The List

The big list of to-dos slowly unfolded by the time I was sent off to a surgeon. With my insurance I would need the following.

1. A chest X-Ray
2. A Psych Exam
3. Abdominal Ultrasound
4. EKG
5. Blood Tests
6. Diet Program (This was not required for me, however I know its not uncomming for others.)
7. Nutritionist's Report

Not in that order, any order really. But first, I had to meet the surgeon. I was told to call one surgeon, but I found out he was not covered by my insurance. My insurance requires the facility be a facility of excellence. So I was sent to another doctor. After calling her office I found out I had to attend a seminar about weight loss surgery. I think this was back in July...gosh I cant remember.

I attended with my dad who appeared to be very interested. When the surgeon said that people with my current weight/BMI and age will die 20 years sooner than they should if based on current health. She explained everything about the lap band and gastic bypass. She showed many charts, and a 3D movie showing how the bypass and band are performed.

By this time I had already been researching the lap band and the bypass and I found that since the bypass changes your insides in such a drastic way, it does drastic things. There are too many to describe here, but one big one is it can cure and forever prevent diabetes. Amazing, no? It cures it. Forever. They now even do something called a mini-bypass to cure diabetes.

I knew that I needed a lot of help, not just a little, the band was not for me. However, I noticed almost everything was more interested in the band. This is because the recovery time is much less, half actually, and it costs...about half.

Well this is funny. There was a weight loss ad on right this second as Im typing this. Ive seen it before, maybe you have too. This guy claims to be a bariatric surgeon...yet he is promoting his "fullbar" instead of surgery. Say wha? You eat the bar, drink some water, wait half an hour and eat and he says it has the same effect as surgery. Then they show a skinny, older blonde eating the bar then pushing her plate of food away. Why talk about surgery made for the morbidly obese...then show a skinny, healthy model? Sigh. They really do love playing off peoples' fears an hopes at the same time.

That was the list. It took a little over a month to get everything done. Lots of tests. It could have been worse...with other insurance companies you have to write appeal letters. I never had to. After my psych. eval report came back to my surgeon, and I met with her nutritionist I got my approval call in about a week. It was very simple compared to the things other people have to go through.

By this time I was 275 or so.

I have yet to meet with my surgeon again. In fact, after I got my phone call with my date (first week of December) at the very same time I was set to meet with my surgeon for my pre-op appointment. This monday in fact. I got my date a month ago I think actually. I remember saying to myself I have one month and two weeks to go. Now? I have two weeks until the big day.

It feels a bit strange. I keep thinking maybe something will go wrong. Maybe theyll move it, or it'll get canceled or Ill get a cold or something at the last minute (I havent been sick in five years, not even a cold), its been known to happen.

Until Monday then!