Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Starting my Journey.. TODAY! first appt!



Recommended Posts

Today i have my very first appt with my Surgeon! YIkes.. i am scared he is going to tell me that i have a ton of work to do before getting approved by insurance.. I also am afraid i will forget my questions! hahaha! any suggestions?? Or is there anyone that is at the first step of their journey too?

Edited by smile121

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Write your questions down! I had like a page and a half. They probably will tell you that you do have a lot to go through before then, but it will be worth it and you will probably get a ton of good info and feel better prepared for going though it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you Sweetie! are you glad you had the surgery?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am SO glad I had the surgery. It is nice to not think about food/meal planning all the time! I'm only 1 week post op right now, so I'm doing Protein shakes and Water right now. I am really glad I did it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Today i have my very first appt with my Surgeon! YIkes.. i am scared he is going to tell me that i have a ton of work to do before getting approved by insurance.. I also am afraid i will forget my questions! hahaha! any suggestions?? Or is there anyone that is at the first step of their journey too?

I am going on month 5 post op. I can tell you that the year it took for me to start and get to surgery was a lot of work and it got frustrating at times. I even changed surgeons mid-way. At the end of the day, though, it was well worth the hard work. I went into surgery knowing what to expect and how to keep my mind right. Its a lifelong journey and I wouldn't change the experience for the world. Best of luck to you. Fight the good fight. Your health and happiness are worth it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Best bet is it takes lots of notes, ask lots of questions (write each one down as you think of them!), and get a folder or binder to keep all the information that will be given to you. I found for me that organization was key to keeping everything together both physically as well as mentally. But believe me when I tell you...as much as it can be a bit stressful, it's truly all worth it in the end!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Keep a notebook at your bedside. The chances are that you will come up with questions in the middle of the night because you are thinking when you ought to be sleeping. I went to my first appointment with 17 questions.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Today i have my very first appt with my Surgeon! YIkes.. i am scared he is going to tell me that i have a ton of work to do before getting approved by insurance.. I also am afraid i will forget my questions! hahaha! any suggestions?? Or is there anyone that is at the first step of their journey too?

I have my first appointment on Monday. I know I have at least 6 months of hoops to jump through for insurance. I've kept a running list of questions on my phone/iPad. I printed out the pages of my insurance policy that tells what all I need to do to get their approval. Best wishes to you! I am so ready to be on the other side. It's been nice to think how different things will be this time next year.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My first appointment is January 7th. I'm excited. Wish it was already here. I'm sure I'll have to jump through pretty much that same hoops. I just keep going back and forth between bypass or sleeve. What are you getting and why.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My first appointment went well! I have 3 months with a dietician ... And a bunch of other tests and stuff! Feel free to friend me .. Looks like we may be on the same timeline : ) I decided on doing the sleeve.. It seems like the better choice for me.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My best piece of advice would be to never give up. And brush up on your frustration coping skills, because you're going to need it in spades. Maybe someday in the not too distant future the medical community will stop looking for ways to disqualify us, and will instead finally come to the realization that WLS has been proven over and over again to turn around weight related maladies such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and the like. The money they'd save on medication and long term care alone would easily cover the costs. They've yet to start thinking outside the box.

And don't drive yourself crazy by comparing your pre op and post op experiences to others on this site. You are a unique vessel. Your insurance hurdles will be tailored to your particular insurance coverage, and your lose rate post op will be a journey all your own. No two are ever exactly the same.

My insurance approval is a very long process. I started in August 2014 and don't expect to make it through those O.R. arches until sometime in summer 2015. Luckily I've met a lot of great people here, and so I have a lot of support to get me through the waiting while my airplane keeps circling the runway ad naseum.

You've definitely found the right place to help you with the answers you're seeking.

Best of luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It took me more than a year to the day--from very first appointment to surgery date, 07/14/14. Stated in June 2013. But like I said, I DID change surgeons half way. But once that SD was set it all went so quickly! You'll get there! Patience and dedication.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow a year is a long time. Either way I'm dedicated.

Keep on trucking! Don't get discouraged. You probably won't take as long as I did. Every ins is different.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • vsg.with.sharon

      Hey everyone!
      I’m new here! Looking for some friends! 🥰
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      Four days post surgery. I am sipping as fast as I can and getting NO WHERE near the goal of 60 - 80 grams of protein or the 64 oz of liquids. I just feel FULL. I don't know if it can still be the gas build up (I would think by now that would be gone) but it is a struggle to drink. And so far I have not had the nausea or spasms and don't want to wander into that territory by pushing too hard with liquids. I about passed out today as it was my most "strenuous" day. Went from second story to basement for shower and I was sure I was going to pass out. Looking back on my last few days I have had a total of less than 1000 calories. Am I just not getting enough nourishment in me? Once again a friday where I can't get ahold of the doc until Monday rolls back around so I am hoping maybe someone here has some experience on how to keep energy going. I do have fibromyalgia too and that may be where some added fatigue comes into play. How did you all fair with the goals the week after surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 3 replies
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

      2. Selina333

        I'm in Houston so kind of near you and had the sleeve in Dec. Down 61 lbs. Feeling better. Was definitely worth it. I hope the everything is going well for you. Update us when you can!

      3. Doughgurl

        I am back home after my bypass surgery in Tiajuana. I'm post op day 4. Everything went great! I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who have not encountered much pain at all, no nausea thus far and I'm having no problem keeping down broths and water. Thank you for your well wishes. I cant wait to keep up this journey and have a chance at better health and simply better quality of life. I know there will be bumps in the road ahead, and everything won't be peaches and cream, but at least I have a great start so far. 😍

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×