So many questions???

I have just commenced my journey.  I have so many questions for all of you.  Before I start with all that, I just want to say that after reading many, many stories I have great respect for all of you.  Now, here are some of my questions.   How did you decide on the doctor?  (I live in a rural area 2 1/2 hrs from nearest Dr.  I don't just want to grab the yellow pages & choose one.)   How do you figure out which surgery is best for you?   How long from 1st Dr. visit until surgery? Is everyone scared prior?  Scared of pain, failure, complications? Other than eating & exercising habits, what other life-style changes did you have to make that were surprising? What was the best advise you received about weightloss that helped you in your journey? Okay, that's enough for now.  Thank you in advance.

Hi Sarah, Welcome aboard. This is a great site and I met many awesome people on here. Your questions are very good questions and I think we all at one point had the same. Here goes... How did you decide on the doctor?  (I live in a rural area 2 1/2 hrs from nearest Dr.  I don't just want to grab the yellow pages & choose one.)   I worked at St. Bernardine Hospital when I decided to have my surgery. Dr. Krahn was the surgeon who performed the procedure and he had a great reputation. Also, of course the insurance played a role on who I saw. It's important you do your research on your surgeon. Maybe try and find a few on here who have had the same surgeon and get advice and go from there. See who your insurance will let you see and go from there. Like I said, it's important to do your research.  How do you figure out which surgery is best for you?   THis is a personal choice as far as lapband and RNY go. Both can be successful tools as long as you are committed. Everyone is different and your surgeon may be able to guide you to see which surgery is best for you. I have heard good points from both surgeries- the lapbanders didn't want their insides to be replumbed and the RNYers didn't want a foreign object in them. Like I said, its totally a personal choice. Do your research and you can only decide for yourself. Both surgeries like I said can be successful as long as you make a life time committment.  How long from 1st Dr. visit until surgery? I had a HMO. I had to do a 6 month pre surgery education thing before I was even approved to go and see my surgeon. The entire process with my education coaching/classes started in Oct. 06 and I had surgery in Aug. 07. It took approx. 3 months from the time I got in to see my surgeon to get a surgery date. Like I said though, i couldn't even go see the surgeon until my prerequisites were completed first.  Is everyone scared prior?  Scared of pain, failure, complications? I think everyone is scared prior. This site helped me out a lot because my ex boyfriend was not very supportive and my family lived over 350 miles away. I was scared of failure most of all and still am still this day. I am scared I will gain all the weight back again since I have failured numerous times before. I know my relationship with food has completely changed however and that is the difference from past diet failures. This is a lifestyle change. I was a little nervous of course about complications but was willing to take the risk. Being in the medical field I see many things and it didn't concern me that much for some reason. Maybe because I knew I would follow everything and all the rules. Don't get me wrong, you can still have complications if you follow your surgeon's protocol etc. I just wasn't too concerned about complications.
Other than eating & exercising habits, what other life-style changes did you have to make that were surprising? Not drinking liquids while eating has been one of the biggest changes. Emotionally I am a different person inside. Not just from weightloss but from other life changing events that have taken place during the same time of my weightloss journey. I am really getting to know myself for the first time in years and this surgery has changed my life both physcially and mentally.
What was the best advise you received about weightloss that helped you in your journey? I had plenty of advice from the great people on here and my wonderful angel Steve who had the same surgeon as me. The big one is knowing there will be stalls and not getting discouraged and to keep on keeping on.

I just wanted to let you know that I keep referring back to your answers to my questions.  Thank  you so very much.  Your words are so encouraging and helpful.  I have one more question.  When you lose all the weight, how is it maintained.  I mean how do you stop?  Does that make sense?  Right now I am obsessed with finding out the most information about each surgery & Dr. so I can make the decision to find out what is right for me.  I really, really appreciate your help & insight.  Thank you so much. -Sarah

Jamie's reply was detailed and right on point. 

It's not just about picking the right surgeon, for me, it was about picking the right surgery, and given the number of long-term post-ops seeking revisions from all other surgical interventions to a (DS) Duodenal Switch, I wanted one surgery and one surgery alone that offers the best long term weight loss and the most normalized post-op life. Come check us out and please bear in mind that surgeons not performing the DS which are most will completely misrepresent the DS and any other surgery they don't perform. Bariatrics is a highly lucrative business for both hospitals and the general surgeons performing these. Don't expect to get too many surgeons giving you a complete story of all your options that might send you seeking a consult with another doing a procedure they don't perform. That's quite rare and nearly unheard of.... Do your OWN research widely and research well! So for me ... Well, lets see... I had a BMI just north of 51. Spent most of my life failing with DIETS, so, I'm going to risk my life having weight loss surgery to have to do what? MORE DIETING FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE with an RNY or any other surgical  procedure offered requiring same??? Homey says... "I don't think so!!!" But it gets better... http://tinyurl.com/24t7d3 BMI's 50 and over having had the RNY lose lots of weight initially, but longer term, 40 % those will FAIL by regaining more than 50% of their excess weight loss back! Regain failures with the DS are virtually unheard of. Even for those RNYs having BMI's under 50 have failure rates approaching 33% longer term. RNY a Gold Standard?? Homey says... "I don't think so!!!" I get in my protein, supplements, fluids and the rest is gravy, often literally. I eat everything I want when I want or feel the need. Dieting is only part of my vocabulary because most of the world, including other WLS types seem to be STUCK with them. Me? Homey says... "I don't think so!!!" Rock For whom failure was not an option. Come check us out http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/and the good news is you are in CA. Good DS surgeons abound here and if you qualify for WLS, you'll almost certainly can get the DS regardless of what your insurance company may tell you baring some iron clad inclusions.

Well I would think that anyone would gain weight as long as you shove food in your mouth no matter what surgery you have. I have absolutely NO intensions of gaining any of my weight back ever.  Failure is not an option for me. I will NOT be a statistic just because I had a BMI over 50.   I was not given a choice because I needed to lose weight now and not later.  I love my RNY. There is no better surgery, all basically do the same, and the end result is the same.  SO to the writer of this post, just do your homework, and find what is best for you.  There are plenty around, my cousin had the gastric sleeve and she has been very successful also.  As have I with my surgery.  Just do your research and don't listen to anyone, make up your own mind. Best of luck, Diane

  Diane!!! I so totally agree!!!!  YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   You will love it here on OH!!! It is a great place for support, WLS education, and GREAT friends!  I think Jaime did a great job of answering your questions. A lot depends on your insurance first, and then your surgeon. Educate yourself and check out all the options. It is a very individual decision and don't let anyone other than your surgeon persuade you one over the other!! WLS is a tool to help you, but you still have to do the work and make it happen!!! I wasn't scared, just very excited, but I had wanted it for a long time (no insurance for years)!  I just knew that if it was what God wanted for me, I would be approved!  I too had to take 6 months of education first and I'm glad about that! It helps and I feel it is necessary!  The not drinking and eating at the same time was also a challenge for me. Sipping in the beginning, no gulps.  Knowing that in the beginning you won't feel fullness, so portion size is crucial. It takes about 6 weeks for your nerves to heal and for you to feel fullness, so don't pu****! Knowing there will be stalls and not to freak out about them. Take monthly pictures and measurements because 1. you will be surprised at how fast the changes come, and 2. when the scale isn't moving something is still changing!!!  May God bless your journey!  hugs, Becky