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!

Hello guys,

My name is Robert and i am on here from the Inland Empire part of So. Cal. I am happily married and the father of 3 children and 3 grandchildren. I am looking to get sleeved very soon (will get my surgery date this Friday) and start my journey to a more active and healthier life. I joined here to stay in fellowship with fellow "Sleevers" and to hopefully share my success story as well. I look forward to spending time on here with you all.

Take care and God bless all of you!

Robert

I am more than my decision to have a VSG. I am 33 years old and have been large all my life. I come from a family with a history of Breast Cancer, Conjestive Heart Failure, Diabetes, and Morbid Obesity. I plan to be different. I am a wife of 1 husband and an adoptive mother to 2 awesome boys ages 3 and 11. My background is in Professional Development and Recruiting. My DH and I have been trying to have children of our own for 9 years!! We have been and are more that ready to conceive children. I have been told over and over you are just too fat to conceive babies and every time I hear it it breaks me down. Thus my decision to have VSG Surgery. At first I was one of the skeptic about WLS. I would say "Why mess with you blueprint?" Until I realized I was one of the one that could not lose weight on my own. I have Yo-yo dieted, tried vegetarianism, and restricting what I ate. I have failed miserable with all of these things. After meeting with Dr. Jamokay Taylor he educated me on the benefits of WLS and how with a lifestyle change I could finally succeed in conceiving my babies.

I am overly excited about my decision and can not wait until September 23rd when I am on that table changing my life. Thank you all for the positive support I receive daily.

Looking forward to a new me! Here is a before VSG picture of me and I am looking forward to my after picture.

Hi my name is Brenda.I am a single mom of a soon-to-be 15 year old boy' date=' the light of my life! He has always been and still is very athletic, a healthy eater, and very active.

I have had weight problems on and off in my younger years and steadily for the last 10 years...I used to be very athletic and active myself, and was able to run and play with him, roller blade, run, ride horses.....but somewhere between working full time, raising my son by myself, putting him first in everything I do, and getting my bachelors and masters degrees......I lost focus on ME and forgot to take care of myself. I was hit with Rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroid, metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea ALL at the same time in 2008.....since then I have battled pain, swelling, flareups, asthma attacks, on and off steroids constantly, very little physical exercising, and lots of pity eating and party eating........and have gained an additional 10 pounds a year since then on average......

Here I am turning 50 in September, 5'8", and 328 pounds! That is a bmi of 50. :-( I have a mental picture of the thinner, healthier, active me in my mind and I know I am still buried in this body somewhere....I just need to find me again.

I am mentally prepared and very excited about this surgery!! I don't have a date yet but have been through all of the required appointments, and am just waiting for the insurance approval/authorization...I am hoping to have it by mid May, hopefully.

Nice to meet all of you!!! [/url]

I JUST GOT APPROVED TODAY!!!! Next step is to set up the date!!! Can't wait!!

I JUST GOT APPROVED TODAY!!!! Next step is to set up the date!!! Can't wait!!

Congrats bscott!!

Congrats bscott!!

Thank you!!!

After all this time, meetings, & appointments I have finished all requirements!!! Called my insurance provider & they're waiting on my surgeon to send the authorization & my surgeon is waiting on the final report from my nutritionist... smh! I'm so ready to move on to the next step!!! But I've gotta be patient. It's needed in EVERYTHING we do/go through in life... Lord help me be patient. Lol that's a continuous prayer of mine smh I'm just so excited & ready. Idk, just had to throw that in guys..

Also, congratulations to every one who's been sleeved since my last post!! I'm excited for you all & welcome to all the new groupies <3

Hey Everyone! My name is Ashley and I am new to this site! Im 24 years old . I am from the Erie, PA area. On June 3rd with be my third diet documentation! then 3 more months to go, til I can send it into my insurance company and get that approcal. Ive never really done anything like this before, so Im not really sure what to say, but this can be a start!

