Journey 1 Begins with Having the Gastric Sleeve - Winston Salem, NC

I received a call on May 10 from my Dr's office to schedule my surgery date. They had a cancelation for May 23rd but I went with June 6, 2016 (YAAYYY). The other one was too soon and I had to make sure it was planned perfectly to fit in with everything else I had going on. Then, I get a call back on May 13th telling me I was approved by my insurance.....in which I knew that wasn't going to be a problem b/c I had been on top of my ish from jump street and BCBS didn't have any exaggerated requirements to meet, so it all worked out nicely!!! I finished my last couple of pre-op appointments and now, I am just trying to stay on track with this 2 week liver shrinking diet....and although it sucks azzz, I have actually been doing waaayyy better than I thought I was going to be able to do. Yay....GO ME!!!!

Before I started posting my journey I was already in my pre-op process to meet the requirements for VSG surgery. My sister and I decided to take this journey together. Her insurance had more requirements than mine and she had to go with one of the surgeons in Charlotte (Dr Bolinger) b/c my surgeon (Dr Dasher out of the Kville/Winston-Salem office) don't operate on patients with BMIs over 50. So far I've done the seminar, my initial surgical consultation, psych eval, nutritionist eval, Nutrition pre-op class, 1st Nurse navigator class, and turned in my required presurgical packet (which was like a small homework assignment to make sure you Are serious about wanting to have the surgery). On 3-22 I had surgery on my back from the accident. And about 4 ppl I know have gotten killed. So these last couple of months have been eventful...

Journey 1 for me is going to begin with having the Gastric Sleeve.  Like many others I too have been addicted to this website since I stumbled upon it in 2014.  I initially started out doing my research for a  BA, BBL, and a (possible if absolutely necessary but unwanted) TT.  I decided because of my current physical condition and because I have high blood pressure to take a step back and start my journey with the VSG.  Having the VSG can help me with loosing the necessary weight to be able to have the enhancement procedures I would like to have and to help me get back to a healthy weight to hopefully have a long healthy future.  I am a lady trucker and have been trucking since 2011 (although I have been a commercial driver since 2001).  Unfortunately due to the negligence of another truck driver I have been out of work since the end of July 2015 with a bulging herniated disc in my lower back that has caused me extreme pain in all of my lower back, both legs (down to my feet at times), hips, and at times around the circumference of my body and also causing me to have very limited mobility and problems sleeping.  I've been under doctors care since the accident and I have been through physical therapy, ice therapy, electrode therapy, and I have had a epidural cortisone steroid injection and none of these has done anything to help.  And now my doctor is talking surgery.  I am 38 yrs old.  I'm a single mother of a soon to be 16 yr old son.  I'm 5'4" and I am at my heaviest weight of 235 lbs.  I was diagnosed around 2009 with HBP.  At that time I was at a much much lighter weight but I was working a pretty stressful and physically demanding job.  On top of all that I was not getting the proper sleep that my body really needed and eventually it caught up with me.  I decided on having the sleeve mostly to help me (hopefully) get rid of my HBP problems forever.  I'm really excited and looking forward to getting my better health and my sexy back lol!!!!