Long story short. My insurance company is horrible and so was the hospital I was going through. Two years later and three appeals, two rounds of pre-op tests and two consults, I'm starting over with a new surgeon and new hospital.

Today I had my first set of appointments. The difference with this hospital is amazing. First of all they got me in right away instead of making me wait up to an hour like the previous.

The psych appointment was actually helpful and not just a series of six questions. I felt like I had a therapy appointment not just a five minute list of questions.

The dietician was very nice and friendly. I got to stay in one place the whole time instead of walking all over the hospital confused.

At the other hospital your dietician meets with you in the same office as geriatric specialists which is a bit off putting.

I had a nurse evaluation which was informative and I felt like everyone really cared about me as an individual instead as just a body moving through the system.

I am feeling so much more hopeful about everything.

I found out I can use their gym for free for life which is amazing.

Now the nurse assesses my risk level and if it's low (it is), she calls in a few days to schedule my consult with the surgeon. I'm excited. It feels real again, I feel like I can do this.

Right now my relationship with food is utterly bizarre. I realized while talking to the dietician, I really don't eat that much. But I keep gaining because I don't get any exercise due to the pain in my ankle and my sedentary job.

I feel like I should be better than this somehow, like I should have found some way to work out without hurting my ankle. I don't want to make excuses. They said that they understood and they know when I start losing it's going to make it a lot easier.

While I didn't have exactly the same experience, my original choice in doctor's was the wrong one. He was rude and ended up being mad at me because I didn't go thru the appeals process, I chose to self pay with a much more experienced doctor. His NUT was condescending and snarky. I was so uncomfortable with the psych because she stared at me, then tried to get me to go to a paid seminar she was giving. It was bizarre!

I ended up going to the other bariatric office in for a consult and was welcomed, quite literally, with open arms. It's a great office from the doc, to the nurses to the NUT. What a difference.

I hope you finally get to have your surgery - maybe all this happened for a reason.

I wish you the best of luck!

Just wanted to say I am glad you have found 'your' program, good luck to you!!

It's funny how different the programs are!

I hate snarky NUTs. Skinny little bîtches....lol.

It was funny when the nurse asked me what diets I've tried I said "all of them". She laughed.

I have my consult set for next Thursday! Things are moving along!

I now have "surgery brain" again which is like pregnancy brain. At times I feel like I'm in a tunnel and all I can think of is surgery, the future, nutrition, vitamins, meals and all the changes. Then there is what is going on around me which I am filtering out depending on the importance.

I am having odd moments of forgetfulness like someone mentioned Paul Newman died and I had no idea or couldn't remember.

I have my consult in a few hours. I'm so nervous. I hope they don't take my BP because it's really high right now, I just know it,

I think my husband is very worried about me. He is afraid I might die. I used to be afraid of that but now I'm just not. I don't know why. I mean it could happen but I could get hit by a huge truck on the highway too.

I think it's just feeling really real for both of us now.

Who is your consult with?

Do you mean which surgeon? Dr Morales at DePaul.