SqueakyWheel&Ethyl

Growing up, I had no weight issues. I was physically active and lean. When I had my daughter, my thyroid tanked. The weight began to climb. It didn't help that I took an office job, sitting behind a desk all day long. Like everyone else here, I tried and failed repeatedly on different life-changes/diets. My weight would see-saw. The most success I had was when I lost 43 lbs and got down to 160 - just 3 lbs shy of my pre-pregnancy weight. It climbed again. My heaviest was 264. With the help of a personal trainer at the gym, I dropped about 30. Then, later, on my own, down to 215. But it lasted less than a year.

My insurance company flat out said, "No. We don't cover weight loss surgery." I asked if they cover it for someone with a medical history that includes recommendations from specialists to have this surgery. They got a bit obnoxious and said, "you are asking us to bend the rules for you."

"No. I'm asking what the REAL rules are so I know what my limitations are, because a flat "NO" answer is not acceptable." Turned out, I was right. Either be 100 lbs overweight or have a life-threatening condition that makes this surgery necessary. DING! DING! I win! I have two auto-immune diseases attacking my liver. PBC and NASH. The fat in my liver is endangering me further. I also have Diabetes, Osteopenia, Hashimoto's, and Eppstein-Barr.

Then, the insurance company sent me on a goose hunt for six months demanding several criteria be met. I kept EXTREMELY detailed documentation of every phone call, email, fax, homing pigeon... (You get the idea). I will PLAY by your rules, but you have to TELL me the rules and you can't CHANGE them midway through your game! It was an ongoing battle, but when they finally saw I knew what I was doing and wasn't going away, they finally began to cooperate.

My surgery was April 17, 2013. It was done by Dr Jason Balette at St Luke's Medical Center - The Woodlands, Texas. The entire experience was GREAT! Yes, I had nausea and pain, but I am a realist and went into this steeled for it! And it really wasn't so bad! When I felt lousy, I would tell myself, 'You KNEW this was going to happen. You are prepared for it. This, TOO, shall pass. Look down the road. This will all be worth the end result.' I came home exactly 24 hours after surgery. It was the BEST decision I ever made for myself. My husband is very supportive, too.

After both of my parents passed away (Mom 4 years ago), my husband and I moved into Mom's house to continue my little sister's care. My parents adopted her as a baby. She has Cerebral Palsy (very severe) from unspeakable abuse as a very tiny premature baby. I made the Sleeve decision, not just for me, but for my sweet angel sister, too. She needs me at my best. She's my inspiration.

I'm so excited about my hopes to just FEEL better and see the evidence that I bought myself more time to keep my own liver... More time to live. Life. That is my agenda. And, if a byproduct of all of this is that my husband will have "arm-candy," then I'm fine with that, too. He deserves it. :)