Sarah_M.
OHHH. Where to start? I've been overweight my whole life, and still am considered overweight post gastric bypass. As much as that bothers me, I don't really think the BMI chart was made for normal human beings, however i still strive to weigh a normal weight, but am still pleased if i never lose another pound again and maintain at around 165. As you can tell I am writing this a few years after my surgery.
Before I had GB I was 20 years old and weighed 290 lbs. I was scared to leave my house. I rarely socialized, although I had alot of friends, I would never go out because I KNEW what people were saying about me. It's an awful, awful, shameful feeling. I knew when I walked into a restaurant people were thinking, what is she doing here, she doesnt need to eat any more!? I learned to be so aware of my enviroment and the people around me, because I was constantly listening for what people were saying about me. It was horrible. Two years later, it is still hard to even say some of the things I overheard people say about me. I still think people mutter things about me. I HAVE to look in ever reflective surface to make sure I don't suddenly look like i weigh 290 lbs again. It is a constant battle in my head to remember that I am not the same person.
I have had my fair share of issues post surgery, luckily most are not related to my health. Nothing that anyone could have prepared me for though. I became an attention fiend, and still am. I definetly drink socially more than I should, but I am at an age where that is normal. I know people on this site say alcohol is horrible for you, etc, but it has not hurt me and I am well aware of the empty calories it contains, but choose to drink socially anyways. It sounds stupid, but it helps me to be more like the new me and forget about the fact that i used to weigh 290 lbs. I am a work in progress, I guess you could say. The only health related problems I have had are anemia (controlled with oral supplements so far), low B12 (controlled with intranasal spray once weekly) and I just recently had to have my gall bladder removed due to gall stones( July 23, 2007). Having gallstones attack was possibly the most painful thing I have ever felt. I'm very glad its gone now.
In April of 2007, I underwent an extended abdominoplasty (anchor cut tummy tuck) and breast lift and augmentation with silicone gel 330cc implants placed. I couldn't be happier with the results from this surgery. It has allowed me to be able to almost look in the mirror when I'm naked. This surgery was definetly what I needed to feel more normal. I had ALOT of extra skin on my abdomen. My loving parents picked up the outrageous cost of this surgery, which totalled to aprox $25,000. They knew how important it was to me and how it was a crucial part of this process for me. I am currently looking into having brachioplasty, an inner thigh lift and butt lift, but I don't know if I will ever be able to afford it. Insurance is NO help when it comes to plastics as they see it all as cosmetic.
So, I guess I have rambled on enough here...Although I was not religious about updating my profile throughout my journey, I am going to try to be better about it, since others have helped me.
