artlady
I am obese. (shiver) There, I have said it. I never thought myself to be more than "a bit overweight" until the last year or so, when I started having serious weight-related issues. It started about three years ago, when my daughter (my baby) was preparing to go off to college. She made me promise to get a check-up (I had not been for a real check-up since she was born!) I went to the women's health center in a nearby city. (I didn't want anyone to know me) When the nurse took my blood pressure, I thought her eyebrows were going to go through the ceiling. In her words, my bp was "alarming". (I don't remember what it was, since at the time I didn't know what the numbers meant) Fortunately, everything else was ok and I even lived through my very first mammagram. (ouch!) The very next day I went to a PCP in my own town and he immediately put me on bp meds. It took about 6 months to get it right. Thus began my regular health care. Within a few months, tests revealed that my cholesterol levels were elevated (not alarming, but with the high bp still a real concern) and I started on Lipitor (EXPENSIVE but thank God for good insurance). Meanwhile, I did a lot of research about eating right and started getting into some good habits (for a change). This last spring, my tests indicate that I am "pre-diabetic" (3 times and you're out?) and with my family history, it's not looking very good for me. My doc has me start testing a couple times a day, and I do more research into eating to maintain healthy sugar levels. I have pretty much identified my "triggers" and have been able to stay within a healthy range. So here I am, going along (la-de-da) thinking that I'm doing ok... But all the time, I'm actually feeling worse. Every time I go for a doctor visit, he reminds me that I need to lose weight ("I want you under 200"). So I diet and exercise, and feel like I'm doing a good job of it... Then I go back to the doctor and I haven't lost an ounce! (although I did lose some inches) I tried to talk to him about it, and he just tells me to "eat less and move more" (um, hellloooo!!! Isn't that what I HAVE been doing all summer?!!!) Now I'm getting depressed.
The story of my life is about yo-yo dieting. I have done Diet Workshop, Weight-Watchers, Slim-Fast, the "one-day" diet, pills, pills, pills, Overeater's Anonymous (What a joke), etc., etc., etc.
So, I was doing (more) research on losing weight, when I came across information about wls. Actually, my doctor had mentioned it as an option, but didn't support it one way or the other. I found a few locations within a couple hours of my home, but was most drawn to the Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Horseheads, NY.
My objectives for having wls are to 1) Get off the blood pressure meds completely (They are starting to make me feel yucky) 2) Get off the Lipitor (I cringe to think of the side-effects) 3) Prevent diabetes 4) Reduce at least some of the joint pain and 5) GET HEALTHY and STAY HEALTHY.
I had not realized it, but I had begun to despair of ever being able to do many of the things that I enjoy again. I have HOPE once again. I cannot wait to begin my journey.
