Surely you are someone outside of your surgery and struggles with our weight. You have interests and dislikes and families- jobs and hobbies. And honestly- yes it is exciting to have this stool and to be on the journey- but hasn't there been enough focus all our lives on just our weight?

I know VST is dedicated to our VSG stories, but I sort of think that who we are makes our VSG surgeries that much more meaningful.

So I'll go first...

I'm Danielle. I'm 27 and I have three sisters and one nephew. I am unmarried and have no children. I work full time running the office for a respiratory company. This semester I am also attending college full time via online classes. I'm now also trying to squeeze in going to the gym three times a week.

I suffer from PCOS and had this surgery to help increase my chances of having a family of my own one day.

I am a TOTAL girly girl! I love the color pink, I like Hello Kitty the way others like Betty Boop or Tinkerbell, and I HATE HATE HATE spiders! I'm not much of an outdoorsie person- my idea of roughing it is five girls and one bathroom. That being said I do love to garden and can't wait for spring.

I love anything to do with 16th century european history and am a total fanatical nut when it comes to Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. My favorite movie and book of allllllllll time is Gone With the Wind. I love watching old movies with my mom- our favorites are Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, anything with Doris Day and the Tammy movies. We also make a point of watching A League of Their Own together whenever it is on tv. I'm close with my Dad but sometimes I feel like we don't have anything in common.

Prior to surgery I loved home cooked food! (Along with chinese and pizza hut haha) I still enjoy cooking for my family (One sister, my parents and I all live together for economic reasons) and resumed cooking them meals within a few days of coming home from the hospital. I have a dog, she is a chihuahua/yorkie mix. Her name is Gypsy and well... she is sort of a monster!! I <3 her tho!

Now it's your turn!! Tell us who you are!

Hi my name is Julie and I live in Atoka,Tn. I'm 29 years old and married with 3 kids. I work at credit union as a loan processor. I've struggle with my weight on and off all my life! Well tommorow is the big day for me I'm getting sleeve

Hi Julie (and everyone else ) -- I live in Portland, Oregon. I work as an engineering manager and I'm getting my operation tomorrow also. Good luck Julie!

Good luck to you too

Hey New Friends,

My username is the woman I truly aspire to be. I will be 50 later this month. I am very happily married. I am a Registered Nurse and work as an IT analyst installing EMR (electronic medical record) software. My job has me on the road nearly 48 weeks a year. I have twin stepsons that I claim as my own. They are both lovely young men. I used to like to cycle, ski, dance, sew and cook, but lately I've spent more time surfing facebook, watching TV, and being a couch potato. I want my active life back. I look forward to the summer months when I can spend some weekend time fishing and enjoying the outdoors.

Ready to have my surgery, but feeling a little embarrassed that I just can't get a handle on this food deal....

I'm excited to get to know you all a little better. I guess I better figure out how to post a pic...LOL.

Hi my name is Myrna I'm 39 a mother of a beautiful 20 year old daughter and 11 year old son. I'm also a grandma of a energetic 4 year old boy and very active 2 year old girl. My daughter is scheduled to have a gastric bypass on June 3 and I'm scheduled to have the sleeve on June 24. I work in chemical dependency. I live in orange county, california ..I'm excited about the surgery ...I'm due to have egd on may 24 th but I'm nervous about that procedure...I know weird right??? Not nervous about the sleeve surgery but worried about the edg. Maybe cause the egd is around the corner.. I want to eventually go back to school and live a active life style..I have cormorbitity issues that interfere with a active life style..so I'm praying that after weight loss my issues will not be as challenging ...

...

Ready to have my surgery' date=' but feeling a little embarrassed that I just can't get a handle on this food deal....

[/quote']

I can REALLY relate to this!!

Hi. My name is China and this is the first time that I have ever been involved with a forum. I started this journey a few months ago when I finally told myself that I needed to start looking out for myself. I am turning 50 next month, am married to a wonderful man (for over 25 years) and have two sons, ages 20 & 23. My older son has Asperger's Syndrome and both boys still live with us. I have done everything for everyone else in the family but started having back issues and difficulty breathing when walking up stairs. I have almost always been overweight except for a few times working with the Diet Center and Weight Watchers. But I would drop the weight and then something would come up and back up I went. I finally contacted my doctor when my weight went up to 272lbs and we had a discussion about my weight and the long term effects (I now have sleep apnea and am prediabetic) and she suggested the surgery. Long story short, I have gone through all the tests and visits, lost 10 lbs and have been okay'd for surgery - I am just waiting for my date (in July). So, what is really bugging me is that now that I have come this far, suddenly I have started sabotaging myself - not sticking to the presurgery diet and not excercising (always coming up with an excuse). Has anyone else had this issue? I am very frustrated with myself at this point and am looking for some support. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

hi my name is regina im 32 no children yet. I am a CNA. I work for the State of Delaware dealing with individuals with developmental disabilities. I have struggle with my weight for years and years. I never thought that i owuld be interested in WLS.In fact I mocked everyone around me that had some type of WLS.But 4months ago I had to eat my words. So I had to apologize to everyone that had some type of WLS just to tell them that I will be getting it soon if everything goes well.

