Spring Dixie

Thank you all for the encouragement. I got my first appointment today, unfortunately not until Aug. 29 just because the facility is about an hour and a half away so I actually have to take a day off for the appointment. But from the sounds of it...what I've read at least is the insurance I currently have is pretty quick and easy going in regards to getting bariatric surgery approved. So there's hope this goes quickly. I have a vacation in October which is a pipe dream I know but if it happens I'll be elated, if not, surgery will have to wait until December, which feels like years away but would give me more recovery time. Well see how it all plays out, regardless I'm excited!

Those phrases I am all to familiar with, I've said them to myself many times. ????

Thank you, I have been trying for 6 years now to try and get WLS but it's always been right out of my grasp and I'm now at a point where I HAVE to do something. I'm really hoping my new insurance change will bring about good news in that department.

Well here we are again, going on to 6 years later. I just switched jobs and according to the benefit package WLS should be covered...I'm trying to not get my hopes up to high in case it's like my last job where it stated it was a covered benefit but the fine print was that it only covered $5,000 of the surgery. (But as you can see I'm posting here so my hopes are pretty up ????) Prayers that it is completely covered would be much appreciated ☺️ I really need this, even much more so than I did 6 years ago when I first attempted to get it done. I'm waiting for all the paperwork and insurance EOB, I got a generic printout and I was too embarrassed to keep pushing for something that specifically stated what exactly was covered WLS wise. If all goes well I'm hoping my surgeon will be able to book me in over Christmas break as I'll have a 2 week vacation which should allow me time to recover. I really am overly excited at the prospect of finally being able to get this done. I just pray this dream isn't snatched just out of my grasp again.

Hi y'all! I joined this forum 5 years ago this November. I originally joined for support after my doctor referred me to have the surgery. A few unfortunate events and I had to set it on the back burner (appointment flub up, surgeon going on medical leave followed by my loss of job and consequent insurance). It's now five years later, I've got a steady job and am looking to start the whole process all over again (October 4 will start the ball rolling again!). I'm pretty excited! Weight has been a struggle for me since middle school. I'm now 25, Im 5'3" and weigh 298, my highest was 325 which was less than a year ago now. Ive been pretty lucky and haven't had any chronic health problems because of it but it has prevented me from doing so much. I use to be pretty involved in sports and horses before my weight piled on so much that I couldn't keep up, or caused injuries or prevented me from even getting on a horse. And getting it off has been a mountain. So I'm excited to get this journey going again...I don't expect it to be easy but am hoping the reward at the end to be fantastic I look forward to sticking around this time, learning, participating and sharing. ~Natasha

I've been on this road to trying to get wls for years but over the years there have been many things that have reinforced the urgency for me to get it done. ????The fact alone that I am 26, 5'2" and 325lbs! I've tried desperately to get that number down and at one point got down from 280 to 220 only to quickly gain it all back and then continue to pile on more pounds...I am literally afraid to diet now for fear that I'll just gain back plus more. ????having to use a seatbelt extender on planes. Having the person next to you either move or ask the flight attendant if they can move. And having people take your picture while sitting in the airport (some lady sitting across for me forgot to turn her sound off). ????Not being able to do as much as I want on mission trips and in some cases not being able to doing anything physical. ????Being asked if I'm doing okay because I'm breathing heavy when I don't even know I'm doing it. ????Being unable to do certain activities with friends (sky diving, hiking, roller coasters, unexpected trips ect) and becoming more of a hermit because of it. ????Being unable to ride my horses anymore. ????Being too embarrassed to go to my sisters sports games or anywhere in public with my family because I'm the towns "fat girl" and I feel ashamed and don't want them to be associated with me. ????the pain, constant back and knee pain. ????Having children pat and pinch my fat arms because they don't know any better and aren't use to being around someone my size.

I'm in California, but I'm not sure financing would be an option for me

Welp, looks like surgery is on hold again. I was told my insurance covers the surgery...and it does I could have surgery tomorrow if I want but the insurance has a max payout of $5000. Which leaves me trying to come up with the remaining 13,000. I'm heart broken right now. Not sure what to do.

Thanks for all your input. I still haven't completely decided. What it comes down to is I need to make the right decision for me. And I have no doubt I was given the correct statistics, I'm going to one of the top facilities in the country where one of the owners is a big advocate for the lapband, and everything they said is right in line with everything I've researched myself. I've got nearly 200lbs to loose, statistically I have a better chance of loosing all of it going through another route. I don't know that I could mentally handle not getting to my goals. Everything I'm reading on my own when comparing them shows me that I'm statistically going to be more likely to loose most of my weight, keep it off and have the least probability of a complication by going the RNY route. BUUUUT...cutting up my insides is scary, terrifying actually. Which is why 5 years ago I almost made it to the table to get the lap band. A lot of what I'm reading I didn't know about back then. I can't be afraid of the future or what ifs. What if I do get cancer...doesn't mean I won't be able to fight it because another couldn't. In fact if I don't loose enough (which would be 75% for me) there is a huge chance I won't make it long enough to kick that cancers ass. I'm sure I'd be happy with any weight I'd loose with the lap band, but I think I would be constantly worried about my body rejecting it, or erosion or slippage. I plan on speaking more with my surgeon about my options and get his thoughts on what would be best for me.

