Eric,
Welcome to the forum. It sounds to me like you have tried a lot of alternatives, and it sounds like you are capable of keeping to a strict diet, and regular physical activity. The my friend is half the battle post-op so it sounds like you are a good candidate. Although your age may be of concern, your body may be developed enough that it can handle the surgery. As you have already acknowledged, it is a long road, but it is worth every agonizing minute. I can honestly say that I wish I had been emotionally ready to do the surgery at a younger age, but I will be the first to admit that I wasn't where you are at at your age. I totally agree with Christy, that it helps to have faith, that is what got me through some of the rough patches. But this forum is a great source of info and support, through every trial pre and post-op. So don't hesitate to post specific questions or use the search tool to find old posts on issues that are new to you. We are all here to support you any way we can. And I too will be praying for your journey.
Good Luck
