magicbluefairy
Like most many people here, I gained weight as a child, and the weight just kept creeping up. I have not, however tried diet after diet. I was able to lose about 35 pounds on my own, through calorie counting and exercise, but after being hit with a bout of depression, all of my hard work went down the drain.
My weight is primarily genetic. I take after my dad's side of the family and everyone on that side is/was large. I am however the heaviest of the women. I also believe that I gained a lot of weight rapidly thanks to some psychiatric medications. And, I have a low thyroid and weight gain is common with that condition. On top of this, I know my diet and lifestyle have not been good. I am a vegetarian, but to me - a 6 pack of butter tarts or a bag of chips is "vegetarian friendly". Despite my weight and my eating habits, my blood pressure is normal, and my cholesterol is normal. I do have some swelling in my legs and feet, and I get winded easily, but other than that I am pretty healthy. That being said, I have severe and disabling pain in my lower back, and it is so bad that I cannot walk for more than about 3 minutes without having to stop. I also cannot stand for any length of time because the pressure on my back is too much. I am on low doses of pain medication right now - my doctor is waiting to see if it will be covered by my provincial drug plan (ODSP for those of you who know).
Right now, I am simply looking at my options for weight loss surgery, having pretty much decided on the duodenal switch. I am not ready for surgery at this point in my life. I am pretty sure I can handle the post-op (after the staples are out and the insicion has healed), but the pre-op, and the immediate post-op terrify me to the point where I cannot have the surgery. I will work on my fears and hopefully one day I will be able to join the rest of you on this journey and finally feel what it is like to be free from pain and suffering (at least physical pain and suffering). It is a journey I know will change my life...
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter."
~Martin Luther King
