Journey to a New Me - Jackson, MS

Other than my husband and a coworker, I have not told anyone that I am planning to have the surgery. I'm not sure how they will respond. I am excited about being healthy for a change. I'm not sure I want to hear anything negative from my family and friends because I am doing it. My husband is my rock. I don't know what I would do without him. I am planning on talking to his mom about it when it is scheduled. I want to make sure he has someone to sit with him while I am in surgery and someone to make sure he is eating. I have had surgery before and he did not sleep for 24 hours or eat. He never left my side. He set in the bed with me the whole time. He woke me up every few hours to give me medicine to make sure I did not have any pain. This time I want to make sure he is taken care of. I may not be able to take care of him but I know his mom will. I just love her. I don't know what to do. Should I tell my family or wait until afterwards?

I am 37 years old. I have two children and a wonderful husband. I was always skinny (5' 108lbs) growing up. I gave birth to my first son when I was 17. I don't remember weighing more than 120 pounds when I gave birth to him to November. In December the following year I gave birth to my second son. They are 13 months apart. I started gaining my weight when I was pregnant with my second child and it has gotten out of control. I have tried many weight loss programs and always end up gaining the weight back. The most I have lost at a time is 50 pounds and I gained it back plus a few more. :( My husband is a runner and I would LOVE to be healthy enough to run with him. Maybe one day we will be able to do marathons together.

The start of my journey:

I work at a hospital and they had a "Brown bag lunch and learn" session about bariatric surgery and options. I went to the meeting and learned a lot. Dr. Vick discussed the different procedures and what to expect with each one. I scheduled my first appointment with him after the meeting. At the first appointment he asked me a lot of questions and answered all of my questions. Dr Vicks nurse, Darla, came in to talk with us also. After Dr. Vick left she explained the process of what would happen in the process leading up the surgery date and the costs associated with the surgery because most insurance companies do not cover the cost. I also thought the same thing so I didn't check with my insurance company prior to the meeting. After my husband and I left the appointment I called the insurance company just to make sure. I am shocked to find out they do cover it! WooHoo! I immediately emailed Darla to let her know that my insurance will cover it. She has requested my previous medical records from a EGD and colonoscopy that I had previously had done. Darla is also working with Dr. Vick to submit my letter of medical necessity for the surgery. I am waiting to hear back from her. This was on Thursday the 31st of October so I am waiting to hear back from Darla. Based on the questions Dr. Vick asked me, I am a little concerned that my acid reflux may make me ineligible for the procedure. I am going to try and not worry about it right now and just wait to see what happens.

I am researching the sleeve gastrostomy. To me it just seems like the best option. Dr. Vick explained that if I did the gastric bypass and I started having stomach problems the only way they will be able to check that part of my stomach would be to open me up as the camera would not work. If I have the sleeve it would not be issue because they will remove the stomach and not just leave it in there to hang out with the rest of my organs.

I am 5 foot tall and currently at 227.