My name is Kristi (byubell) and I am 35 years old. I have been overweight my whole life. At my hightes weight last December I was 321.
I work at a major health insurance company and except for a few select groups, we don't cover the surgery. I wasn't able to afford it and my husband would never have agreed to pay the note if we financed it. I believe that I am a very good employee and learned everything I could about everything that came across my plate. As a result, when we went to a new computer system, I got a promotion to systems analyst and am making a LOT more money. I could afford the monthly payment without cutting into any of out other bills. It was a gift sent from GOD. I talked to my husband, we looked at the finances and he agreed. I went to my surgeon in October, did my financing, and was sleeved on January 20th. I have since lost 67 lbs and feel like a new person. I have no regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat. I have recommended the surgery to anyone that has asked. I'm not embarassed to admit that I've had weight loss surgery. I would shout it from the rooftops if I could.
I have also worked with some actuaries about how much my medical bills would have been over the next ten years based on my medical conditions before surgery and am keeping a record of everything that I am spending medical wise after having surgery. Hopefully I can help with the fight to get the insurance companies (mine included) to start covering this surgery.