Hello Everyone, My name is Amy and I have just recently decided, after thinking about it for a very long time, to have Gastric Sleeve Surgery. I haven't set a surgery date yet. I have a consultation with the surgen next Tuesday the 14th. More than likely my insurance will not cover it, so I am struggling with self pay issues. The surgery center is wonderful and is going to help with getting as much covered as possible. There is about a $5000 difference in the cost based on my BMI ( in order for it to be done as an outpatient surgery I have to be below 50% BMI, right now i'm at about 54%).RIght now I am 5'5 and 335 and need to loose 35 pounds before surgery so it can be an outpatient procedure, if I don't loose the weight my BMI is to high for it to be done in the surgery center and they will have to move it to the hospital.

I hit my breaking point earlier this month. I have 2 kids who are very active and I found that I have been avoiding doing anything with them because it takes to much energy to move and do anything. I have found that my knees sound like popcorn whenever I get up or sit down, my feet constantly pop and crack as I am walking and my lower back is on fire all the time because of all the weight i am caring around. I have always told myself, I can do this, I can loose the weight, If I put it on it's my responsibility to take it off, but when you see the scale move down 40 pounds and then you gain half of it back in the blink of an eye with out really changing anything its extremely discouraging and depressing. It gets really old not being able to chase my 12 week old puppy in the back yard, or walking from my office to the bus, which is about a block and a half up a small incline, without feeling like im going to die. It has become more often than not that I don't even want to get off the couch because it requires so much energy. My husband is very supportive and patient, but I think even he is becoming tired of hearing me tell him how tired I am all the time, and how I dont have any energy to help clean the house and I never want to go anywhere and do anything.

Most days I don't feel like im actually living, i'm just existing, going thru the motions of life, it's not fair to my family, most importantly to my daughter, to see me like this. The one thing I want for her especially is to grow up healthy and not have to deal with any of the issues that I did growing up, I have never been a small person, I went on my first Jenny Craig Diet in 8th grade. I dont want that for her.

I am glad that I found this group. In reading for the past few days, it seems like a very encouraging place to be.

Thanks for listening to me ramble,

Amy

Welcome Amy! It seems like you have done your homework, which is great! So, you want to do the surgery and go home the same day? Hopefully your insurance will pay so you can at least spend one night in the hospital! Glad you are taking control of your health and your children's health as well. Actually, it was my puppy that got me up and going after surgery. She is 5 mos and I am 6 mos post op. I do not have young ones at home to get me moving so my puppy is the one that keeps me on my toes now! I take her on daily walks which is the best thing to do after surgery. You should do baby steps, if you live in a neighborhood pick a house to walk to and then everyday go one house further before you know it you'll go around the block! Try doing this now to help get you to goal and help you prepare for after surgery. Good-luck with meeting your goals. Congratulations on making the decision to start living!

The surgery center that im working with provides day surgery for Lap sleeve. Honestly if I can go home same day I would love to. I hate being in hospitaals and it actually makes me way more nervous to think about being in the hospital for a few days than the actual surgery.

Where do you get the tickers, I would love to add one to my signature.

Welcome Amy!!! Good luck on your journey!! You'll soon find out that many people on here share your issues/concerns. This place is amazing because just when you feel like nobody else in the world understands what you're going through, you'll read posts on here from others with your exact thoughts/feelings.

You've come to the right place. This is sleeve nation Your making the right decision. I think if you did the pre-op diet that most of us have to do... (2-3 weeks of protein shakes....Mine was 6-8 a day of 100 cal shakes) Then you'll lose that in no time. I lost 16 lbs my friend lost 40. You will not regret getting the surgery, its amazing!

Welcome Amy, good to have you here!