Has your body ever let you down? Join us for an inspiring story of overcoming challenges and finding strength in the BariNation community. Today, April is sharing some deeply personal information about her health journey, one that's been marked by both incredible progress and unexpected challenges. She’ll be opening up about her struggles of not being able to carry a child full-term before bariatric surgery, the recent developments with her hormonal medications and menopause diagnosis, and the frustrating news that insurance has stopped covering anti-obesity medicines. Despite these setbacks, she will also discuss her decision to move forward, leaning into self-advocacy and highlighting the importance of supporting communities like BariNation. Listen to learn how connecting with others has provided invaluable support to her during this challenging time.
IN THIS EPISODE:
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[1:29] April shares her backstory on trying to carry a child full-term before bariatric surgery
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[4:42] Recent developments in hormonal medications and menopause
- [9:25] April’s insurance has failed her and is no longer covering anti obesity medication
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[10:33] The decision to move forward and lean into self-advocacy
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- April's story highlights the critical need to be your own advocate in healthcare. She experienced years of misdiagnosis and dismissal of her concerns, ultimately leading to a delayed and more complex diagnosis of menopause. Her persistence in seeking answers, even when faced with setbacks, was crucial.
- April's experience demonstrates how weight, bariatric surgery, and hormonal changes can interact in complex and sometimes confusing ways. Her symptoms were masked by the effects of weight loss, emphasizing the need for healthcare providers to consider the whole picture and for patients to be aware of potential long-term effects.
- April emphasizes the vital role of support communities like BariNation in navigating challenging health journeys. Connecting with others who have similar experiences provides emotional support, validation, and a sense of belonging, which is especially important when dealing with chronic conditions and difficult life transitions.
RESOURCES:
Join the BariNation Membership community meetups to support you on your journey with obesity treatment. https://barination.com/pages/join-our-community
Want to see bonus content? Head over to Patreon to get more and to support the podcast for as low as $5 per month! https://www.patreon.com/BariNationPodcast
ABOUT:
If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.
About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need and when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.