Cece2014
Beginning a long journey .. for a longer life
Jul 20, 2014
For the last few years I've wondered what I would do if I really lost weight - would I travel more? Would work be more enjoyable? Would I look better in clothes? Could I find clothes in regular stores? Am I really tired of being twice the size of a normal person?
But there was always an excuse, or five, that kept me from action. Finally it happened - I felt terrible, walking created sweat and shortness of breath, and my sister-in-law died. Yes, and part of her long decline was a request to me: Take of the weight, you don't want to see the things I've seen in the hospital. You don't want to suffer.
Then I started reading blogs and sites about bariatric procedures, the options, the risks and the rewards. I attended an info-session at the hospital. It was the same info I heard two years ago, but this time it seemed to matter.
I went to see my Dr. and asked her about it. YES! was her enthusiastic response. You are a good candidate and we talked about it before. Are you ready? I'll send thru the referral. And that was all it took.
My insurance requires a 6-month Dr. supervised program for which I am grateful. The local hospital is a Center of Excellence with thousands of surgeries and 20+ years experience. They offer classes on general weight loss, and once approved for surgery a completely different educational track about nutrition, preparation for the procedure, diet, etc. The post-op support groups are open to everyone so there is no reason to not fully understand what I've signed up for.
So I'm now going through a gauntlet of Dr. appointments and screening, and as my Dr. put it "anything you might need done". I've seen more white lab coats in the last month than in the last two years!
