Jessica89

At that hospital that I am getting this done at they ask u if uve ever been a smoker and if u say yes u have to be nicotine free for 4 months before surgery. I had no idea so of course I said yes...I mean I wouldn't have lied anyways...but I didn't know when that 4 months started and a smoked a ciggerette on saint pattys day even though I've been quit for like 3 months and I was honest about it and it pushed my surgery back a little bit. But I passed my first test so I was happy. No more smoking ever again for this girl! Lol. Smoking can cause ulcers and with the size of the pouch the ulcers can do alot of damage after surgery so that's why they are so strict about it. Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Wow im so sorry girl! That's got to be hard. Im kind of in a similiar situation...my husband is supportive but I know he thinks I should be able to do this on my own and that this is going to cost us some. Were actually really lucky because my doctor is only 30 minutes from where I live and we have awewome insurance....we only have to pay like 3000 all together and my aflac policy I will get back about 2500 to 3000 and I've started to pay on my account ahead of time too. I set up a plan with the hospital to pay it over a year. They are really flexible. In michigan where I live they have this thing called medical finacial aid or something and if u don't have good health insurance or none u can apply for it if u meet the income standards and get aton of stuff paid for. I had no insurance when I had my gallbladder out 2 yrs ago and they covered every penny of it. Id look into it at ur hospital if I were u. Were under alot of stress with money too. It seems like it never goes away. And the cleaning and laundry situation...I say to my husband "we are a team whether u work full time part time or I don't work" it doesn't matter we both pitch in. Although that doesn't always work....most of the time I get stuck doing alot of it....but it shouldn't be that way for anyone. Don't postpone ur appointments or surgery! U need this or u wouldn't have thought of going to this extreme in the first place....like in my case....I feel like if I don't do it now things are just spiraling out of control and I may end up dead or sicker than I am. Do this for u! And worry about the money later on if u have to. Work out payment plans with the hospital...or like my drs. Will schedule 4 appointments in one day...takes forever but nice not to have to drive back and fourth so often for appointments. Well good luck girl! Hang in there! I will pray for u! Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Hey! My name is Jessica and I am 22 years old. I have been posting on here for a little while now but have not actually posted my story yet so here it goes! I started to become overweight when I was in 5th grade. Not too much overweight but definitely bigger than my friends and my classmates. I have always been very tall and have a larger body frame and bones. My parents kept telling me that it was "baby fat" and it would come off as I got older so I didn't think anything of it. I got into middle school and grew a little bit more so I slimmed out some because I was taller. That actually kind of made things worse because I was so tall I was called sasquash and giant and stuff like that. I was a very likable person and in with what you would call the popular crowd until about 8th grade. I put on some weight in 8th grade. Starting my freshman year I actually became bullemic (sp) and that went on for about a year and a half maybe. I would binge eat to eat my feelings away and then immediately feel guilty. It was hard to stop it...still to this day if I eat to much I feel like I want to do that...but when I was 16 and I finally got better I told myself id never do it again. When I was 16 I got down to a size 12 or 13 and weighed about 180 pounds. Something I have mentioned yet was that I was a swimmer for 12 years. So when I was 16 I was into my second year of varsity swimming and actually got pretty good. I soon started smoking and partying a lot and started to gain a little bit of the weight back. My junior year one of the worst things possible happend to my family. My brother (19 yrs old) was killed instantly in Baghdad Iraq on christmas day 2006, when his vehicle was hit by an IED (improvised explosive device) and his vehicle burned for 5 hours before they could get out of the "hot zone". I grew into a deep depression and actually wanted to kill myself. I started gaining weight fast. That's when I decided to shut off all emotion and forget about it...so for about 2 years I pretended he never died. 11 months after Andrew was killed I found out I was already 3 months pregnant and had gone through my whole senior swim season pregnant. Luckily I hadn't gained any weight in the first trimester because I swam twice a day. I delivered on June 12th 2008, only 11 days after I graduated highschool. Having my daughter bailey took my mind off my depression about my brother. But as time went on and significant things were happening in my life such as getting married, my daughters first birthday, and the fact that everyday my little girl was looking more and more like my brother I began to breakdown. For the longest time I couldn't go to the cemetery or look at his pictures. Just in the past 2 years I've started grieving his death and that's when I've put on the most weight. I currently weigh 10 pounds more than I did when I was full term pregnant. Right now I am 332 pounds and embarressed to even say that. I feel like im going to die if I don't do something. The simplest things are sooo hard such as clipping my own toenails or painting them....my mom has to help me. Its sad my husband is such a good person for sticking by me...we started dating when I was 17 right around the time that my brother was killed and he's been there for me ever since. He weighs 145 pounds so he definitely tries to keep me motivated but says he will love me no matter what size I am. But will I love myself at this size? I haven't yet....I don't think I ever will. Something needs to change. The thing that really made me realize I needed to change my lifestyle was when my husband and I tried to get pregnant for an entire year and nothing happend. I was devastated and my drs. Told me it could be due to my weight. To not be able to have another child because of me losing self control isn't fair to myself, my husband my daughter or my family. I have never been more motivated until I decided to look into this surgery. Sorry my story was soo long, but now everyone kind of has an idea of who I am and where I started. I hope to meet some other young girls on here that can relate to me...but ill take any friends I can get on here. At least I can have someone who knows what im going through Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Thanks! Every now and then I come back to this post and read the kind words people have said to help me get through this. Lately im starting to question myself and ask if im doing the right thing and can I really change all these things I need to change to make this successful. Im scared. I haven't been since I started this process until just in the past week and I can't explain why. I've been really sick lately (cold and what not) and haven't been out of the house much or to the gym so maybe that's why I am feeling down. I go to my next appointment tomorrow so hopefully that will get me motivated again. Thanks again everyone for the support and I am glad to have u all as friends Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

