Hello

My name is Rebecca.   I am pre-op.  I am scheduled for surgery on February 3rd.  I just had my first consultation with the surgeon on January 11th, so it is pretty fast!  I hope my insurance comes through by then.  I have been overweight my entire life, so I am looking forward to being able to take off the fat suite for once!  My BMI is 37.5, which is kind of on the low end of things I know, but I am only 5 feet tall, so it does make a big difference on my frame. 

I live in Frankfurt, Germany with my husband and super cute 2.5 year old daughter.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Rebecca

Welcome Rebecca, glad you found OH and the bariatric buddy group.  Your entry into getting to surgery was on super speed.  Great for you.  We are getting more international folks here, just a couple so far.

Which surgery are you having?  Is the process that much quicker in Germany?  What can we do to help you get ready for surgery?  Any questions, comments, concerns, wow moments, anything else just come and post.  Amazing people here in the group.  Hugs, Kathy

Hi Kathy,

It does seem a bit faster and easier here to get the surgery done.  I would be curious what the group thought about me having the surgery.  I am slated to have the RNY bypass.  I have been overweight my entire life and I have never been very successful at starting a "diet" and sticking to it.  I am however "only" 80 pounds overweight.  I am short though, 5 feet tall.  I would even be happy losing 70 or even 65 pounds.  Am I crazy to consider the surgery given the amount of weight I have to lose?  You must consider the fact that I can have the surgery for FREE.  Totally no out of pocket expense.

I need honest opinions here  :)

Rebecca

Hello Rebecca welcome to the group! I'm pretty new here myself and I live to the south of you, in sunny Greece!
I'm almost as short as you are but I have a lot more weight to lose. I don't know which type of surgery is best for you, but I opted for the Gastric Sleeve because it scared me less than other procedures. I envy Germany. Although we are both in the EU, Eurozone and all that nonesense, I have to pay 50% of the costs out of my own pocket :(

Hi Amalia,

Sunny Greece sound GREAT right now.  Dreary Frankfurt is the pits!  I am with the U.S. government (State Department) so I am not using any EU insurance.  Just good old Blue Cross and Blue Sheild from the states.  They are however pretty liberal in agreeing to pay for this. Plus, because we are poseted overseas, the Consulate where my husband works will pay for any expenses the insurance doesn't pay for.  BCBS I was told, only considers banding or RNY. I don't think they pay for the sleeve yet.

Morning Rebecca,  I think that you know what you need to do to be healthy.  I wish I had done mine a couple of decades ago, and much smaller than when I did.  Well wisdom with years.  I have had good weight loss with my RNY and would have it again if I were needing to have wls.  Weight is only a number, health is soooo much more than a number on the scale.  Even better, free and a speedy pre-op process. 

I started my pre-op process in early feb and had surgery early sept.  Pretty classic to have a 6 month supervised diet here in the states.  I had several co-morbidities and insurance only put the supervised diet in the way of getting the surgery.  The co-morbidities are gettting better, off my insulin and only needind pills to control my diabetes since surgery.  Off a few of the other meds I needed and my knees are singing the praises of weight loss.  Looking forward to hearing more about your surgery experience.  Hugs, Kathy

Hello and welcome to the group!

Colleen

rebecca, welcome to the group. hope you will find what you need with us, we are a pretty easy going group.  i don't know what to tell you about whether or not you need the surgery. that is a real personal decision.  i would imagine that 80 pounds on you would be a lot more evident than on me at 5'6".  i was about 140 lbs overweight at the beginning of all this.  we have your baack no matter what you decide.  good luck. vick

Hi Becca. Welcome to our group.
As the others have said, YOU are the one who knows how you feel, what your health issues are and if this is right for you. I think you already know. : ) Like Kathy...I wish I had done it years ealier when I was 235 instead of waiting until I hit 270. Hindsight is 20 / 20.
If you know you want this and need this, and you are approved, then don't sweat what others may or may not think. It's your life and you deserve to live it in the best possible health.