a gift from God--in every sense of the word, as was the initial RNY procedure back in 2001. Both surgeries saved my life! Forever, will I be indebted to the Powers that Be.