Hi everyone, im Milehighdreamer, you may also call me Adrian. I am a Colorado transplant living in Midland Texas; I moved here last year because my 53 year old astranged father was living here and had/survived a heart attack.

I am now 27. I am 5'11" and weigh 347. I had been working in the oilfields of Texas for most of last year. Which I enjoyed very much but had to quit because of physical demands. Now I work for a major wholesale retailer; but I wish my body would have allowed me to stay in my previous job.

In Denver, in 2011 I attended a huge lapband seminar but was turned off by the impersonal aspects of that meeting. But after the seminar I contacted my insurance and found that the surgury was excluded. Now its january 2013 and im feeling much older physically. My right knee always hurts aswell as my feet. I have trouble keeping up with coworkers and friends. I cannot work hard, I get tired soon. Im just not feeling what I belive a 27 year old should feel like. Im not fit and my life feel unfulfilled. I feel like im traped inside a jail which is all this excess weight.

A week ago, while stocking 90lbs boxes of ribeye at work, I had a very sudden idea. I said to myself,"its time!" I thought about it for a hour, knowing I was going to have to be a self-pay. I then told everyone I knew that I had made the decision to get the operation. I asked my close friends and relatives for money to pay for it. With limitex success. But I can say this thursday I will be driving 5 hours to San Antonio for my first consultation. They told me on the phone if I pay half I can pay the rest over two years. Well wish me luck everyone.

Best of luck to you!!!

Congratulations on your decision!

I understand the pain of feeling older than you are when your body aches from weight.

Good luck to you!

Thanks! both of you !

Wishing you success and fulfillment on your journey! I hope you are able to get banded if you decide that's what you want to do.

The surgery is excluded by my insurance as well (discrimination, if you ask me) but luckily I have very supportive parents and we were both in the position where they could pay half, and I could pay half, and we're getting it done that way. My surgery consult was last May, and after all these months, my surgery is on Wednesday!

I'm 29 and can't keep up with my boyfriend or friends. My therapist asked me last week what I want to achieve once the weight is off, and I said, "I don't want to be 'afraid' of physical exertion. I want to come up the subway stairs and not be winded. When I have 15 blocks to walk, I want to not want to take the bus instead. And I want to be able to hike with my brother" (he's an avid outdoorsman).

All the best to you!

-Becky

Congrats on the surgury date. Im not sure how far off my surgury will be but im hoping to be 27 still hopefull. So sometime before december.

Good luck to you!

Hiya! and congrats on your decision! Let me tell you.. it is the BEST decision I have ever made. I can relate.

Self pay will allow you to have th surgery a lot sooner than insurance does. You will most definitely get this done before Dec. It may only take about a month or so but it all depends on the play you go. So here is to taking your life back and on the road to freedom!

P.S. Keep us posted on your journey and after you get your consultation.

Best of luck.

The decision to seek help in the first place is a great step in changing your lifestyle and no doubt, you making the financial sacrifice to self pay will help affirm your decision in the years to come.

I've become a lot more self confident at a number of steps in this path to weight loss and healthier living. I wish you the same positive experience

Hi Adrian,

I hope you stick around on this site and keep reading. Its very useful information and everyone on here is friendly and can be of motivation to you.

You should be proud of yourself that you will take care of things now, before it does get out of hand "healthwise". You are very young and you have your entire life of ahead of you. There is so much more for you to do in this life, you have to live!

Like Destynee said, self paid you will not have to wait that long. I have heard some people even getting the band done within a month.

Keep us all informed and best of luck to you!

(hugs)

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

Langston Hughes

Thank you everyone for reading about my story I appreciate your words of wisdom. You have me feeling brave.

Best of luck Adrian!!!....my husband grew up in Midland

Congrats on your journey! Who are you using here in San Antonio? I'm getting banded on Tuesday with true results!

Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Never give up! Never Ever give up!

Thank you ^