Saltmistrose

I am now a "Kiwi"! I arrived in NZ a little over 6 years ago. I live on Waiheke Island. I am originally from Baltimore, Maryland in the U.S. Anybody out there from New Zealand that wants to chatter away?

I refuse to justify my decisions about my life to anyone. However, that being said, I elected to tell people in my time in my priority order. This decision was reached by me for medical reasons. In my case I had a post surgical incisional hernia, that could not be repaired and kept repaired, without loosing the excess weight that placed so much pressure on the sutures. I was older (56) and looking a DM (latent diabetes runs in both my mom and my dad's families) and higher BP, in my not so distant future. I did my research and shared it with my partner (who I had a hard time explaining how I knew I could no long do anything that would improve my weight any longer). I scheduled the appt. with a local surgeon and within minutes, he was able to confirm what I already knew in my heart, I needed surgery to fix what was wrong with me. It was not a moral issue, but a medical one. Your insurance knows this, or they wouldn't pay for this medical procedure, if it was something that was only a result of bad choices or esthetics. Ask them if they paid for it because your are bad, lazy, or otherwise guilty of self neglect? I agree that it is a pay it forward kind of move to show that this surgery is there for those that need it, and that it does work if you do your part to use the WLS as a tool to recovery of health. Surgery is only a very small part of the process, when you get right down to it. If you have the surgery and you don't do the "hard yards" post surgery, you will not reap the benefits that the surgery makes possible for you. Lastly, I found I needed & wanted others support and others watching my progress. It helped keep me motivated and honest. I hope this helps in some some way. I am sure you will do just fine. Bottom line tell who you want, what you want to tell them, when/if you want to tell them. This is a very selfish process, we did it for ourselves and our health. That's sure a good enough reason in my opinion. Stay strong and be well. Karen

I am keeping anti-fungals and yeast creams on my medical record to establish that infections and rashes from excess skin need to be addressed medically. Hopefully, when I get to the point of no return, the skin removal will be deemed medically necessary and thereby covered under my Federal BC/BS. Just a thought. Good luck and hope this helps in some small way.

Veruca, bottom line, life is not fair and no one should have ever told you it would be fair. I know it is hard, but we all have our **** to bear and endure. Life does try to balance itself out, but we often don't get the opportunity to see it happen. I am a survivor. I get through things and other people's ****, but I don't do it pretty. I can't tell you how often I have had to dry my tears, take a deep breath, dust myself off, and start all over again. I think you have to have a positive attitude to remain in good condition to meet the challenges that life throws at you. I know struggle builds my character, and makes me more able to empathize with others. It is good Karma to pay things forward in life and practice, patience and tolerance for others. Nothing is to be gained by being envious of others or curse the darkness in our lives. It cripples us and and we have to overcome our emotions to think clearly and to come up with a strategy to get where we need and want to go in our lives. However, when we win the battle, we have only ourselves and god/the universe to claim responsibility for the victory. Of course, just imo. :-) Shalom my friend.

Here is a link to the portion control plan I use in New Zealand and while I am here in the U.S. What do you guys use?

I'm curious to know. Did anyone have surgery on 11/29/12, like I did? Do I have a sleeve twin out there somewhere? Karen

I be watching this question with great interest. I too have Federal BC/BS coverage and am approaching a point where I may need to have a few things done. I have started anti-fungal medication for my flaps and the perspiration that the skin flaps gather. If they get too bad, I believe BC/BS may cover the needed surgery. Good luck to you! Karen

I'm a "diver want to be" when I get my weight down a bit more. I am only 12 lbs. off my surgeon's goal weight of 209. I think I need to do better than that before I start learning to dive. I live on a small island in the Pacific off of Auckland, New Zealand. Perfect place to dive. Are there problems associated with diving after sleeve surgery? Good luck to all of us!