58 Y/o Female Tired of Being Fat! - Cincinnati, OH

As most of you reading this, I have been overweight most of my life; and like most of you, I have lost hundreds of pounds during my life. BUT, like most of you, I'm tired of it!!! I have COPD, lymphadema in my leg and foot, high BP and high cholesterol, and minor thyroid problems. My daughter had been suggesting that I have weight loss surgery for several years, but I was of the mindset that I could do it on my own. Well...I now admit that I can't. I've been researching the various types of bariatric surgeries available to me. I had my first appointment with my doctor on March 12. I went in thinking of having the lap-band surgery. After my consult with the surgeon, the phychiatrist, and the nutritionist, I am leaning more towards the sleeve procedure. I weighed 262.8 (I'm only 5' tall), with a BMI of 50. I have to be on a 90 day 'supervised diet' prior to surgery (insurance requirement). They wanted me to get down to 250 prior to surgery. On my second appointment on April 18, I was down to 250.0!!! They were VERY pleased with my progress. Now however, they have set a goal of 235 before surgery. I am really struggling with this. I have been at a plateau of 246/247 for over 3 weeks now. I haven't changed my eating habits, and have started walking. To say I am frustrated, would be an understatement. I have my next appointment on May 16. I'm trying not to get too discouraged, but it is hard. We will see what I can do in this last week before the appointment. I really enjoy reading everyone's personal struggles and victories! It does help to read that what I'm going through is normal.

I had my 3rd visit this morning with the doctor and the dietician. I had lost an additional 6.5 pounds, for a total of 19.3 pounds in 2 months!!! They were very happy with my progress. I was really hoping to make the 20 pound mark, but fell short. I asked my doctor about several things and I thought I would share his views on them. I asked if he did a 'leak-test'...he said he doesn't. He said the chance of a leak is during the first 5 weeks or so. He said that if I were to start running a fever or have severe pain, then they would look into doing one. I asked him if he put in a drain...he does not. I also asked about the Lovenox shots after surgery to prevent blood clots. He said "NO"...and I am VERY happy about that. He said since I will be up and about the day of surgery, the chances of blood clots are slim.

Now my neighbor AND my son are trying to talk me out of having the surgery. They feel that since I have done so well on my own, that I should just continue on as I am doing. I will admit...I am starting to second guess myself on this. I mean, I DO love my food, and I AM 58 years old. Do I REALLY want to put myself through this??? I'm really going to have to do some soul searching about this. I have at least 2 more months to decide. Anyone have any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks!!!

The dietician called to let me know that my family doctor STILL has not forwarded the requested records. She told me that insurance requires 2 years of recorded weights... I only have to provide one office visit from 2012 and one from 2013 that show how much I weighed. She said once she gets that info, she will forward to my insurance for approval. I told her that I still needed 30 more days of 'supervised diet'. She said that this was a loophole they could use...they are counting my 90 days from the date of my first appointment, so technically, I guess I have made my mandatory 90 days!!!! WOOHOO!!! Now hopefully, my surgery date will be sometime in late July or early August!!! I'm starting to get excited!!! I'm personally going to my doctor's office tomorrow morning and watch while they actually fax the info to my surgeon.