Dr visit requires some thinking

I yesterday I met with my surgeon. I was November 2009 since I last saw him. As I had mentioned, I have gained a few pounds since I last saw him. Like 30 pounds. When we sat down and talked he asked what surgery I was considering. I said Gastric Bypass. I also mentioned that I wanted to get down to 200 pounds.

That's where things came to a halt. He asked if I had considered the duodenal switch procedure. He told me that if I had the gastric bypass that I would probably lose about 130 pounds and the rest would be up to me alone.

If I had the duodenal switch, I would be able to lose the weight that I want to lose and be able to maintain the loss.

My other choice would to have the gastric sleeve procedure, then a year and a half to 2 years when I level off, and if the insurance would approve it, I could then have the bypass to get me the rest of the way.

We spent 25 minutes in office talking about options. We checked with the insurance specialist and my new insurance would cover both the switch or the sleeve.

I kept saying that "I want to get down to 200 pounds". At the end of the visit he told me that since I had said that I wanted to get to 200 pounds 3 times since we were talking, that I had probably already decided, but he wanted me to take some time to think things over. He gave me an online class about the sleeve and switch procedures. Last night I watched them. In talking with friends and family, I pretty much decided in telling them about it, but I still took the time to think about it.

Once I made up my mind, I was told to call the office to let then know my decision and we would proceed from there.

I called this morning to tell them that I want to do the switch procedure. The insurance specialist told me that they would let the insurance company know and get approval for the change. Once they get the okay from the insurance company, they would schedule 1 more appointment with the surgeon to go over the specific surgery and then schedule the actual surgery. So I am now back in waiting mode.

I am hoping that since it only took a week for the insurance company to approve the initial surgery, that it won't take long for them to approve the change.

Then the other kicker is that the doctor said he might put me on a 3 week liquid diet instead of a 2 week one because I had gained the additional 30 pounds. Oh goody. So right now I am looking at the middle to end of August for my surgery, all depending on when the change gets approved and how quickly I can see the doctor for that last pre-surgery appointment.

and so the waiting continues.......