Hello everyone!

My name is Erin, I'm 26, and I live in Texas. I'm 6 ft tall and I'm starting this journey at 367 lbs. I have a wonderful and supportive SO that I live with along with three crazy cats. I have told him, my three closest friends, and my parents about my decision to have WLS. I don't plan on telling anybody else because this is very personal and I don't need people's opinions thrown in my face. I might not even tell my boss because he doesn't need his nose all up in my personal business. I can take a week's PTO if I please!

I had originally wanted to get the surgery done during spring break, but I'm SO glad I didn't go ahead with that. I wasn't ready!!

The psychologist that did my psyche eval recommended that I work with a grad student that is doing her training clinicals at his office because he said that I suffer from a binge eating disorder and need to treat it. He said that it was actually atypical binge eating disorder which means that I don't typically eat a huge amount all at once, but I just graze repeatedly in a short period of time which is unfortunately one of the easiest and most sure-fire ways to sabotage the long-term success of the sleeve, so the sooner I deal with it the better. I think I was in denial about my binge eating, but I cannot ignore this any longer because there's NO way I'm going to have major life-threatening surgery just to sabotage it with stupid bad patterns later. I am one of the grad student's very first patients ever which is super cool.

I also just hadn't quite wrapped my head around the idea of surgery yet. I mean, I've been contemplating surgery ever since I was 12, but I always figured it would never actually happen for me. I've been obese ever since I was 8 years old, so I just had this belief that this is who I *am* and who I will always be. This belief was deeply ingrained because even before I became fat at 8, I was still larger than all the other kids because of how tall I was. So when I became fatter than them too, it just didn't really seem all that different. But when I reached 360 on the scales and my doctors were telling me that all of my health problems are caused or at least worsened by my weight (asthma, pcos), and my blood pressure started reading in the borderline high regions, I decided to just jump.

I still have so many fears: fears about the actual surgery, fears about leaks and infections and other complications, fears about developing GERD or stomach ulcers after surgery, fears about not being able to drink milk or tolerate spicy foods after surgery, fears about the emotional toll of not being able to comfort-eat, fears about loose skin, fears about failing. But I think now I have enough time to be in the right place mentally to make this surgery work for me long-term.

I'm also really glad to have enough time to get to know some of my fellow May-sleevers to have some people to talk to who are at the same stage as me! So, what about you? Tell us about yourself, who you've told, describe your journey so far, and tell us about your thoughts and fears about the surgery!

I took a blood nicotine test exactly three weeks after I quit. I was VERY nervous as they told me 3-4 to be clean. The test came back <2 which apparently is very low and luckily in my case acceptable.

I took a blood nicotine test exactly three weeks after I quit. I was VERY nervous as they told me 3-4 to be clean. The test came back <2 which apparently is very low and luckily in my case acceptable.

Thanks!!!! I was doing good! Quit for two months in January. For like 3 weeks in a row I was smoking two a day and stopped again. I am afraid I am cutting in close. Part of me wants to ask my gen prac to do a blood test. Where you a hevery smoker??

I smoked close to a pack a day. Started cutting back and then took chantix. I'm still using chantix for maintenance. I feel much better there have been some tough moments when I really wanted to cheat.

Hello my fellow May sleevers! I don't think I have introduced myself yet. I'm in Detroit, Michigan and I am a band to sleeve revision. I was initially scheduled for a gastric bypass in March but I chickened out the week of surgery. My sleeve date is May 16th! I feel so much better about this decision. My docs office was a bit irritated with me but I have to do what is right for me! I have had my crap band for five years with little weight loss and I have been taking off and putting back on the same twenty pounds for the last six months. I'm just sick of it and I need to do something different.