How awesome!! Congrats! So happy for you hun! Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Thank you it was very hard to lose someone so close to me. Congrats on your surgery! I have made the decision to go through with doing it...but the waiting game is so hard, I just want it now! I do understand why they make you go through everything you have to go through but it just seems like it takes forever. They are telling me that probably in the fall ill be able to get it done. Anyways I gotta get to sleep sorry its so short lol. Thanks for all the support and I am here to chat anytime if you ever need someone to talk to within your journey! Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Thank you that's horrible about ur father. It was hard losing my brother but I really cannot imagine losing a parent or a child. Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Thanks! Means alot to me Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Thanks! Wow that's an awesome weight loss! Great job! Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Yay! Good luck! I will pray for a speedy recovery for you Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

I told people....too many people I think. I don't know I kind of wish I hadn't now...because people definitely do think your taking the easy way out that are not going through it themselves or someone who is skinny that says why don't u just work out a little more....they don't get it and never will. I've had a pretty good support system but I do have this one person that my family is close to and her husband had lap band and he's been sick quite a bit and all she can tell me is negative stuff and how im going to have to completely change my lifestyle like I don't already know that. And not everyone has the same experiences and I've said to her several times well im having a diff. Surgery....which is simliar but still not exactly the same. Its frustrating to me because back in highschool I didn't always make the best decisions ( im 22 now) and people that are close to me still try to ...almost baby me a little bit and make my decisions for me bc they think I will not make a good one or they know what's best for me better than I do. I just want to do this and do it for myself....not anyone else. So I guess my answer to ur question is that I wish I wouldn't have told so many people that I am going to be getting this done...even though I am a very outspoken and open person. Goodluck with everything. Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Awesome story! It sounds just like me lol. I've done the weight watchers and gym numerous times and would go for a while then get discouraged then quit because of money problems. Its soo hard! Why does being healthy have to be so darn exspensive!? It drives me nuts. Goodluck with everything! Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Today I had my body composition test done and met with a doctor and went over a ton of information and what not. I found out that 53% of my body is fat. That was shocking and very depressing. The worst thing of all today was that I did admit to the doctor that I had a couple puffs off a ciggerette on saint pattys day and just from doing that it set me back 2 months in the process. My surgery could have been around august and now its october to november time. Im really bummed out because I have been quit smoking now since feb. Of this year...idk why I took the hit but if I would have known it would cause this many problems I never would have done it. Im super discouraged but trying to stay positive and just keep in mind that they know what's best for me. I now have to go through 4 months of being urine tested for nicotine. Im never touching a ciggerette ever again!! I learned my lesson the hard way. I know time will fly by between now and oct/nov. But its the anticipation that is killin me lol. But I guess I will have more time prepare for everything. Maybe im just emotional today I don't know.... you wouldn't think them telling you that you have to wait 2 more months would make you cry but for me it did. Hopefully tomorrow is a better day Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Yeah they said it can give u ulcers and make healing a harder process after surgery but my surgery wasn't suppose to be until august and I looked it up and from one ciggerette for someone who doesn't smoke hardly ever which I don't I've been quit for at least 3 months ...it said the niccotine only stays in ur system for 3 to 4 days. I thought that my 4 months no nicotine started 4 months prior to surgery which would be like now....not a month or so ago. But im trying to stay positive about it and definitely take this time to learn how to use the stuff in my kitchen haha. Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Thanks a bunch! I really needed that ya I could definitely use more time to to some research on the ways and kids of stuff to eat after surgery. That's a great way to look at it. I just tried tuna for the first time in my life today...it was the white ..something idk what the other word was but it was in a pouch and my mom mixed it with light miracle whip and some celery and it was actually pretty good. Im so picky so I guess I can take this time to kind of force myself to like new things that will be better for me post op. Im so glad I quit smoking because being overweight and smoking was sooo hard on my body. Yeah I got my BMI thing back today and it was 49.4 ....I thought it was more like 47 but apparently I shrunk lol. Im 5.8 and currently weigh 329. We must be kind of close in size right now according to bmi. Anyways...thanks for the support I really appreciate it Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

