sara772779
While I am unique, my journey to today shares many of the same paths and crossroads as each of you.
I was a normal weight baby but by age two, I was heavy. From the moment I knew had a choice about food, I have been making poor decisions. Thankfully, hard work, extra curricular activities and sports kept me only "heavy" in school. My mom's obsession with my weight started in middle school and I "joined" weight watchers, opti-fast or Jenny Craig each time I wore a bigger size than she did. I graduated high school a size 14. This struggle ended when I went off to college and like many girls, I gained a few pounds. I also discovered speed and the assortment of pills available to folks to lose weight, stay up longer to cram, or what ever. When I moved back to Dallas after college, I was a size 10.
My real life was defined at this point which involved a lot of work, partying hard and crashing. I have an awesome work ethic and have always thrown myself in more than what was required. I like to work hard, play harder, if that makes sense. The more successful I became, the more rich the foods and drinks became. The more I would force a solution to lose the excess weight; Phen-fen, Xenical, Meridia and others. I look backwards and hardly remember gaining the weight, but always remember the defining moments; not fitting on the ride at the fair, breaking a plastic chair at a neighbors house, not fitting in the rental car in front of colleagues, having my luggage lost and not having a plus-size store to buy clothes while on a business trip, or having to ask for a seat belt extender while seated next to someone from work. I tolerated it all.
Then, on my own, and for no particular reason, I quit smoking about 2 years ago. I just didn't smoke any more. It was not a concious decision to quit before hand, I just didn't ever pick the cigarettes back up. Now for the weird part, my health deteriorated rapidly. There were days I couldn't' get out of bed. I had absolutely no energy to clean my house, to have sex with husband, to go to the store. I quit eating on the bad days and quit almost all activity that was not required, like work. I ballooned to over 300 pounds. I probably would never have discovered hypothyroidism except that a medication I take requires extensive blood work each year. My dermatologist suggested that I had lupus. I was referred to my PCP who did more tests and discovered I had a thyroid problem instead. I immediately started on 100 mcg of Synthroid and have been working up to 150 mcg since then.
I had been wearing a 22/24 for probably 10 years and was fine with it. The pivotal moment for me was when they didn't fit anymore and I had to start buying clothes from a catalog. I also made my own just because I couldn't stand the thought of being reminded what size the clothes were were each time I put them on. Did I also mention how sore my feet, knees and back were from the moment I got out of bed to the moment I crawled back in at night? There was not enough hydrocodone to satisfy my pain so I stopped taking anything. I just tolerated it.
I've been contemplating surgery for almost 5 years but couldn't convince anyone in my family, except my mom, that it was a good thing. My insurance denied me year after year until I was ready to go to Mexico and pay cash. I got my husband convinced it was the right decision but he wouldn't agree to Mexico unless I could get my Dad on board, too. He knew that was not a win-able battle. Another year, another request. Then my PCP referred me to the third surgeon in four years. This one told me I was denied but I found out later, he never submitted the paper work.
Through a personal referral and out of what I thought was desperation, I went to Dr. Barker. My dad works with someone who had gone to Dr. Barker several years ago and she told him, "Dr. Barker's insurance guy is awesome. He can get her approved". This is where I am today.
I am tired of watching and want to be an active participate in my life's journey again. I have done so many "once in a lifetime" things but never really lived them because I couldn't fit, didn't feel well, or just "preferred" to watch for fear of embarrassment.
That's over for me. Join me on this wild ride and let's do it right this time--Let's get this party started!
