Hi, I want to tell you that this show has got me thinking about my own life. It has been an insperation to me. I seen my first episode last night. The people you have on the show have had a host of situations, both similar and completely differant then my own. I am 31 years old and I'm morbily obease. I weigh over 565 lbs and I'm concerned about my health. I have had a blood clot in my leg that is still there and i am talking bloodthinners to maintain. I am married and we just finalised the adoption of our 3 children threw the fostercare system. I want to be here for my kids and my husband. I fear that I wont be. I have never thought this surgury would make me into a size 8 but if I can cut my weight in half my lifespan with my family will be much longer, which is my goal. I have 2 medical insurances and since the primery insurance wont cover gastric bypass my secondary insurance which normally does cover will not. I have been waiting for years for my medicare to kick in so I can have this surgery and this is what happend. I am afraid this will cause my death. What do I do?

Hello their i just am posting my stituation, I am also 31 years old, in Oct 2006 i was 526, i found myself getting sick alot so i went to the dr. He told me that this would be expected. I told myself that was it, "Diet Time". i went on the diet and from oct to jan 2 i lost 46 pounds by myself. On Jan 2 i was taken to the hospital and i was told by 4 Doctors/Surgeons that i had to have the surgery or i would keep going through with my current problems. So with in 3 months i was accepted to go through the gastric bypass surgery. I lost between jan and may 2 (which was my surgery date) another 14 pounds which brought me to 466 pounds as of May 2. I was scared to death of having the surgery about dieing then i reliazed the situation that i was going to die wiether i had the surgery or not. So i did elect to have it. I am not your usual case neither, i have had 2 hospital visits since may 2 they both lasted 13 days total now today i am filling great and i can tell the weight lose is happeing and i weighed in at 412 as of this past saturday. IF you need help you can contact me because not only will i let know about the surgery from my point of view i also need help myself. Bigpappa689@aol.com

Chiuree... I can SOOOO relate to your situation. I'm just a little bit older. I'm now 45(well, I will be at the end of this month . But I used to weigh over 565. They think it was more like 600... but the bed I was on (I was in the hospital at the time for Congestiver Heart Failure (CHF) ) the scale only went up to 550. I was in my mid 30's when I reached that weight. I've been overweight most of my life. Have tried too many diets to count. I've been hospitalized several times. For CHF twice, pnuemonia, staff infection (from a cut on my belly (from my panties.. LOOOONG story) Two years ago I was in the hospital for 3 months, on life support for 2 weeks. During that time they found a clot in my leg. They also found one in my lung but it had been there for a loooong time already. I was put on blood thinners also. After this.. I told my self... thats it... I just can't do this to my family anymore and mostly , to myself anymore. I want to be around to grow old with my hubby and to enjoy our grandbabies. I didn't want to have the wls.. but that was my decision. It just wasn't for me. I have a couple of friends that have had it. One has had sooo many medical and mental problems after and another put all her weight back on and then some. She would liquidfy foods so she could digest them easier... sweets, ice cream... anything that she could suck down a straw. My other friend has done FANTASTIC with hers. I knew that since I had lost all my weight once before I could do it again. It's been hard. Just as hard as the patients that have the wls. I went from a tight 6x to a loose 2x. After I had lost about a hundred or so lbs, I had "Panni Surgery". It's where they remove the extra skin from around your tummy area. And no, it's NOT a tummy tuck. My skin hung down to my knees. I mean it ACTUALLY hung below my knee caps!! I was so terrified of having surgery. I was so scared I wouldn't make it. The surgery was 3 hours long and he removed 77 lbs of excess skin & fluid. SEVENTY SEVEN POUNDS!! I wanted to jump off the recovery table.!! I cried when I went into Wal-mart and bought a sweater OFF THE RACK!! I read where you said your insurance companies will not cover the surgery. Did they give you a reason why? Maybe your doctor could contact them and let them know the situation. I really don't consider this an elective surgery. I really hope things work for you. Please keep in touch.. You too Bigpapa... maybe we can build a "buddy sytem"!! My email is ~ rainbowsnunicorns@hotmail.com

much love & aloha to you both!!

