Hi Fellow Okies!!!

Hi Fellow Okies!!! And others, of course! I'm Gina, I'm just really learning about WLS, but have pretty well decided in my mind that I need a forever change, as any other weight loss attempts I've made have not been long lasting at all! So, my stats are...I'm 5'9", weight fluctuates steadily between 255-265, and my BMI is 39. I have Diabetes, Fatty Liver, Hypertension (I know this only because I saw it on my chart at the doctor's office, he's never mentioned it to me specifically). I also have depression and PCOS, which makes losing weight difficult. One encouraging thing I learned is that my insurance company seems to be highly lauded around this site for approving this surgery fairly easily. Which is a good thing, yes??? Anyhow, I just wanted to say hello, let everyone know I'm in the learning process and hope to join the post-ops in the near future. I'd really like to go into the next holidays without the trepidation and fear of what I've done with the last year, and how significantly my weight has begun to affect my life... SO...if anyone has any big wisdom for me, I'd love to hear it!!!! Looking forward to getting to know the others here! Gina.

Hey Daph. YES! I have United Health Care. I haven't even talked with my doctor about this yet, so I haven't even gotten to the pre-approval waiting period yet!!! I DID however, talk to my husband tonight, and he's really supportive. I told him all the dirt of what I've researched so far, and he knows that it is a for the long haul kind of thing, and that he's definitely part of the process and all.... I was really pretty SHOCKED to hear him be supportive of all this. Lucky me. Good luck to you...Let me know if you get approved! Gina.

My biggest piece of advice that I feel I can safely push is research, research, research! You really can't know too much, and no matter how prepared you think you are, there will wind up being something you wished you would have asked. That being said you have an exciting journey ahead of you - you will find support in strange places, and you are likely to find resistance where least expected as well. Make sure you do what you know is right for you, and you'll do fine! I think I've really learned alot in this journey - especially about myself and my friends and family. I think it is an exciting way to head into a new year!

This may sound a bit dense, and I know that the only dumb question is the one unasked... So === here goes.... Can anyone point me to some good sites/sources for information??? I'm geographically limited to the internet most of the time, although I have spoken to a friend's mom who had RNY 2 years ago and she's offered to help me in any way she can, although she lives in another state. And of course, I've learned quite a bit here too, in the two days I've spent reading this site. I have a PCP appointment on January 9th, and after talking with Roger, my husband, we're going to broach the subject then, and I want to be armed as well as I can when I go into that subject with my doctor. Of course, I haven't completely decided that surgery is the way to go, although I do know that I've dieted a thousand times, a thousand ways and no matter what I do, shy of bordering anorexia, I've never been successful. I attended an informational meeting held by the doctor I will use about a year or so ago, the first thing he said was: "When people talk about dieting and discipline the first thing you must know about this surgery is this: In the analogy of how to get a donkey to cooperate (stick with me, here it IS a good analogy), you can use a carrot or a stick. You can dangle a carrot in front of the donkey and he'll move because he wants the carrot. Or, you can use a stick, and swat the donkey until he cooperates. This surgery is a stick, not a carrot." I wasn't too impressed with the stick a year ago, but I'm willing now. I don't mind be swatted to achieve what I need to in order to live longer, live healthier and feel better in general. All that being said, the thing that is keeping me from being 100% is that I don't want to go into the thing with any dissillusions, in other words, does anyone here think it's possible to sabotage yourself into thinking that you're doing this for health reasons when you really just want to lose weight and look better? Referring to the carrot or the stick, I much prefer the carrots, I've always liked carrots... In terms of discipline, I've never been good with carrots, I've always ended up with the stick in order to do what I need to do.... When it comes right down to it, I know that this is by no means, the EASY way out. There are real risks, and I can only see those risks becoming greater as I grow heavier. I really would like to nip this problem in the bud before it gets any worse, i.e. my diabetes getting worse, dying from fatty liver disease, starting blood pressure medication, I have PCOS which can lead to a ton of health issues, and I just don't want to see these things get any worse. I'm only 30 now, I can't imagine what I'll be like, in terms of health when I'm 40, and that frankly, scares the hell out of me. So, will I pass a psych eval for this surgery, in your experienced and non-medical opinions???? Thanks SO much for all the response, I really do appreciate the time you take!!! Gina.

HI Gina! Just a word about PCPs. Not all doctors are up to speed on wls. Last year my pcp told me that I had a 50% chance of dying on the operating table and suggested I go to Weigh****chers! I told him I have joined WW at least 25 times in the last 30 yrs. On my visit to my PCP this past November he was a little more up on the surgery and said he knew several surgeons he could recommend but would do so only after I made another attempt at weight loss including going to a psychotherapist. Arm yourself with information to take to your PCP. Let him see you have done your homework. : ) Good Luck. Michelle