Hi... new here

Hey everyone. I've been coming to ObesityHelp for like a year and never knew there was a teens board, so I'm happy to have found it. My name is Stephanie, I'm 19 years old, 5'6'', and about bouncing back and forth between 312 and 318. I'm very close to approval, I think. My hospital, Kaiser in Santa Rosa, CA, has this whole long long long process that we have to go through before surgery. I had to do an overview class which is a whole day long, which I did last June. Things got put off for a while, but i got back into it this year. Another requirement is a 14-week healthy weight and lifestyle class that is required before you can apply for approval. I started that in February, and my 13 week is next week. I've had to do lots of stuff inbetween the beginning and end of class, gets sleep apnea tests, psychiatry appointments, ekgs, blood work, all that, and, the biggest and ****tiest requirement of all is that it's required to lose 10% of your body weight before they will schedule your surgery. I can apply for approval as soon as my 14-week class ends (and my doctor told me that I'm almost guaranteed approval, which made me feel a whole lot better), but they won't schedule my surgery until I've taken off that 10%. That's what the 14 week class is all about, and i have yet to lose any significant amount of weight despite the fact that I've made so many changes and I'm so frsutrated because I have all the other requirements completely done. Sorry, didn't mean to splurge off my whole story, but I don't know anyone even close to my age who is going through this, so I thought it would be nice to come here and maybe make some friends who are. Toodles... I'll be back soon. -Stephanie

Hi. It absolutely makes no sense to put you through all of that stuff. If you could lose the weight on your own then you wouldn't need the surgery. Have you really been trying since last June? That is a long wait. If they're gonna approve you, they need to approve you. If they see you are overweight, why not put you in and get it done. I really hope you get approved and I hope that all goes well for ya. You are very lucky that you're close to your goals and dreams. You are SO close and I am excited for you. :D

hi stephanie my name is mandy was up i am 19 5'1.5" and 330lbs i am going through all this too so anytime u wanna talk my e-mail address is [email protected] k love mandy

hi my name is kieanna and i am 250 but i am tall and i have some muscle on me if you are willing to help me with mine i can help you if your mind is into it

Hi Stephanie, just wanted to say I really hope that you get approved. I know how you feel. I'm 29 yrs old. I don't think at 19 I would have had the surgery done. Just understand that this is a lifestyle change. I had RNY Open on April 18, 2005 and it has been a rocky road. Not trying to discourage you or anything but this is very hard. Yes, I understand you hate being fat and I did too. But never did I think it was going to be this hard. Everyone is different but the hardest part for me is the surgery didn't change the fact that I still crave the foods that I can't have. I still want to eat pizza, fried chicken, pot roast, etc. but I know I can't have them. I too went though all of the pre-op stuff but still didn't know what I was in for. You have a friend in me. You can email me anytime you feel expecially after you have your surgery done. The first two weeks were the hardest. I understand your doctor wants you to lose 10% of you excess body weight before he will do the surgery. Here is a quick way to lose it and this will be your diet for at least two weeks after your surgery. Only drink clear liquids like crystal lite, jello (sugar free), chicken broth, water (lots of water) sugar free popsicles. Of course after surgery it will be more easier to only eat these few things because you really won't have an appetite. I lost about 27 lbs in two weeks just from eating this. So yes it works. Try your best not to eat anything else. You may still feel hungry but when that happens try to drink more water so you will feel full. I wish you the best of luck with you approval, surgery and recovery. You take care and get those lbs of so you can come on the other side like so many of us has. God bless you.