Alisa Sheets
6/13/01 My name is Alisa and I'm hoping to have WLS. I'm 5'9" and weigh 317. I'm 36 years old, but I FEEL 80 and I'm SICK of being fat!!
I live in Nevada and would love to talk with other folks who've had or hope to have WLS. I'd like to visit with anyone, but would REALLY like some else from Nevada. (It would just make it seem a little more possible to know someone from 'home' has done this)
Congratulations to all who've managed to have the surgery, and Good Luck to all that are still striving to get it!
9-19-2001 I've found a surgeon who will do the surgery for $15 thousand.
Dr. Barry Fisher in Las vegas, Nevada does it & that includes
Everything ( barring complications).
I've also found a place that will loan the $$$ for the surgery.
2-26-03 OK, my credit is to bad to get a loan, so I've decided to go to Mexico and have WLS. It's only going to cost $6700.00 for open RNY. I've been talking to others who have seen this doctor, and they speak highly of him and the hospital. I'm going to have WLS sometime this year, hopefully by summer. Now I'm just trying to figure out what I need to do to prepare. I'm not required to do all the testing that you have to do here to satisfy insurance people.
I've posted questions on this site, but I can never find them again to see what answers I got....LOL....oh well, I'll keep looking.
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3-20-03
First of all I want to say that my heart goes out to all the people who have loved ones involved in the war with Iraq. God be with them, you, and God Bless the USA!
Well, I'll find out this evening if I'm going to get the money for WLS or not. (fingers crossed) If so, I'll book a surgery date right away with my Doctor in Mexico.
3-27-03
Well today is a down day....looks like I'm not going to get the loan of 8 grand for my surgery. Soooo....it looks like I'm
right back at square one, standing at the window with my nose pressed against the glass, looking in....
4-18-03
Still no change in the money circumstances. I've been too depressed to even check out the before and after pics....
Now when I look at them and instead of being happy for them, I find I'm just jealous! I know that's terrible, but darn it! I want to be there!! I'm just soooo angry :{
5-08-03
I've gone back to Church. I hadn't set foot in church in almost 8 years or better. It felt soooo good to be there. You know, we tend to forget just how much the Lord loves us, and wants us to be happy. We focus on things of this world, when that's really not what is important! The Lord won't put anything on me that I can't bear, and what He does give me, He'll pull me through! Praise Jesus!! I know to some, that doesn't make any sense, but there are those out there who know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. I've decided to quit all this worrying about WLS. I've given it to God, praise Him, and if it's in His will, then He'll show me the WAY! THANK YOU JESUS!!! I CLAIM that promise! Glory to God, and I want you all to know that He loves you, no matter WHAT your circumstances in life, He's there for you. No matter what you've done, or where you've been, He's waiting for you to call on Him! He may not come when you want Him, but He's always RIGHT on time! Let go and let God! I pray right now that the Holy Spirit reaches out and touches everyone reading this, I pray that you receive a healing in your bodies, and in your minds, and that you know the full force of His love. I pray that He provides the answers you seek, the help that you need, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing He's by your side. In JESUS name......Whew, I didn't plan on having church right HERE, Praise the Lord....I was just led to write it out for all to read. I hope this Blesses you, and that you find some bit of comfort and/or encouragement in these words. God Bless you all. I love you and the Lord loves you!
11-30-03
Well it's been a while since I've posted so I thought I'd write in. I still haven't had surgery, but I've started to save $$ for it. Little by little I'm putting it away. By summer of next year I should have enough. It would go a lot faster if I'd keep my hand out of the cookie jar!! LOL I just hope the price doesn't go up too much while I'm saving! The GOOD news is that I haven't gained any weight in quite a while. I joined a gym and go exercise several times a week....I don't really notice any difference, but it makes me feel like I'm accomplishing SOMETHING....I'm not losing any weight, but I am getting healthier....(I hope) I just go walk on the treadmill, and work out on some of the machines for about an hour. I forgot I had any muscles left until they all got sore!! LOL
I guess I'll stop now. Good luck to all awaiting surgery.
God's speed to all in recovery.
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5-05-2004
Well hello again! It's been quite a while since I've written....
I've made an important decision as of yesterday. I've decided to stop performing at the casinos and go to work full time at a 'real' job so I'll have insurance. When I'm not on stage somewhere, I'm also a part time blackjack dealer, and the place where I deal just got Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance. I've noticed that they cover WLS a lot of the time, soooo, I decided to stop doing what I LOVE and do what I HAVE to in order to get the surgery :(
I'm glad that I finally made the decision, but I feel bad too, because it doesn't only affect me, but also my music partner (who is also my honey). We talked about it yesterday and he is being supportive about it. He said that he will just go back to work in the gold mines (that's what he was doing when we met). But I know that he loves performing as much as I do....
I hope everything turns out all right and that I'm making the right choice!! If anyone has had big problems with BC/BS I'd appreciate it if they'd let me know. Everything I've read so far about them appears to be positive. Well I'll stop now. Thanks for listening!
03-05-05
It's been a while so I thought I'd update my profile. I quit playing music and started dealing full time as of Dec 31st. In June I will be eligible for their BC/BS insurance. I haven't been able to see their policy yet...I hope it covers WLS. I'm going to start getting all my paperwork together now (as soon as I figure out what all I need).
Since I quit music, my live-in boyfriend of seven years (he was also my music partner) and I have split up. I guess he wasn't as supportive as he thought he would be....
All in all, I've been feeling pretty blue. I feel like I wasted 7 years of my life...I really thought we would eventually marry...so I'm 40 now, and up to 340lbs. Not getting any younger and certainly not any thinner or more attractive!
I see that Dr. Aguirre in Ensenada has REALLY gone up in price. When I first talked to him, it was only $6900. then it went to $8500, and now I see he is up to $9400. What a shame, it just gets more and more out of reach....
06-14-05
Well I thought I'd update although there is not much to tell. I thought my insurance started in June, but it starts on July 1st. Not too much longer. I can't wait to get started on the whole process even though I have NO IDEA how to get started or where to start. I miss playing music, but having the insurance is worth working a regular job (I hope)! My insurance booklet says that Nevada BCBS covers if it is medically necessary.<--(I think I spelled that wrong) I have a whole list of problems caused by my weight, so I'm hoping they will approve me.
10-26-08
Alrighty then. It's been 3 years since I posted on here. Still haven't had surgery. Moved back to Texas. Got more grandbabies & a new husband, plus about 40 extra pounds.
My father lives here & he's asked me several times about doing the surgery....he will help me pay for it.... but I just can't seem to make myself take the money from him. Maybe when the economy settles down again, but I can't do it right now. I'm looing at the lap-band now instead of the gastric bypass. I'd love to hear from women in their 40's that weighed 300 plus lbs. when they had it done.
11/17/08
Well I been researching AGAIN....I took a good, hard look at the lap-band & decided that it's not for me. So now I'm learning about the sleeve. I really think that will be the best way to go. My dad wants to pay for it as a gift, but it costs more than the band....so I'm still having a hard time taking the $$ from him, especially with the economy the way it is. I WANT to do it....& he's worried about my health (which is fine except for being so fat). I know I'll never be able to do it on my own. We just won't have the extra money.
Isn't this crazy? All these years I've wanted to have WLS & now I can, if I'd just say YES! I'm just having a hard time feeling guilty about the money....
