I've been struggling with my weight ever since I was a young teen. Even when I played sports in high school and college (football, lacrosse, and wrestling), I was heavy. Once I graduated college and settled down into my career, computer information systems, it only got worse. I've tried every diet known to man, working out at the Y, everything. I pretty much cruised along for 20 years this way, until a friend of mine who was overweight dropped dead of a heart attack at a trade show in Las Vegas. That was my wakeup call. I started going to the doctor more and even though my blood work is perfect and aside from having very minor sleep apnea (9.0), I knew this couldn't last.

So 3 and a half years ago, I entered into a 6-month bariatric program at Union Memorial hospital for the Roux-en-Y procedure and even though they checked with my insurance in the beginning, after having done the whole 6-month program, when they scheduled the OR, insurance denied it. I tried appealing, but no luck. So I went back to failed diets again. Then last year, the state passed a law saying that if you sold insurance in the state, they could not deny you bariatric surgery if it was a medical necessity. I found out what all the requirements were, and although I had completed a similar procedure 3 years ago, they would not consider that as part of the 6 month monitored weight loss monitoring because they will only take it if it is less than 2 years ago. So back to Weight Watchers again for 6 months. I came to find out that the previous bariatric center only rented out space from the hospital and they went out of business. Luckily for me, there is a top notch bariatric center here in Maryland at Johns Hopkins, and best of all, my new insurance would cover it!

So after doing their program, I find myself once again waiting with baited breath for the surgery ... this time the Gastic Sleeve ... to be done, and look forward from starting 2011 on a high of 525 pounds and possibly ending it with a low of 425 ... with maybe another 100-150 to go beyond that.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and my prayers are with you.

3 days post-op and I've finally had the best nights sleep so far. The pain wasn't all that bad, by far the most uncomfortable thing was the catheter. They took that out the 2nd day post-op. Couldn't sleep more than 30-45 minutes at a time at the hospital. First night home, only woke up 2 times in 7 hours. Not much wound pain, still have a drain in, and that is the worst feeling one, but nothing that I can't stretch out an Oxy pill for 6 hours on. The bloating is the biggest complaint I have so far.

Still glad I did it.