ObesityHelp

I thought I would back up and give a little more history. I am 46 and have been obese for 26 years. I weighed about 145 (I have never been skinny)when I got married in 1973 and started gaining weight with birth control pills. I started dieting then and established a real good pattern of yo-yo dieting over then next 20 years. I decided in 1989 that I couldn't do this to myself any more and joined NAAFA. My timing wasn't too great because my husband was going through his mid-life crisis and he decided to park his shoes under someone else's bed after a 17 year marriage. In 1990 I found myself a single mother raising a teenage son and his 9 year old brother. WOW - I had a severe identity crisis, but backed up and regrouped with some major help from meds and therapy. However, after a minor setback, I managed to pull myself up by the bootstraps and raise my sons, get an undergraduate and master's degrees, win a battle against breast cancer, help my mother through her breast cancer, various battles with my son's adolescent lives and here I am. 300-310 after two major surgeries and seeing 50 quickly approaching. I have severe knee problems, scoliosis, looming breast cancer risk, glucose intolerance, ........ So I decided it was time to get control. A wonderful lady discussed weight loss surgery with me while I was waiting on a friend in the eye-doctor's office. I started to explore the possibility and here I am. I earnestly believe this will be the tool that will let me live the last 1/2 of my life with dignity. And I can redefine myself yet again. Another metamorphosis - I can't wait!!!!!

I am scheduled for a consultation this friday 2/15/01. Seeking information, support, etc. I'm excited and afraid!
I want the surgery, but hope the insurance, etc. works.

3/15/01 Anxiously awaiting - visiting the support page daily really helps. I've contacted several other members and appreciate all support given. I want to help others as I progress through this life experience and be available to others. I am hopeful that I will be able to start my new life Mid May.

5/8/01 I have insurance approval - going to try to schedule a surgery date and will update then. I'm doing a happy dance :-)

5/10/01 After waiting so long for the approval - I'm surprised at the emotions this has brought on. Scared, anxious, thrilled, WOW!!! Now if I can get a date I will start my count down planning. Thank the Goddess for this web-site.

5/14/01 Tried to schedule a date - I am running out of time for a summer surgery and recovery. The mid to end of August is a very busy time in my job and I start teaching again. I need to get this moving!!!! Anyway, I had to get a test before I can get a surgery date. Hopefully this week I will know. Still ANXIOUSLY awaiting a date!

5/23/01 STILL WAITING!!!!!! I had to get a Latex Allergy Test and then the results took a week - but I finally got them faxed to BTC. After many calls..........I'm still waiting for a date. I'M SO FRUSTRATED!!!!!!!!!!!!

5/30/01 Well after being off sick for a week I have a new perspective and positive outlook. I got a call from Lori, the scheduler at BTC and she said late July was the earliest I could have the surgery. I AM SO FRUSTRATED!!!!!!! After a weekend to think I decided that I have learned so much in this past 4 months that I feel totally prepared to do this --- only next year this time. That is a good decision for me after much deliberation. Because of my job I have to have surgery during a very short time frame - that is why I started mid-March - and it still didn't work out. I have to be at my job from mid-August thru December. I believe with all the information I have now - maybe I can schedule during the May 15 to June 15 window of opportunity for me next year and have all my ducks in a row. I really appreciate all the support I have received from WLS people in various stages. I will continue to update myself and be active on this site and prepare for crossing over to the other side next spring. THANKS EVERYONE!!!!

6/1/01 I received a call from a wonderful woman at the BTC main office in Michigan. She told me not to give up hope that I still might get scheduled during the summer. She was wonderful to talk to and I talked her ear off, but it was nice to discuss my problems with someone in the workings of the center. However, this set me spinning again - Surgery this summer or not - my life is on hold once again!!!!!!

6/4/01 The only 2 hours I was gone Sunday - Lori, the scheduler for BTC called. I can't believe it. Anyway on her message she says that if she calls she will return the call within 72 hours. So I am waiting...........................

6/5/01 I got an e-mail from a woman that had her consultation the same day with me. She is 6 weeks post op. I am thrilled for her, but I should have been celebrating with her. Why not me????? I hate waiting by the phone!!!!!!!!!! I have called and left Lori messages when I leave so she will know to call me either at work or at home (I leave where and the numbers and times) - still no call!!!!!!!!!! Eternally waiting..............can't plan vacation, life, or anything. This sucks!

6/6/01 Well today should be the day. Still waiting..........

6/7/01 I HAVE A DATE!!!!!!!! HAPPY FEET AND DANCING AND PARTYING GOING ON IN MY HOT NOT AIR CONDITIONED OFFICE - MAYBE THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA So - pre-op testing June 20th and my date..........(DRUM ROLL) JULY 11th. WHOOOO WEEEEE

6/18/01 Pre-surgery testing in two days ---- wow the time is passing fast! I work much better with a deadline :-) T-22 days and counting!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited and a little scared, but mostly excited!!!! Now if I can get my family to calm down and be supportive. I just looked at the whole list of before and after pictures - what an inspiration!!!!

