I have four children and after the last child, the weight wouldn't go away.  I've always been between 135 - 145 lbs, but with my last child, 11 years ago, my weight got up to 190lbs.  I had fibroid tumors during my preganacy that didn't go away after I gave birth so I had to have a hysterectomy 3 months later.  My doctor gave me a bikini cut which cut the muscles in my stomach.  I wasn't able to lose the baby weight and I wasn't able to get my stomach tight.  I got depressed and started eating and eating until finally my weight skyrocketed to 227 lbs!

Over the years I've tried lots of diets and none were really successful.  I lost 17lbs on Weight Watchers a few years ago, but after stopping, I gained all the weight back.  I don't know what's wrong with me....I work out 4 times a week, but the weight want come off.  Yeah, I'll lose 5-7 lbs but that's it!  I'm uncomfortable in my own skin! 

I worked with a lady who had the gastric bypass and she was transforming before my eyes.  The weight just seemed to come off of her and I told her how I wished that I could have surgery to drop all this weight.  She gave me some education material and then the name of her surgeon, Dr. John Alexander and I called for a consult.

I went in to see Dr. John Alexander on May 15, 2009 and he said I was a good candidate for the gastric bypass.  He had me to do the EGD, psych evaluation and sleep study.  They submitted the information to my insurance and I was denied because my BMI was 39.4 and it had to be 40 for the gastric bypass.  I was seriously bombed!  They filed an appeal and again it was denied in June 2009.  I called United Healthcare and asked why they denied the claim and was told simply because of the BMI.  The representative told me that they would approve the gastric sleeve and that they wrote and told Dr. John Alexander's office.  Of course I immediately called the doctors office and the lady, Anne, doing the insurance was very nasty.  She wasn't interested in helping me to have the gastric sleeve and she didn't want to "trouble" the doctor with starting all over again.  After calling for months, leaving voicemails and sending emails that never got returned, I gave up because I was sure there was no chance in hell that they were going to try to get me qualified for the surgery. 

March 2010 I was cleaning my bedroom and this commerical came on about the gastric sleeve and to contact Dr. Wade Barker.  A lightbulb went off in my head and I was like, let me at least see if this thing will work or if it's hopeless this time, then I'm never trying again.  The whole process is mentally draining and the disappointments and setbacks bring about so much frustration and sadness.  I called Dr. Barker's office and got an appointment for March 23, 2010.  I went in and had my consults with Dr. Barker and Dr. Thompson and felt very relaxed.  The staff was very nice and the insurance guy, Dale...AWESOME!  Dale told me that UHC would pay for the surgery but he'd have to submit the paperwork and let me know.  I didn't have to redo any of my test because it was less than a year since I had done them all.  The only thing I needed to do was the stress test which I immediately scheduled.

Less then two weeks later, I found out my insurance, United Healthcare, approved me to get the sleeve at 100%!!!!  I can't describe how amazing I felt.  I started walking around the house praising God because he's ALWAYS doing great things for me!!!!!  I've been CONSUMED with the surgery since then...what's going to happen, what I'll have to eat, how much I'll lose and just dreaming about my AFTER pictures.  I'm going to be able to have more fun with my kids, my husband and my grandbaby.  I"m looking forward to being able to run and play on the floor and just explore nature again without being stiff and tired and out of breathe!  I'm looking forward to getting rid of all this belly!  I look like I'm 6 months preggers.  Currently, I'm at 220, and my goal is to get to 135 by Christmas.

I'm taking a family cruise on June 25th and would love to meet my first goal of losing 40lbs.  I sure hope I can do it.  I'm going to work my butt off!!