Hi my name is Myrna I'm 39 a mother of a beautiful 20 year old daughter and 11 year old son. I'm also a grandma of a energetic 4 year old boy and very active 2 year old girl. My daughter is scheduled to have a gastric bypass on June 3 and I'm scheduled to have the sleeve on June 24. I work in chemical dependency. I live in orange county' date=' california ..I'm excited about the surgery ...I'm due to have egd on may 24 th but I'm nervous about that procedure...I know weird right??? Not nervous about the sleeve surgery but worried about the edg. Maybe cause the egd is around the corner.. I want to eventually go back to school and live a active life style..I have cormorbitity issues that interfere with a active life style..so I'm praying that after weight loss my issues will not be as challenging ...[/quote']

Hi Myrna, congrats to both you and your daughter!! I also have many Co morbidity issues but my knee pain is the worst...I am still waiting for approval from my insurance Co though...the EGD is a cinch!! Don't worry it is quick and easy. Good luck to both of you!!

Hello! I'm new to the site and will be sleeved in Sept 2013!! I'm 36' date=' been married 13 yrs and have the 4 cutest kids (thankfully they are cute cuz they can be ornery on occasion ?de1c)! I used to work in Marketing but have been a full time mommy CEO since having kids.

After 15 yrs, I've admitted to myself that I'm a food addict. I've always joked that if I sewed my mouth shut, I could lose weight. This is the closest I can come to that ?de04 Very glad to be on this site! I've loved reading everyone's inspirational stories, seeing gorgeous "after" Picts and getting all the advice!

I've had my initial consultation, passed psych eval, have my upper GI this week and wait my 3 mos required by ins. So I'm looking at early Sept. '13 surgery.

As I type that, my stomach gets upset. Nervous & scared. Wish I could skip ahead to about Dec! Yet, very excited for a happy, healthier life. We live in Dallas area. New to TX and LOVE it here! I've not taken the best care of myself over the last few years, as I give 110% to being a mom w/4 kids (2 w/special needs).

Looking forward to getting to know you all. I don't have a support system. I'm only telling my husband and mom because all (and really, all...how is that when you hear such high obesity stats on the news all the time?!) my friends and family are skinny and I don't want to hear judgments. In fact, my husband is not on board. He doesn't want me to risk surgery because every surgery comes w/a risk.

He keeps saying he doesn't understand why I can't have the self control for small portions/exercise to lose weight on my own. I've tried getting him to understand my side.

Ok I'm rambling...it's just nice to have a place to talk about the surgery w/people who relate and won't judge. Thanks for reading ?de04[/quote']

Congrats on your decision!! I hope to have my surgery soon and am still waiting on my approval from my insurance.......I am sorry you don't have a support group among your family and friends, but I have found a lot of support on this website so I am glad you found it too! Brenda

hi my name is regina im 32 no children yet. I am a CNA. I work for the State of Delaware dealing with individuals with developmental disabilities. I have struggle with my weight for years and years. I never thought that i owuld be interested in WLS.In fact I mocked everyone around me that had some type of WLS.But 4months ago I had to eat my words. So I had to apologize to everyone that had some type of WLS just to tell them that I will be getting it soon if everything goes well.

I never thought I would CHOOSE to have a surgery, especially a wls, either...but we have to do what feels right for ourselves when other options fail....just think what a wonderful advocate you will be for wls after you lose your weight!!

I'm a 42 year old school bus driver with 3 children I live in NJ I have been married for 22. Years and have struggled with weight my whole adult life. I am having my surgery July 2nd!!!!

Hi, l am 55, been married for 35 years ( to the same guy lol). We have two grand kids 2 & 5 years old, that we watch while their parents work. My husband is retired and I'm disabled do to many heath issues. I want my surgery so I can feel better and be able to help him take care of my grand children. I want to be able to play on the floor and get up again! I do not have a surgery date yet, still working on all the things that Medicare requires. I 'm very happy to have found this site and all of you.

Hi Myrna' date=' congrats to both you and your daughter!! I also have many Co morbidity issues but my knee pain is the worst...I am still waiting for approval from my insurance Co though...the EGD is a cinch!! Don't worry it is quick and easy. Good luck to both of you!![/quote']

Thank u so much ..I'm so glad this forum is here ...I'm overwhelmed with the kindness here ...

Hello everyone' date=' my name is Tim and I am 41yrs young and I live in florida. I am a divorced father of a beautiful 9yr old daughter that is my life whom without I wouldn't have made it.I have always been a bigboy but have never had any issues with it due to my being so active with work and play but unfortunately for the last 7yrs I have been disabled with a job related injury. Since my injury and being inactive I have slowly put on weight and have accrued many co-morbidities along the way. I am 6'0 and weighed 250lb before my injury and at last weigh-in at my doctors yesterday I am 413.2 lbs. I have an appointment with a surgeon on the 14th along with a nutritionist. I have been trying to get this life saving procedure done since 2008 and have been unsuccessful due to insurance issues. I am praying this is the time its going to happen because I need my life back. My daughter was 2 1/2 yrs old when my injury happened and was 3 1/2 when I separated with her mom so I Havnt been able to do all the things that I promised her at birth.

I have missed out on so much already.With this weight loss I hope to lose my disability because with this weight I have an extremely hard time walking. I recently was discharged from hyperbaric medicine for my leg wound that I have had and am glad to say that my wound has been completely closed for the first time in almost 7yrs. I have to be careful keeping the swelling down so that it does not reopen. I am so ready to begin my journey and am so glad I have found this forum to be able to talk with such wonderful people. Much love, Tim[/quote']

Hi Tim, I am also a single parent in Fl, and I think most of us here totally understand your need and desire to lose weight and "get a life" so to speak. Praying this time is the charm, and your insurance approves it and everything goes well for you!!!!