Hi everyone!! Pre-Op here with some questions!

I am Shannon..26 years old/310lbs/5'3" I am going to see Dr.Shina here in Louisville,Ky tommorow for my consult and seminar.I will be there for a few hours and night see the dietician too. I am wondering what type of tests are usually done once you are approved? I know Dr.Shina advises and sometimes requires a vena cava filter.I am all for it for safety but wondering does it hurt? can you walk after? how is it done? Anything you all want to share with me..go ahead! I am set on doing this (very scared though of leaving my son without a mama..he is five and mamas boy) and have researched this for about a year.The lady I spoke with at the office is sure my insurance will approve me (I pray they do) so I want to get ANY and ALL feedback anyone has! Thanks! I love this board and spend tons of time on here reading posts,looking through profiles.You all inspire me and make me think I can have a new life where I am not in pain and can really LIVE more

Hey Shannon! I responded to your email and thought I would come over here and put my 2 cents in also in case others were wondering about Dr Shina too. Dr Shina and staff are WONDERFUL! I can't say enough about them! My seminar was Oct 5 of last year and my hubby and I loved Dr Shina. His staff has been wonderful, from helping me with my insurance, getting me approved, thru my surgery and these first 2 months post op! U mention the filter, I was in his Filter B category and I choose to have it. It didn't hurt at all to have it put in, Dr George is a sweet heart. But he hit a nerve in me and I had some pain in my butt for a day or two but it got better and I felt safer with it. I was at my seminar until 1pm or 2pm, Dr Shina takes his time answering questions that anyone might have. Then he takes his time talking to u personally after the seminar and if u get denied from your insurance company, just do what I did. My insurance company denied me because they said I didn't have enough diet history, which is a stall tactic with them. So I waited a month and then got tired of waiting and I talked with Gary Viscio from here on OH and he is a Obesity Lawyer. I "was" going to hire him to do an appeal for me but when I told my insurance company I had a lawyer they approved me in one hour! Good luck and keep me posted! IM me some time! Love and Hugs Angela