Sandy G.
Hi everyone. Well there isn't really too much to say. I'm pretty much a repeat story of most of you out there. I grew up in Alaska and as the summers were filled with long days and plenty of sunshine the winters were the extreme opposite. The sun would come up around ten and be completly dark by three or so. As I grew up I would see my older sister pack on all the weight and my mother was always exercising saying how she was getting so fat. This really scared me. I was always able to keep the weight off but it was not done safely. I lived on every type of diet pill out there. I never ate. When I did eat I would try to throw it up. When I was about 30 years old my heart started pounding out of control for the slightest things. If I raised my voice to the kids about their fighting I would have to stand back and breathe slowly trying to calm my heart down. Later it got worse. I would wake up in the middle of the night with my heart going crazy. That was it for me. I finally went to a doctor. If anyone knew me they would know going to the doctors is a really big deal for me. He ran some tests and said my heart was fine but I wasn't so convienced. I cut out all the diet pills and starvation and just let the pounds pack on. I figured better fat then dead. A few years later I had managed to go from 117 pounds to 206 pounds. Not only did I lose my figure, I lost my identity. I refused to go out in public. I made all kinds of excuses to avoided any outings with my family. Everything seemed to be falling apart. Not only that but I started getting pains in my chest again. This time there was tingles going down my arms and legs and I had terrible heart burn. I couldn't do anything without being in pain.Thats when I decided to do something. October 26, 2006 I had my first doctors appointment. We discussed weight loss surgery but before that could be done we had to make sure I didnt have anything wrong with me. She ran every test she could think of and found nothing. Thank you Lord for that blessing. As we looked further into the weight loss surgery I found out that without any co-mobilities my insurance would not cover WLS under a 40 bmi. At that point I decided to pack on the extra weight and I did. I ate everything until I caped out at 237 pounds. That put me at a 40.1 BMI. During this process I started on the list of tests that had to be completed to have the surgery. By late April, 2007 my doctors office submitted my paper work to the insurance office and called me with the approval. I thought it was a mistake because I didn't even know they had sent the paperwork in. I had my surgery shortly after that. May 17, 2007 was my big day. When I woke up from surgery my family told me that I had a terrible Hiatal Hernia that the doctor corrected. That was what was causing all the heart burn and chest pains.
Well, it has been almost eight months now. I am down to 140 pounds so far. All my pains are gone. I go everywhere with my family and I'm loving life. I'm not at goal yet but I know I can do it. I didn't lose much through the holidays but that was from my own doings. It's a new year and a new start. This last weekend I was able to go on a 30 mile bike ride and do a hour and a half yoga class. I recently came to the conclution that I am not fat. I'm not where I want to be but I'm not fat and thats a really good feeling.
So thats my story for the most part. I will try to add as my life grows brighter.
Thank you OH for all of your support, Thank you to my family for all their love and thank you God for carrying with me through all this.
Sandy
