Why didn't I do it sooner...

 HELL yell!!!what mama said . going on 3 yrs for me and have bee though hell and back .but would do it again in a fu*king heart beat .Red in TX .

I have several friends who are 7-10 years out with zero complications.  Yes there is risk and we all know them before going in. Its a risk I was willing to take for a healthier life because I knew the risks of staying morbidly obese were 100% certain. 

My decision was 9 years in the making.  You'll know when you're ready.  You may meet a lot of negative reactions but bump those and stick with your supporters. 

Nutritional decline and neurological disorders being a given are pure nonsense.  If you go ahead with it play by the rules, always.  You will be thinner, but most important healthier. 

Do your homework.  There are enough objective competent studies out there to guide you to an informed decision. 

To the guy who wants to hear about people 3 or more years out.  I will be 8 years out in August without complications and maintaining my weight.  You do what you are suppose to do....i.e. vitamins, exercise, support groups and maybe therapy then you will be fine!  You get out of it what you put into it...for SURE!  My motto has always been and always will be "Are you willing to work as hard after surgery as you were to have surgery"?  I was and am!!!!

Good luck to ya darlin!!!!!!

Erika

Can you please request me?? I have so many questions for you and you look great!!!

I have learned over time that my insurance would not fork out that much money for anything that might cost them more money down the road. I have Tricare Prime (military insurance that I hope Obama will use for his government based health care initiative).So besides my personal extensive research, my PCP recommendation, my surgeon's information, the anecdotal information provided by such sites as OH, Insurance is covering these surgeries. I think that says something.
IN addition weight loss by other methods also have side effects that are not just nutritional, like  the stress and strain on the body of yo-yo dieting. I recently had a patient suffer major complications from some Chinese diet medication. Nothing is free of possible complications. All you can do is weight the risks and decide for yourself. If you have already done that and have 'buyers remorse' then you need to revisit you preop Psychiatrist and work it out.
Follow the rules and you need not worry. There are other ways to get needed vitamins if you can not absorb them. Oral is always the desired route. Go to your MD appointments, have your blood draws and with rare exceptions all should be fine.
Good luck to everyone.

 My Mom was approved on Tricare. Keep trying( no pun intended)  She used a program that was a center of excellence , that might be the difference.  Ask them for a copy of the medical policy to see what they might be dening you for.  If Medicare will cover it Tricare should to. Most are managed by Blue Cross Assoc. 

My point is that my insurace did cover the surgery, and they don't do that if they think it will bring harm.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT WHEN YOU ARE READY.  I HAD FAMILY SUGGESTING WLS TO ME BUT I WAS NOT READY AND IF I WAS NOT READY I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED. 

NO WORRIES WITH WLS YOU WILL BE THIN AND THIN SOON.   GOOD LUCK TO YOU!