Dire Need---I WANT TO LIVE AND NOT DIE!!
Hello Everyone 
I have been morbid obese almost all my life. I am presently 42 yrs. old. I have never been financially okay in my life so diet programs and things of that such have been out of reach for me. I starved my self in 1983 for 8 months so that i could get in the U.S. Navy. I was around 355lbs. and needed to be 220lbs for my height of 6' 1". I did lose the weight and went to Knoxville, TN to take the official Test to get into the Navy. I passed everything with Flying Colors, there was just one problem that i knew i would take care of when i got to Boot Camp and that was excess skin hanging from where i lost all that weight. It wasn't that bad and me being only 20 yrs.old at the time i knew that i could build myself up in Boot Camp. Well i was taken behind this curtain and an Officer proceeded to tell me that he needed to take some nude pictures of me and send them to Washington D.C. for evaluation and that i could not be assigned to Boot Camp until word from Washington. Well i was totally disappointed and upset. After all that i had put myself through because of my determination to make something of my life and now this. Anyways after three long weeks i finally got word that i could not go into the U.S. Navy because of the excess skin and that i would look unsightly in a U.S. Navy uniform. And i needed to get the excess skin off myself and then go through all the tests again. I was devastated to say the least. I was mad and emotionally torn that i just said f--- them and spent a 10 year spiral of Marijuana and Alcohol Abuse. I was active during this time and also worked Full-Time but it was only enough to pay the bills and party on the weekends. In 1992 i finally came to my senses with Thee Almighty God's help and quit Doing Drugs and Alcohol and to this date haven't touched neither one---Thank You Lord!!! But a neww abuse crept up on me and that was food abuse. In 1992 i weighed around 325lbs. I was feeling okay held down fulltime job and was active. But vlittle did i know as the years have progressed i have been in denial about my aaddiction with food and my abuse with it. As i have mentioned i haven't been financially prosperous so what way i tried to control my weight was my own way. I remember this one thing i did for around 3 and 1/2 years was throwing up my food. It did keep my weight stable but after doing it for three years it started take it's toll so i quit doing that. I took Xenical in 2001 and lost 105lbs. at that time i was 525lbs. But since then i am up to 600lbs. I did go back to school in 2002 and now i have an Associates Degree in Graphic Design. I got the money through Govt. Grants and Student Loans. My Employer put me on part-time right before i started school so i lost my insurance. But i knew i could not hold down a FT job and goto school anyways. But also just here in the last 4 years my body is not tolerating my weight like it used to. I was on TennCare but they booted me off in July 2005. I have no way or means off paying for the surgery at this time. Even having an Associates Degree what right Employer is going to hire me? I can't wear a suit because my abdomen hangs down to my knees. I want to have this surgery and be a productive member of society, i dont want to DIE!!!!! Does anyone know of a Doctor who my take my case and HELP ME!!!! 
Jonathan
I have been morbid obese almost all my life. I am presently 42 yrs. old. I have never been financially okay in my life so diet programs and things of that such have been out of reach for me. I starved my self in 1983 for 8 months so that i could get in the U.S. Navy. I was around 355lbs. and needed to be 220lbs for my height of 6' 1". I did lose the weight and went to Knoxville, TN to take the official Test to get into the Navy. I passed everything with Flying Colors, there was just one problem that i knew i would take care of when i got to Boot Camp and that was excess skin hanging from where i lost all that weight. It wasn't that bad and me being only 20 yrs.old at the time i knew that i could build myself up in Boot Camp. Well i was taken behind this curtain and an Officer proceeded to tell me that he needed to take some nude pictures of me and send them to Washington D.C. for evaluation and that i could not be assigned to Boot Camp until word from Washington. Well i was totally disappointed and upset. After all that i had put myself through because of my determination to make something of my life and now this. Anyways after three long weeks i finally got word that i could not go into the U.S. Navy because of the excess skin and that i would look unsightly in a U.S. Navy uniform. And i needed to get the excess skin off myself and then go through all the tests again. I was devastated to say the least. I was mad and emotionally torn that i just said f--- them and spent a 10 year spiral of Marijuana and Alcohol Abuse. I was active during this time and also worked Full-Time but it was only enough to pay the bills and party on the weekends. In 1992 i finally came to my senses with Thee Almighty God's help and quit Doing Drugs and Alcohol and to this date haven't touched neither one---Thank You Lord!!! But a neww abuse crept up on me and that was food abuse. In 1992 i weighed around 325lbs. I was feeling okay held down fulltime job and was active. But vlittle did i know as the years have progressed i have been in denial about my aaddiction with food and my abuse with it. As i have mentioned i haven't been financially prosperous so what way i tried to control my weight was my own way. I