NJDizzybee
Hi Everyone -
I am a married Mom of a special needs child. I have always had issues with my weight, constant teasing in school and from some of my own family members. I chose not to attend college because I just didn't want to prolong the agony. A choice I now regret. But I've managed to obtain good jobs all along, until this recession and have now been without a job for a year and a half. I miss working! But I have faith that things will turn around, and if I have to start at the bottom, I will.
I am a Mom first, then a wife, and then everything else. My son was born 3 months premature, not due to my weight. He's 15 now, a very self sufficient normal teenager, and he's my heart.
I have always been the type of "fat person" that didn't really care what anyone else thought. I was happy the way I was, and I didn't let the weight get in my way of a good job, a good husband, great friends, and a happy home. Until I hit 40. Then the high cholesterol hit, partly due to genetics, partly due to my eating habits. My blood pressure has been creeping up for a few years, and now I have to take medicine for that. Grrrr Anyone who knows me, knows I love to shop. I don't care if its a craft fair, dollar store, grocery store - I just love to shop. My weight started to affect my ability to shop! Oh, no - we can't have that! And the last time we went to Disney, I was afraid for the first time, to ride some of the rides. So my weight was affecting my happiness. I've done Weight Watchers, done Adipex - which I would not recommend to anyone! I always lost weight, and once I stopped, it all came back on, and then some.
In March of last year, my weight started affecting the intimacy in my marriage. Something else I love, tee hee! I could see my hubby was getting worried, and I was starting to get worried that I wouldn't see my son graduate from high school. So, I started researching the various WL surgeries. A good friend had the Gastric Bypass 25 years ago, and was in horrible pain for weeks after. I knew that wasn't for me, especially since some of her weight came back on. Plus, my son requires my help on a daily basis. So, I checked out the Lap Band, talked to hubby, and he was very supportive! We attended a seminar in April 2010, talked about the financial obligation we would have, and decided we could financially handle it.
The process took a long time for me, 10 months from when I started to my surgery date. Between all the testing and working around my son's schedule, it was a bit aggravating at times. Plus, my surgeon is out of state, and I hate to drive in the city he's based, so that was added anxiety for me!
I'm two weeks out from surgery now, finally out of the surgical "fog", and feel really good about my decision. I know this is going to be hard, but its going to be worth it as well. I've had some issues with non-supportive friends, but I'm working through that and have found lots of support on here!
I'm looking forward to a bathingsuit that doesn't require a skirt, sitting at any table at a restaurant, riding every ride at Disney, and hiking the entire State Park near me instead of bits and pieces!
