Question:
Life Changing Decision
What happened that prompted you to finally make the decision to have WLS? Was there something you couldn't do, wanted to do, or something someone said or did to you? I think for me, it was when I realized that I couldn't fit into a pair of size 26 STRETCHY jeans anymore! — BeckyT (posted on June 26, 2003)
June 26, 2003
When I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. I had had four gestational
diabetic pregnancies that required insulin and had been borderline diabetic
for years.
— Linda A.
June 26, 2003
several things help me make the decision to have WLS. I was always healthy
and thin until 1992 when I was diagnoised with adult onset diabetes and
started to gain weight. Since then I had progressed from oral medications
to insulin, and had a enlarged heart, a heart attack, two strokes, high
blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, and the one stroke left me blind on the
left side of both eyes. My grandmother died at age 54 from complications
from diabetes, and my mother died at age 55 from complications from
diabetes, and I am 51 years old, with many complications from diabetes,
including being MO. So the first reason for WLS would be health, I knew if
I did not do something for my health I would probely be dead in 3 to 4
years. The second reason would be I guess still health related, the weight
gain is causing me severe pain in my back, and continueous yeast infections
and rashes under my apron, and severe stress on my feet and ankles. The
most important reason that I have for the surgery is to be here for my
grandson, and my DH of 33 years of marrage. I have my surgery on August
6th, and I really never had a decision, WLS was my only chance.
— cindy
June 26, 2003
I was watching football with my husband and they announced the stats of the
players and I realized that I weighed more than most professional football
players. I'd been dieting since I was 10 and finally realized that it
hadn't worked, ever.
— Maria N.
June 26, 2003
the day I realized it was too much effort to walk into the kitchen to fetch
my own soda pop YET I'd sure huff and puff my butt in there for a donut.
Sucked!
— [Deactivated Member]
June 26, 2003
It was a combination of things for me. A nurse who I worked with who had
lost a ton of weight finally fessed up to me that she had had it done
herself. That is when I realized this surgery was within my reach. She
told me how our ins. pays for it and also let me know that there was a
surgeon just a few hours away that did the surgery. It always seemed like
a dream that was out of my reach.
Also, I saw my obese Dad who has diabetes, have a stent put in his heart.
I just didn't want to follow in his footsteps. I was already on BP meds at
the age of 31.
— Kim N.
June 26, 2003
The doctor telling me I needed both hips replaced but that it couldn't be
done at my weight. Medications and cortisone shots were not working;
surgery was the only "cure" for the pain and major difficulty in
walking. There were other reasons, of course, but this was the wake-up slap
in the face. Nina in Maine
— [Deactivated Member]
June 26, 2003
I think for me it was going to a resturant and barely fitting in a booth.
I also was so tired of being ill all the time and feeling like I was 104
yrs old. I finally decided my life was too short not to enjoy it and I
wanted to enjoy my grandchildren.......so I did it and it is the best
decision I ever made for ME!
— Peggy B
June 26, 2003
I couldn't walk (wheelchair for quite a while). I couldn't participate in
family activities. Not only did my health & home life suffer, but my
weight was becoming a problem at my job. During my research phase I was
afraid that the surgery would zap my engery even more so I kept putting it
off. What made me change my mind was watching Al Roker ride his bicycle
through Manhattan on Thanksgiving Day. I told my husband right there -
"if he can do that after surgery, I am doing it." That same day
my mom and sister (both nurses) both called me at the same time to tell me
they wanted me to have the surgery-I didn't even tell them that I was
thinking about RNY. I love my family!
— M B.
June 26, 2003
What made me and my wife decide to have this surgery was
our doctor that we had been going to for 10 years. He sat
us down and told us that unless we did something very serious
about our weight that we would DIE!!!!!!!!!! He said that we
both would be dead within 4 years, both of us!!! He then
suggested that we both have the gastric by-pass surgery
that he said would save our lives. Well, at first we both
said no, we did not think that we wanted to change our
lives that drastically. He kept calling us at home and urging
us to at least go to a lecture on the subject. Well, we finally
said ok and we went. Listening to all of the info and hearing
stories from by-pass patients, WE CHANGED OUR MINDS!!!!!!!!!!!
