I am having surgery on April 2nd at the Florence/Oasis of Hope, with Dr. Fernando Garcia. I am 44 and have battled with my weight all my adult life, I swear I can hear my moms voice saying you better not eat chocolate cake and chocolate milk for Breakfast it will catch up with you... all the while being a size 6.... fast forward 10 years and it caught up with me and then started multiplying. I now am battling degenerative arthritis and a torn meniscus, 7 years I have been told nothing is wrong with me all the while it getting worse and my ability to keep active dimensioning. I am now so out of shape and in so much pain that I have been taking anti depressants just because the pain finally got to my normal up beat attitude. After 8 months with this orthopedic doctor he was able to do an MRI and he was able to diagnose me!! I thought yeah now they will fix it and I can get moving and lose some weight, the next thing he said is if you want replacement surgery you will need to lose weight.... I lost MY MIND!! WHY would you not have discussed this during all the shots the draining and the pain I am enduring to now tell me that I will have to continue to fight a fight that I already struggle with when healthy and who knows how long it will take me to lose enough weight... That was last month... I have now made the decision to go forward with the weight loss surgery, I had been pre approved before but switched jobs and states before I was able to jump through all the hoops to get it done, I have had psych test and nutrition classes so I do believe that I am prepared that way. Mentally I can't WAIT!! I am getting married Sept 16, 2016 and I WILL dance at my wedding!! I have a wonderful supportive man that loves me how I am and only wants me healthy and happy. Please let me know your experience and if you have any regrets. I will be returning to work ASAP but it is an office job so from what I have read I think I will be ok...

I just had my sleeve on March 2nd. I am 64 years old and have lost 30 -50 pounds every 18 months for 15 years only to gain it back. I need to lose 100 lbs. My decision to have the surgery came because I live with such back pain for the last 2 years, walking bent over with a cane. I am sick and tired of not feeling well as you are. I was stronger when I was younger and could handle my weight. I was really frightened to do this but realize my quality of life has to improve. You are wise not waiting any longer.

My surgeon said I am not the oldest patient, 77 is the oldest. My daughter also just had the sleeve and did very well, back to work in under 2 weeks. I had extreme back and should pain when I woke up. I did not last more then one day. I just wish I had known and I would have been prepared for it. It is now 4 days since surgery and I am adjusting. I am following the diet to a tee. I was hungry this morning and had cream of wheat and after 5 tables spoons I was full, full trumped hunger. My daughter is down 36 lbs in 8 weeks and feels great.

I wish you luck and think you are on the best path. .