Research and Appointments

I started doing my research online. I looked up procedures, looked at programs that were local—there weren't many unless I wanted to travel to Boston over an hour away—and started following as many bariatric patients and programs as I could find on social media.

Following people online was the biggest help I could find. Their input on the sessions was amazing. It would be a hard journey, but it would be worthwhile. The weight would come off easily, no, strike that, quickly, but it would be a challenge. But, things would get easier over time. None of the restrictions were permanent except for portions. I'd never again be able to binge large amounts of food, and that's definitely one thing I wanted to stop doing.

Armed with my knowledge, and the idea that I wanted to get the duodenal switch as my surgery, I went to my primary care physician on April 3, 2023—the date of my annual physical—and asked what he thought. I knew what he thought, let's be honest. He'd mentioned weight loss surgery to me before, and I'd brushed it off. But, I was finally ready to consider it. He was fully supportive and referred me to a local program.

I looked it up online and learned that I needed to complete an online session before I could meet with one of the surgeons. I intended to complete the online session the very next week, but an evening meeting for work took precedent and I missed that one. In the meantime, I had already started changing my diet, incorporating more protein, reducing carbs and sugar, and tracking my food. I cut back on drinking and caffeine but didn't give it up yet; that would come later. I had to wait an entire month before their next online session, and I attended that one on May 11, 2023. At that point, I had done so much research, that it felt like a review session rather than an introduction.

My meeting with the surgeon was the following Monday, May 15. I had an hour with him, and we went over what Bariatric surgery was, if I was a candidate, and what surgery was best for me. I found out that they did not do the duodenal switch at this program, even before I had the chance to ask about it. The surgeon mentioned that he wished the program would do it, but it was too new for them to take it on. They only did the vertical sleeve and bypass. After discussion, we settled on the bypass for me. He thought it was best because I would lose the most weight and have the least risk for reflux. The surgeon was very thorough in talking with me about things, showing me diagrams, and even offering to talk with my family if they had questions that I couldn't answer.

Once we were done, I scheduled my remaining six appointments: 2 dietician appointments, 2 mental health appointments, and 2 nurse appointments. I walked out with a few test requests and was under the impression that I'd be looking at surgery in July, early August at the latest.