nikki15
Hello...well where do I start? I really don't have an extravagant story to tell, I don't have an OMG story, and I don't have any close life threatening moments to share however I have my own real feelings that I would like to share and hopefully find true support in my decision to go forward with my surgery. I am 35 years old, a single mother of a 9 year old wonderful son. My whole life I have been very involved in sports and an active lifestyle.
I've never been the "skinny" girl but was always muscular and toned. Since having my son, I have gradually packed on the pounds and found myself slipping into this depressed and very unhappy person. When I look in the mirror I don't recognize myself however it's not been until last year that I really even noticed. 
I look at pictures and not only see an unhealthy woman but very displaced person.
I played softball and each year felt it a little more harder to make the triples I was used to getting. I began noticing my ankles starting to hurt more than usual. Would push through the pain "chalking it up" to old age and out of shape. 
Then started feeling major back pain. Again accepting I was just getting to old to play anymore. I began coming home from work, sitting on the couch, watching more TV, and eventually falling asleep on the same couch.
I ended up having back surgery and hearing the surgeon say, you could stand to lose some weight. WELL DUUHHH!!! Recovered from surgery got back into playing softball. Now the knees were going out....finally ended up quiting cause I couldn't stand the pain anymore. Started noticing myself snoring and waking myself up every night, not sleeping and still feeling crummy, stressed from work, financial problems, being a single mom, relationship issues...blah blah blah
. Finally decided I have to start feeling better, I have to get my life back, I have to get healthy again
. Talked to my doctor and we discussed all the diets, pills, and other weight loss options I have unsuccessfully used and eventually talked about gastrobypass surgery. I actually brought it up to him because a coworker of mine just had it done and she looks and acts like a new person now. I wanted that!!! 
So anyway, he referred me to a wonderful doctor and when I saw all the dang hoops and the 6 month wait my insurance required I was like "screw this"....but then I truly did some soul searching and finally realized that I need a life change and not just a quick easy fix. I decided I would follow through with the program. I ended up having a sleep study done because of my sleeping difficulties and found out I have sleep apnea. Due to the weight I have gained I have now gained a potential life threatening diagnoses. Man I felt scared to death....what would my son do without his mama?
So, the answer became more clear, what ever it takes I will move on. Each month that passed the more I learned about the surgery, the more I was focused, and the more this was the option for me. 
So, got everything finished, all the requirements passed, and my insurance approved the surgery. I called the office to schedule my surgery and BAM they said "well we will need your $750 up front before we can schedule". Did they miss the part where I was a single mother with financial issues....geeeezzzz.....
So....I felt like something was trying to stop this from happening because there was no way I could come up with the money. I almost gave up when I spoke with a friend that had this surgery done and she recommended her doctor that would not charge any out of pocket expense. So I called.....
I told them my situation and fortunately they got me in. 
This new doctor did require a little more "hoops to jump over" however I am thankful that it has turned out this way. I have attended very informative support groups and classes, had an EGD to check for hernias or ulcers that could be an issue after surgery, and met some really supportive people. I have one more exercise class to take and that is where my story ends for now.......update will soon be given......