remember this one thing i did for around 3 and 1/2 years was throwing up my food. It did keep my weight stable but after doing it for three years it started take it's toll so i quit doing that. I took Xenical in 2001 and lost 105lbs. at that time i was 525lbs. But since then i am up to 600lbs. I did go back to school in 2002 and now i have an Associates Degree in Graphic Design. I got the money through Govt. Grants and Student Loans. My Employer put me on part-time right before i started school so i lost my insurance. But i knew i could not hold down a FT job and goto school anyways. But also just here in the last 4 years my body is not tolerating my weight like it used to. I was on TennCare but they booted me off in July 2005. I have no way or means off paying for the surgery at this time. Even having an Associates Degree what right Employer is going to hire me? I can't wear a suit because my abdomen hangs down to my knees. I want to have this surgery and be a productive member of society, i dont want to DIE!!!!! Does anyone know of a Doctor who my take my case and HELP ME!!!! Jonathan 
Hi Jonathan, I am really sorry to hear of what you have been thru. I barely got into the Navy because I was too skinny at the time, but they took me in. I don't know where Harrison, TN is but some Dr.'s will allow you to finance your surgery thru them. I Think Dr. Boyce in knoxville does it, and there may be other's around Nashville. I wish I could help you more, but I just don't know how. I would be glad to help make phone calls for you or whatever it takes. But you have to start the procedure. First off, just about every Dr. and insurance company will require a 6 month Dr. supervised diet and monthly weigh-ins. That is something you can start doing with your Primary Care Dr. You will be considered high risk, so anything that you can do to lose the weight EXCEPT 
ing it back up, starving, or anything else that is dangerous, will be in your favor. Try the Adkins diet, I would say start with your weight at 2500 calories. All hospitals have a dietician that can put you on a certain calorie diet, your PCP can also put you on weight reduction medications, water pills, whatever, and especially force yourself to excersise even if it's just a little walking and increasing it each day. Three square meals a day with fruit for a snack. No fried, no fat, and on the carbs, no pasta, potatoes, no noodles of any kind, and no white flour or white bread. Wheat only. You can even find lite wheat buns. No beef or pork, as they are high in fat. You did it before when you were 20, and see what you accomplished. You can do this, we all have had to go thru this just to have surgery. While you are doing this, be checking with finance companies, surgeons who do their own fiancing of the surgery, and go from there. You can email me anytime, I pull no punches. I will help you, but you have to help yourself. Whatever you eat now for a meal, cut it in half. No fast foods joints, pass them up, if you want to succeed, you have to meet me half way.
You will get a lot of encouragement, and support, and most of all prayers on this journey. No cheating, you are only hurting yourself. May God travel with you on this new journey of your life.
Always here, Kathy
ing it back up, starving, or anything else that is dangerous, will be in your favor. Try the Adkins diet, I would say start with your weight at 2500 calories. All hospitals have a dietician that can put you on a certain calorie diet, your PCP can also put you on weight reduction medications, water pills, whatever, and especially force yourself to excersise even if it's just a little walking and increasing it each day. Three square meals a day with fruit for a snack. No fried, no fat, and on the carbs, no pasta, potatoes, no noodles of any kind, and no white flour or white bread. Wheat only. You can even find lite wheat buns. No beef or pork, as they are high in fat. You did it before when you were 20, and see what you accomplished. You can do this, we all have had to go thru this just to have surgery. While you are doing this, be checking with finance companies, surgeons who do their own fiancing of the surgery, and go from there. You can email me anytime, I pull no punches. I will help you, but you have to help yourself. Whatever you eat now for a meal, cut it in half. No fast foods joints, pass them up, if you want to succeed, you have to meet me half way.
You will get a lot of encouragement, and support, and most of all prayers on this journey. No cheating, you are only hurting yourself. May God travel with you on this new journey of your life.
Always here, Kathy 
Have you looked into disability ?? with the problems being overweight can cause .. I am not sure just what shape you are in you can qualiy sometimes . you do have to wait for medicare to kick in but you would have insurane in the long run .. of course when you loss the wgt you will loos the disabilaty but what a great thing to be able to do
Laura
Hi Jonathan. My name is Jonathan as well. I just joined this forum last night and this is my first post. When I read your story I wanted to post a reply. I think Harrison is in Chattanooga, right? I live in East Ridge. I am 25 years old and around 290lbs. I know just what you are doing through. I have no insurance and I have no idea how I would be able to have the surgery. I've tried diets all my life and nothing works. I may lose 5lbs and that's it.
Support is VERY important during this time. So, if you ever need to talk, just email me.
-Jonathan
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