My wife had her RNY in June of 2001 and has now lost 110 lbs,
I had mine in Oct. 2001 and have lost 215 lbs. We KNOW that
this surgery saved our lives. We will be forever grateful to
our doctor at KAISER (do you believe that!!) for talking us
into this procedure and extremely grateful to our surgeon, Dr.
Rumsey at Pacific Bariatric for his skill. We would not
hesitate to do it again. FROM: OLD RODEO CLOWN PANTS AND
HIS SIDEKICK, NANCY!!!!!
— OLD RODEO C.
June 26, 2003
Doug - how fortunate that you both had one of the Good doctors who cared!
— [Deactivated Member]
June 26, 2003
Developing sleep apnea and having to sleep with that mask (even my Mom made
fun of me!) put me over the top. I made one more diet attempt with
Meridia, and when that failed, I knew it was time.
— mom2jtx3
June 26, 2003
Both of my parents died at young ages. My father 25 years ago @ 44yrs old
and my mom almost 2 years ago @ 59yrs old. When Mother died I started
really looking at my health and realized that if I did not do something
drastic to change my life, I could very easily join them. And I turned 40
this year. Also, both of my mom's parents were diabetic and suffered
terribly with all the complications. Plus my husband is a diabetic and had
to have his right leg amputated. All of that really made me see that I had
no choice. Diets did not work and I could not exercise effectively at
477#. When I made up my mind to have the surgery, it was like a great
weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I had surgery on 02/04/03 and
have lost 100# so far. I still have a long way to go, but the improvements
so far have been unbelieveable. I am determined that this is going to work
for me. I have joined the YMCA and work out 3-4 times per week. Life is
getting fun, which is something it has not been for a very long time.
— Kimberly K.
June 26, 2003
It was three things for me. One, I realized that if my clothing size went
up one more size, I would be limited to catalogs only and would no longer
be able to shop in stores. Two, I didn't feel romantic with my husband
anymore because I was so ashamed of my appearance, and our togetherness is
suffering. And three, I love to camp, and the last camping trip we took I
did not enjoy myself at all. I couldn't hike, I had no energy, even just
the mundane tasks of setting up tents and collecting wood were like a
chore. I had a terrible time, and it made me so sad. That is when I
decided I couldn't go on any longer being this fat. It is beginning to
severely impede my lifestyle, health, and physical comfort -- there's no
way I'm going to change my mind! Come on August 11!!
— beeda
June 26, 2003
Well, for me, I was first introduced to the idea about 3 or 4 years ago.
My doctor suggested it to me as an option because I wasn't very sucessful
with phentermine. I was horrified at the thought that I was so fat that I
needed surgery (I was 300 at the time and gained another 40 since). I put
off the idea but something stuck in the back of my mind. Eventually, the
curiousity got to me and I started researching. I've been researching for
almost 3 years now. The thing that really kicked my butt into gear is that
last year my mother told me that she thinks my older brother might have
type II Diabetes. That really scared me and that's when I decided to do
this. Both my mother and my grandfather have diabetes already and I'm
surely on my way. I'm only 27, but I like my doctor believe it's best to
get this done now before I have major complications from being morbidly
obese. I decided a year ago to do this and I'm finally having my surgery
August 22nd.
— Morna B.
June 26, 2003
For me, it was when I realized, at age 46, my health was going down the
tubes. I was insulin resistant and on 4 pills every day for that, on
medicine to lower my cholesterol, and two meds to control my blood
pressure. I couldn't walk around the block without severe pain in my back.
I looked horrible in my clothes. I decided I had a choice: remain fat (and
probably get fatter and develop diabetes) and just get used to it, or look
into surgery. I didn't have it in me to do one more "diet". I
couldn't be happier with my decision to take a chance with surgery. I am
in better health than I have been for years and I am off most of my meds.
