I am 38 years old. I am married with 5 kids ages 18,15,11,7, and 3. I was a cosmetologist for 15 years and had a shop in my house. Last year we sold our house and I went back to school to me a Medical Assistant, I passed my boards in sept 2013. My husband and I both got lapband in 2007, neither one had much success with it, just a lot of throwing up and being miserable. In July 2012, he had the band removed and sleeve put in all in one procedure. It has been a little over a year and he has lost 189 pounds.. ~ hes 6 ft tall and weighs 200 pounds & feels so much better. So this year I decided to do the same thing. I decided to choose a different dr though they are a center of excellence. My dr said he never removes band and does sleeve at the same time. So 2 weeks ago I had the band removed, it was rough.. I have had lapband put in, gallbladder removed, and 5 vaginal births and this was by far the most painful surgery. Its still really sore 2 weeks later. I am scheduled to have the sleeve Nov 1, if insurance approves by then. With the band removal they waited until that last day, they had 15 days for that. But I hope Nov 1 is the day, so I can get well then focus on my new career and find a job! This is a whole new life for me, new house, like new husband, new career, and soon to be new me.... I am so excited and Blessed......