I've been trying to get myself ready so months ago I quit soda, carbonation, and caffeine. I also gave up alcohol almost completely (never thought I'd be able to do that). I've also learned to love yogurt which, until two weeks ago I could not stand! I made a list of what I will need and posted in a thread. I purchased my Vitamins, belly band, ear plugs, and eye mask for the hospital today. My goal is to get to the gym everyday until surgery so that I go in in the best shape possible. My doc does not require a liquid diet but I would really like to try to do one for a couple of weeks prior. I figure there can't be any harm in trying to keep my liver out of the docs way! My surgery will include gallbladder removal, band removal, hernia repair (caused by the crap band), and my revision to a sleeve so I am anticipating being in a world of hurt or as the coordinator at the surgeons office put it a "hot mess"! She has assured me they will get me through it.

I look forward to sharing this experience with all of you and wish you the best of luck!

Fixerupper-Wow, bless your heart. I was going to get the LapBand x2 and was actually scheduled on 03.21.13. I also cxl mine a week before surgery. I'm so glad I did too. I have heard so many stories like yours. I pray you do well with your sleeve. Mine is scheduled 05.01.13.

Please keep us posted on your journey.

Hi all! I'm Misty. I live in Australia but I'm American. I always thought I was fat but I was really 10-15 LB above normal. I was pretty active in track and field and marching band. I'm 4'11". I went to college and gained 50 pounds in a year, from 125 to 175. By the time I graduated I was over 200, in 2000.

In college I tried Atkins, Slim Fast, and fasting. It was all pretty scatter-shot because I was really busy, with a full course load, part time work, and lots of musical work and practice. I basically never lost any weight.

I got engaged Dec 2001. In April 2002 I had a break-down shopping for a wedding dress and joined Weight Watchers. By October I went from 225 to 175 for my wedding. I was so proud! In another 6 months I was down to 150, where I stalled. I fought tooth and nail but once the course of a couple years I gained most of it back. It felt like sand slipping through my fingers.

I gave up on WW and tried South Beach, Sugar Busters, Zone, the PCOS diet, glycemic index, calorie counting, Calorie King, Sparkpeople. If it was there I tried it. Nothing worked.

In September 2011 I started the year-long Optifast 800 medically supervised diet. I told myself if it didn't work I would get surgery. I told my husband that it couldn't fail. It was medically supervised. I lost 20 kg (40 LB). I finished the program in November 2012 (I had to take long trips for work which resulted in two months delay) having already gained half of it back. I couldn't stand under eating my stomach so much.

So here I am at 98 kg (216 LB) and a 43 BMI. I have diabetes, bad ankles, and PCOS. I couldn't get pregnant because of my weight and then I got uterine cancer in 2011 and had to have a hysterectomy. Obesity has taken so much from me. No dating (married my best friend, so no real complaint there). No biological children. Clumsy. Frumpy appearance. I have felt like my brain was in a jar and tried to ignore my body. Weight loss is the only thing in my life that I have failed at. I am here to turn it around.

Oh yeah. How did I decide to get the sleeve? I had never heard of it. Then a friend said she was getting it and I meant to talk her out of it. But I did some research and decided she was right. I went to my GP for a referral and convinced my husband. Just saw the surgeon today and I have a surgery date of May 14! My friend is April 29 so we will only be two weeks apart!

Anyway sorry for the novel. I got carried away.

Finally got my official date, May 17!

Its amazing how similar our stories are...

I'm in San Antonio, TX (originally from Detroit, woohoo 313) and I've been overweight since puberty and its lovely friend PCOS showed up. I came from a very abusive home environment where my mother used my weight as a convenient target for her ire. I've been in and out of therapy for the last 20 years dealing with the plate of crap her legacy left me. This outward manifestation of her, my fat, is the last thing to go.

I tried every diet I could think of. Eventually I just gave up and the weight piled on. I first became aware of the Sleeve a few years ago, but I never thought it would happen to me because let's face it...who has thousands of dollars just laying around for that? A few years ago, I got a job with an amazing benefit package that included bariatric surgery and suddenly the possibility became real. I was still not sold on the idea, mostly out of my own fears (thanks, mommy dearest!)

