pdplpn
My story is not unique and I hesitated even writing it but, I have encouraged so many others to express themselves through journalling to find the hidden reasons why we as obese people eat and why we take such comfort and refuge in it, I needed to do it myself. I did my story privately when I made my decision to have the gastric bypass in October 2006. I shared it with my 2 daughters who cried to see what pain obesity had brought me during my lifetime struggle and it indeed has been a lifetime...My upbringing has certainly been key in how I used food over the years to comfort and console myself or to celebrate and socialize with others. I remember as a child if I fell and skinned my knee the solution was "here's a cookie", if I brought straight A's home well, wow we have moved up to the big time with an entire cake. My mother was a fantastic cook and we ate heartily and we hardly ever had leftovers. All 4 of my parent's children are obese. My mother herself never weighed more than 100 lbs and my father is a small man as well never tipping the scales over 160. So, where in the world did they get us from is the question I have? It was hard being a disappointment to my very petite mother who could not dress her only daughter in the frilly dresses a mother wants for her daughter. It was hard to hear my mother say, after I had my lst daughter , "you're the little girl I waited for..." I do not think she ever knew how that cut me to the quick and live with that still ringing in my ears.Just like all of you I could write a book on dieting, exercising and weight loss. I have successfully lost 100lbs and gained it right back within a few years. But, my gastric bypass was done for more than a cosmetic reason although honestly it played a big role in my decision .But, seriously my health was the biggest issue at age 51 when I decided to go through with it. I was 170 lbs overweight, mobility was almost non-existent, fatigue was my middle name and well not being desireable to look at. But, one very important issue to me was how I was being hypocritical to my profession as a nurse. I would have to counsel people concerning their weight and eating habits and here they were looking back at a 320 lb nurse not taking her own advice. I think that played a tremendous role in my exploration of having the gastric bypass done. The final straw though was when we took our 2 granddaughters Amelia and Ava to Idlewild Park for their lst amusement park experience ( ages 2/1) and I was forced to sit on a bench pretty much the entire day because of the inability to keep up, SOB and faitgue. They will never remember the experience but, I will never forget or have a pleasant memory about it .At my lst appt with Dr. Felix and his dietician Denise I had already lost 10 lbs since the workshop they presented on October 16 ,2006. That was the day I officially started my new life. I worked hard to get 45 lbs off before the surgery to be in the best health for it... it proved to be a life saver for me. I have encountered numerous set backs and complications all which are presently resolving themselves but, I would not have changed my decision at all to go forward with this surgery knowing what I would go through and the toll it would take on me physically and emotionally. How can there be any complaints from me. I am down 140 lbs as of today, I can exercise my socks off, I can ride a bike 10 miles and hopefully this summer further. I wear a size 12 down from a 30/32. My triglycerides went from 611 in June 2006 to 118 on my last blooddraw this month. I feel over all fantastic ( not so bad looking either!) Dr. Felix said to me just last week" I know 2008 will be a better year for you"...I said to him "2007 has been a fantastic year and there are no complaints on my part!" and there are not. I thank GOD I live in a day when things like this surgery are available to people who otherwise would remain a prisoner to themselves...barring getting hit by a bus, my goal is to live the 2nd half of my life healthy and trim...and I will work at promoting that to my patients through my job as a nurse and my community with the support group to be started on March 3rd...Patricia Patton
