This was actually my second journey to Bariatric Surgery. I had pursued it 15 years ago, started the process and chickened out. I did not want my insides rearranged and I thought I could do it myself. Well, I am a compulsive over eater and I have tried many diets multiple times and always gain the weight back over ad over again. I had reached 370 pounds and I am 5’9″ tall.
This time I did it!! I didn’t want the focus of my life to be dieting over and over and over again, I wanted to prevent some of the diseases that ran in my family like Type II Diabetes and I did not want to have a knee replacement revision (I have two knee replacements). Plus as a substitute teacher (Special Education) I found out some of the Special Ed students had nick names for the subs and mine was “Bubble Butt”.
Bariatric Surgery to me had more requirements then any other surgery that I know of.
It started with a choice between an introductory community meeting or an online presentation about the different types pf Bariatric surgeries and the insurance requirements. I chose the online presentation so I could get it done asap. When I called to schedule my first appointment with the Baraitric surgeon I had to wait at least three weeks so the team agreed that I could start the nutrition appointments.
I was also required to call my insurance company to find out if they covered the surgery. You have to get the medical code to do that.
This is the list of what I had to do to be able to have the surgery”
- 3 appointments with a nutritionist
- 1 appointment with an exercise physiologist
- 1 appointment with a Licensed Social Worker (psychological) it was an interview
- various blood tests along the way
- 3 appointments with the Bariatric surgeon
- an EKG
- an echocardiogram because the EKG was abnormal
- a chest xray
- a CT scan of my chest because I had a spot on my lung
- an endoscopy
- an appointment with a Pulmonologist (last minute requirement) because of Sleep Apnea
- a breathing test because of visit with pulmonologist
- more blood tests
I don’t think I forgot anything..it is alot of hoops to jump through and I did get angry along the way, especially with the last minute surprise visit with a Pulmonologist. I also had the surgery postponed for two months which I was not happy about at all because I also had to have a parathyroid removed.
I had to really catch myself and my negative thinking about all these requirements. They are not personal. The surgeon wants to make sure I have the best experience possible and that the surgery is successful. Once I made that switch in thinking and believing it was much easier.