— koogy
June 26, 2003
This is such a good question... my Mom had a RNY about 3 1/2 years ago
& for some reason I was adamantly against it from the beginning. At
age 51, she was probably upwards of 400lbs, with mobility problems &
other health issues. I don't know the exact moment I came around to the
idea that this was the right thing not only for her, but for me as well.
Year after year I was dealing with new health issues releated to my weight
--PCOS, insulin resistance, joint problems, infertility... the list goes
on. I think it was the day I saw a photo of my Mom at my age (33) and I
just cried. I saw myself in that photograph and I knew if I didn't do
anything about my weight NOW, I'd end up just like her 20 years from now
and wishing I'd had the surgery back then. You can't convince me enough
that there isn't some genetic component to the inability to keep weight
off. My entire family is MO... I'm just taking control now and using a
surgical procedure to my advantage. I'm saving my life.
— Kelly T.
June 26, 2003
I had a friend who had WLS 8 years ago. I SWORE I'd never get so big that
I would have to have surgery. Right... Any way, my wake up call came when
my family took me to DisneyWorld for my b-day. I hadnt been in 17 years
and was sooo happy to be going again. But after just one day there, my feet
and legs swelled up so bad that I couldnt walk. (My sister has a pic of me
sitting on a bench with my shoes and socks off rubbing my poor
footies.Wasted 2 hours until I could walk again) Not to mention the SOB,
having to go back to the room for a nap, and the worry of "will I fit
on that ride?" When I saw the pics from that trip, I KNEW I had to do
something. I started research the week after we got home and I had surgery
10 months later. Cant wait to go back to DW and do it up right! ~Sidney~
Open RNY 10-23-02 down 100+ and counting
— Siddy I.
June 26, 2003
This is a great question. I finally decided to look into surgery after the
first of this year. This winter had been one of the worst on record, and I
have arthritis in my back and feet. I have woken up every single day this
past year since winter started with back, feet, and or knee pain. EVERY
DAY! I have had to start using a wheelchair more and more frequently when I
go somewhere that requires walking. I can't even walk down the block and
back anymore. Because of this lack of mobility, I realized that no matter
how hard I try to diet, I won't be able to be successful because I can't
exercise enough to get the weight off. I explained to my PCP that the pain
is getting worse, even with the arthritis medicine (without it I'm in
agony) and that I'm truly afraid that if I don't take control now, in a few
years I'm gonna end up totally wheelchair bound and/or insulin dependent,
like my grandma. I'm too young to feel this darned old! I'm just trying
to take it day by day until August 19th, 2003 comes and it will be my turn
on the operating table, God willing! Good luck to all wherevery you are in
your journeys!
— Moysa B.
June 26, 2003
Great question! I think my definitive moment of truth came when I realized
that I might not live to see 30 at the weight I am. Most people my age
think themselves indestructible, but that really brought home the fact that
I am just a frail human. That, plus the fact that my quality of life is
sorely lacking at my current weight. I can't go out without a wheelchair. I
can't wear cute and fun clothing. I can't work. I merely exist, and that is
no way for someone to live. Another added reason for my decision was the
fact that I come from a line of people with diabetes, stroke, heart disese,
and other diseses usually attributed to being MO. So, it was a whole
plethora of reasons for me to get this surgery. Now, I am 43 days away!
Have a gret day, everyone! *hugs*
— Lisa S.
June 26, 2003
great, rather. I am having a horrible time typing today! Lol
— Lisa S.
June 26, 2003
Wow, This is a really good question! I have a few things that finally made
my mind up. My health was getting worse, I was so scared that I was going
to be like my father, having 4 heart attacks and 2 open heart surgeries.
Then when I finally went to my PCP and saw how much I really weighed that
really made my mind up. Also seeing myself in a photo, I never had really
seen myself that big, it was almost scary when I started thinking about so
I knew I had to do something. Teena(RYN 4/8/03~down65#)
— Teena P.