What changed for me? In March of last year, one of my closest, most treasured friends lost his wife very suddenly. She was 40. Massive heart attack, no warning, no signs that she was ill. Just a normal Sunday afternoon...an afternoon ironically they had planned to spend filling out adoption paperwork. She had a lot of the same medical history as I did and that loss hit me right between the eyes. I watched someone I love like family lose the love of his life, all because of her weight. At that point, I decided that I did not want my partner to come home one day and find my fat ass dead in the dining room, so I started the process. Whew!

Back into therapy for me! My Shrink is amazing and I don't think I would have made it to my surgery date without her guiding me and putting up with my ranting in her office. Thank goodness she has a sense of humor!

I started this journey at 240 and had a 6 month supervised program to satisfy my insurance requirements. Surgery was May 6th and today was my first post-op appointment. I've lost a total of 38 pounds. I've said all along that there's a girl inside of me who does NOT look like this. This outward shell of me is not who I am and its time the girl I really am get her day in the sun.

Hi everyone. I'm 35, mother to 2 boys ages 10 & 4. I am a 4th grade teacher and my husband and I also opened a crawfish boil n go this year. My life is crazy right now. I thought that once we opened our business, I would be too busy and lose weight as a bonus plan lol... This did not happen. I gained weight...like always. I started gaining weight in college. I carry most of my weight around my belly. I joke that I look like a potato on sticks. I'm 5'4 and at 232 I'm not a very happy with myself.

My husband was at 340 at 6ft when he had his sleeve last month. He got on the scale and he was 295!!! I'm so proud of him. I had my surgery May 14th. It was a struggle getting here. On May 6th my doctors office called to tell me that my insurance would not cover my procedure anymore and they were sorry. I was devastated! I cried and called to beg anyone at the hospital, insurance company, our HR dept., etc... Everyone just said sorry. So now I was watching my husband drop weight daily (I know that sounds awful, but I'm being honest) and all I could do was cry. I really thought it was the end of the road for me. I have PCOS and it is harder to lose weight (at least for me) I had tried it all... 3days of misery and the doctor's office called me back. My insurance changed their mind. Since I was pre-approved before they allowed me to continue. Good thing cause my liquid diet started the next day lol.

I am on my way to a new life and if anything that little bump in the road just solidified how much I really wanted this procedure. I only took 2days off of work and I'm back to both jobs. Not 100% but getting there.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you all and learning from each other! Best of luck to you all!!

Hi everyone!! I'm Stephanie, 31 years old and mom to 5 yr old Aubreanna and I also have a 19 yr old step daughter. In my mid twenties I started to gain here and there and never lost it. After having my daughter my weight was out of control. My little sister also passed away and I didn't care about anything. My weight ballooned to 250. My doctor was actually the one who suggested surgery. It was always in the back of my mind, but I felt like I could lose it on my own. I started dieting in November 2012 and got a personal trainer. I only lost 15 lbs and I tried so hard without success. That was why I decided to take my dr's advice. Best decision. One month post op and I currently weigh 218. Would not be able to do that on my own. Thanks for reading.

Hi Everyone! I'm Sarah and I'm being sleeved on the 22nd!!! And I'm like most other people been heavy my whole life but it really skyrocketed when I got pregnant with my first son who is now 10. I gained 100lbs with that pregnancy and I was sure I would be having a 70lbs baby lol. Needless to say he wasn't. So I lost like 30-40 of that and then got pregnant again and I was doing great at keeping the weight gain minimal until they found a tumor in my spinal cord. So I had to have major surgery at 5 months pregnant and then had to learn to walk again and so then the weight piled on again. I was around 275 when I gave birth the second time. Then for the next 7 years I lost and gain the same 50lbs over and over again. We then decided to have one more baby and I wanted to be done having babies at the age of 30. I was 20 with my first one. So at 29 I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on 11-11-11 at that so she has a unique birthrate. But I gained around 30lbs and was right around 315-320 when I had her. So now I'm done having kids and I'm doing something for myself. I am currently 31yrs old, 5'3", and 300lbs. I can't wait to start losing and getting the old me back!! I am setting 25lb goals. I think they might be easier to achieve but ultimately I would like to be around 150-145. Good luck to everyone!!!