Hi...My name is Sherri. I basically have been overweight my entire life. I remember being made fun of early on in my grade school due to my weight. I have yo-yo'd in the past losing great amts of weight only to regain it back again and then some. I am at an all time high now of 292 lbs which puts me in the super obese category.
I first joined this site two years ago. At that time I was planning on the bypass surgery just to find out that my insurance flat out denies coverage because my husbands employer did not get the rider..in other words his employer does not agree with weight loss surgery. That is one of my soap box later. All insurance companies should cover this. 
I WAS LOOKING into the Lap Band surgery with Illinois Bariatric Center in Clinton. I will be a self pay patient and the surgery will cost around $15,000. At this point I am looking at forking out this amt of money or facing major health issues really quick! I feel like if I do not get this surgery that I am going to die. I am already short of breath doing minor things..my back hurts all of the time. I am currently not working because it just hurts to move. What finally did it for me though was the other day I went to take the truck instead of the car to take my son to sign up for football. I never drive the truck but the car is out of order and hubby has the other at work. I went to get in the truck and my stomach is being pinched by the steering wheel hard. I noticed though if I scooted the seat back that I would not be able to reach the gas pedal and this was a stick shift. I could not drive the truck because I am too fat. This is a first in my life. I was so humiliated I wanted to bawl. I had to make my son ride his bike to sign up for his own football stuff. Talk about wanting to die. I have been thinking about this all week and today finally made my consult appt.for August 20th 2:30 pm. I am going to do this. I am going to have weight loss surgery one way or another!
I have tried all diets...I just cant stick to a diet. I am always hungry...always. I am a small eater multiple times a day. I cannot eat a big meal at one time but I can munch all the day long on small snacks. Fifteen minutes later I am hungry again. I truly hope this surgery works for me. I am hoping and praying with everything I have. I just want to feel better and be healthier. 
UPDATE:
I have decided on the gastric sleeve surgery. I will be traveling to San Antonio for this Surgery and then going accross the border into Mexico and Dr. Alverez is who I have chosen now to do this surgery. I feel the sleeve is best for me because I only have one chance at this and I want to choose something that will stay with me for life. The Lap Band will eventually have to be removed...I do not want to yo-yo back up again when that happens..and even if I don't want permenent removal..it will still have to be changed to a newer band at SOME POINT..it cannot stay in the body forever without breaking down at some point years down the road.
The gastric sleeve is where a portion of the stomach is cut away leaving a "tube" that leaves approx 100 cc area that food can go into. Of course abusing this can lead to weight gain but I can never re-grow this stomach back...I will have this tool for life! I know I have made the right decision. I talk more next week with Susan at which time we will be paying the deposit of $1,000 down to book the surgery. I am so excited and nervous and scared...every emotion has gone through me. I just want to feel healthy again...I know I will get there. Nothing can stop me now:)