Hi there!

I’m Kelly I’m 42 and in January I made the decision to pull the trigger on bariatric surgery.

I have been battling my weight my entire adult life. Things started getting really out of control when I was a junior in high school and my mom was diagnosed with cancer. At her behest, I joined Weight Watches when I was 20 years old and I have been a member off and on with mixed results ever since. I managed to lose weight easily after having my first two children but between my second and third child I had a miscarriage, gained 15 pounds and it’s been downhill since. My third child is 11 years old and I still haven’t lost the baby weight despite trying weight watchers, 21 day fix, keto during the keto craze. In 2023 I saw a doctor to inquire about trying at GLP-1 at pretty much exactly the same time as the shortages began. Between shortages and having a doctor tell me that I could never take a GLP-1 because of my mom’s cancer I spent about 6 months researching and trying to get on. GLP-1. I managed to join a telehealth company that fall and I was able to get my hands on prescription and box of Saxenda to hold me over until seeing my new PCP. I did pretty good on Saxenda and my new PCP was able to transition me to Wegovy. I managed to lose almost 35 pounds with Saxenda and Wegovy. Unfortunately, my insurance did away with coverage for all weight loss meds starting January 1 of this year. So I made myself an appointment for myself with a bariatric surgeon. I’ve already accomplished my sleep study, an abdominal ultrasound, an upper GI, and 4 of my 12 ‘lifestyle classes’. My surgeon originally suggested a sleeve for me, but after my scope I think it’s going to be a RnY because despite me thinking I did not have reflux, I had grade B esophagitis.

I’m kind of kicking myself, that I didn’t start persuing this when I was messing around trying to get a GLP-1, but hindsight, you? Anyways, I’m happy to be here and happy to get ready to start my new life.

Welcome and congrats on your decision to have surgery! And for joining here. These peeps have answered so many questions for me. There is a wealth of knowledge here! Having surgery has been great for me. Had mine Dec 2 last year so it's only been a few months and I'm down 45 lbs. Yay!

Yes, in hindsight, I'd have done this before if I could have really afforded it. Insurance now pays for it on our plan so I got it! Was so happy! I'm sure I could have saved up for it but with 3 kids years all in sports, etc years ago I would never have used the money for me. I love them all so much. What I had was theirs. ? Proud of them all. All hard-working, law-abiding adults except my daughter who will be a JR in high school this fall and she works part-time and gets to school on time every day. ? Time sure has flown by! I miss them being little. ?

Anyway! So happy for you. I would much rather do this than take any drug! Glad you are pursuing it! Keep us updated on when you have surgery, etc. I know you'll do great!! ?

25 minutes ago, Selina333 said:

Welcome and congrats on your decision to have surgery! And for joining here. These peeps have answered so many questions for me. There is a wealth of knowledge here! Having surgery has been great for me. Had mine Dec 2 last year so it's only been a few months and I'm down 45 lbs. Yay!

Yes, in hindsight, I'd have done this before if I could have really afforded it. Insurance now pays for it on our plan so I got it! Was so happy! I'm sure I could have saved up for it but with 3 kids years all in sports, etc years ago I would never have used the money for me. I love them all so much. What I had was theirs. ? Proud of them all. All hard-working, law-abiding adults except my daughter who will be a JR in high school this fall and she works part-time and gets to school on time every day. ? Time sure has flown by! I miss them being little. ?

Anyway! So happy for you. I would much rather do this than take any drug! Glad you are pursuing it! Keep us updated on when you have surgery, etc. I know you'll do great!! ?

Thank you!

Congrats on your success!

Hello and welcome. I echo your feelings. I tried and won with every diet then got complacent and ended up heavier than ever. This was my last chance and I am determined not to fail. I had to pay and I would never be able to repeat the cost.

Hi Kelly,

Yep, I think all of us were in the same boat of some kind. I've been have been heavy all my life, since birth, I was a big baby. I never lost my baby fat, I just added more and more. I'm finally going through a RNY soon, I have done everything except one more nutrition consult after Monday's consult. I think I am doing pretty good. I have tried all kinds of protein shakes, clear liquid drinks with protein, and doing exercise daily for 30 minutes, either strength or aerobic. So...just want that date, and get that date as soon as possible. A 2-week "vacation" from work, and the support of my dear husband, I got this! I might be 60 years old, but I have to lose so I can have my left hip replaced. That's what started it all. My ortho won't do the surgery unless I lose 40 pounds. Having tried everything from diets, to pills, shots and the like, I finally gave in what I had started to research 4 years ago. I'm almost there. So Kelly, welcome to the group and ask whatever questions that you may have, we are a group of people who care about other people.

Wendy

Hello and welcome. Don’t think in terms of why you didn’t start here because we all have our time that this is best for us and maybe back then you weren’t really ready. This surgery is an amazing tool but it’s really important that you are ready to do your part or you wont be nearly as successful. Sounds like now you know that the other options wouldn’t work for you and you are ready to do your part in making this tool work hard for you. You’ve got this!!

Same here! Overweight all my life.

The only reason I had the surgery at 35 (5 months ago) was because the NHS here in the UK finally approved me for the surgery. They don't cover Wegovy etc for weight loss so this was my only option. I wish I had started the process of getting approved sooner, but it wasn't until I lost my mother and step-father within a year of each other (my stepfather died at age 62 from pneumonia and liver disease that certainly was aggravated by his extreme weight, and my mother died almost year later age 67 from a perforated bowel that they couldn't repair because of her gastric bypass ten years before).

While I knew the risks, I knew I didn't want to go that young so I was going to take my health more seriously. I'm glad I did it and have no regrets.

Edited March 13, 20251 yr by NeonRaven8919