June 2007

If you've made it this far, welcome.

My name is Dawn.  I am 41 years old and seeking to change my life.  I was always the chubby kid and went I went to college I caught more than the freshman 40.  I spent two years, losing 100 pounds on Weight Watchers only to gain it back as I settled into a relationship with the man who has now been my husband for fifteen years.

I have two kids, a boy and a girl.

My siblings (3 of them) have also been overweight and two of them have had the RNY and lost over 100 pounds.  I thought it was the "easy way out" - but frankly I was too scared to even contemplate it.

Just recently I have been doing a bit more then contemplating weight loss surgery.  I have seen a surgeon and am seeking approval from the insurance company - should know in two weeks.  I have been researching/reading like crazy since January and have been participating in about 3 chat boards, reading hundreds of messages daily....so I am very informed.  I have learned so much from OH and love it the most.
  I had to have a psychological evaluation and it was quite a good conversation with the therapist.  I told him that one of the things I am struggling with (and have in the past) is that I don't want to make a big deal out of my weight loss.  Like, could everyone just ignore me losing 100 pounds, please?  He explained very well in telling me that he could see that I am a person very in control of things in my life - I am in control of my family, my job, my finances, etc....and that weight is the one thing that I cannot control and therefore I feel like a total failure and don't want anybody to notice that.  That is SO right on.  He told me to talk with some friends (gosh - that's hard for me to do.)   For me, the downward spiral over this started almost a year ago in August.  I had to fly to Lexington, KY and got on the plane.  An elderly man, got on the plane and was assigned to sit next to me.  When he got to the seat, he called over the flight attendant and said loudly "you can't expect me to sit next to THAT??!!"  It was extremely humiliating and I have only flown once since (and was SO SCARED to do it!)    What I have learned over the past six months is that weight loss surgery is not an easy way out. It is going to be quite difficult.  After the surgery, you basically can't eat the way you could before, so it is a tool to help you with the poor eating.  You need to eat mostly protein and take vitamins due to malabsorption.  I'm not so worried about the part that I can control because I think I can be compliant.    My doctor has done 180+ surgeries, no deaths and only 2 post-op complications (people who did not follow the post-op nutritional plan and did not follow up timely.)    If I do not have this surgery and I cannot lose the weight, I am going to be diabetic with high blood pressure in just a few years if not sooner.    I'm 41 years old and I have missed out on SOOOOO much because I have been overweight.  I want to run and play with my kids, while they are still little.  Play basketball, ride a bike, try skating.  Get on an airplane without being terrified of who is sitting next to me.  Feel comfortable seeing old friends or making new ones.  Swim!  Dance.       I am looking forward to your support..    

Date Weight Loss This Period Total Loss Comments
5/20/07 
7/4/07
 264
248

-16 

-16 
Pre-Op
Pre-Op
   

About Me
Northeastern, LA
Location
26.8
BMI
RNY
Surgery
08/13/2007
Surgery Date
May 20, 2007
Member Since

Friends 56

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