LizTex2587

It's ok to vent when you need to!! It will all get better. This is a big lifestyle change and I'm sure it will take some getting used to. There are plenty of people here that can and will help and support you through this and they have all been through it, are going through it, or will go through it. I know there will probably be days when I want to rant and rave once I have my surgery...so let it all out!!!

That's great to hear!! Congratulations!!!

Thankfully there aren't too many hoops to jump through in order to submit to my insurance for approval. I have already been to the dietician class, and I have my psych. evaluation next week which I'm totally excited about (notice the dripping sarcasm)...After that we submit my case to BCBS and wait. My excitement at this point is a little muted since I havn't been approved yet. I don't think there will be much of a problem with my BMI as high as it is, but you still never really know! I'm not going to get my hopes up too high. But after I get approved, I'm gonna shout it from the rooftops! LOL!! At this point I'm just glad to be one step closer!

aaaah!!! Your sleeve date is getting closer! I'm just excited for you! Best of luck! Keep us posted on how it goes.

this summer I went to the community pool with my friends and went down one of the longer water slides...these slides are not built for big girls and there is not enough water flow to help build up speed. I came to a halt at the very end of the slide and had to wiggle of the end into the pool...I was caught between the hilarity of the moment and my embarassment! I totally laughed it off but i was still embarassed. The skinny little life guard in her skimpy bathing suit just gave me this look that said "get off the slide fatty"...I wanted to crown her with my sunscreen bottle!

It is completely up to you! Whatever you feel comfortable with. I'm still in the approval process, but most of my family, friends, and Co-workers know that I intend to have this surgery. I've had mixed responses, but most have been supportive. The bottom line is that nobody has to live inside your body except you so it doesn't really matter what anyone says. You want to be healthy and you want to look good! Do what you feel is right for you. as for those that won't support your decision, just thank then for their input and let them know the topic is off the table for discussion of they are going to be a constant voice of doubt. They should respect your choices for your life, even if they don't agree with or understand them.

I've been to Tyler before. I have friends that live there. I'm sure you are super excited that your surgery date is coming up soon! Best of luck!! Keep me posted!

I'm glad to see so many people in their 20's are taking this step now instead of waiting! I'm 25 and in the process of getting approved, can't wait!!

I share your pet peeve! To the MAX!!

That response is not surprising! Well, I hope it all works out!! I will say a prayer..Lord knows I'm saying enough for myself on the same subject!

This sounds like super fun!!! Here Goes.... My name is Liz and I am a single 25 year old Front Desk Clerk at two different hotels/occasional college student. I am working toward a degree in Music Education. Say what you will, but music is my passion! I adore making it, listening to it, teaching it, talking about it, reviewing it...my greatest achievements have been in music and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life making a career out of it...once I manage to drudge through college.... I live in Ingleside, Texas which is about 25 min. from Corpus Christi, Texas. I Love living in Texas and I am very proud to be a Texan! I enjoy reading (romance, suspense, history, etc.), I LOVE to crochet...right now I'm working on a baby blanket for a couple of friends that are having their first child ( a little girl), but I also love to make hats and scarves, and flowers which I make into pins to accessorize ( I like to say "expressorize" lol) your outfit with. I was adopted at birth by my parents and they are the better than I could have even asked for! I was able to meet my bio mom and half sisters, and we are still in touch and funnily enough they live in the area so we see one another from time to time. I love my friends and family fiercely...I'm probably too intense sometimes, and I wear my heart on my sleeve (no pun intended) so I have had to learn to reign in the emotions a little bit so I don't overwhelm people. Having said all that, the most importnat thing in my life is my relationship with Jesus Christ! Everything else after that is just second best!

I'm right there with you! This waiting process can be a total nail-biter!! I'm seeing the dietician this week, and the Psych 3 weeks after that and the they submit me for approval...*ack*... Keep us posted on how the process turns out for ya!

until someone looks at you like you are the dumbest person on the planet!! LOL!! Not that anyone here would ever do that! everyone has been extremely nice!

oh, as someone previously posted, this $ 3,000.00 copay is required by the company that is providing my insurance....I would love to hear what you find out from your HR department!! I may have to contact mine and see what kind of (if any) headway can be made!

I have BCBS of Texas and I am in the same boat as you. From what I have learned from BCBS is that this $3000.00 is a maximum co-pay for a specialists services...Now, the girl at my doctor's office said that the $3000.00 dollars was the cap on what they could charge for their services pertaining to the doctor performing the surgery itself (this does not include your regular policy co-pay for the hospital and anesthesia services) but she said they would probably only charge about half of that... 1400.00 or 1500.00 tops...Of course, I'm sure this varies from doctor to doctor. Once you have contacted BCBS to get an estimation of your benefits, you might want to talk to someone in the doctor's office and have them give you some kind of estimate...I was also given the phone number to the hospital where my surgery will be done once I get approved, and they were able to give me an estimate on how much the hospital and anesthesia services would be. Granted, these are all "estimations" but at least that gives you some idea of what you are working with. Hope this helps you out! if you have any questions hit me up...I may not have all the answers, but at least we can support each other!!

I will do my best to not freak out when I get to that point! Thanks for the info!

I assumed it was something like that. Thanks!

I am currently in the process of being approved for my sleeve and I am trying to take in as much information as possible! I keep reading about people having "stalls"... could someone please explain this to me!?! Thanks!

Good to know!! Best of luck on the baby-makin' !

I'm in the Corpus Christi area? Anyone else from the Greater Coastal Bend or South Texas Area??

My "Straw that broke the camels back" came on gradually, and then finally hit me all at once. I have never been a tiny person. Even in school I was always just a little bit rounder than everyone else even though it was not morbid obesity. Over the past 7 years, I have steadily gained wait and was pretty much in a state of denial as to how big I am. Until I saw some photos...After that, i was more aware of my weight that ever before. I have an arthritic condition and the extra weight makes it very painful. Like so many of you, I got tired of not fitting into seats at certain establishments...it is so embarassing...I'm always afraid I will have a "Shallow Hal" moment and various modes of seating will collapse under me! I always make that joke to my closest friends who know my struggles and we have a good laugh...but there is always that small fear that that could be a reality for me under the right circumstances. Now please let me preface the following statement by saying that while I am a very "weepy" person , that's just how I deal with things, I am not one of those moping people looking for sympathy wherever I may find it. Having said this, I'm an only 25 and (however true or untrue this may be) I feel that if I continue to look and feel as I do that I will be alone forever! Almost all of my friends are married with children or in serious, heading toward marriage, relationships. I know that everyone is different and no two people live the same life, but good grief!! Something's gotta give! Forgive me for being totally transparent, but I feel this is a real & valid fear! But the one thing that finally gave me a reality check about this whole situation was when my parents (I live at home) sat me down and told me that I needed to do something because they were worried about my phyiscal & emotional health. Now nothing major has happened yet, and I am still in the preliminary stages but even if for some horrid reason I am not able to fund this surgery through insurance, I refuse to allow my life to be stagnant any longer! ...my word... now my fingers are numb from typing!

Hey all! Has anyone been sleeved by Dr. Dean McDaniel in the South Texas area? Would like to hear about your experiences.

Ooh wow! This sound fantastic! I will keep it in mind!