Hi Chiuree ~ I put a post on here this past Saturday. I got a message that it would have to be approved as there were a couple of "flag" words. Not sure what they were... but anyway, my post is still not up. So befroe I do it again, I just wanna post this one.

Hi, Sorry I dont know why they would of flagged your post. I did not know anyone was trying to add a post till I just was notified about the one you just left. I hope you can send your original post soon. I would love to hear what you have to say. thank you, Chiuree

The internet is a great place to start. There are various web sites that can offer suggestions or options, start with obesityhelp.com also check the Methodist website for other resouces and internet sites.
The doctors on this show seem to be very caring and helpful as do the rest of the people associated with the show.

Hello Chiuree! I was 22 when I had the R&Y. My insurance said I was too young and not obese enough. So, I said F that and, I did it my own way. I took out a loan. I was an unemployed college student. I did have help from my family, but that was a minimum. It was a very difficult financial situation for me, but in the long run more than worth it. Any questions please emil me at JennK1010@mac.com

did they say what the "flag words" were Unless you were cursing I can see no reason to flag you

quote:

Originally posted by chiuree:
Hi, Sorry I dont know why they would of flagged your post. I did not know anyone was trying to add a post till I just was notified about the one you just left. I hope you can send your original post soon. I would love to hear what you have to say. thank you, Chiuree

Hi Chiuree ~
I'm not sure either. But anyway. I just wanted to tell you that when I read your enttry it was like reading about myself. I'm 45 years old and still considered morbidly obeses. I use to weigh over 565 lbs also. My doctors thinks it might even have been over 600... I'm down to 321 now. I also had a blood clot in my leg and had to take blood thinners for six months. They also found one that i must have had years ago that made its way into my lung. I guess God was watching out for me that day... as he ALWAYS does.... I have been hospitalized too many time to count. But these last two were just a little to close for me. I was on a respirator for a month and a half. I had to have a trac put in so I could get enough oxygen into my body. I didn't have the wls... I lost the weight on my own. It was hard but I did it. Just as hard as it is for the people who have had the wls. I think a lot of people look at it as a "quick fix". But it's a lot of hard work. I have had a couple of friends that had the surgery. i saw what they went through and still go through. It's hard. I have been big pretty much my whole life. I lost the weight once before so I knew i could do it again. And with the hospital stays it was just the slap up side my head that I needed! My husband is ONE IN A MILLION and has helped me through everything. I don't understand why insurance companies don't cover this procedure. I would think they would rather do that than to have to pay for all the problems that could develope later on. Is it possible for you to change insurance companies? I have Kaiser and if you have the surgery its completly covered and they will also cover the plastic surgery after you have lost your weight and maintained it. The only surgery that I did have done was a "Panny" surgery. They removed all the excess skin from around my tummy are from all the weight that I had lost. It was NOT a tummy tuck. It was considered a medical procedure not a cosmetic one. They removed 77 lbs of skin and fluid!! OMG.. I just wanted to cry from joy when I woke up! I still have a ways to go but it is much easier to get around now with out my tummy floppin on my knees!! My goal is to get under 200. i don't care if its just 199... I know it will still be considered obese.. but heck... it will be ok with me!! I would love to be a "support buddy" for you.. and you too bigpappa!! WTG!!! My e-mail address is rainbowsnunicorns@hotmail.com

much love & aloha
Lori

No Jenn... no curse words were used,....

LMAO... just as soon as I posted the "repeat message" look what came up!!!

quote:

It has been an insperation to me.

what is an insperation??

I'm just guessing cause I can't speak for Chiuree but I think that the insperation is that there are other people who have gone through or are going through the same things that we are. And it gives you a boost to know that things can turn out gr8.....

The Insperation for me is the fact that I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I see others going threw the same things I am and still pulling threw it. It is inspiring to know that no matter how hopeless things look, someone else has already been there and they have made it threw. I know that with all of the stipulations and lack of support for people out there can make the strongest of us feel alone and helpless. Now I am inspired and ready to take on the world. My insperation is everyone else who has been threw or is going threw the same battle I am. Thank You, Chiuree