My Story :)

[I am done mooing! 12]

I have been extremely overweight ever since I can remember. I joke and say that the only time I have ever been thin is when I had lead poisoning in 3rd grade. Sad, but true. When I was in 5th grade I weighed 250 pounds and I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic. I have been battling with diabetes(insulin dependent since 2008) and weight loss ever since. I am now 28, weigh over 400 pounds (my bmi is over 60), have a whole list of health problems and have had enough! I am ready to take back my life. I have been looking into weight loss surgery since 2004, but had always heard that you can't have children after you have the surgery. I told myself I would wait until I was done, then I would have it. I now have a daughter and son in the ground next to my brother and a 3 year old little boy who barely made it. All because of my weight and diabetes. It is painfully obvious to me at this point that there will be no more children because of my obesity and diabetes. Now I begin the next step. I have an appointment with my endocrinologist on June 4th, he has to give me the referral for the surgeon. I am going to my seminar on the 30th, and I am half way thru the book by Barbara Thompson that they make you read. I have been researching my insurance to see what they will cover, and it looks like they will cover all parts of the surgery itself but none of the skin removal after the surgery. Woot for the surgery being covered! I don't yet know what hoops I will have to jump through, I really don't even know what my next step is from here but I am determined and that's what matters

[I am done mooing! 12]

What steps did you guys take when first starting your journey?

[Back~To~Amy 307]

I am self-pay because, although I have bariatric coverage, it isn't good and thus cheaper to do self-pay. Therefore, I can't speak of the hoops you will have to go through. The "hoops" are very specific to your insurance company which sometimes are based on the benefits picked by your employer. I would definitely suggest you call your insurance to find out. After reading here though, I see some have to go through a monitored diet (3, 6 months), psych evaluation, nutrition classes, sleep study, other various medical clearances.

Oh, and one more thing not related to your question I thought I'd mention is that this board is an AWESOME place to be. You will find lots of answers to your questions and lots of support.

Best of luck to you in your journey!

[bubblesbgood 29]

i am so sorry that you have children and a brother not on this side of the veil. kudos to you if you can survive that you can over come anything. Good luck to you! i just know you will make it. i joined this site in feb but didnt do anything on it until lately because i wasnt sure where i was going as a bander to a sleeve. i have found nothing but kind, inspiring people here and plan to join in as much as possible to keep myself going

[I am done mooing! 12]

I accidentally found this site last night while doing research and am very greatful for it. I have NO support. Everyone thinks that surgery is the easy way out. I would love to see them last a day in my shoes as a 405 pound woman.

[MyGastricSleeveLife 180]

I'm glad you found this site! I hope all goes well for you & you can have the surgery. I just wanted to suggest a blog you might find interesting. I love it and it is very inspirational for me even though I don't have as much weight to lose as you do or as this woman does. She is truly amazing - http://www.300poundsdown.com/ - her blog encourages me to keep going in my own journey.

I just had surgery last Monday & couldn't be happier with my decision. I was a self-pay patient since my insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery, so I didn't really have any hurdles to get through as far as approval goes. Good luck with everything! Surgery is definitely not the easy way out, but I truly believe for some of us it is the best way to get healthy. It still involves a lot of hard work though!