June 26, 2003
I could probably list so many reasons that pushed me to make this decision,
but I think mainly it was health related. Even being overweight I had kept
moving and would lose 20 lbs then feel better gain it back feel bad then
lose again and feel better I even lost 37 lbs once, but gained it all back.
This year after losing 24 lbs I gained back 30 lbs and just could not get
back on track. All the ups and downs had taken its toll and I knew my
heart could not keep going this way either. I needed something to help me
finally get a handle on the weight loss and one that would keep me honest.
I think WLS is the answer and I am scheduled for July 24th!!!!!
— K H.
June 26, 2003
I have always been a big girl. About 7 or 8 years ago I decided to never
diet again because I knew that I always ended up larger than I started out.
At that time, I was still a big girl, but I wasn't uncomfortable socially
or physically, and decided I could live the rest of my life at the weight I
was. I was then diagnosed with type II diabetes, and was put on
medication. I was fairly well able to control the blood sugar then and so
wasn't so worried about it. However, I began slowly but steadily to gain
weight. Within a few years I had gained 50 pounds, and my diabetes was
getting more and more difficult to control. By then, I was also on high
blood pressure medication. I was so afraid of the horrible effects of
diabetes that I knew I had to take drastic measures. I had thought about
WLS many years ago but knew I wasn't ready to commit to the changes it
would require. It was only when my life was threatenened that I took it
seriously. No regrets.
— Vespa R.
June 26, 2003
I think I made my decision to have the WLS when, just like you, I couldnt
fit into size 26/28 jeans anymore. I probably was more like a 30 or 32 in
jeans but didnt want to admit it. Also, just walking even short distances
I was out of breath and my back would kill me. I actually started
considering it a few years ago but didnt have it until last January because
of insurance reasons. I am now 5 months postop and down 86 lbs ( was 294,
now 208 ). I do not regret having this done for one minute. It is the
best decision I have ever made.
— Kris T.
June 26, 2003
There were a few things that made me finanly deceide to have WLS, my family
health history, the fact that I wanted to be in a relationship, but the
main thing that pushed me over was when my 10 year-old son got into a fight
with a kid because the kid had said his mom was fat! I do not want my
children to go through the teasing that I went through as a child, and they
are normal size. Kids are so cruel. Thanks for asking this question.
— Marcy S.
June 26, 2003
For me, the deciding factor was...my grandfather. I didn't do it for him,
though, I did this for me. I didn't go anywhere, I stayed home all the
time because I was ashamed of myself and the way I looked - I weighed
almost 320lbs. People who knew me never thought that though, because I
always hid my feelings with humor. But it wasn't to the point where I was
ready to do something about it. I had kinda looked into WLS, just as a
curiousity, but never thought about doing it. Then just before Christmas
2000, my grandfather, who was MO all his life and had had diabetes and
congestive heart failure (because of his weight) became ill, and then spent
the next 6 weeks in the hospital, suffering, his organs shutting down one
by one, until he died from complications of the 2 prominent diseases. I
found out that same week that I was borderline..that did it..after watching
him go through what he did, I decided that was not for me, and I knew that
the only way I could control my weight was to have WLS. Here we are 2
years later, and I'm a healthy happy 153lbs. I have PCOS (I didn't know
about it at the time) and I have to take Metformin to help with insulin
resistance, but it's a very low dosage as the WLS corrected that as much as
it could be, too. Great question! Denise
— lily1968
June 26, 2003
Last spring, I was picking up my packet to walk in the Indianapolis Mini
Marathon for the second year. Of course, many folks who participate in the
Mini are skinny runners with perfect bodies. One of them saw me waddling
through the packet pickup area and turned to his friend and said "Is
there a McDonald's around here?" It was very obviously directed at me
and the humiliation was agonizing--kept me from even enjoying the
accomplishment of completing the Mini (13 miles) the next day. Shortly
after that I decided that I am going to RUN it someday for all the fat
girls, and knew the surgery was the only way I would get to that goal.
