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| Body Transformed 
Well gang, I drove 400 miles in order to meet the surgeon who will be performing my gastric bypass operation. I was very impressed with him and the staff. Their process operates like a finely tuned machine, complete with friendly, helpful, and personable staff members from the front desk to the nurses, nutritionist, and counselors. These people really know their stuff! My bariatric surgeon is a soft-spoken man who quickly reviewed my information and then made lots of eye contact as he asked me questions about my health, history, and motivation for the surgery. He quickly grasped that I have done a lot of research on both the surgery and life afterward. He declared me a prime candidate and said that he didn't see any impediment to obtaining insurance approval. That day there were nine new patients in the office. The surgeon broke us up into two groups and then took about 45 minutes to describe the procedure itself. He spent a great deal of time on potential complications, not glossing over the fact that this is a serious surgery with a higher rate of morbidity (death) than many other procedures. His explanation was thorough and left us with few questions. After that, I was done and drove home through a terrible snowstorm. So what happens now, you ask? Well, my file will be presented to my medical insurance carrier for surgical authorization. That can take from three days to a month. Once we have approval, I will be scheduled for preoperative labs and a nutrition class covering the postsurgical experience. Getting in for that appointment can take about two weeks. Once that is complete, I will be scheduled for the surgery, probably another two to four weeks. I'm hoping that surgery will take place sometime in May (cross your fingers, toes, and any other body parts that will cross.) I was disappointed when the Bariatric Program in Green Bay didn't work out. But as you know, everything happens for a reason. I'm much more comfortable with my surgeon and the program at Hurley Medical Center than I was with the one in GB. The whole process was much more organized and efficient than in GB, and the doctor was just the kind of guy I like. He doesn't talk down to people, and he allows plenty of time to clarify things and just seems much more approachable. I'm feeling very positive!
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The Journey Begins With 400 Miles