GOAL!!!!!!! ...and then some!

Thank you!  You have no idea how many people I said that to before my surgery.  The before and after pics were always such an inspiration and I still love looking at them to this day.  If you are going to have the DS, you WILL be in my shoes someday!  Hang in there!

Darcy -
I'm so happy for you! I bet you are still amazed on a daily basis about your new health and shape. (I know I am and I've still got a way to go.) Now you are a role model for the newbies.
Congratulations!

Thanks Kim!  I am still amazed, yes.  Even when I'm not losing, which is a lot of the time now, I still couldn't be happier with where I'm at.  That's both with how I look and how I feel.  Oh and lack of co-morbs!

 You look great. I am so happy I read this post.  I too have been convinced I'd be the weirdo that DS would not work for. I can't imagine what being trim will feel like. We are doing our DS with Dr. Stewart at Baylor-Carrolton. Where did you have yours? 

I had mine at Forest Park Medical Center.  That's further down in Dallas.  I'm from Austin so that's why they ended up putting me there.  I had the BEST post-op/recovery nurse.  He was SO on top of my pain & nausea management when I was in recovery.  I think that's why I did so well once i finally got up to my room.  I got there by 8pm and was walking by 11pm.  I was released to go home on day 3 and was off all pain and nausea meds by day 2 and never even filled my script for pain meds when I left. 

You will be so happy with Dr. Stewart.  He's such an excellent surgeon.  You'll be in, out and switched before you know it!

 Our insurance only covers the facility we will be having it at. :( 

I wouldn't worry so much about the facility.  Surgeon-wise you are in GOOOD hands!

Not sure if this would apply, but you can appeal an HMO decision.
Too many people give up when their insurance tells them they can't have a particular surgery or surgeon.   Why not fight for what you want - if they already said no then nothing worse would happen even if you lost the appeal.

http://www.tdi.texas.gov/hmo/appealenrollee.html