my story

Mar 26, 2010

I can't remember ever being skinny. I think I was 4 when I started becoming the cute little chunky girl. I was a tomboy. Always climbing and swinging on ropes tied to trees and later on riding 4-wheelers and dirt bikes. I was chunky but not too big to do all those fun things. I was 10 the first time I was put on a diet. I went to weight watchers with my mom and two of my brothers. Lost 40 lbs over almost a year and was almost normal size for a 5th grader. My parents and I moved to a small town and no longer were able to go to the WW meetings. I don't know what happened.....I think food was my only friend for a long time. I just kept getting bigger and bigger as the years went by. Being a fat teenage girl is probably one of the worst tortures a girl can go through. I had friends. I was smart, always made great grades. But life was hard for me. Boys aren't interested in a 225 lb(and growing) 5'0 girl, especially a shy one. I don't think there was one event in my past that caused me to become the way I am. Food is just how I always coped. I was a fat kid who became a more fat teenager and then an even fatter adult. Nursing school is probably the best thing I ever did for myself. It gave me confidence in myself and the assurance that if I never met a man that would accept me for who I was then I could always take care of myself. I met my husband, Charles, on yahoo personals in 2004. He is the greatest! He loves me no matter what I look like. We married in 2005 and I love him more every year. I've tried every diet there is throughout the years. Charles has watched me struggle. When I topped out at 368lbs, I knew I couldn't go on like this. Nothing worked for me for longer than a few months. I couldn't do it by myself. I talked to Charles and my family about what I was considering.....I have to say, I have the most supportive family and extended family in the world. They were all behind me. That was the end of November 2009. I went to a seminar here in Jackson and was so thoroughly unimpressed with the program for that doctor. I knew it was not for me. December 5 I went to a seminar for Centennial Bariatric in Nashville. They blew me away. They had it all. 3 great surgeons, a full staff of nutritionist, psych therapists, and exercise therapists and all the aftercare a patient could need. I did my research and decided the VSG was the right tool for me to get to the weight I want to be. I am self pay(thanks to my wonderful but nervous hubby) so I didn't have to wait too long. I had my first appointment with Dr. Houston on Feb 3 and was scheduled for my sleeve for March 2. I had my pre-op work-up on Feb 22, found out I needed cardiac clearance on Feb 25.....four days before my surgery. Thank God I know people who know people. I was in with a great cardiologist, Dr. Phillips, the next day(thursday). Scheduled for an echocardiogram and nuclear stress test on friday(after a few tears and begging the scheduler). Dr. Phillips' nurse, Bonnie, let me know friday afternoon that I was cleared and they were faxing my surgeon.
Monday night my husband and I drove to Nashville so we could be at the hospital at 6am the next morning. I have to say, I wasn't nervous. Excited was more what I was feeling. I know I was about to change my life. Charles was nervous, very nervous. The experience that morning was so easy. We arrived at the hospital, I was taken straight to lab.....proved I was not pregnant. Went to pre-anesthesia. Answered some questions. About 7:30 they took me to pre-op. The CRNA started my IV and gave me what I'm assuming was Versed. I felt really good after that. I remember them rolling me into the OR and thinking "Wow! This is a tiny OR!" I don't remember anything after that. I think I woke up for a few minutes in recovery and the next thing I knew Charles and my parents and sister were standing over my bed. The hardest part for me was probably struggling with anesthesia. For the first day and a half probably I felt like I couldn't stay awake. I would hear my family talking, but I just couldn't make myself wake up and be coherent for more than a few minutes at a time. On the second night, my IV infiltrated and the nurses couldn't get another one started...I've always been a hard stick. No more PCA pump for me. Truthfully, I had not been hitting the pain med button very much anyway. I really never had severe pain. More discomfort and nausea than anything. Dr. Houston came in the next morning and told me if I could keep some fluids down then he would send me home that afternoon. I was determined! I walked that hall at least 6 times and sipped on water and chicken broth. We were discharged and stayed at the hotel again that night. The next morning I took my pain medicine for the 2 hour ride home. I have gotten better everyday since. And I'm not looking back. About a week ago I hit my first plateau. I'm at 37 lbs weight loss, though. So I'm not letting the stall get to me. I know the scale will start moving again. And all my clothes are getting looser.....I have visible results. I'm on my way and there is no stopping me now.

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