— gamboge
June 26, 2003
I am the poster of the question, but I thought I would add in a few other
reasons. My aunt passed away in December weighing about 500 pounds. She
was miserable, and I am made just like her. I am afraid to end up like she
did. Most of the rest of my family is MO as well, and are sort of
ridiculing me for wanting to have this surgery...but, I don't care. My
ankles, heels and knees hurt so bad all of the time. I have constant
migraines. I am just SO TIRED. TIRED of not getting enough sleep, TIRED
of being fat, TIRED of getting MAD every morning when I am trying to find
something to wear, TIRED of being TIRED. Thanks for all of the support.
Everyone at this site is so supportive and knowledgable. I am grateful to
each and every one of you!
— BeckyT
June 26, 2003
I feel like my life and my health gave me a "choice" of
surgeries! Do I want WLS or do I want KNEE REPLACEMENTS? Which would you
pick? I picked WLS. My "diets" never last long and I need to
lose weight and keep it off for the rest of my life... and I still might
have to have new knees because I think the damage is already done. I can't
even begin to tell you the pain I have been in. It use to be only pain
during the winter when the weather was SUPER BAD and now the pain is there
all year round... even when the sun is shining. I HAVE TO HAVE this change
in my life! I have to! God Bless you in your Journey!
— Eleanore Davis
June 26, 2003
I couldn't procreate!
— Karen R.
June 26, 2003
I was given less than six months to live... that was two years ago... I am
a 18mth post op!
— Sharon M. B.
June 26, 2003
For me it was just being tired of being sick and tired all the time. The
being out of breath walking up a short hill or staircase, having to rest
during shopping cause of my ankles hurting, etc. I'm only 38 (36 at the
time of surgery) and way to young to have this happen! Also, on a vacation
we had at an amusement park, I couldn't fit on a ride and had to get off in
front of everybody. I was mortified to say the least. I knew then that I
had to do something since I was already dieting and exercising for a couple
of months and hadn't lost more than 5lbs in that time. I broached the
subject with my husband and he said that he wanted me healthy and happy and
that I should do what I needed to do (as long as insurance covered it).
What a guy!
— Kris T.
June 26, 2003
Ok, this may sound totally ridiculous, but the moment I realized I'd never
be able to ride rollercoasters with my daughter, I called the surgeon. The
times I look back on and LOVE were all at amusement parks with family and
friends, and I didn't want my daughter to not live those moments, too!
— ladyphy
June 26, 2003
After spending the past 14 years trying to lose weight (and sometimes quite
successfully, only to gain it back), I finally gave up on my 34th birthday.
i was so tired of all the dieting, all the self-beatings, all the misery,
and all the hard work only to lose a measly five or six pounds. I literally
gave up - resigned myself to being fat for the rest of my life. i was
searching the internet for bmi charts and found the AMOS website. I had, of
course, heard about the surgery, but had never really considered it for
myself. However, upon the realization that *I* was morbidly obese and wls
was actually an option for me, i realized -- I DIDN'T HAVE TO GIVE UP! I
have never looked back since the day i stumbled on the AMOS website, and i
my surgery is in 11 days! Thanks for asking the question, and thanks to
everyone for sharing.
— sweetmana
June 26, 2003
Years ago, I thought of "stomach stapling" as only for those
people who were so large they needed cranes to get out of their houses.
When Carney Wilson went public with her surgery, it was the first I had
ever heard of RNY, but I thought you had to be "insane" to do
that to yourself. But for some reason, I kept that issue of "People
Magazine" for over a year. It was only after I was starting to gain
the weight back I had lost after my marriage ended, had no idea why I had
lost it in the first place, let alone, was regaining it, combined with a
co-worker's comment that she couldn't understand why I was so heavy since I
ate less than her (she was one of those people who eat tons and tons of
food and don't gain an ounce)that I started to research this RNY
"thing". It was reading about all the co-morbidities that
develope as a result of obesity, co-morbidities that I didn't have, but
realized, would eventually developed, that scared me enough to have the
surgery. I had the surgery as "preventative" medicine.
