dolce311

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Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I felt alone and helpless. I've strugg;ed with my weight since I was about 6 years old. The average diet just didnt work well enough for me. I would loose about 5-10 pounds then put the weight right bad on again (and more). Now that I want to loose 80-100 pounds weight loss surgery looked more and more like a solution. Not to mention the emotional/social issues etc. that come along with being very overweight.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

Being unhealthy.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

working out and learning to ski

How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

I first found out about the weight loss surgery when i was 16 and in high school. As son as I heard about it I knew it was for me, but my parents were not so convinced. I also knew that because of my age doctors would not perform the surgery, so for the most part I put the thought aside.

Describe your experience with getting insurance approval for surgery. What advice, if any, do you have for other people in this stage?

I was lucky! I got approved two days after my doctors office put the request in. I dont know alot about Insurances but I do know that my doctors were able to show and prove that there was a strong medical need for me. (because of sleep apnea, depression etc.) The only advice would be to make sure that when the insurance companies get the request, they have strong medical "evidence" backing you up. Otherwise they tend to feel that the procedure is cosmetic.

What was your first visit with your surgeon like? How can people get the most out of this meeting?

At my first meeting with Dr. Lirio he did an examination, then explained and discussed with me the surgery option that was best. I wrote down questions that I had for him before hand. that helped me alot.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I evaluated my life. Along with my family, I decided that this is what I really want.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

At the hospital were i will be having my procedure there are three different doctors who do gastric bypass. I believe each of them does a different version of the procedure. (lap-band etc.) After the very first informational meeting the doctors review your medical history and standing. They choose the procedure that they felt would benifit me.
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ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

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