Is this for me? Heck Yes! Pre-Op MGB Decisions

[Katie]

So I discovered Dr. R. on Youtube two summers ago while cruising around on a boring summer day. I knew that someday I wanted to go forward with something of this nature, but at that point, didn't think I would have to resort to surgery that I could do it all myself. I should have realized that when you start dieting at 5 years old, life will always be hard, choices will always be difficult, and no one ever said it would be easy. I think I hit my final breaking point last spring when walking and standing in my classroom at school became a pitiful hobble after an unknown foot injury. Since then and many shots of cortison, and MRIs later, the result is a mutated and broken sesamoid in my flexor tendon (little bone under the big toe) that is inoperable because of my weight. The doctor quickly recommended that I seek out surgical weightloss and he'd write the letter to support it. However at the time, I was so distraught that I went home and was in denial. I even cancelled my follow-up appointment! Anyways, the other day I weighed on my friend's scale and a whopping 290 popped up. I'm 5'5" and for the first time I had an OMG, this scale is wrong...I just knew that wasn't right.

So, that did it. I came back to Youtube and started researching MGB for the 3rd time and even printed out the packet. Last night I sat down and reread the entire thing. Now is the time. I made two doctors appointments today to see my primary and podiatrist. Tomorrow I am going to call a psychologist and request my basic eval. I joined the Y two weeks ago, so I'm working on reintroducing some type of cardio/non weight bearing activity into my life. What makes me crazy is that during my teen years, I was in Kick Ass shape and even swam in an international swimmeet in Costa Rica!!!! Now I float like a whale on the top of the water.

Not that long ago, after going to the movies with my husband and gorging on a bucket of popcorn, I told him that I had given up and what was going to be was going to be. I think I must have missed my anti-anxiety pill. My kids don't deserve the defeat of my fat disease. Dang....I'm worth it and so are they. They deserve to have a mom that will ride the roller coasters with them at Disney and Busch Gardens and not have to look to see if they have a weight limit. My biggest fear is that they will be afraid to ask me to do something because I'm too heavy. Molly, my oldest, is very aware of my issues and does her best to encourage me, I just don't want her 7 year old mindset to realize that it's hopeless to try and take care of yourself if I'm setting that example for her.

A teacher friend of mine, who had Roux-en-Y last June has lost 112 lbs in that time period. She has been very fortunate not to have had any problems. She found a link on Youtube that was featured on Bariatric TV that offered Surgery Loans for those seeking out GB. Unfortunately, my insurance does not cover such procedures and I already have a HELOC on my home. So that's out of the question. So I watched the video she sent me and sure enough I went ahead and applied for the loan. It's in tentative approval, but my husband was not a good co-signor (most of our debt is under his name) and I don't know of anyone else who can cosign a loan for this matter. So I'm back to square one.

I think one of the things that bugs me the most is that I'm worth more than a stupid car payment and that's what paying for the surgery equates out too... I will outlast a car darn it! I am determined to find someone....I'm not giving up.

[Kelty-Lee]

Hey Katie, I am happy to be one of your contacts. I hope you figure out the finances... don't stop and give up on it. You are worth it. :D

[Ann]

Some cards allow you to write a check off of it. You can give the check to the doc.

[Gary Seely]

The credit card is at the hospital and not the Dr's

[Ann]

Where there is a will there is a way - they do take credit cards in Las Vegas, so if you have good enough credit, you may be able to put some on the cards. I did - put it on my frequent flyer card and got points for it too!

[adrienne zona]

Hi Molly, I am in the same situation financially too I am still paying for my car. I think my car get more work done than I do. I will be praying for you, Sincerely,


Adrienne Zona

[Stephanie L]

Molly's Mommy welcome to the boards. Your story is so like many of us on here. I am just out 7 months from my MGB surgery and I am down 122 Lbs. At my heaviest I was 345 and the day of my MGB I was 322. Currently I am at 200Lbs. I had back problems due to my weight, since my surgery my backc pain is no longer there. I am enjoying life so much more now. I have this new found energy that is just truly amazing. Dont give up you will find a means to help you pay for this surgery and it will be well worth every penny of it and then some. Hang in there and keep us posted.

Steph