This is the beginning..

It's taken me a bit to begin this blog and write it, mostly because I'm afraid it will all tumble down around me and I'll jinx myself.

I've been fat since I was 7, I've danced for 17 years, I've done all the diets, I've done clinical trials, I've been made fun of, I've felt self-concsious. And I'm done with all of that.

I'm ready for a new start, so I'm getting laproscopic gastric bypass surgery. I'm getting it in Florida thousands of miles from my family and my long time best friends, I'm getting it during my third year at college with my newest friends and my moms best friend from college who has also been through this process. I'm taken initiative to make myself healthy and make this change.

I met Dr. Andrew Larson last Thursday-- went through all of the necessary consult stuff, getting weighed asking questions. I later found out that he was not only the head of the program (and very young) but the surgeon who preforms the lap-band, so I had to schedule another meeting with Dr. Fred Simon, who will be preforming my surgery with the assitance of Dr. Larson.

I was able to set up my nutritionist and pyschologist appointment and go over all my insurance information. So I have to get a prescription from my primary so they can bill the insurance company for my nutritionist appiontment. And I have to pay for the pyscholigist out of pocket, although I can claim it through the insurance company afterwards. And I have to pay a $500 post-op fee which would enable me to see the Dr, the nutritionist and the pyscholgist anytime I wanted with an appintment for my lifetime. Which is pretty cool.

Last Thursday night I went to the information session to learn a bit more about the program ( I felt very educated, and owe it to my support group at Thinner Times). I was lucky enough to have the support of Jen my room mate, she looked pretty bored through the whole thing. But I felt like she was listening to learn a bit more about what I'll be going through and what I'll have to do which is good. The head nurse Kendra was nice enough to reassure some things that I was not totally sure about dealing with the insurance.

So yesterday I met with Dr. Simon (Fred) and he was funny, a lot more charismatic than he had originally come off as. But he kept bringing up the fact that it is unsafe for me to get pregnant for the next two years. I completly understand and don't plan on getting pregnant in the next two years( I mean I don't have anyone to get pregnant with hahaha). Two years, brings me to right after my 23 birthday, and a year after I graduate with my four year degree I'm okay with that. That's part of the reason I'm getting this surgery now and not later on.  I have to go for a ton of blood work, I don't know where to go, which is the hardest part of this. I don't have a primary or normal doctors down here. So I have to see a doctor and such to give me medical clearance, and do blood work and all that.

I will update later with more about everything, feelings, etc.

Peace.Love.&.the Future.

All the power in the world doesn't matter if you've lived an unsatisfied life.