I just figured it out...

I see your spouse in the in Navy.  Are you stationed up in Bremerton?  I lived in Olympia for two years. I used to weigh around 600 lbs at my fattest.  My official starting weight of 530 is what I weighed at my first PCP visit when I moved to CO in 2003.  My HMO put me on the list for WLS and then after two years of waiting, kicked me off the list saying I was too fat for surgery.  I thought this was ridiculous, so I had to fight them all the way to an independent review.  I won my case at the independent review.  Shortly after that, I kept getting cellulitis infections which put me in and out of the hospital for another year.  In early 2006, I went on Optifast and began attending the pre-surgery weight classes required by my HMO.  I lost 123 lbs before surgery and the rest post-op. My surgeon thought my surgery might be high risk (I used to be on supplemental oxygen 24/7) and told my family I'd probably be in ICU the first night after surgery.  I knew I wasn't going to have any problems, and I didn't.  I had lap RNY, went to Recovery with no issues, spent two nights in the hospital (went off the pain pump after the first night), then went home.  I was tired at home for a bit, but I didn't have any pain that couldn't be controlled with Vicodin (and I probably took it when I didn't really need it because I liked the deep, deep sleep I had when doped up on the stuff!  ) My only regret is that I didn't have this surgery years ago.  My life is so much better now, I couldn't possibly put it into words that wouldn't take twelve weeks to post. Good luck! Kix

Thank you for sharing your story.  That is inspiring.  Although I didn't have any trouble getting approved once the physician put in a referral for it... it was difficult getting any help with weight loss from a doctor.  They literally all told me I just needed to diet and exercise... which was true but it just wasn't working. I don't live in Bremerton, I live in Oak Harbor, the less well known naval air station on Whidbey Island.  It is lovely up here!

Whidbey was my second guess, LOL! If diet and exercise worked, none of us would be here. Kix

It was a real kicker when I read the statistic that people who are a hundred pounds overweight have a ridiculously small chance of losing it and keeping it off.... double that figure, and add 20 pounds and my statistics can't be looking that good at all!  Fact of the matter is that I need help!  I've needed it for a long time, I just finally got a doctor to agree to help me!  God bless that doctor.  I think it might have been one of his last acts of decency at this post since he was leaving for another duty station about a month later. Have you been to Whidbey?  People usually know about Bremerton, Bangor and Everett. lol  I didn't know about Whidbey until I dated someone who was stationed up here (before I met my husband).  I sure love the island, and Deception Pass!

Sorry I am so behind with posting. I know that by now you are all through and on the losers bench. I had Lap DS exactly 4 months ago and was a lucky girl blessed by no complications. I wish you the very best and please keep posting so we know how you are doing. Hugs.