[DebraM]

Hi everyone! My name is Debra, and I live in Fremont, CA. I 28 years old, 5'5 and weigh in at 278 pounds. Basically I am pretty healthy besides being Morbidly obese, and having Knee & Back pains, obesity runs in my family, and Diabetes too. I am happily married to a wonderful, most Supportive man of almost 9 years, with two of the most adorable kids, Blaise (6) & Sierra (4). I have tried everything from Weight Watchers (5x), to Slimfast, Atkins, Curves, South Beach, to taking Hoodia...I cant drop this weight! I am happily married to a wonderful, most Supportive man of almost 9 years, with two of the most adorable kids, Blaise (6) & Sierra (4).

I have been overweight my entire life and am pursuing a Gastric Bypass. I have met my surgeon (WOW, is he a hottie), and have my two hour Nutritional appt. on April 28th. I am impatiently wanting this in such a bad way. I have United Healthcare EPO and have called and spoke with the insurance and they have said they will cover the surgery at 90%. I have called and asked this twice, as to not get my hopes up. Even hearing that, nothing is 100% until my Surgeon gets the pre-approval, and the surgery date is set. I have done some research and actually have watched the entire surgery on liteandhope.com which gave me a little anxiety but I am all set for this! My mind is set. I hold back from doing things with my kids, because I am embarrassed of myself. I do not wear shorts, because I have big legs. Its been like that for years!

What I am looking for is support, from Pre/Post Surgery patients (soon to be family;-) for feedback, whether it is negative or positive on everything they have went through. I would like to hear from anybody, escpecially in my kind of situation that is somewhat healthy but morbidly obese and are going through or have gone through all the pre-surgery pre-requisites.

Last, I am here to make new friends, and have ongoing support, and to give support! We all need eachother, and its much easier to go through this life changing event knowing you are not alone!

Thanks for listening to me, and look forward to hearing and talking to each and every one of you!

Take care and best of luck with your journey,
DebraM.

[fr1endly2]

HEY Debra...
glad you found the board.
I wish to welcome you and enjoy
getting to know you thru your posts.

Feel free to ask anything and everyone
will join in and answer! I am a post op
person that had surgery june 1 and lost
138 lbs!
Best thing i ever did

[DebraM]

Hi Lisa! Thank you! I have been in chat once before and spoke actually with you....if you remember me about a month or so ago. I finally registered and found my way back. Met my surgeon and am waiting on my Group Nutritional 2 hour session on 4/28. I am getting a little antsy...and even though prior to my decision to do this, time flew by, now time is slowly ticking.....so I have joined because I do need support because I want this in a bad way. As you said its the best thing you ever did. I am a little worried about complications though! I guess that goes with anyone though!

Thanks for your continued Support Lisa!

[fr1endly2]

yes i do remember u in chat as i wasnt sure if you
were another debra that i chat with so i remember
at first having you confused with her then we
gabbed and got to know each other.
IM glad your all registered, and I look
forward to many more chats and messages
on the board.

[DebraM]

Oh Good! hehehe! Well like I said its a waiting game now, and don't want to wait! I am sure you understand! How long was your entire wait from your first appt to the actual surgery date? Did you have Gastric Roex-Y Bypass? I think that is what it is called. That is what I will have. What kind of morbidities did you have prior to to influence the insurance to pay for it?

Thanks you for answering my questions and support!

DebraM

[freebird]

hi Deb. glad you are here with us. It really is like a little family in here. And hon, i know the waiting game is hard, i'm waiting for my last nutritionist appointment and then for a surgery date and it seems to be taking so long, howeve i have only been on this surgeons list for less than a year. i guess it's the 6 years of waiting in Canada that's making me even more impatiant. you will find alot of inspiration through the people you met here. hope to hear more from you soon

[christyblue]

hi deb glad you could join us!!welcome and i wish you much success on your journey.if you need anything at all please don't hesitate to ask.we are here for you.
huggs
christy

[DocSanae]

Welcome to the board, DebraM!!
I believe I had the pleasure of chatting with you as well, about a week ago!
Thank you for joining us, I'm looking forward to more of your posts and seeing you in chat again, as well.

May your journey go well, ((((((HUGS))))))

[DebraM]

Thank you all so much for the wonderful support! I definately will hang around to give and gain the support of my fellow friends! I had the weirdest/scariest dream that I was having the gastric bypass surgery and was having complications and I had to go back under the knife immediately! It was pretty scary actually! I was like my mind is so focused on getting this done, I am dreaming all night about it!!

DebraM

[fr1endly2]

HI DEB....well for me i first saw my surgeon end of Feb, 2005.
HE also requires a 10 percent weight loss before u can book ur surgery
so between me doing that and seeing all my speicialists for clearance
for the surgery it took me thru MAY. I would have had a MAY surgery date
but no family was free to help with my 3 kids while i was in the hospitol.
I also had problems with the cardiologist, so they thought, but it turned out
my large chest made them think i had problems that werent. I had to have an angiogram to prove all was fine with me. BUT the waiting is hard. AND
i was very postiive to get it done.