I'm 28. 402lbs, size 28-30 pants. I am treated for HTN, PCOS, Depression/Anxiety, Arthritis. Regardless of all of that demographic info you would never know it bothered me. I love myself as I am now, but love myself enough to know I want to live a happy active life and dieting yoyos have done nothing but get me sick, cause stomach/intestinal issues. I work full time and have a small business on the side, a hustle of you will, of selling handmade items from cards to jewelry. I want to be married on a beach and have children. I have been through this situation of getting surgery 3x. I was 17 the first time and insurance approved but surgeons in Indiana would not do it. Then I was 24 and found my company excluded WLS from their policy. I have a great new job and insurance that approved me after 6 months of seeing a bariatrician for a weight loss program. I have lost weight as the surgeon wanted. I got muni durance approval on 7/17/12 and by 7/31/12 I should have my pre op testing, then get my surgery date. I'm praying for the week of August 27th, for work reasons mainly. I thank God everyday for waking up and I have learned a lot about myself in this process. I still can believe it is happening because of all the disappointment I have faced. I could not ask for a better chance of a second opportunity to take care of myself. I am active in going to support group at St. Vincent Carmel on the Tuesday night group in Indiana. I saw this sight and being a young single woman I feel like I will be able to use all the support I can get.

Here are a few pictures. I'll add some full body shots, don't have any on my phone. Imagine that!!

Whoooo hooooo just found out pre op testing is 8/14! So hopefully surgery soon there after! I'm so excited I could cry!

Awesome I finished everything so surgery is Aug 22nd see you on the other side

Congrats! And good luck!!!

Good luck!

Thank you all soooo much! Went out for my roomies bday tonight!

Congrats girlfriend!!!im excited for yu.o

Welcome! And best of luck! You are young and beautiful and seem to be motivated!

Oh gosh so I can't take anytime off of work until September 26th. Pre op testing is 8/14. My little heart got broken because I really thought we were going to get this done at the last week of August. Mantra--it will be okay!

Welcome to the family! You're gonna love the new you!!

Mslady depending on your state and your company you may be able to file for medical leave from your job and file for state disability . Don't know what state your in you may want to check with your HR Dept and state.

We had a pool put in last year and the family decided to have a stay-cation this year so I could have surgery and will make it up next year and then put away as much money as we could.

Good luck you will be alright

I would definatley look into FMLA it's s leave from work which protects your job and they must maintain ur same level of health insurance

Oh yeah I'm definitely filing FMLA. It's a new job and we had my permanency date wrong. A month off. So before my manager could sign off I had to meet the date requirement which is Sept 26. More time for me to save money and whatnot! plus it will be getting cooler and I'm sure the areas will heal better if I'm not in a constant sweat lol!

Oh yeah I'm definitely filing FMLA. It's a new job and we had my permanency date wrong. A month off. So before my manager could sign off I had to meet the date requirement which is Sept 26. More time for me to save money and whatnot! plus it will be getting cooler and I'm sure the areas will heal better if I'm not in a constant sweat lol!

I love your attitude. You have to love yourself no matter what you look like. I think your going to do great because you have a positive outlook on life. I wish you the best.

I love your attitude. You have to love yourself no matter what you look like. I think your going to do great because you have a positive outlook on life. I wish you the best.

Oh dang thank you so much!

I'm feeling super emotional today. I am ready for surgery. Knowing that I have to wait till at least the end of Sept is irritating. I haven't been able to walk or workout in days because my back hurts and I'm so sleepy all the time. I struggle all day to stay awake and it depresses me. The Dr. says it is between my hormone levels and possible sleep apnea. For 9 months we haven't been able to get it under control. I feel like I'm a disappointment to my friends and family bc I could care less about leaving my apt. When I do I sweat non stop. I'm 28 and pissed off at myself for getting this way. I know I am making a great choice with surgery and am putting all my worthwhile energy into makin my life better. Again I'm getting irritable waiting. Oh and on top of it all I've been having irritable bowel symptoms which I haven't had in about 2 years. Don't get me wrong though, even in my darkest hours I love the fact that my life is going to be a good one.

All I can say for today though is, Thank God for cuddly puppies and dreams of one day having cuddly babies.

Cheer up MSLADY things will get better. I think everybody on this Fourm went though some type of depression befor surgery. Then just a few days before surgery the what if's set in. We all go though it . We all made it though and so will you. Your new life is just around the corner .

When I started my Journy the Doctor said it would take up to a year before I had surgery. It took 9 months the last 6 months I had to do monthly weigh-ins that was the longest 6 months but really they flew by. 20 days post op I'm down 21 lbs felling go most of the time . Where did the time go.

It will be your turn soon.

Surgery Anniversary 7/30/12