— Cyndie K.
June 27, 2003
I had been kicking around the WLS idea for awhile but the final
kick I needed was when the kids on the school bus would call
me "water buffalo" when I would wait outside to meet my kids get
off the
bus. I refused to have my children be embarassed of me.
— Marcy M.
June 27, 2003
— aprilbaree
June 27, 2003
I think this is an awesome question, and I simply can't wait to read
everyone's answers to it. For me, it was a combination of things. I was
having problems with ovarian cysts and a very cruel doctor began berating
(understatement) me for my obesity, saying that my cysts would never get
better and that I didn't need medication so much as a gastric bypass. My
feelings were so hurt (I cried all the way home . . . ), but until then I'd
always thought that wls was for people who were somehow "bigger than
me" or "worse off" than me healthwise(I weighed in at ~277
then). Certainly, I'd always been upset about my weight, and wished I was
thinner, but I was shocked that someone considered *ME* big enough for wls.
I'd always thought I took good care of myself, regardless of my size.
Next, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Not just a little high,
but high enough to scare me into thinking that I might not see my then 1-
and 3-year-old kiddos grow up. Finally, my dh and I bought 10 acres to
build our "dream" (to us) house on. It's rolling, beautiful
land, covered with trees and hills. And I was so big I couldn't hike
around it, couldn't lug my bulk up the hills. Those three things happened
within about a month of each other, and I started to realize that my weight
WAS affecting me negatively and that I could no longer convince myself that
I was a "healthy" fat girl. I was scared of leaving my dh &
my kids, tired of being too embarrassed or unable to do certain activities
(such as take my kids to the pool), frustrated that the pain from my back
& my cysts just wouldn't go away, and I was bummed that I wasn't able
to enjoy the site of our future home, where we plan to live out our days.
I went into a bit of depression, and then I remembered the doc's advice
about wls. Then I stumbled upon the OH site, and things just snowballed
from there. I'm so thankful for the information this site provides,
without the support and encouragement, I don't think I would've ever have
had the strength to make the decision to have wls. My only regret is that
I didn't do it sooner!
— Laurie A.
June 27, 2003
I made the decision when I lost the feeling on the outside of my right leg
and walking became such a chore. I was terrified I'd lose the ability to
walk and become a burden to my spouse. It took 8 months to fight to
approval and scheduling, but it was worth it. I'm now 10 1/2 months
post-op and down 150 pounds since the surgery plus 41 more that I lose
while waiting. I've got the feeling back in my leg and can walk with no
problems any more. My allergies are inconsequential any more, no asthma
problems and I have normal blood pressure again. I'd do it in a heartbeat
again!
— Cathy S.
June 27, 2003
Leading me to think about it was the weight and sheer exhaustion of not
being able to get it off on my own. My health was deteriorating, and I was
too young (28) to be facing a stroke. The straw that really broke the
camel's back? My youngest son. He had just turned 2, I took him and my
eight year old to the barbar for haircuts. My baby boy jolted out of his
chair, out the door, across the parking lot and ACROSS the street. A car
stopped in the middle of the road, and he went across into another parking
lot. I saw the car stopping as my fat butt was finally gracing the door. I
yelled at my oldest for not stopping him (because in my obesity, I relied
on him to parent). I cried all the way home (heck, I'm crying again now!).
How could I go home and tell my husband "our baby is dead because I'm
fat". Parenting is not a spectator sport. Now? At 170 pounds I'm
almost half what I weighed before and can catch that little bugger! And can
play with both of them. *I* can be the parent, and an involved one at that.
I've never looked back, I've never had any regrets.
— Mendi M.
