What's the WLS process like ?

I'm about to start mine and I'm so nervous so may I please have some advice?  

The best advice I can give you is to research and read everything you can get your hands on.  Read all the posts that people put on this website and if specific topics intrigue you, do a search on that topic (using the little magnifying glass at the top) and look for former posts about it.  I promise you that any question you can think of has been answered fifteen dozen times on here :-)  

There are surgery-specific forums on here too so make sure you check those out.  Research the heck out of various surgeries.  

Good luck on your journey - it's a wild ride and well worth it 

Here's a general timeline for the process:

• Call your insurance company and/or check your benefit book to find out if and how WLS is covered
  
  
• Find a surgeon (or two) in your area who takes your insurance
  
  
• Attend an info seminar presented by a surgeon to meet him/her, get some general info, etc.
  
  
• Set up an initial appointment with the surgeon
  
  
• Figure out which procedure you'll be having
  
  
• Complete any pre-op requirements, which MAY include: 3/6 month supervised diet, sleep study, heart test, blood work, gathering old medical records, psych evaluation, nutritional counseling (every insurance situation is different and some or all may be required)
  
  
• Assemble all appropriate records and surgeon's office submits for insurance approval
  
  
• (Hopefully) word of approval in about 2 weeks
  
  
• Surgery date scheduled
  
  
• Pre-op liquid diet (some patients, not all), 1 to 2 weeks
  
  
• Surgery procedure, often 4ish weeks after approval, overnight hospital stay
  
  
• Blood work and surgeon followups at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year, and twice a year afterwards