Hello to all who have preceded me and all who follow. I'm 49 and have been heavy all my life. I had never heard of the Gastric Sleeve until very recently, it was a like being given the best gift possible. I have insurance but will be losing my job in a few months and can't complete all the hoops I'd have to jump through to have my insurance pick up my tab. My medicine chest is a pharmacy of drugs that I take daily; I won't be able to afford them after my job ends. So, I'm raiding my 401K for the money and paying for it out of pocket. I am traveling to Mexico on March 23rd with surgery on the 24th and a whole new life.