I chose the gastric bypass because you lose weight quicker and they have seen better results with it. The sleeve wasn't even an option for me where im from, its more for people that are in the higher 400's is what my doctor told me. I orginally wanted to get the lap band surgery but it takes longer for the weight to come off with that surgery and I would like it to come off quickly. To answer your question about the cold....my surgeon told me that they would not perform the surgery if I was sick at all or lacking in b12. But every surgeon is different. Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Good luck! And stay positive! Im just getting started with the process as well. Im a few appointments into it. If you ever want to talk or need someone to talk to im a talker! LoL just let me know hang in there. Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Hey Erin! congrats on the surgery and good luck with each transition you make. My surgery will be in august...im so jealous of the people who have already gotten it. I want it now! LoL. Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Congrats that's so exciting! Goodluck with everything! I should be having mine in august Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

I am just getting started with this process ...im only about a month into it. And there are some people in my life that are very negative and don't have many good things to say... such as "we know how you are jess you'll never stick to it" or "with all your health problems do you really think you can even handle this?" Or they say something like "I don't believe you've really given anything else a good enough try". Its so upsetting to me because I have tried! And the reason I want to get this done is to help with alot of my health problems...has anyone else experienced this happening to them? If so how did you handle it. I almost feel like its more motivation to prove them wrong but at the same time it really hurts my feelings. Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Yeah I am planning on taking two weeks off. I can't imagine it'd be more than that. I had my gallbladder out and was out for a week and I think the surgery is similar to that. I just had a lot of pain from the gas rising into my shoulders and getting stuck there from all the air they put into you. I just have to remember to walk alot. My doctor said after surgery when you can finally eat food you eat 1 cup 6 times a day. Im a little concerned on how I am going to get in all my fluids and my food throughout the day with how busy I am on the sales floor. Not like I can eat in front of customers lol. Its almost like you really have to plan out your day on when to eat and drink because of the 30 minute rule. Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Ohh ok. Yeah my insurance stuff is all set ...my BMI just had to be a certain number for them to cover it. Which it was so that sped things up a little. Im just hoping everything can get done fast so I can have surgery in august. Its hard to plan out things when your not sure when surgery is. I run a verizon store here in Michigan so its hard to be away from work for something as big as surgery. Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Goodluck!! Hope all goes well for the both of you! Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Goodluck with everything!! I just got started, should be doing the surgery in August is what were thinking. I love this site too! Its very helpful. How quick did your process go from start to now? I just had my insurance appointment and then Wednesday I go to my appointment where I get my metabolism tested and do some other tests. I don't know if it is the same at every place or not. Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk

Thanks! Sent from my Verizon DROID3 using RNYTalk