Newbie - Ready to start my new healthy life!

[mlr777 0]

Hello, I guess you could say this journey started 16 months ago when I went to a new doctor after moving to East Texas. I took my previous blood test results with me so he could have something to reference by for my thyroid levels (had thyroidectomy in 2001) and he noticed my Iron levels were just slightly elevated so wanted to do some more bloodwork, my previous doctor wasn't concerned, guess it wasn't elevated enough for him. Needless to say thanks to my new doctor we discovered I had hemochromatosis and was caught early enough that it could be controlled easily (if having blood draws once a week is considered easy...hurts like hell, I don't like needles at all!). He sent me to a liver specialist and genetic specialist just to confirm. From there the liver specialist ran more test and did a liver biopsy which determined that I also have NASH (fatty liver), so not only is the iron destroying my liver so is all the fat. The liver specialist mentioned lap band to me in August 2009 and I went to a seminar in September 2009 but didn't feel I was ready for something that drastic. She had mentioned it to me again a couple months ago and I decided to set up an appointment with the bariatric office.

I went in planning to do the lap band and then he discussed the gastric sleeve with me, so now I had lots of research to do which is how I found you guys...lots of great information on this site. I researched lap band and gastric sleeve and decided to go with the sleeve, I didn't want the hassle of the band and then if it didn't work the way I wanted I wouldn't be happy.

My insurance is United Healthcare so I had to get 5 years worth of medical records, get a psych evaluation and wait... My bmi wasn't over 40 but with all my health issues I qualify. United Healthcare is pretty fast at approvals (took less than a week) but my financial counselor sent in for the wrong surgery (lap band) so we had to start over, luckily it still took them less than a week (approved yesterday) and now we are on our way to a gastric sleeve!

My surgery is set for December 13 and I'm waiting for them to call and schedule my pre-op, ultrasound and hospital admissions. I was extremely scared when I first decided to have the sleeve, cutting out most of my stomach didn't seem all that appealing to me, nor does having staples that could possibly leak. But I figured I have lived without my gall bladder and thyroid for many years so I will be just fine missing most of my stomach. Still have a little fear every once in a while, typical when I'm going in for surgery but mostly excited and my husband is excited for me as well.

My surgery is at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler Texas with Dr. Robert McKinney. I'm 41 years old, married with two daughters (age 19 & 17), presently unemployed (which is great for recovery time), 5 foot tall and at my initial consultation with Dr. McKinney I weighed 200.8 pounds, the most I have ever weighed. So I'm hoping to get healthy (and skinny) so I can enjoy life, live to see my kids grow up and have families of there own and grow old with my husband!

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Welcome Michelle!

I'm sorry to hear you are having some health issues. I can tell you though that the sleeve is going to help with a great deal of them. You are making the absolute right choice!

Good luck on the days to follow!!!

[Bemabound 11]

You go girl and welcome!!!! Another newbie here and we need to support each other! Tracy