What a great idea!!!

I just found this board, and I am soooo excited. I am an L&D nurse in Texas, and I love the idea of talking with other nurses. My husband & I are both trying to get lap RNY done, but our insurance doesn't cover it. People can't believe that hospitals can have such bad insurance. We are looking at going to Mexico. I am almost obsessive about getting this done this year as we are quickly nearing 40, and I don't want to continue carrying all this weight around with me. Delivery rooms seem to get smaller and smaller!!! I hope to be able to keep up with my 3 kids in the near future. I hope to be able to enjoy sex with my husband and not consider it a chore. I hope to see respect in the doctor's eyes when I am at my goal weight. I want to do more with my life than eat & sleep which is all I truly want to do now. Pray for me, and I will for you. Thanks, Melissa Massey

Good luck in your journey. My advice is to really look into the statistics at the hospital that you go to. Also, do lots of reading about what procedure you prefer, RNY, lap, ect. Whatever you do, your life will change. I hate to say it, but people do treat me differently now. It makes me mad because I have the same brain, and am the same person I always was, and the same Nurse!! I am around 9 months out now, have lost 119, and have about 30 to go. People say, wow, you must have tried so hard, but you know looking back - I think it was harder when I was trying to lose, carrying all the weight, and dealing with the bigotry that overweight people have to deal with....I would never, ever go back. I will pray that you will find your way. Take care!

Hi, Melissa! I have seen several people posting that they had surgery in Mexico. I don't know if any on this board went out of the country, but if so they'll surely speak up. Jeanie in MO DS 02/11/05 "Duodenal Switch: My New Beginning"

Hi Melissa! I'm a fellow L&D nurse in NC. How long have you been in L&D? I've been a nurse for six years, but only L&D for 2 1/2, and I LOVE it! I just helped a friend deliver her beby the other day and it was a amazing experience--the first time I've been a friend's nurse--and I got teary-eyed for the first time in a while! I'm just starting the WLS process, and am fortunate enough to have insurance that does cover the procedure very well, IF you can get it approved. I haven't even submitted the approval yet, as I have to complete all the preop consults and tests first, which seems like it will take FOREVER! It sucks, though, that you can devote your life to helping others and the hospital repays you with lousy insurance! Hope everything works out well for you!

Hi Megan, I've been an L&D nurse for more than 9 years. That is also the amount of time I've been a nurse. I was fortunate to have a clinical instructor who worked in the L&D dept where I did my rotation and she knew that's what I wanted to do, so she put me in there alot so they could get to know me and I could get to know them, and they hired me before I even sat boards. Now if that's not a run on sentence I've never seen one!! I hope to continue with my education and become a midwife someday. I planned to do that when my youngest entered kindergarten, but I had some unexpected health problems requiring several surgeries....now he's in the 1st grade, and we can't afford to be without my income. My oldest child's name is Megan, too. She is 13, and I have 2 boys-Justin is 10 and Wyatt is 6. I'd love to keep in touch with you. Sincerely, Melissa Massey

Hi melissa, I work in L&d as well. I am a tech not a nurse though. I am in nursing school right now and want to become a midwife as well. I have worked in L&D for 3 years and I absolutely love it. It is the most amazing experiance every time i just though I would add my 2 cents. B

Thanks melissa...I know I'll love it too when I'm finally working in L&D. Nothing tops loving your job

Welcome Melissa.............I've been lucky the RNY is covered by my insurance from work.........ya'll wouldn't want to move to Southwest Indiana would ya? LOL Good luck on your journey and check the insurance page, from what I have read just because there is an exclusion hasn't stopped some folks. This is a medical neccesity for some. I didn't think of all my little things adding up to being considered co-morbidities, getting OOB when putting on shoes with laces, low back pain, joint pain, snoring/apnea, ankle swelling, etc., and my favorite new problem starting up, incontinence......gotta love that one.... Good luck to both of you.

Hi! I am so glad I found this board. I am a RN here in Mexico City. I had Lap RNY 31/2 years and life is beautifull. I work as a suuport goup coordinator for a bariatric clinic at a hospital here in Mexico City. Being able to share with all the bariatric patients has been one of the best things I have done. If you come to Mexico City please let me know I would love to meet you and help you in any way i can. Love, Maureen