Hi everyone! I wasn't sure exactly where to post this so I hope this is okay! I'm a 20 year old, full-time college student & after carrying around extra weight all of my life I've decided that enough's enough! A huge motivator in my decision to look into surgery was that my mom passed away last year from Necrotizing Fasciitis. Watching her fight to live and losing her life to something she had absolutely no control over really changed me as a person and completely altered my perspective on life. Now I truly understand that life and health aren't things to be taken for granted and if I'm in control of something affecting my health, such as my weight, it's a disservice to myself and to my mom's memory to not fight that battle and fix the problem. Luckily, due to my age I'm sure, my body is not yet suffering the severe consequences of obesity, but I know it's only a matter of time if I don't get it under control right now.

3 years ago I lost about 35 pounds naturally just through healthy eating and exercising. However, in the middle of that journey I suffered a severe back injury that had to be corrected with surgery, and now with all the extra weight I'm carrying, my back just isn't strong enough to maintain that level of exercise I was pushing at before. And in the 6 months following the loss of my mom, I packed on another 20 pounds, only adding to my back problems!!

Two of my cousins had weight loss surgery. One opted for gastric bypass, her sister opted for the sleeve. After talking at length with both of them and others who've gone through it, and doing my own research, I'm pretty confident that the sleeve is the best choice for me. I finally bucked up the courage to contact a surgeon, and my first consultation with him is scheduled for the 12th of September. I'm very nervous and I know that the journey to actually having the surgery is a long, winding, sometimes turbulent ride, never mind the journey of the rest of my life following the surgery! However, I know without a doubt that this is something I need to do for myself and for my future children. I'm so glad that a site like this exists to share in the joys and frustrations of this new life I'm wandering into.

~ Megan

Hi your going to do just fine congrats on your choice to take these steps to a healthier you.

Hey Megan, Congrats on your decision. Don't be scared of seeing the surgeon for the first time. No he is not standing at the door with a ginsu knife, you are only talking to him at this point.