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Challenge to Raise Awareness about Weight Loss Surgery! Need your ideas!

Alex Brecher

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Alex Brecher    10,486

Alex Brecher
Posted

Hey BariatricPal Members,

Remember the ice bucket challenge to raise awareness around ALS? I was touched every time I saw a celebrity, a family member or friend of someone affected by ALS, or, honestly, any kind-hearted soul take the challenge to raise awareness about this important health issue. I was also inspired.

When I saw how much of a difference individuals can make, I naturally started thinking about weight loss surgery. I know each member of the BariatricPal community can make a difference, too. Each one of you who is grateful to your surgeon for a good WLS experience can help raise awareness about your surgeon.

And now I’m looking for your ideas! What are some ways BariatricPal members can help raise awareness about weight loss surgery and their surgeons? Would you be interested in promoting your story and/or your surgeon on YouTube? On Twitter? What other great ideas do you have?

Also, what motivates you to succeed? If we can get the message out to overweight patients who are considering weight loss surgery, we can help motivate them to find their own motivation and take the plunge.

So…all ideas are welcome! Thanks!

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111    118

111
Posted

I'm too much of an introvert to say to the world, "Hey! Look at me! I had bariatric surgery. I couldn't be healthy without it." I feel safe talking about it here because everyone understands. So, I'm not much for broadcasting my surgery to everyone, but I would like to participate in a more subtle way.

Every awareness campaign has a colored ribbon. ALS and autism awareness are purple. Diabetes is gray. Childhood cancer is gold. What should the WLS's ribbon color be? I like to knit and crochet. That's why I ask. Personally, I would like it to be burgundy. I see burgundy as a blood color - the color of health and vitality. Health and vitality are qualities in my life that I am lacking right now because I am morbidly obese. They are the qualities I will get back once I lose the weight. through surgery. I wouldn't be able to do it any other way.

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lorless    67

lorless
Posted

I agree with evenya, in that I would not want to broadcast my surgery to the world. However, if I meet someone who is wanting to have surgery I would highly recommend my doctor.

Sent from my SM-N900T using the BariatricPal App

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Frenchie1977    262

Frenchie1977
Posted

I don't mind sharing my story in any way asked of me, I should be having my surgery around the end of next month or early November at the latest. I am not a big Twitter fan but I would be willing to do you tube videos or whatever really.

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Diva Taunia    198

Diva Taunia
Posted

I'm the exact opposite. I'll tell anyone and everyone. :)

My problem is, I don't have an idea that tops an ice bucket. lol

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Go To Topic Listing General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions

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    • Aunty Mamo

      Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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