Hi All! My name is Heather,  I am 35 y/o, married and have 3 children ages 11, 13, & 16.

In October of 2002, I traveled to UCSF medical center & with the help of my wonderful surgeon, Dr. Marco Patti, had a very successful gastric bypass operation. (Thank you Dr. Patti!!) as a result I have lost 165lbs of excess weight-as a matter of fact-I lost more weight than I actually weigh now-155lbs-I couldnt possibly have expected results this good. I am so happy with my new size...I can breathe after I walk up a flight of stairs, I fit into the seats in the movie theatre etc...I can buy clothing right off of the rack at the "regular" stores. It really is amazing to have been at a weight over 300lbs & NOW be a more "normal" size.

So here it is 7years after the surgery-"Happy Weight-Loss to Me"-I am starting to experience a few affects of being a "long-er term" post-op. I am now recieving monthly B-12 injections, I am  Lactose Intolerant and probably most bothersome of all...THE SKIN!! I was young, 28 years old at the time of surgery, which I benefited from (some skin elesticity) But I was BIG. Really big. 5'5" & 309 lbs And the weight loss was FAST! I lost probably 80% of the weight in the first 6 months post-op. Which left me sagging & hanging & swinging & swaying. Now that it has been 7 years since surgery "some" of the skin has "tightened up", some. However what I am left with is difficult to manage to say the least.

Of course there's the "bat wings"-nothing to major, and then my breasts. Well, they actually look like "empty pouches" hanging straight down, and again, not too big of a deal-nothing a good bra can't fix. Then my thighs. I can never wear shorts out in public ever again. The problem is the inner/upper portion of the thigh...the skin in that area hangs downward-Darn Gravity-but on the plus side, nobody would ever be able to tell. You see jeans or pants kinda hold everything in place, I can even get away with wearing a skirt-as long as its not too short-then there's my STOMACH.

My stomach is the BIG PROBLEM! It is very, very uncomfortable and actually at times it can be painful. Running, jumping and even during intimacy. If I had to guess, I would guess that there is approximatley 10-12 lbs of excess skin alone hanging from my body. The skin has been thru Hell and back. It is thin, silvery and at times when it is moist and wet from a bath I have actually had portions tear. Also, on the "not too important but difficult" side of my tummy issue, It is hard to fit it in to clothing. I am currently wearing a size 10 pant just to accomodate my tummy. Oh yeah that reminds me, I've caught my skin in my zipper more times that I care to admit.

My medical insurance refuses to cover the procedure even though it is clearly a reconstructive surgery & NOT cosmetic. I've been quoted about $5000. Boy, if I were to win the Lottery!!!

to be contiued...