Hello from the frozen North!

Hi everyone I just found this message board, how exciting to find other members out there! I am going through the approval/preop stuff right now, waiting to get a date. I hope we can keep this message board up to date-I know how it goes. I work full time, go to school nights, have a 10 year old son, and 18 year old daughter getting married in 3 weeks, a 22 year old daughter in Basic with the Army, a 23 year old daughter somewhere in Hawaii (she is not wanting to be in contact right now) and a 25 year old son on active duty (army) in Hawaii. I have moments when I think I am crazy to be trying to get this surgery at this time, just because my life is pretty hectic already, but I will drop everything to do it, because I don't really have much of a life at this point because of the pain I am in constantly, and the difficulty I have just getting around. This surgery is answer to my prayers. I lost one of my sisters just before Christmas from complications of Diabetes, and I have another sister who is battling Ovarian cancer. It made me take a long look at myself and be honest about my own health. I want to be around a bit longer. My sister that died was only 49 years old. I need to last longer than that! I am willing to go when it's my time, understand, but I was committing suicide one bite at a time. Somehow that doesn't mesh with the Church's teachings very well. I have tried many diets, for many years, and this is really the only thing left. I hope to hear from all of you as we journey together. -lynn K waiting for approval/date

Welcome to the boards Lynn. Life can certainly be hectic but when we struggle with a morbid obesity weight problem the struggles seem much harder. Come to us when you need some moral support from anything like your children in the military to you estranged daughter. There's probably at least one of us that has gone through a similar problem. Whenever I went for my temple interview to receive a new temple recommend I was asked if I kept the word of wisdom. I thought long about that answer and had to truthfully answer "NO" because the word of wisdom teaches moderation in all things and as I was morbidly obese I wasn't following the teaching of the word of wisdom. My bishop and my stake presidency were very understanding and since that was the only way I wasn't keeping the word of wisdom they gave me my recommend each time. I, too, tried about any diet I could find. I did the cambridge liquid diet, I did the FenPhen diet, I did this and I did that diet, just about anything I could come up with. All the diets were successful AT FIRST. But as soon as the diet was over or the quantities were gone the weight came back on and I gained even more weight after that. My PCP finally told me that he wasn't going to help me yo-yo diet anymore. That was more harmful to my health than just being overweight. He agreed that WLS was the best option for me. I had a second opinion and then a third opinion and they all agreed that WLS was really the only option left for me that would be long lasting and hopefully permanent. Good luck. This journey isn't easy. It's a life-long committment. But like the Lord says of our time on this earth "I never said it would be easy, I just said it would be worth it". For me this WLS was definately worth it. Melody

Thank you Melody! I know what you mean about trying everything-I have even done a fast (no food, jus****er, lemon juice, a little maple syrup and cayanne pepper) for over a month-lost 30 lbs, but wasn't very healthy. My doctors have pooh-poohed my requests for WLS for years, til my new doc looked at my health history and said 'whoa, wait a minute!' and now I am scampering to get through the insurance hoops-they will cover it, but I have to meet with the psych person and take a profile, and do the dietician thing.....I am at the point where I will do whatever it takes. My niece had WLS last June and is down over 100 lbs, it has made a huge difference in her life. I have a couple other friends who have gone through it, so I don't feel too alone. I know exactly where you are coming from about the WOW-I didn't get this weight on by being moderate! My Bishop doesn't feel that is the important thing, it's more important for me to be able to go to the temple. Thanks so much for your post-I will check in later-off to my psych testing! lynn