Hi everyone!

I’m just starting my process and was hoping maybe you all could give me some feed back of your beginning experiences. I’m very fortunate to have an insurance plan provides coverage for bariatric surgery (I am not sure which procedure I will be having yet- appt with surgeon is on 3/25). I just spoke with the coordinator at the surgeons office and she said that I have the option of doing a 12 month nutrition program through my pcp, or I can meet with their nutritionist for 12 visits at $35 each that insurance doesn’t cover. They have it set up that I am doing two nutrition appointments a week, so that meets the insurance requirement around mid May. Did anyone else have that happen? What was it like for you?

I look forward to conversing with you all during this process. This is a big step and I have read people’s stories on this site and it is truly inspiring.

no - I had to do it for six months, meeting either my PCP or a dietitian at least once a month, but they didn't really care where I did it, as long as it was documented.

My insurance required a six month monitored weight loss program. I had to go to both the bariatric surgeon and see a nutritionist in that time. It helped that I also attended a weight loss support group that the nutritionist held... it took three weeks to get approved though so even if they tell you it'll take two weeks be prepared to wait about three just in case they bide their time like my own insurance company did.

Congrats on the start of your journey!

Thanks for the great feedback! Ugh, insurance definitely likes to take their sweet time.. I feel like this time is going to fly. I’m cautiously optimistic. I’m trying not to get too excited.

Awesome Job on choosing self-care. I opted for the nutritionist. I’ll tell you why. This is a MAJOR change in your life and it should be a journey of celebration. I love my PCP but that’s what he is- general. My nutritionist has been AMAZING. She is SPECIFICALLY TRAINED IN Bariatric nutrition needs and has worked with 1,000’s of patients with long term success.

Bariatric nutritionist can guide you through your specific journey, listen and partner. They can give you resources a PCP can’t and prepare you for surgery and life after surgery.

I felt completely prepared. All my anxieties were relieved and I got into HEALTHY Bariatric habits that made the transition easier. I’m 7 weeks post and am so glad I choose a nutritionist who specializes in Bariatric- no mixed messages. Bariatric living has become a habit I don’t even think about.

Worth the extra $ - you’ll get what you need - not just push through the insurance checklist.

Hope this helps and congrats ? on your journey. You deserve to look and feel good!

Best,

Christina

Thank you so much Christina! That was very encouraging and gives me confirmation I’m stepping in the right direction. Same here, my PCP is great, but she herself has said she struggles with weight and tries every on/off label medication out there for weight loss. So a nutritionist definitely makes me feel more comfortable. My nutritionist will also be bariatric oriented.
I’m so happy to hear your success! Thanks again for your support ?

Yea along with pretty much everyone else , my weight documentation was for 6 months. But aside from that , it was required for me to meet with a dietitian and take several nutrition classes which were all set up by the surgeon's office. We all (patients) have access to them and always will which is really good. I recently had a question in reference to vitamins and all i did was call and left a vm and they responded within 24hrs in an email. My PCP is actually not involved at all except when he was documenting my weight for the 6 months as well as the Pre-Op physical thats needed.

Edited March 7, 20215 yr by MomOf2Boys_Keys

Ah I gotcha... the end of last year I had some annoying health issues and had an upper/lower GI with the H pylori testing, sleep apnea (I have extreme/severe type apparently), did telehealth with my cardio in November when I contracted Covid and it through my BP out of whack, and recently had an ekg and full blood panel in the last month (I’m pending an iron transfusion).. I hope these items can all be used as part of the surgeons checklist. Not so much that I’m trying to speed through the process, but it’s expensive to repeat and I’m trying to save days off work for my actual surgery.

On a side note- did anyone have self sabotage tendencies during the beginning stages? I feel like sometimes mentally I’m subconsciously trying to find all these reasons why NOT to do it, when in my heart I really do want it and am committed to making big changes. Good Lord I need some therapy. And I haven’t even really started!!! Sorry y’all for the crazy rant. But I know if anyone gets it, you do.