Hello everyone! I have been considering WLS for a couple of years now and actually started the process over a year ago. I chickened out after the first meeting before because I knew I wasn't emotionally ready to make the changes in my life that I needed to make to be successful. I am at the place I need to be now and have my first few appointments next month with the NUT and psych offices. I have been doing well on my own and counting calories but I know I need the tool of surgery to help me on my way. I am really hoping to be able to get the surgery before we lose our insurance. We are a low income family and have Medicare but we live in a state that did not expand it so we are going to be cut off in December. The WLS clinic is going to try to get me in for surgery in September so it will at least be done before the cut off. Follow up care isn't as bad because the hospital has a sliding scale for people that can't afford all the payment. I am very nervous but also looking forward to a time when I can sleep without my CPAP machine and a time when I can enjoy running and playing outside with my little girl.

I am constantly worried about finding affordable healthy food to eat after the surgery though. I can't eat fish and my hubby hates all fruit and most veggies so whatever healthy food I buy will be for me and our daughter. I am also struggling with giving up diet soda. I am so addicted to that stuff! Trying to give it up again now. I don't like Water but will try to drink way more. Thanks for letting me go on. Have a good day!

Hi Kelly! Don't worry, you'll have lots of support here. I was banded two weeks ago today and feel great. It's hard work, but so worth it. It always makes me so mad that in our country, our health care decisions are always based on money. I hope you get your surgery with insurance. Take care and keep us posted!

Hi! Welcome to the best support group you will ever encounter.
I am 6 months post op and have lost 53 lbs. I'm considered a slow loser but thats ok because I am losing!~

There are wonderful people here with wonderful advice so ask a lot of questions and stay focused. Good luck and keep us posted!

It is all going to be fine! I am saving a ton of money on food because you just can't eat much. Greek yogurt for Breakfast sometimes two eggs, Protein shake snack mid morning, chili or chicken salad for lunch, protein snack like cottage cheese in the afternoon, and meat and a few veggies for dinner. A big chicken breast is about three meals for me. Be careful about losing the insurance after surgery because you will have follow up apt with blood work and blood work is expensive. The last tests I had done were $600. I shopped around to get that rate.

You cant worry about what your husband wont eat. You need to be healthy to raise your daughter and setting good healthy habits in to her now will make her not an obese child. Do what you need to do. You don't have to be rich to have nutritious food in your house.

Thanks for the replies guys! I am less worried about what hubby eats and just really stressed about my own bad habits and choices. I have been including more fresh fruit and veggies in our diet and am still struggling with the diet soda. I am drinking way less now so that is a plus. The water is super hard for me too but I am trying to be more aware of it. I have my psych eval scheduled for the 23rd so that is good too. I still do not have a certain answer about our insurance so we will just proceed as planned until they either cancel or let us stay on. I too hate that this decision is based so much on money but that is how it our medical system works for now. Thank you all again!

Hey KellySou, I had a serious Diet Coke addiction for about 25 years, usually drinking several a day. I got off it by using club soda or a soda stream with sugar free flavorings in it (like vanilla, Carmel, etc -- using those SF syrups like at coffee stands) or a wedge of orange or lime. I cut back to one soda a day, then two a week, and then one a month! Now it's easy and while plain water isn't a thrill, I add those liquid crystal light or generic squeeze flavorings and it's fine. I also drink iced herb tea by the pitcher-full. Think of all the money you'll save on soda too! If I can do it, so can you--sounds like you know your traps and are ready to beat them. Go for it!