So the seminar went pretty good. I'm not sure that the lap-band is what I'm going to finally choose. I was fairly certain it was what I was going to do for the last 5 years but...now not so much. The surgical group I'm going through is one of the tops in the country. So they're very well versed on all bariatric surgeries. But after all the information I received last night, I don't think I'm comfortable taking the route I originally chose. Some of things I was told just didn't sit well with me. They don't know who the band will work for and who it won't. The statistics show that 57% have it removed. It has a significant lower percent of average weight lost. And there was a significant higher percent (compared to sleeve and roux-en-y) of persons that have re-surgery, for various reasons. He also mentioned they are taking more out then they put in. The complications he mentioned I just wasn't comfortable with, and the fact that it is foreign object the chances it will need to be removed/replaced at some point, and there isn't enough long term data on them. I don't want to go into this with the probability of having another surgery. I'm also scared of the probability of not losing weight. I want the best chance possible and looking at the statistics I'm just not sure this is the road I want to take. So I'm on pause right now doing more research on on 3 procedures. I'm still working through with insurance and moving forward. I'll make the decision soon because no matter what I need to do one of them. Having a BMI of 54/55 is not ok. Just trying to figure out what is going to be best for me and and the healthiest long term. If anyone had any input Id be glad to hear it. But otherwise I'm just updating where I'm at mentally.

Seminar day! Which will allow me to get an appointment with the surgeon. One step down!

My biggest would be: Fly without an extender OR encroaching on another's space (along with also not having people stare or take pictures of me in airports...it's happened) Ride my horses again and then join a drill team (I've gotten to a weight that's not fair or healthy for them for me to get up there) Feel good in swimwear Date (I've actually never dated...ever) and feel comfortable with myself...getting out and feeling amazing...oh and have someone ask for my number for a reason other than to play a sick joke. To be carried by someone Ride every amusement park ride I come across without fear of not fitting or it breaking under my weight. Hike Half Dome Play soccer Not be the only fat person in my town or be the person everyone knows because everyone has talked out you at some point because you're so obese (I've met people for the first time many a times and they already know my life story) Wear high heels Wear a sexy dress Wear SHORTS! (And look good!) Shop at normal stores...and go with my girlfriends and not feel silly case I can't shop with them. Attend my high school reunion and be recognized by no one and shock the hell out of each an everyone of them when they ask my name Boy that list got longer than I thought it would.

Wow! Congratulations! You look amazing!

Signed up for Step 1 today...seminar. I'll be going on the 10th I still can't tell y'all how overwhelmingly excited I am. I have wanted this since I was a freshman in high school but it has always been out of reach. It's been a 10+ year wait.

Signed up for Step 1 today...seminar. I'll be going on the 10th I still can't tell y'all how overwhelmingly excited I am. I have wanted this since I was a freshman in high school but it has always been out of reach. It's been a 10+ year wait.

Just got my referral put in! And so it begins...again!

Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the encouragement

Hi guys, I really don't know what to do, the insurance(which I conveniently lost the day after I got my appointment with the surgeon) which I had through my job denied me due to my weight. They told me to try the ca high risk insurance but that would cost me about 300+/month -which being unemployed I don't have. I'm wondering if any of you know of any insurance groups in CA that will except overweight people and cover the lap band procedure. Thanks guys, ~Natasha:rose:

Okay I guess to clarify I'm looking for an insurance that will accept me being as overweight as I am and that will also cover the surgery.

Great group to join if you're looking for answers. I just joined as well and my mind has been set a ease on so many things. Everyone is so informative. Good luck with your surgery!!!

Hi all I don't have a date yet but once I have everything turned in they think I can have it done in December so I'm crossing my fingers

Hi everyone. I am soo excited to have found this site. I just got the referal from my doctor and the surgeon thinks I can get my surgery done in December-so merry christmas to me :tongue:. So I thought I'd share a little about myself: I've been overweight a great deal of my life but I've never really let it hold me back. I am currently 20 but only for a couple more months(my wish for my 21st birthday is to get in some skinny jeans ). I am a very active person. I love to play soccer-believe it or not I love to run. I also love horse back riding-its my life, I ride just about daily and am on my college equestrian team. I am also a Vet Tech-which is by no means at all a desk job. I'm hoping that I can finally lose the weight for good and not have to go over all those hurdles I face in my daily life because of my weight. So thats pretty much it.

Thanks you guys. I have already found this site to be so helpful. I had some concerns about post surgery but reading through some of the treads eased my mind, and it was nice to see other people concerned with the same things I am.