Violet_Starr
THis Story was created
2-9-07
When I was born I weighed 7 lbs 12 oz, that is a fairly big baby:
As a child, my Dr. stated, I was taller than most kids my age and a little heavier than most kids...But that is just where my problems would begin:
Me at age 3...I was in the paper
When I was 6, I was diagnosed with Low blood platelettes, it is a disease that has affected millions of people like myself. It causes excessive bleeding externally and internally and if not treated, it could be fatal, mine was caught right in the nick of time, but I was forced to wear a football helmet for about a week, I was put on steriods and other medecine that caused me to blow up gaining almost 25 pounds in a 3 month period. Leaving me age 6 at about 75 pounds, my 6 year old is 50 pounds!
Reversing those 25 pounds was not easy for me, I was 6, my mother did not allow me to be active and she comforted me with food my entire life....There was no Turning back....
At age 10 I was 5'2 140 pounds.....Not good, luckily when I visted my dad, I managed to loose 20 over the summer, leaving me 5'3 120 when I started middle school I was ok weight, but being home with my mom, her abuse ( physical and mental) took a toll on me ( I became an emotional eater)
My Weight went up and up....by the time I was 12 I was 211 lbs.. Size 14 in womens....
By the Time I was 15, I was in a 22/24 womens...and very unhappy....I was offically the BIG GIRL...."you know Tiph the big girls"
That isn't my largest, by 21....I reached my Highest size of a size 28 in womens...I was featured on jenny jones, I reached my highest weight.....336 pounds
Not proud of myself, I turned to Bulemia.....Which wasnt the best choice but I dropped to 300 within 6 months into a size 20....
Roller coaster Roller Coaster......I finally turned to my Dr. in dispair...she mentioned gastric by-pass surgery....I was frieghtened it was such a major surgery and I would have to do a lot of research....And fortunately, a friend of mine got it done last year around this time!!!! She inspiried me, and I started my procedure Last July.....I had a series of test done, counseling and a lot of thinking.....
When I got my date I became nervous and almost backed out. I thought about everything that could go wrong and I didn't want to loose the people that I have in my life, my wonderful man and our son.....It was all too much to handle...
A post-op picture ( 332 lbs)
The day of my surgery I weighed 324 ( liquid diet before hand), I cried like a baby in Pre-op....They made me wait there for hours....I was scared, confused, happy and I didn't know what to expect....the nurse said, you can back out if you want...But I knew I was much more brave than that.
I had many visitors at the hospital, My dad, Derek Scott, Muck Muck, Tina, Erica, Leel, Linda and Larissa....Everyone was very supportive and gave me a good laugh, because walking around with a cathider was NO FUN....
I went in on a monday and left on Wed Afternoon. I got sick that Thursday....I was gagging and had an extreme case of the runs....I called my Dr. and he said everything will be fine, but it just got worse...Sunday I was readmitted into the hospital with Colitis, when the colon is enflamed and I felt like complete and total shit. It continued about a week and a half, one morning I woke up and I felt so much better! I have been shopping and walking and spending time with my best friend who has been taking care of me for the past 2 weeks...she went home on Wed. and I miss her already!
Today I went for a follow up appointment....I weigh 299 Pounds....I have lost 32 pounds since December...and I am very proud of myself. Life is very different already, I look at myself in the mirror and I see that I am Still Beautiful, just thinner...I miss eating what I want, but this is worth so much more than Taco Bell ( the actual procedure was about 120,000 dollars). My boyfriend told me how proud he is of me, and he loves me no matter how much I weigh. My friends tell me how much they are happy for me! I am happy....My goal you ask? I want to be 170 lbs...it is a "normal" weight for someone my height....and now, I totally feel like I can accomplish it. Remember, gastric bypass did not make me loose the weight, the staple of my stomach is only a tool, I have to work for it, by eating right and exercising. I could gain it all back if I am not careful ( as some people have!)
Here are the most recent Pics of me.
I am proud to say, that have lots of support and I am doing it for myself.....
I encourage others to research all your options before selecting surgery....But if it's the end for you, like it was for me...Go ahead. I opted not to do the lap=band because I didn't want to be able to eat whatever I wanted....and I wanted better results.
If you have any questions, you can always ask!!!
Love,
Tiph
