K1Smiles

My surgery is in 3 days and I am super excited!  I have struggled with my weight since the birth of my twins back in 2000.  I have tried Weight Watchers, Phentermine, crash diets, diet pills and even HCG.  The weight would come off slowly, but I could never get under 200lbs no matter what I did.  I would even jump on the treadmill several times a day just to walk.  It was so frustrating.  I started researching LapBand.  After months of looking into it, I did not think my insurance would cover it, so I just put it on the back burner.  Over the next few months one of my friends had it done and didn't tell anyone until afterwards.  A few months later, holy taters!  She looked great and would say how great she felt!  I decided to dust off my hard work that I put on the shelf and look into it again.  During this time, I had also been attempting other diet measures.  A year later I still had not reached my goal weight or broke the 200lbs mark.  By this time almost 2 years had gone by.  Finally this last February after having a tumor removed from my breast, I decided it was time.  I needed to do something.  My health and my chidlren were too important to me to continue this lifestyle.  I wanted to be able to ride a bike with my kids and go to the water park and take them on rollercoasters.   I always played off my weight by being the comedian and aking jokes about myself.  I had met this phenomenal man just a few weeks prior to my initial appointment on March 31st and I kept it a secret from him.  I didn't want him to know.  On March 31st, after 2 hours at the doctors office and a gazillion questions later I knew this was what I wanted and needed to do.  So, the appointment and testing began.  It was not until my psychological evaluation on May 5th, that I realized I was indeed really FINALLY READY for this.  The prior 2 years I don't think I was mentally ready for it as I seemed to give up and push it to the side.  But now, not at all.  I was more driven than antyhing.  I finally told my boyfriend in May what I was doing.  I figured he would either be for it or against it.  To my surprise, he was totally for it and has been by my side ever since.  Sugery was scheduled for June 3rd.  I was ready for it.  Then the bomb dropped.  I got a call from my doctors office stating the insurance had denied the procedure.  I was so let down and disappointed.  However, my doctor had given me appeals options.  I can honestly say that not one part of me wanted to give up.  Not once did giving up ever cross my mind.  It was at that point again, I was reassured that I was ready for this.  So, with the support of my family and boyfriend I did some more leg work and got the appeal filed.  It was a lot of work, but I didn't want to give up.  Almost 3 weeks later, I got a call from my doctors office, it was APPROVED!  Surgery was set for July 15th.  That is only 3 days away now.  At this point, my family and boyfriend have been so supportive and by my side every step of the way.  I am truely blessed.  The official countdown to a new life begins!  I can't wait!