Thank you to the replies to my earlier post. I would love to check out the Puget Sound clinic but unfortunately would not be able to afford the cost. I am guessing around $5,000 ? I am going to see if my doctor will refer me to the clinic in Richmond, I'm checking out their website right now. I am tired of this ongoing struggle all my life and never having been slim ( except when I was 16 and went the route of Dexatrim, that was fun lol ) . I hover around 200-220lbs, and I absolutely love "healthy" foods, but just cannot shake this off. At 46 years old and only around 5'4", I need to drop this weight due to blood pressure, heart arrythmia, apnea and now my lower back is in agony ! I hope to one day be able to post in the "post op" section