Dawn G.
I was overweight from the time I was about 3 years old. I remember looking in the mirror in ballet class at 5-and seeing someone who didn't "fit in" with the rest of the girls. I do remember specifically, at the age of 8, weighing 120 lbs-and dieting down at that age to 100 lbs, only to gain that back, plus more. I remember at 12 years of age, being taken to a diet doctor, who gave me diet pills that caused me to pass out on a street corner when I was talking to some friends. I remember at the age of 18, weighing 230 lbs. In my 20's, my weight fluctuated between 190 lbs, all the way up to 320. My highest weight was this past January, when the scale at weight watchers hit me with 390 lbs. I am only 5 foot 4.
Of course, it didn't help that my moms' best friend had a daughter my age who was extremely thin. We did everything together-and she was a constant reminder into my teenage years that I was missing so many of the wonderful things that were supposed to be "normal" as people go through adolescence into their adult years.
I missed the prom, I missed graduation. I accepted dates from guys that were less than my ideal-because I thought it was "the best I could do". It didn't matter how I was treated. I married a man at 20 who was extremely selfish, and very childish. He was always looking at other women, and he finally left after 4 years of marriage to be with his "best friend's" fiance-who he ultimately married. As it turns out, approximately 2 months after my ex left, I started having severe pain every month with my menstrual cycle-to the point of having to b e hospitalized every month for 3-4 days over the course of over 2 years, while doctors did extensive testing trying to figure out what was going on. They finally figured it to be endometriosis, although they couldn't pinpoint it despite numerous tests.-and started treating me with lupron shots every month, which thankfully worked.
I ended up remarrying a few years later to a man who is 13 years my senior-who is a great guy, and we have been married for 14 years.
I was unable to conceive for 15 years, although I went for assistance with a fertility specialist, and had a couple of rounds of IVF. We were very fortunate in that we were able to adopt a beautiful little girl and her baby brother. At the time they came to us, my daughter was a year old, and my son was a newborn. It ended up being the best decision we ever made, our kids are my world! They are now 6 and 7- and a big reason why I decided to finally take control of my life, and have WLS. I will be having the Duodenal Switch.
About Me
Before & After
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