Hello All!  I'm 27 years old and have been thinking about WLS for the past four years.  I have been overweight for most of my life. My mom thinks its because when I was growing up in order for her to be with me during the day she would work the "grave yard shift" at our local hospital as a housekeeper.  This would leave me with my dad who would serve me adult portion meals.  I really don't blame my dad at all, he didn't know any better.  When I first went to my PCP I was completely disgusted with myself.  She put me on the scale and I weighed 412Lbs.  I couldn't believe it. Then I was just having this strange feeling.  I couldn't put my finger on it but I knew that something was wrong with me.  I started to put all of the symptoms together and I realized that I probably had diabetes.  I know all of the syptoms because both of my parents suffer from it.  My mom has suffered the longest and has even been through dialysis and a kidney transplant.  I made and appointment with my doctor, I was so afraid to say anything.  I couldn't bring myself to say the words, "I think I'm diabetic."  For days and weeks I had held it off but finally I decided to go to my doctor.  I didn't tell her completely what I was suspecting was wrong with me but I kept telling her all of the symptoms I had.  She finally ordered blood work be done and then I find out the news.  YES I am a diabetic.  It was really heartbreaking but at the same time I already had my suspicions.  It was really hard to tell my parents especially my mother because its something she had been dreading for a long time.  So here I am scared out of my mind because I've seen how someone I love suffers through this and now I was in the same boat. My PCP suggested WLS and since it was something I had already been thinking about I thought, why not?  I need to do something ASAP to get better.  She gave me a referal with a nutritionist and I started the process in March '06.