Going forward and not looking back. With the things I've had to overcome in my life mentally, I'm so ready to take the necessary steps ahead to start healing myself physically as well.

I've been going through very extensive pre-op testing as required both by my insurance and my surgeon. Things have been great. I know what to expect and I have the help I need because my younger sister has already been through the process and just had her WLS on July 25th, 2012, so she's kind of been a motivating factor in this.

I'm 27 years old, and relatively healthy, and currently a month and two weeks smoke free.

I'm healthy, right? My PCP discovered three times total from my blood work that my markers for inflammation are high, as well as my white blood cells. He has no idea what's going on. I have no idea what's going on. I am now being referred to a rheumotologist (sp?) and will have to wait till Halloween to see him.

I have so much anxiety that my surgery (hopefully in late december) will be pushed back because of this. No one knows what's going on.

All I know is that I've spent so much of my life giving up on myself and on everything in general. This surgery is something I am not losing hope over. I will get this done.