I have done my research and made the choice to go with a gastric sleeve. I quit smoking last month and have since gained about 10 more pounds. I plan to have my surgery at Ohio State University and have sent in my application. My husband and I are both going to do it. I am so anxious about the application process. OSU has received my application, but I don’t have an initial appointment yet. What can I expect at that appointment? My BMI is just under 38, hypertension, and insurance covers the surgery. Any experiences would be helpful if you don’t mind sharing! Thanks in advance.

Well whether you choose Dr Needleman or Dr Noria, you will have a wonderful surgeon. Dr Needleman did my RNY September 5th and Dr Noria does my endoscopies every 2 weeks I developed a stomal stricture and 5 post-surgery ulcers, rare except on Bariatric Pal, we have quite a group here.
But I will never regret my surgery, OSU is a wonderful place to go. Everyone treats you kindly, they really want to make life better for you! I was in another bariatric program, nowhere as nice as OSU. You picked a quality place to go, in my opinion THE BEST! if you have any questions please ask. I'll be only too happy to help you any Way I can!???

In my experience, the first appointment was pretty low-key. They take measurements, talk to you about your goals, etc. Until the insurance approval comes back, they don't do too much.

Welcome and Good Luck! Congratulations on the quitting smoking. I quit too on Sept 25th mainly because i decided to do the surgery and my surgeon required 30 day smoke free before surgery. I am now two weeks post op and do not regret a thing. I have no plans on going back to smoking either.

Isn't it nice not to have your taste buds dulled? Granted some things have a different taste, but at least they are not all dead!

Quitting smoking is a challenge, but I can smell things. And things definitely taste different. A big “great job” to those of you who have quit as well!!
@Frustr8 - thank you! It is reassuring to know that I went with the right place.

Every step toward Better Health makes You a Better Person! I never had to eliminate tobacco, never smoked, but watched Late Lamented try weaning himself away, might work for a while, but new stressor, back he'd go. And at the end, when he knew he was dying and I and the rest of our family didn't, he made NO ATTEMPT TO STOP. His life, but no consideration for how we might feel, he broke Tomkitten's ?, bad. enough to hurt me but he never should have hurt our son, who thought the ?rose every morn8ng with His Help! That after 6 and half years, hard to understand, harder to forgive. Never realized His Self-centeredness until then! ?Sorry, This was supposed to be a HAPPY DAY!

And Rose Pillars how are you doing now? Have you both started on pre-surgery appointments? I have another appointment myself at Martha Morehouse with Dr Needleman January 15th, you never know, our paths might someday cross, after all its a small world we live in.

Rose Pollard, I don't know why my phone does not like your name, I think it and other flower names are very pretty.