First timer needs questions answered......PLEASE

1. What do you do at the first consultation with the surgeon? normal Dr. stuff- height weight past medical problems 2. What kinds of tests, evaluations, or other things do you have to do before surgery? nothing was required by Dr. Gibbs but regular dr sent me for a stress test to make sure I could tolerate surgery since I have had heart problems in the past 3. Has anyone had a BMI of 39 and with very few comorbidities (sleep apnea, high cholesterol (228) and high triglycerids(417) ) and still got approved? can't help you there my BMI was 57 and my insurance was basiclly pushing me through the door for surgery :0 4. Did you have to go on a pre-op diet and if you did what did you do? Dr. Gibbs doesn' require a preop diet ( atleast 18 months ago he didn't) 5. If you went through insurance....what parts did they not pay and about how much did you end up paying out of pocket? insurance paid 100% 6. Did you have to have all the money that your insurance did not pay paid in full before you could be scheduled for surgery? AND last but not least 7. What has been the best and the worst part of your surgery? The best part of surgery was the new way of life I have. I fit into the norm and love it. Honestly the worst part was finding out how mean people are. I never felt like I was treated mean before when i was large but now I am treated so well that the way I was ignored before is very obvious. I used Dr. Mark Gibbs in little Rock. I love him. I know another poseter had him and they didn't fit but I loved his personallity. He has a very dry humor but I like that in people so we fit great. He doesn't set a goal weight. I am down 173 pounds and feeling so great. I have my plastic surgery consult the 26 of this month with Dr. Moffett in Little Rock so off on the next part of my journey I go good luck with your desicion, jennifer 361/ 188/ ?

Thanks jennife,r for making me even more positive that I want to do this.....my husbands family is telling me that if I couldn't do this on my own then a band won't make that big a difference....they are being really negative (as the usually are) and it has gotten me down in the last day or two....but when I read your comment it made me more determined to do this. Thank you so much for the info: - ) Congrats on the weight lost! I hope all goes well with the plastic surgery....keep me updated!