34 Years Old, 3 Kids and Ready to Start Over! Houston, TX

I've struggled with my weight since I was a child. I wavered from thin to chubby my entire life until I met my husband 12 years ago. I was able to keep my weight in check by being absolutely obsessed with it. When I met my husband I started to lose control. He's bigger than me and isn't quite as obsessed. Over the last 12 years and 3 children, I've lost all control and ballooned up to 215 lbs. I've gained and lost several times over the years, but mostly gained. My weight has literally controlled me forever. It's dramatically effected every aspect of my life including my social life and my self-view. Now that my kids are old enough to "get it", I decided to do the surgery. My biggest fear in life is not that I'll be fat forever, but that my poor kids will take on my eating habits and will have to live a fat life like me. I literally wake up at night and lie awake for hours worrying about this.

My surgery is scheduled for February 4th and I start my pre-op diet this Wednesday the 4th of February. I've read so many stories of changed lives and gained tips on how to avoid pit falls. This site has really given me hope for a better future for me and my family.

Right now I'm in freak out mode!! I've been eating so much worse than usual knowing that this is my "last chance" to have whatever foods! That's the crazy head working overtime! Luckily I haven't gained any weight since I've been more active lately. Fortunately, I have no co-morbidities yet so I'm hoping I'll have a quick recovery. With three young children and two dogs, I don't have time to be sick!

Tomorrow I'll go grocery shopping to stock up on items for pre-op and the first two weeks of diet. I'll have help at home for at least the first five days. I really don't know what to expect as far as recovery goes. I have a two year old toddler who wants to be held a lot! That's really my biggest worry since he's 30 pounds.

One of my big concerns is that I can't tolerate any artificial sweeteners. I've seen so many sugar free or light items on my suggested food list which typically means artificially sweetened. I'll have to work to find plain items and just forget so many things like pudding and jello. Does anyone else have this problem? Do you just use plain, unsweetened yogurt? Do you have to use fat free yogurt or can it be 2%?

I thank everyone who's posted stories on here so far. It has been such an enormous help to me.

I accidentally put that surgery is the 4th. Pre-op diet starts the 4th and surgery is the 11th.

Since my husband is self-employed, we buy an individual health insurance policy. Our insurance doesn't pay for bariatric surgery for anyone, no matter their BMI. This is some of the information I was looking for a couple months back when I was researching this surgery.

I had consults with two doctors. The first one charged $150 just for the consult and rushed me through a 10 minute meeting. Dr. Waggoner charged $50 for the consult and talked to me for over 30 minutes and was $3000 less overall! He was fantastic.

The total is about $15,000. The doctor is $4,500, the hospital is $9,500 and the anesthesiologist is $1,000. Extras are: psych eval $200; physical by my PCP $135 (doc doesn't go through insurance); fee by doctors who interpret tests $200; supplements/protein shakes/vitamins, etc $$$?

Because this is self-pay, there were significantly less hurdles to jump. With a BMI of 37, the doc suggested the sleeve and I agreed. Before scheduling the surgery, I was required to go to a one hour meeting with a dietician at the hospital as well as a one hour psych evaluation with a private therapist of my choosing. The doc suggested a great psychologist who is experienced with patients who've had bariatric sugary (including her husband!). Once these were complete, I received a surgery date about six weeks out. Then I had to complete a basic physical with my PCP (truly just looking in my ears, nose, mouth, etc) and she has to "clear" me for surgery. I had a short pre-op discussion with Dr. Waggoner and his nurse. Then today I had my hospital pre-op. There I had blood drawn and an EKG. I registered with the hospital and paid them. Then I had a short meeting with the bariatric nurse who walked me through the process for the day of the surgery.

It's really been a smooth, quick process. It probably could have gone more quickly but we were gone for a week on vacation in January. The nurses and other staff at the hospital and Dr. Waggoner's office nearly trip over themselves to wait on me! Everyone from pre-op to the bariatrics office to the registration staff has been extremely friendly and on time.

Anyway, tonight I'm excited and freaking out at the same time. My pre-op diet starts tomorrow and I can't imagine eating so little before getting the tiny pouch! I'm just envisioning finally wearing shorts and a tank top this summer!!