Hi Linny and welcome. I can only speak for myself as far as what the steps are. I'm sure they're a little different for everyone. One of the first things I did was call my insurance company to find out if weight loss surgeries are covered, and if so, which surgeries specifically. Also, some insurance companies require you to have a certain amount of time on a diet/weight loss plan through your doctors. From what I've seen, 6-12 months is usually that time frame. However, I didn't have to go through that process, so someone else may be able to give you more info regarding that.
My bariatric team recommended "Weighloss Surgery for Dummies", and I also read "The Success Habits of Weight Loss Patients". I found these both to be very helpful and informative. My primary physician is a good friend and while he didn't technically refer me for the surgery, he was very supportive which was helpful and made me feel more comfortable with my decision.
When it came time to make my first appointment, the first step was to go to a seminar in which members of the team go over details of each surgery, including the surgery process, recovery, success rate, and which surgery would best suit your needs. They also went over the insurance processes of most major insurance companies to help everyone prepare for what may lie ahead. This seminar was wonderful, and I hope every weight loss center has something similar. I went into the seminar wanting the lap band and saying "if the lap band won't work for me, I refuse to even consider one of the other surgeries." I thought the band was the simplest way to go and the thought of rearranging my organs was terrifying. I left that seminar knowing the lap band wasn't a good option for my needs and the best choice for me would be the gastric bypass or the sleeve. I love sweets and high fat foods(especially fast food), so I knew the band wouldn't be effective. I also didn't love the idea of having to go through the adjustments of the band. And if I was going to have one shot at this, I knew I wanted to choose the option that was going to give me the best chance at success. After the seminar, I made my first appointment with a surgeon, and we discussed the two options and we decided the bypass was for me. I had a wonderful surgeon with an amazing record and I couldn't be happier with my decision.
I am far from being an expert, as I'm only a month and a half out from my surgery and hopefully some other members can offer some advice as well. But I would say, start with your insurance to be sure you're covered and know what they require of you. I know I stressed about that until I knew for sure I'd be covered. Also, go into with an open mind and learn about each surgery and what type will be most beneficial to you. This is a wonderful place for information and support. You'll find tons of information, encouragement and advice here. Look through past threads and use the search option to find information you may be looking for. And if you have a question, just ask, there are people here in all stages of the process that can help out. It's a roller coaster ride full of ups and downs both pre-op and post-op, but, so far it's all been worth it. So far, I haven't had a moment of regetting my decision. Good luck to you and please let us know what you find out.
-Jenny
