Karen P.
My decision for WLS
Apr 23, 2012
My decision for surgery was probably a slow build. I'd been having weight problems most of my life and then I broke my back in 2005, which decreased my ability to be active and the weight really started piling on. I changed my diet, made a concerted effort to loose weight and lost 30 pounds, then it started coming back and it came and it came and it came. My clothes didn't fit right, I didn't fit in my chair at work (which they refused to replace), and I was tired of buying bigger and bigger clothes. My health issues continued to grow as well (high blood pressure becoming uncontrollable on meds, sleep apnea, chronic back pain, etc). I hated looking at myself in the mirror.
I was hearing a lot of ads on the radio (I listen all day at work) talking about the lap band, so I contacted my insurance to find out if they provided coverage for weight loss surgery. They sent me the information on their program, which started with meeting with a weight loss DR. He looked at my labs and started me on metformin, as I was now pre-diabetic and my sugars were going up and up despite watching what I ate. He also asked if I would like to put in my application for WLS and I said yes. He informed me it was a year long wait list, so I read everything and then sent in the application.
My insurance requires an 8 week class once your number comes up on the wait list. I started the classes and learned there about RNY, lap band, and the sleeve. I learend what weight loss percentage was for each of the procedures and the resolution of medical issues as well. As soon as I heard about the ports and fills and repeat visits to the surgeon for the lap band and some of the complications I knew I didn't want to mess around with it. When I heard about the sleeve, I was interested in that but once I learned about the great success of RNY, I decided if I was going to do it, I was going to go for the "Gold standard".
I was scared and had anxiety about what I was doing. I questioned why I was changing what God had put together, but also consoled myself with the thought that God made surgeons smart enough to come up with a plan for those of us whose body was not working as it should.
I had regrets the day of surgery - it was so painful, but I made it through and now I'm seeing results. My sugars are dropping and I probably won't be pre-diabetic soon. My blood pressure has been improving. I'm hoping that as I loose more weight I can get rid of the CPAP as well.
Lots of people will have ideas and thoughts about what you should do. In your heart, what is best for you? What health issues are you struggling with that can be improved by WLS? It is a lifestyle change, not just a body change - are you ready to live healthy?
That's what you need to ask yourself - at what point do you say enough of this, I want a permanent change.
0 comments
I was hearing a lot of ads on the radio (I listen all day at work) talking about the lap band, so I contacted my insurance to find out if they provided coverage for weight loss surgery. They sent me the information on their program, which started with meeting with a weight loss DR. He looked at my labs and started me on metformin, as I was now pre-diabetic and my sugars were going up and up despite watching what I ate. He also asked if I would like to put in my application for WLS and I said yes. He informed me it was a year long wait list, so I read everything and then sent in the application.
My insurance requires an 8 week class once your number comes up on the wait list. I started the classes and learned there about RNY, lap band, and the sleeve. I learend what weight loss percentage was for each of the procedures and the resolution of medical issues as well. As soon as I heard about the ports and fills and repeat visits to the surgeon for the lap band and some of the complications I knew I didn't want to mess around with it. When I heard about the sleeve, I was interested in that but once I learned about the great success of RNY, I decided if I was going to do it, I was going to go for the "Gold standard".
I was scared and had anxiety about what I was doing. I questioned why I was changing what God had put together, but also consoled myself with the thought that God made surgeons smart enough to come up with a plan for those of us whose body was not working as it should.
I had regrets the day of surgery - it was so painful, but I made it through and now I'm seeing results. My sugars are dropping and I probably won't be pre-diabetic soon. My blood pressure has been improving. I'm hoping that as I loose more weight I can get rid of the CPAP as well.
Lots of people will have ideas and thoughts about what you should do. In your heart, what is best for you? What health issues are you struggling with that can be improved by WLS? It is a lifestyle change, not just a body change - are you ready to live healthy?
That's what you need to ask yourself - at what point do you say enough of this, I want a permanent change.
About Me
CO
Location
25.0
BMI
Surgery
02/13/2012
Surgery Date
Jan 09, 2012
Member Since
