RebelHarris
My story is only just beginning and I will likely add to or even change some of this as the months creep by and as I move from Pre-Op to Post-Op.
My battle with weight began in 1998 when I tore my ACL the first time. I had to have surgery and was laid up for a 6 weeks. It was aweful and I was so miserable. I was so used to being active. I have had asthma since I was 9 and took medicine for that ... it worked and even that didn't stop me from being active. I played baseball, softball, basketball. But that ACL injury totally devastated me. I was so depressed. I ate. I never ate like that before, and without the activity that my body was used to I gained almost 30lbs. The Rehab from the surgery was torture and felt like it took forever... as soon as I was back up I was back on my skateboard... and 7 months later I re-tore that ligament it was AWEFUL... I was a mess. I felt defeated and again, turned to food. I gained 40lbs this time... this is when the fact that I have asthma becomes relevant... as a healthy active person, my asthma was easily controlled with good medication but as an overweight person, who had no business being back on that skateboard to begin with... well, my asthma became an issue and hindered my activity even more.
I began gaining weight at a pretty steady rate... realizing that it was an issue I tried a few diets. I went to weight watchers, Jenny Craig and tried a few book diets. I was sucessful (somewhat) with a few of those but... I became very very familiar with the term "Yo-Yo Dieting" I just felt totally defeated.
In 2004 I heard about Gastric Bypass from my Psychiatrists Receptionist. She had it and was VERY successful... she lost over 200lbs and had photos to prove it. She LOOKED GREAT and was so optimistic about the surgery that I began to look into it. I had finally decided in 2005 to go for it... I found a doctor. I called and made an appointment. I had most of my paperwork done and all that was left was labs... I went to get them done and recived a phone call 4 days later telling me that htey had recieved the results from my bloodwork back and would, unfortunately not be able to do the surgery... I of course freaked out thinking something was horribly wrong with me... as it turned out... it wasn't anything WRONG at all... something wonderful had happened... after months of trying to get pregnant and being told my weight was a factor in us being unsuccessful, I WAS PREGNANT! I was happy but also in disbelief. It was wonderful news... but it meant that my surgery would have to wait.
Getting pregnant was one of the motivating factors in my decision to have the surgery in 2005 and now that i was pregnant I wasn't sure I'd ever follow through... but something happened after my daughter was born... something sobering... I was fat and I was unhealthy and I wanted to see her grow up, I wanted to be an active mommy that could run and play and roll around on the floor and be silly... and I WANTED A LAP for her to sit on!!... So in January 2008 when she was just 13 months old I told my husband that I wanted to revisit this decision. After talking with him and weighing the pros and cons I decided that I wanted to do it. He is totally supportive and is even saving 2 weeks of his vacation to help me Post - Op take care of our daughter.
I have mentioned my husband but I feel like "my story" would be incomplete if I don't tell you a bit more about him. He's the most supportive wonderful man I have ever known.... he allows me to be myself with NO restrictions. He compliments me and loves me despite my faults , of which I admit to many. I am lucky to have him and even luckier to have him as the primary person on my support team. I can count on him to be there for us and know he will do everything in his power to be and do what he needs to after this surgery. He also is willing to go on a diet with me (he says he'd like to drop about 30lbs) and eat healthier after surgery. I have no desire to punish him for my food sins but he asked me to write a "forbidden foods" list... things he cannot bring home. I thought that was soooooooooooo sweet. I love him and know that my journey to a healthier me will be easier because he is in my corner.
... Please don't hesitate to contact me... I'm a newbie and have a lot to learn still. I'd love to learn from all of you!
