If you are thinking about pursuing weight loss surgery or know someone who is going through the process, this article is for you.
The journey to weight loss surgery is a process. It is designed this way not only to prepare you for the surgery itself, but to prepare you for the journey after surgery.
Weight loss surgery is not a decision most people make lightly. In fact, I am part of two support groups and we discuss our journeys together. It seems those on my support groups gave this journey a lot of thought and are committed to being successful.
Weight loss clinics are set up to help people be successful on their new path. Not every weight loss clinic will approach the process exactly the same, however the overall process seems to be similar.
The first step really is to think about why you want weight loss surgery. I decided to go through a gastric bypass and started my process in late 2018. I had been overweight since age 5 and then in my late teens transitioned to the beginning of metabolic syndrome. My weight was mostly centered in my stomach, then diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Unfortunately, I had years where my diabetes was not in good control and I developed neuropathy, Charcot foot, and have had wounds very difficult to heal. I had a son in 2006 and suffered from severe pre-eclampsia. I felt out of control with my body, my eating, and was terrified my son was going to grow up without me. Weight loss surgery was my lifeline and once I made the decision, I was ready to start my new path towards better health. I could always lose weight, but could never keep it off.
Weight loss surgery is not for everyone. Keep in mind that if you or someone you know is going through this and made the decision, they are likely feeling like it’s their lifeline too. It might not be the choice you make for yourself and that’s okay, but try to understand why someone else in your life might.
My first step was doing research from reputable resources about the pros and cons of weight loss surgery. I literally made a list for myself using these articles as a guide.
Next, I looked up providers in my insurance network and reached out to my insurance company to find out where to start. This was a great first step because when I went through this, we only had a few choices in the area I live in. One was mostly out of pocket because it was a non-covered provider. My covered provider was out of state. My insurance company was able to give me their criteria for weight loss surgery approval. Throughout the process, I kept notes and referred back to them often.
After that, I connected online to the weight loss clinic my insurance told me about. Of course, this was all pre-COVID and the new patient conferences were all in person. Some of them now are virtual and some are videos to watch. This is still the first step before getting scheduled in most of the clinics I am aware of.
This is important because it tells you more about expectations, types of surgery, pros and cons, benefits and risks. I was so fortunate to have family support in this process. My sister and/or husband went to many appointments with me. Other support came from other family members cheering me on and checking in with me. They were all part of my journey.
Once you have decided to attend the weight loss surgery clinic seminar, the next piece is really about taking what you know and spending time thinking about how you want this to look for you.
Things to consider:
- What is the financial cost of the journey/process and how will you manage this? Consider more than just the medical costs, but what the supplements will cost. I also had to account for travel and fuel since mine was out of State. I am fortunate to have very good insurance, out of pocket was about $1000. The cost of my surgery paid for itself the first few months in medication savings, doctor co-pays for my chronic illnesses, and in food savings. Part of your plan might be asking the clinics about financial support, any type of other benefits programs, and a payment plan that can be managed.
- Who will your support network be? Not everyone in your life will support or understand your decision. You will need to be okay with this. The counseling portion of your weight loss journey can help you prepare for this and plan how to handle it. If you have a good support person that will go a long way, however if you do not, ask about a support group. Support groups are encouraged and sometimes an expectation anyway, however, might be even more vital for connections.
- Be a good advocate for yourself. The process from start to surgery can vary from six months to nine months or longer in some cases. This will help you be successful later, but can be like jumping through hoops at different stages. My goodness, the most challenging part for me was the sleep studies and having to get a CPAP machine. I almost gave up several times. That part drove me absolutely crazy. I remember the way my dog looked at me on my first night. I have a picture, but am definitely not posting that!
- What your plan is for sharing with others? I am not much of a private person. I probably overshare with people. Again, some will cheer you on when they find out and others will not. In my next article I will share some of the things people said to me. I learned to take them in stride. More people were supportive than not.
- Plan to carve out time for this journey. I know our lives are extremely busy, but this is a process that will take time and energy.
Thank you for reading today. Here are a few links to articles that talk about weight loss surgery. Remember if you are considering this to seek guidance from the experts. My goal in sharing really is to let readers know they are not alone and what they might expect. There are real risks to surgery that each person needs to understand for themselves. Please feel free to post a question or comment if you have one.
Bariatric surgery – Mayo Clinic
Bariatric Surgery | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Until next time,
Mandy