Malin

I almost asked if you were in the South, we like discuss everything with complete strangers. Though your gym sounds similar to mine. I go to a local YMCA, and a lot of older people go there. OLDER older people. Littlebill, you are a spring chicken compared to some of these peeps. And something I've noticed is that REALLY older people REALLY like to talk about surgeries, like some women like to discuss their labor & delivery horror stories. And, a lot of our older fellas love to sit in the hot tub. I'll spare you the visuals. Bless their hearts.

HEY! you're the day after me! *high fives* You've got this! You get a two-day head start on your new life!

I'm self-pay too. My first Dr visit was 20 October, and my surgery is scheduled for 5 December. Insurance puts up so many hoops for you to jump through.

@@Christyy41 you sound a lot like me. People have been saying the same thing to me. BUT...I have sleep apnea, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis...I was having high blood pressure but I think getting on a cpap machine has helped so much with that! BUT, I don't want to spend another year like this. I'm only getting bigger, despite all I've done to NOT get bigger. Angelina Jolie got a double mastectomy because she knew/felt she was doomed to the same fate as her mother. My motives are very similar. I don't want to be doomed like all the females in my father's family and my mom (though she did something about it too--she got a sleeve a few years ago!).

That's a great question! I am a self-pay as well. The total I was given is supposed to be all-inclusive.

My Pre-op is Thursday. My surgery is 5 December. Looking forward to this new journey.

WOWWWWWWW!!!!!

I have Alabama BC/BS. they paid for the blood work & tests, but nothing else. I had to pay everything else to include the anesthesia. I used my medical flex spending account to cover the anesthesia. Every doctor & hospital is different.

THIS!!!! My teenage boys are, honestly, getting a little chunky. We've all let ourselves go, and I'm hoping as the one who makes the shopping decisions and runs the kitchen that we will all lose weight.

Hi Ella,I am 5'2 and so my bmi is like 36 something. I think as the other lady mentioned on here, sometimes I'm scared to say how much I weigh as people laugh and tell me I'm being stupid. It's like I'm too big to be small, but too small to be big. But what people don't understand, I'm not happy and I have a severelyautistic child.. I need to be able to run after her... and fast lol. Thanks so much for replying. Have a great day xxxx Sent from my SM-G935F using the BariatricPal App my BMI was 37 so i'm close to being there with ya. don't let anyone discourage you. YESSSSSS....I'm 5'3 and a 1/2. When you're short/petite, 200 pounds IS BIG. When I was in the Army, it was so hard to stay in weight standards b/c if you're a short female they expect you to be lightweight. I was a STURDY 5'3

I can completely relate! I'm not much over 200pounds. This is the first year I've been at & over 200...BUT like you, I was never the 'slender teenager'. It's like a I turned 10 and stayed at a ladies' size 14 all of my life. I'm only getting bigger and bigger these past years, and as I'm in my 40s now it's not coming off. Oh, I could get a prescription for a month of diet crack (pills), but whatever I would lose in that one month I would gain back (but HEY! my house was clean from all that energy I had!) My insurance isn't paying for my sleeve since I wasn't a 35 BMI past three years. I pulled my medical record--I was at 32 BMI the past 4 years. I'm sick of trying diet pills, I'm sick of busting my butt with a trainer and 5k run classes and still stuck at size 16. I know it's not cheap since my insurance isn't paying but I got a loan and I'm investing in myself. So, I hope you know someone out there is rooting for YOU across the pond in Alabama, USA. My surgery is Monday, 5 December. I'm going to work hard to use this tool to its complete potential. Good luck to you @@Rachel79uk !

I couldn't meet their requirements, so I'm going self pay.

I just had to explain to my husband what a pressure cooker is. I may have to grab the bull by the horns and buy it for myself. clearly he does not share my vision.

Yay, Cyber Monday! Can't wait to try the Vitamin Patches. One less thing I have to mess with--horse pills!

Ok, it's official--it's going on my xmas list!!!

I hate pictures people take of me. I never like them, and that's why I've decided to do this! I can completely relate!

You know, @@MTWilliams I hope you don't regret posting this 'confession' on this forum. As food addicts, we often conduct our behavior in secret--stashes of candy & Cookies, eating (badly) when no one is around, I could go on. I know that's been my MO. I think (and I'm not an expert or a psychologist) you made a big step in tacking your eating addiction just by posting your indiscretion for everyone to read on this forum. Good for you. And I think certain people that may come across as mean or judgmental to you right now are speaking out of concern. We can read a lot of tone into people's typed words. I have learned a lot and have been inspired by so many on this board. Hang in there. My surgery is one week from today.

Bahahahhahaa...I love your forum name.

I've done the exact same thing too! KABOOM and egg confetti all over the microwave. I got a microwave egg poacher dish at Wal-Mart. It has a lid with holes in it, so if you still over-do it the explosion is contained!

One change at a time...that's what I'm attempting. Don't make all the changes all at once. One at a time and slowly works for me.

oh WOW! I would love one of these! We had an 'old school' pressure cooker when I was a kid and it terrified me. (ok, maybe I was a weird kid...) I bought one a couple of years ago to face my silly fears of blowing up my kitchen and I NEVER used it. This one looks very safe and convenient!!!

Well, I haven't been through WLS yet...but, I didn't have a period when I was in Basic Training in the Army. It was a major shock to my body--lack of sleep, drastically increased physical activity and STRESS! I imagine as much as a shock WLS is to your body, not having a period is very possible.

When I was back in college, I was working out at a local gym. There was an older woman on the treadmill next to me. We started talking, and I forget what we had been talking about ...but she looked at me and said "well, you are big but you have such beautiful skin." SERIOUSLY?

@Dknal2 And we have the same surgery date!! *high fives*

Heya, fellow 'Bama sleever! I just said this on another thread but I'll say it here too. I get this all the time too: "you're not that big, do you really need this surgery?" I'm 5'4 and I'm 215. Just like you, I'm sick of losing just to gain it back. I was in a 5k running program and working out with a physical trainer this summer, you'd think I'd lose weight. Nope! I Angeline Jolie had a double mastectomy, and she didn't even have breast cancer...YET. Key word there is 'yet'. She knew her chances of breast cancer were high, and she didn't want to risk it. And the press called her brave. I'm similar but a bit different....she doesn't have cancer, but I AM obese. I don't want to get worse. I don't want to hit 250 or 300, and it seems like I'm doomed (my parents were both very obese). I am making this choice for my future. I'm already on a CPAP for sleep apnea, cholesterol meds and my blood pressure now is terribad. I'm sick of diet pills (I think I was becoming addicted to them) and there's not a 'diet' I haven't tried. I'm making this investment in myself. My husband isn't against it, but I think he doesn't completely get it. So, I hope from reading the replies from this thread you know you're not alone in this, and we have your six (as we say in the Army).