Welcome Ashley. Good luck to you!

Thank you ! Its so exciting! .... I just keep waiting for the months to fly by! Im so ready for this!

Hello! I am a 33 year old single mom to a beautiful 9 year old little girl. I have struggled with my weight since I was in 6th grade. I work as an accountant in Dallas, TX, where I have lived for almost 3 years. I lost my dad unexpectedly in 2010 and have put on about 50lbs since. I chose the sleeve because I am tired of being tired, tired of the failed diets and tired of being the fat one in the family that ruins all the pictures. I have to be at the hospital at noon tomorrow and I am terrified!! My daughter has cried every night for the past week, afraid her.mommy is going to die in surgery. I cant wait for this to be over and start living my new, healthy life!! Good luck everyone!

How did it go??

I am a 47 year old mother and grandmother. I have struggled with my weight all my life. over the last three years I have developed DM type 2, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. My weight peaked at 248. BMI 41. I didn't want to go down that road. I had a VSG on 5/13/13. I went to Reynosa MX for the surgery. Doctor Felipe J Cantu is my doctor. I cant say enough about him and his staff. They are great. The hospital is newly built and awesome. The patient coordinator, Lupita Lopez, was invaluable to me. She was there for me every step of the way. Everything about the surgery went perfect! My pre-op weight was 233 and I am 5'6.5'' tall. About a week after surgery I got sick with a viral illness. This was unrelated to the surgery; but I was a sick lady for a few days. I went to the ER and got rehydrated and checked out completely. I am doing a lot better now. I am currently 2 weeks out and down to 221lbs. It was the best decision I have made concerning my health. If anyone is considering the sleeve, and Mexico is one of your options, feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.

Like many others I have struggled with my weight since childhood. Then as a teenager it was discovered that I had a brain tumor. I underwent surgery and the tumor was removed, it was benign (thank you Jesus). However my pituitary gland was destroyed/removed with the tumor. As you can imagine since the pituitary controls everything, I encountered all new hormonal, medication, and weight issues. As well I have an inoperable aneurysm (that is monitored yearly and I do not need excess weight with this health concern). I have tried every diet and experienced some success and a lot of no success with my weight. So at the age of 39 I have decided that I need to do something about my other illness (obesity). TOMORROW ( can't believe I just typed that) I will have VSG surgery and begin my journey of a better, healthier, and motivated new me!!! I look forward to sharing my journey and experiences with anyone that wants to read about them. Thank you for allowing me to tell a little about myself, and any prayers for tomorrow are appreciated.

Yesterday I got my surgery date!!!! Jun 12. I am very excited and woke up this morning at 5 am out of nothing, just thinking in the new life ahead! I am a little scared too.

Yesterday I got my surgery date!!!! Jun 12. I am very excited and woke up this morning at 5 am out of nothing' date=' just thinking in the new life ahead! I am a little scared too. [/quote']

I am the same way. Overexcited and my thoughts are obsessive. I wish my date was sooner than September.

Like many others I have struggled with my weight since childhood. Then as a teenager it was discovered that I had a brain tumor. I underwent surgery and the tumor was removed' date=' it was benign (thank you Jesus). However my pituitary gland was destroyed/removed with the tumor. As you can imagine since the pituitary controls everything, I encountered all new hormonal, medication, and weight issues. As well I have an inoperable aneurysm (that is monitored yearly and I do not need excess weight with this health concern). I have tried every diet and experienced some success and a lot of no success with my weight. So at the age of 39 I have decided that I need to do something about my other illness (obesity). TOMORROW ( can't believe I just typed that) I will have VSG surgery and begin my journey of a better, healthier, and motivated new me!!! I look forward to sharing my journey and experiences with anyone that wants to read about them. Thank you for allowing me to tell a little about myself, and any prayers for tomorrow are appreciated.

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Prayers are with you ..I admire your bravery ...thanks for sharing