The Beginnings

Mar 14, 2010

I think the first time I heard about weight loss surgery (WLS) was around 2003...I was around 23...and weighed about 265 lbs. I had a co-worker that had heard about it and was considering it, but didn't know much about it. So we did a little internet research to find out more and it kind of freaked us out.
The first thing we came across was before and after pictures of people who had Roux-en-Y. They were very dramatic and graphic...with loose skin hanging all over the place...it looked like these people were buried in their skin. Then we read about what the surgery involved and all the risks and came across a few bad stories. That was enough to make my friend think twice.

From that point on, WLS was always a distant thought in my mind. My first thoughts were, "I would like to lose weight, but WLS is too extreme...what if I end up looking like a pile of skin?" I figured I would have to lose weight without surgery, so over the next few years I tried many diets. Diets I had already tried before...Slim Fast, Dexitrim, Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers, Low-Calorie...you name it. I found I lost the most weight with Atkins and Weight Watchers, so I would lose anywhere from 25-50 pounds...only to gain it back and then return to one of the two diets because I knew I could always get some sort of results.

Then I started hearing about famous actors/actresses having WLS, and it peaked my interest again. If these people were having it and they didn't look like a pile of skin then maybe I should research some more. In 2008, after spending several months researching I had decided to have the Lap Band procedure. I felt it was less extreme and more easily reversible...not to mention it was also much more affordable than Roux-en-Y. I had my money all ready, my surgery scheduled in Mexico...I was ready to go. Unfortunately, some unexpected events occurred that required me to use my surgery money. I was so disappointed, and had decided that I should just accept the fact that I will have to live the rest of my life as a fat ass!

So, if I was going to be fat for the rest of my life I might as well "enjoy" the only "fun" thing about being fat: eating whatever I wanted and not caring about it. Accept deep down I did care. I felt disgusting and fat and out of control and hopeless. That is when I peaked at my highest lifetime weight: 335 pounds! That is also when I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, Hypertension and eventually sleep apnea...all at the age of 29! It was all so overwhelming and depressing. I had to be a little more conscious of what I ate and began to lose weight…about 25 pounds.

And then in 2009 we moved to another state, and I got new insurance…and guess what? They cover WLS (with a catch – that’s for another post)!

I still wanted the Lap Band procedure, but a friend on the Obesity Help website recommended researching Roux-en-Y and a few other WLS surgeries before deciding. I’m so glad I did, because I decided to get the Roux-en-Y procedure. After talking to my Primary Care Physician (PCP) and looking into all the different type of WLS surgeries, and then attending a seminar on them I feel confident that the Roux-en-Y procedure will be the best tool for me! I can’t wait!

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About Me
Akron, OH
Location
37.6
BMI
RNY
Surgery
09/10/2010
Surgery Date
May 27, 2006
Member Since

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