Hi everyone,

I'm planning on getting either gastric bypass surgery or the duodenal switch through Duke. I had to do a year of medicalized weight loss for my insurance. It will be a year on August 16. Does anyone know how long it typically takes insurance companies to approve surgery? Can you set your surgery date before you have approval (IE before August 16?) I'm so anxious that I will have to wait but I really can't afford to miss too much teaching, and if I got it done as close to August 16th as possible, I might be able to minimize my absence to a week because of when the semester starts.

If anyone has had any experience with the switch, negative or positive, I'd love to hear it. I'm really considering it because I have been fighting my weight for so long and it makes me so thoroughly miserable. The switch is more effective but is definitely riskier with more side effects. Also, I want to have a baby sometime following surgery (2 years or so?) so I'd love to hear any experiences anyone has with it.

Ugh, I'm just freaking out so much at the moment because I just went to the doctor for a routine check up and I feel the most intense self loathing after going to the doctor. I feel like a freakish specimen they're all disgusted by. I just want this surgery as soon as I can get it.

Sorry, this was mostly just a bunch of word vomit, but replies are appreciated. I don't know anyone who's had this, and my friends and family just don't understand why I can't lose weight on my own, so I'd just like to hear from someone who's actually experienced this.

Thanks for reading if you made it through!

I am having my surgery at Duke on July 3rd and they scheduled me before my insurance approval.