Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

Hey Everyone!

I'm so excited I found this website. I'd really love to find a great support system in this journey.

3 months ago I attended the bariatric surgery information session at Salem Hospital. I decided immediately that this was the right choice for me. I've been struggling with my previous insurance company, but was able to have a qualifying event and apply for the insurance at work. I work at the hospital, and found out that my new insurance covers the program 100%. So amazing! So today I am waiting for a call back from the program, and I'm guessing that my surgery date will be about 3-4 months from now.

A little about me.

I'm 21 years old. I'm a newlywed and my husband is the most amazing support person I could ever ask for. I've struggled with weight my entire life. I did my first "diet" when I was 8 years old and 150 lbs. I can't remember the last time my pant size has been a single diget. I was in denial for the longest time. I ate my feelings, and I ignored my growing waist. When I got engaged last august I weighed 240. By the time all the wedding planning and the actual wedding happened, I weighed in at a horrifying 295.

My doctor had a sit down with me and layed it all out on the table. If I don't do something about this, I will continue down this path, and eventually kill myself. I don't want that. I want children. I want a long, beautiful life. I'm so embarassed of the person I have become. In high school I was a little bigger than the other girls, but looking back, I was a skinny (ish) beautiful young girl. I was able to run and keep up with the other girls on the cheer and softball team. I want that again.

I've always been the girl that people say "You have such a pretty face". This has been a crushing insult to me my entire life. I want people to say "You are such a pretty girl", or something that includes my whole pereson. I'm tired of having the pretty face that is dragged down by this ugly awkward body.

I can't wait to get to know all of you and do this together! I'd really love to meet a few people in similar situations as me and be able to help each other through this.

post-29563-13813811007668_thumb.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome! And congrats on the wedding! How exciting! The ppl here are so supportive and full of information. I would be a little more conservative on the estimate for surgery. I have no co-morbidities and have been super prompt and am 6 months in with no surgery date yet. I'm not meaning to be a Debbie Downer, just being honest about my experience with wait times. Keep us posted with your journey!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If what they're telling me is correct, hopefully its only the 3-4 months. My insurance requires me the 3 months in the program before they'll pay for ths surgery. But the people I work with who have the same insurance and have had the surgery all got everyhting done within the 3 months and got their surgery almost right away. It may help being an employee of the hospital. I'm not sure. :/ I try to be optimistic!

Thanks for the welcome!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello!

Welcome to the group. I'm new also. I should be having surgery in a couple of months. I don't have a date but just finishing up my insurance requirements, dietician appt, psych eval & 6 months of supervised diet program. Before my diet classes I weighed in at 295 and now I'm 259. Your wedding pics are beautiful and congrats on making the decision to get on the healthy track.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Congrats Melynie! Maybe we'll have surgery around the same time! What kind of requirements have you completed so far?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have one more dietician appt on jan 23rd and I finish classes on feb 14th. So everything else is all done

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That's great! Luckily I only have 3 months of supervised diet.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You lucky duck, you! I'm so excited for you. It would be amazing if you got in within the 3 month timeframe. Hopefully I will be having surgery in Feb or March- the scheduler is out until next week, and my surgeon is on vacation until mid-Feb... We might go in around the same time!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I sure hope so. I've only been waiting 3 months for this insurance to start, and it feels like a lifetime. I keep seeing people who are 3 months post-op and thinking that I'd be so much better off 3 months post-op instead of 3 months waiting! haha. I'm pretty impatient.

I'd love to keep in touch! It will e nice having some friends who are going through the same thing I am.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good luck and welcome to the boards!!! Glad you found us

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks! I just saw your post about before&after pictures. You look so great! I can't wait to be where you're at right now!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome Erika! I love your wedding dress!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Erika is that Salem Hospital in Oregon?

Yes it is :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh really!! Small world I work at Kaiser Permanente in Portland. I've been working towards this surgery since September now and I think I am finally getting close.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×