6/21/01 Pre-surgery testing over --- I am still on schedule. I had to get a root canal today but the dentist was so cute and young and....... Boy is my gall bladder needing to come out! This made me feel better about the surgery in general because I need surgery anyway. The trip was wonderful and the center beautiful. All the office staff were wonderful and I feel confident about the medical care I will get at BTC. I'm so excited!!!! Three weeks to go!!!!

6/27/01 WOW - TWO MORE WEEKS!!!!!!!!! Happy dance all over my once again - broken air conditioner office. Ok - not a good idea :-) I have started a support group on yahoo groups if anyone is interested. Somewhere to talk about surgery concerns for those of us having surgery around 7/11/01. WOW!!!!!!!!! It is going to happen!!!!!!!!

7/18/01 - 1st post since surgery. I am feeling really good. Having trouble with dairy products. Will seek advice from BTC tomorrow. BTC in Ohio is wonderful. They make you feel special, have the most modern equipment, the nurses and staff work there because they want to and bring that attitude to the patients. The facility is beautiful, quiet, and couldn't have been better! I would recommend BTC to anyone. Email me with specific questions.

9/18/01 - WOW down 44 lbs and feeling much better after two months. I will post inches lost after I measure myself again. This is amazing and the diet is much more tolerable now. I am so glad I made this decision for many reasons........ Unfortunately (or fortunately however you look at it) Dr. V. found a tumor when he did the bypass. It was cancerous and a very rare type of cancer at that. Since I have already had Breast Cancer this really set everyone (including me) into a tail spin. My primary care said I needed to see a gastroenterologist - but he said that I needed to see an oncologist. Since I had an oncologist from the breast cancer I tried to get an appointment with her, but she was leaving the practice so I got to see one of her colleagues. He is a wonderful man and scheduled me for tests - just to check to see if anything abnormal was anywhere else. So my saga began. I had a CAT scan on 9/7/01 and 9/13/01 they called me to tell me that I had a mass in my abdomen (so at this time we are all in a panic again). I had an ultrasound 9/17/01 and she said it looked like a cyst - but they won't know until they remove it - it is big - 5 cm so that means cutting me open again (DAMN). I go for a Colonoscopy 9/28 and see my gyn. surgeon 10/3/01. I will probably be having surgery sometime in October, but hopefully I won't have much recovery time - I used up all my sick leave with this surgery. I was devistated at first, but I have decided this is yet another hurdle in a life filled with them, so I am pressing on with my head held high - I am a survivor and will not be defeated. Remember me in your prayers.

11/5/01 Update -After many tests and doctors I am scheduled for surgery 11/8/01. I have lost over 50 inches!!!!!!!!!!! WOW and two, almost three dress sizes. This is so great. I don't want to deal with this mass and surgery now, but I am optmistic and hopefully I will be back to my full stride soon. JUST ANOTHER BUMP IN THE ROAD. I'll update when I am feeling better.

12/13/01 - Yes surgery is over - no cancer - just fluid-filled cysts. I am back at work part-time and feeling great. Still loosing, but slower due to surgery and no more estrogen.....I feel great - and love my new body. Still adjusting to seeing what is in the mirror instead of what is in my head. Two surgeries so close together have me a little tired, but other than that I am wonderful!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to everyone who kept me in their thoughts and prayers!!!! PS - I have knees, elbows, and ankles now and I can cross my legs - life is so good!!!!!!!! I started at 290 (309 at my consult) and I am now 222.

5/6/02 - Wow I hadn't realized how long it had been since I have been on here. I am now 192 - finally broke 200 and I'm feeling great. On a plateau now - need to exercise etc. to get to my goal. I am sooooooooo happy - I can buy regular clothes! I am volunteering 1 night week at a Theraputic Riding Center so I will be walking a lot there. I can't tell everyone enough how much this surgery has altered my life.

5/28/02 - Been walking 6 days a week and it is really helping. The weight is coming off again - finally I reached my - 100 lbs and actually it is 102 currently since surgery and 120 total since I started this process. WOW is all I can say. This surgery gives you a tool that you can really use to loose weight - inspite of your age, past dieting history etc. It is great to be reaching middle-age and starting a whole new life.

7/11/03 - WOW is all I can say. I don't believe it has been 2 years since I had surgery. IT WAS THE BEST DECISION I HAVE EVERY MADE!!!! I've had a little weight gain lately - but just need to get exercising again!!! I love this site!!!! It was a godsend to me and has helped so many folks! It is so much fun to buy regular size clothes, be able to hike, horseback ride, walk, and enjoy live once again!!!!!