Hi Nor-Cal group.Lil Mis Deva, thanks for putting this together. I have been waiting to see if I was "accepted", and just today saw I was a member. I am not too familiar with posting, I do not blog or tweet or have a facebook. Guess just old fashioned or maybe because of all the negative press about social media, still just a little shy.

I do want to share my story and I look to you all who have experience and can share with me as I begin my jouney to weight loss and beyond. I am a 45 year old mom of two with a loving and supportive husband. I live near the Oregon border now in a very small town about 3 hours from Redding,CA - I have an ex that I want nothing to do with so I do need to keep things generic there. For me to meet in Sacramento or Vacaville it would not be possible. I do look forward to talking with you all via this forum however.

History: My daughter, now 24 had lap band surgery Feb 2010. She had very high blood pressure and they could not regulate it - so she researched and went with the band and had her surgery at UCSF. To date she has lost more than 75 lbs and is off all high blood pressure medicine. Every day I would call and ask what she was eating, how she was exercising etc. I thought for a while that would be my route - so I stayed on the lapband talk forum. I reached out every now and again to vertical sleeve and different bariatric sites looking at RNY. I went to my PCP who now has put me on high blood pressure medicine and supports bariatric surgery. She reccomended the Western Bariatric Center in Reno, NV and since that was a few hours away, I thought I would check it out.

I have Anthem of CA insurance and they require you go for Bariatric to certain centers of excellence (not sure if any of you have this insurance and can share), so I began looking into if Anthem would cover me to go out of state. I really needed to get going on this procedure I am 5'11 and weigh 305 lbs. My legs, feet and back can't take the weight any longer. You all know the plantar flaciatius(sorry spelling), knee issues - was in hospital because my low back went out in January and I could not walk but only crawl to wake up my son for school. It was horrible. I am just done at this point. So sorry for digressing, but I get in contact with Western Bariatric Center and attend their seminar. I am now thinking RNY based on Dr. Ganser's class. UNTIL - I go for a consult with Dr. Mark Kozar. He spends 10 minutes with me discussing my life, eating habits etc and suggests vertical sleeve.

As I started to research (and complete my tests), it is looking like this is a WONDERFUL option to RNY. The large row of staples scares me a little but.... I have my Phyc and Nut evals to complete and that is all (plus loose 15 lbs and go on 2 week liquid diet) before surgery - oh and nothing from the insurance company until Western Bariatric submits for surgery once my check list is complete - so it could all be for not at this point.

This is where I am now. I want to learn from those of you who have been through this; the good the bad and the ugly. What reseach did you do? What helped you to make the final decision to go with VS? I REALLY like the idea of nothing inside of me and not rerouting my intestines.

I work a lot, when my hubby and I got together 17 years ago it was a ready made family; I have had many ups and downs in my life as I am sure many of you have had as well; but I need to take care of me now.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend,and look forward to building on this support group.

Take care,

S

PS - please feel free to let me know if there is something I need to do to make sure I am "posting" correctly.

Welcome Sandy!!! Thanks for your post. I look forward to knowing you better and learning about your progress in this journey!!! I'm a relatively new sleever my self, just 8 weeks out. I am really happy and making steady progress. My biggest challenges of late have been getting my protiens in and ingesting more than one or two ounces of food - mostly because I am focusing on nutrition. But I feel great, have energy and starting to look slimmer. I've had no complications thus far. I am really happy with my decision. Best of luck to you. I am sure we'll be connected through this board!

Welcome Sandy!!! Thanks for your post. I look forward to knowing you better and learning about your progress in this journey!!! I'm a relatively new sleever my self, just 8 weeks out. I am really happy and making steady progress. My biggest challenges of late have been getting my protiens in and ingesting more than one or two ounces of food - mostly because I am focusing on nutrition. But I feel great, have energy and starting to look slimmer. I've had no complications thus far. I am really happy with my decision. Best of luck to you. I am sure we'll be connected through this board!

Thank you MNBSleeve!

I look forward to connecting as well - I too am very interested in learning to eat healthy. I grew up in a family that was on and off state aid, did not eat healthy at all (grilled cheese because of free butter and cheese). As I became an adult, eating out became a way for my family as I worked a lot. So - I have a lot to "re-learn" about nutrition. Plus, I can eat a lot.

I am so glad to hear you are happy with your sleeve. 8 weeks out, energy and happy with your decision is so wonderful. I have been watching the boards - I definately see more happy people then folks with complications which is a good thing. I am very nervous about this since there is not much data on long term complications. I KNOW I will keep the weight off - I just do not want to have long term issues in the future - medically.

I hope you continue to do and feel well