AngelEyesInNJ

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for stopping by. Well here we go a bit about me.

I am finally at a point in my life where I know what I want and know what I need to do to make myself happy. I have struggled with my weight practically my whole life from about the time I was 8 and I am going on 31 this year so if ya do the math that is 23 yrs ...loooonnnngggg time. During my journey I had been diagnosed with high blood pressure I believe it was in 2005, but it did not phase me any, I was like ok a pill to take to control it big deal.

I was always that happy go lucky big chick, you couldn't tell me anything my confidence was out of this world but there came a turning point which is not a good thing but indirectly it maybe was a bit. In one of my relationships I did not feel this way, felt like I was too big even when I lost weight as my other half would always be looking at thinner women in public, online.. etc. So back in 2010 I was going to go ahead and get the lap band. I went to the seminar, spoke with the doctor, met with the nutritionist, had blood work done and the insurance paper work was underway but I backed out because I was not comfortable with a foreign object in my body. Plus the port just reminded me too much of when my mother had a port a cath for her chemo treatment years ago.

During the past 5 yrs it has been a struggle meaning I was in the gym and March 2008 I wound up in a car accident. Since the accident I have had 2 knee surgeries (one in 2009 and one 2010) and not to mention back injections and on 8/7/2012 had a discogram done on my back and that was ouch so painful afterwards. So being overweight and having a bad back and bad knees just is not a good combination especially when you live on the 2nd floor with no elevator lol. So, anyway before my last back procedure I had to get blood work done when I went in for my results my doctor informed me that I am anemic (which I think I was told back in 2010), I am pre-diabetic and to boot she tripled my blood pressure medication, I went from 250mg 2x a day to 500mg 3x a day.

Shortly after getting those results I was speaking with a friend that mentioned she was going to get sleeved so I of course asked her about then started doing some research and decided this is something I wanted to do. On 8/1/12 I went to the seminar and it just confirmed that I want and need this surgery. I made an appointment to go and see the doctor that is for 9/11/12. In the meantime I called my insurance company and they do not cover anything in regards to WLS which is totally devastating and sucks because my previous insurance company did cover it but the job switched providers in June. I reached out to the doctor that I was thinking of having the lapband done with and his office told me it would be $22,000 for selfpay well lets be realistic how many people can actually just pull that out of thin air, I know I can not so it is not an option. As mentioned I still have my appointment for 9/11/12 so I am going to see what that doctor charges (in my heart I know it is still going to be expensive).

In the meantime thanks to many wonderful people here I have been looking into other options such as going to Mexico. I started the process with Dr.Garcia , I filled out the questionnaire and just got word back from Alma that I am approved for the surgery which is great, I am set to arrive 11/7/12. I now need to get the ball rolling and get my passport but I was also told my birth certificate would be good enough so if I do not have my passport in time I will just bring my BC. I am just so happy and excited that this new chapter in my life is within reach and gives me hopes of being healthier, thinner and hopefully being able to get pregnant as I have not been able to. Nothing but a bright future out there for me I just have to go and get it! :)




*I am excited to be on this new chapter of my life* As you see below I have been all over with my weight, can't wait to watch the numbers go down instead of up.[img]http://www.gastricsleeve.com/forum/images/smilies/redface.png[/img][list]
[*]Feb 2003 - 315 lbs
[*]Jan 2004 - 291lbs
[*]Jul 2006 - 280 lbs
[*]Jul 2007- 294 lbs
[*]Mar 2008- 275 lbs
[*]Sep 2009- 260 lbs
[*]Feb 2010 - 237 lbs
[*]Mar 2011- 256 lbs
[*]Aug 2012- 303 lbs
[/list]