new here

Hello all. I have been lurking for a couple of weeks now and have just decided to finally "come out". This is such a big step for me. I have spent years of steadily gaining weight but trying to convince myself that I wasn't all that bad, it is strange to be standing in front of a mirror and even though you know in your mind that you are seriously overweight, you think that you can hide it and make yourself look like everyone else and that they won't notice that you wear a size 28 pants. I have been researching wls for a couple of years now, but I have been too scared to go ahead with anything- you know because of all the horror stories and that. But over the past couple of months the pain has gotten great. I can't sleep in my bed because of back pain and the pain in my ribs if I lay on my belly for too long. I wake up feeling like all my bones are crushing, so I have to go to the living room to either sleep in the recliner or on some occasions, like tonight, I just say heck with it and stay up. My feet and legs swell up and my knees and ankles hurt so bad. I have to have this surgery done so that I can be a good mom to my 7 year old. I don't want to be in pain anymore. and most of all I don't want to die at 40 because of heart problems and sleep apnea the way my father did. He was also super obese. Anyway, how so I get started with this. I quit smoking a little over a week ago in preperation for surgery ( I know that you aren't supposed to smoke post op - and it too was killing me). But what now? I have made my decision but don't know how to get started.

Congratulations on your decision to be proactive. Your next step should be finding a doc in your area that preforms the surgery. If you are in the St. Louis area you can contact the Weight Management Program at Washington University Hospital at 314-286-2080, they are also the only ones iv'e found who take medicaid, they will get you info and explain the process. You can also click on the "information" tab at the top of this page and then click on "find a surgeon." This will get you headed in the right direction, they can answer your questions. If you want to you can also check to see if your insurance covers this by clicking on the "insurers" tab then on your state then finding your insurer. These are testamonials by people who have already dealt with them. Hope this helps and welcome to the family. Wayne

Hi Mary, Let me say welcome to the board also. 1. Call your primary care physican and get their support. 2. Make appts with Ear nose and throat (apnea), Spine (back), leg, gyno Dr's etc. Get them to buy into the fact that you need surgery. Ask them for letters of necessity stating that due to the excess weight you will benifit from the surgery and they (insurance co) will benifit from you being at a lower risk. 3. Contact a physician near by that performs Gastric or Lap and ask them about their success rate, number of procuedures. Contact the Better Business Bureau and inquire about them 4. Do some leg work and ask us here. I am sure there is someone that has or can get an answer. 5. Pat yourself on the back for stopping smoking, recognizing that you need help. Thats some of the hardest steps to take. 6. Try sleeping in the recliner more often, I did it for a month after two diff surgeries this one included. It suks but it works... 7. Sit back and wait.... Sad but true, this takes time, however time you have, and after surgery even more... Write us, e-mail us, call us with ?????'s the more you ask the better you will feel. And I beleive 1,000,000 % there isnt a stupid ?? So no matter how silly it may sound ask. Glad to see your thinking of what you can do and how to do it. We are here for you~!! Gevin RNY 06-01-05 314.5/197/146 Yes in 4.5 months I have dropped over 117 lbs ~!