Hi everyone,

This is my first post on this site, I've been reading it for a few months and now that my surgery is finally here I thought I would join in.

I live in New Zealand and am getting my VSG done tomorrow. I haven't actually been nervous up until now. I think I'm actually more excited than anything.

It's been such a full on past couple of weeks, managing getting work squared away so I can go on leave without stressing. I have two and a half weeks off work and then I'm working from home for another week so I've got a good amount of time to myself.

I am a self pay patient as here in NZ pretty much none of the health insurance companies cover bariatric surgery of any type. It is costing me a total of $24,000 which we have taken out on our mortgage (which is already massive as it is!). I'm lucky I have a very supporting partner who has encouraged me the whole way through this. We have been together for nearly 10 years (we got together when I was 14, I'm not 24 yrs old) so he has seen me at my lightest (65kg/140 pounds) and my heaviest which is currently 115kg or 253 pounds.

I haven't really told too many ppl about my surgery, only my immediate family and 2 close friends. They have all been incredibly supportive and I probably will ensue telling some more friends as time goes on and I get closer to goal weight. Bariatric surgery isn't very common here in NZ and I don't know anyone who has any form of weight loss surgery and given that I am only 24 years old, I'm just a bit hesitant to tell too many ppl about it as I just don't think they would understand.

I have PCOS with my main symptoms being excessive hair and weight issues. My periods are like clockwork so luckily I haven't had to deal with that side of things. I'm really hoping that my weight loss isn't incredibly slow like it always has been after the surgery. I know that it's a tool and I still have to follow the rules but honestly and I cannot wait to just start losing weight, I'm over being fat and am ready to get to work and earn my new body and life.

So I'm going into hospital tomorrow and will probably be there for 3 nights. I've been keeping a video diary since the start of my journey and will hopefully be able to look back on it on my surgiversary next year and not recognise the woman looking back at me.

I look forward to chatting with you go on the boards!

Ellie xx

good luck and I wish you the best and a speedy recovery keep me posted on your progress I'm being sleeved feb7,2013