My story...I haven't always been as big as I am right now. When I was in high school, I was average, or slightly bigger than average. My wedding dress was a size 10 (that was 37 years and 3 pregnancies ago). After my last baby (now almost 27), I weighed about 185. That was heavy, but not deadly.  I had serious asthma and numerous allergies to the world around me. In 1994 I started my current job doing customer service. I weighed 195, and was still active. About 3 years later, I somehow pinched a nerve in my back. That was when my activity level began to decline, and my weight started inching up. To make a long story short, the heavier I got, the more my body protested until I hurt absolutely all over. I had a serious asthma attack, and the doctor gave me Prednisone for about 10 days...those were 9 days of glorious pain-free life, so I went back and asked what I could do to have that same pain-free feeling.  I was referred to a rheumatologist who did some lab work and diagnosed that I have an autoimmune system disorder, more commonly seen in older people, called Polymyalgia Rheumatica. I also discovered that my knees were disintregrating, and the rheumatologist said I will need them both replaced in the future. I started in on some high levels of Prednisone to get my pain levels under control. I took higher doses of Prednisone for about 3 years, until my "sed rate" was back in normal levels (sed rate is a blood component that they monitor for my particular condition), then I had to very gradually work down the dosage of Prednisone. By then my weight had ballooned to 245. Fast forward to 2004. I first began researching weight loss surgery. I read everything I could find about the different the procedures, and in 2006, I had my first visit with Dr. Yadegar, who had recently opened his bariatric office in our area. He reviewed my history and, as the "p.m.r." was active, and I was taking methyltrexate for it, he suggested I see another doctor whose practice was quite far from where I live who had done the lap-band more than any other surgeon he knew. To say I was devastated is an understatement! I don't "do" the L.A. freeways very well (we live in a rural type area), and didn't want to deal with it.  I went to the gym, worked out with a great  trainer...went back to WW for the 4th time...had NO results. I had become so skeptical, that I became my own worst enemy. About a year ago, I heard from a friend that Dr. Yadegar was in the process of obtaining his "band certificate", and to keep checking until he had received that. My weight had mushroomed to 274 & my BMI was 47. I was ecstatic when I called earlier this year and was told he had obtained it. I finally made an appointment to see him in July, 2009. We had our consultation, and as the "p.m.r." had been in remission since January, and I have been off the meds since then, he felt this might be a window of opportunity for the RNY. I was given a "laundry list" of tests to have done, and have checked back with his office to see how my pre-op weight loss is doing. I completed the pre-op tests and have lost about 10 pounds. In the course of the testing, it was discovered that I have gastric polyps. When Dr. Yadegar received the test results showing that, he called and told me he felt I should have a procedure called the "sleeve gastrectomy". That is where I am right now. My surgery date is scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2009. My weight at this moment is 265. My next consultation with Dr. Yadegar is Wed, September 9th.