June 27, 2003
I wasn't "all that big" at 230 pounds and 5'1" but that last
10 pounds I had gained had a profound effect on my health. I was sick all
the time that year. I caught EVERYTHING including a viral eye infection and
hand, foot, & mouth disease. I was so tired of being sick and tired. It
seemed that I barely got over one thing only to catch something else. The
absolute turning point came for me when I got a stomach flu and couldn't
eat for a week. I had told myself I'd be okay if I just didn't GAIN any
weight so had held my weight steady for a couple of years. Well, when I
couldn't eat it was just like "dieting" and when I went back to
eating I GAINED WEIGHT. I realized then that it didn't matter what I did, I
was just going to get bigger and bigger. And with the amount of health
problems I was experiencing, my body was like a car just before the
warranty runs out . . . I was headed for major problems ahead!<p>I
had heard about WLS several years before and remembered the name of the
place that advertised on the radio. I decided to give them a call and look
into it. The rest is history. I made the decision to have WLS in January of
2001 and had my surgery 5/10/2001. I am now a happy and healthy 130 pounds.
I gained an inch in height, too! (I guess all that extra weight was
squashing my spinal cord LOL) I have gone to a lot of amusement parks this
summer and it always strikes me all the MO people that are walking around
with looks of sheer determination and/or outright pain. I can go all day
and be ready for more the next day. I hope I never lose that perspective. I
want to always be grateful for what I have and always remember what it was
like to be MO.
— ctyst
June 27, 2003
When my mother came to visit back at Christmas following the birth of my
nephew. I looked at her and it hit me! That is going to be me at 56 if I
don't do something now! That was when I started looking into it. I am 4
days post-op now...and feeling really good, not just physically but also
feelign really good about my decision.
— Sarah S.
June 27, 2003
A few reasons: 1. I am now way past the point I could lose the weight on my
own (345 lbs), 2. I am not involved in the life of my family anymore, I
can't travel, walk etc. 3. I want to join a fairly exclusive club (male WLS
patients), 4. I am thinking of posing for Playgirl... ;)
— Tim W.
June 27, 2003
It was when I realized that I was 35 and could no longer use a
"normal" restroom. I needed the handicapped stall b/c I need to
hold on the bars and the "normal" ones were so small I had a hard
time getting out of them once I was in. My father has had several
bypasses, heart attacks, mini-strokes and diabetes. His is only 64 but he
is such poor health that he can no longer take care of himself. I looked
at him and realized that I wouldn't even make it to 40 before I was in the
same boat if I didn't lose weight.
— kararuck
June 29, 2003
I remember hearing about gastric bypass years ago, and wishing it were
within my realm of possibility, but the nearest surgeon that I was aware of
was in FL (I'm in OH), so I chalked it up to one more thing this poor fat
girl would never get. Life went on, I dieted, I lost, I gained. Last year
the secretary at work had the surgery, and the entire building watched with
interest as she shrank and shrank. For some reason, it didn't occur to me
that wls had become within my realm of possibility. Maybe I didn't dare
hope. Last fall, she came up to me and said that she hoped I wouldn't be
offended, but she just had to share, and gave me a 60% off coupon for a
consultation with a BTC surgeon. She told me our insurance covers it, and
showed me her scar. That opened the door. I still wasn't convinced I'd go
so far as a life-altering surgery, though. It wasn't until I realized that
my work performance was suffering, and my child felt neglected, that I
kicked into gear. I'm a teacher, and I couldn't do ANY of the walking
field trips with my students last year. And I began listening to how many
times I told my own child that no, I couldn't go do *whatever* with him
right now. He finally stopped asking. I'm 4'10", and when I nearly
reached 300 lbs and realized I was just existing, not living, I decided
that was no good - it was time to do something drastic. And so I got the
ball rolling by doing the consultation. I'm now 3 post-op and don't really
see any true differences yet, but I believe they will come. I'm looking
forward to living and enjoying life. I couldn't even have that hope if
were not for surgery.
— Dragon G.
June 29, 2003
In case you were wondering "3 what??", that would be 3 weeks
post-op, lol.
— Dragon G.
July 1, 2003
I think what made me decide was that I can feel myself getting bigger &
bigger. I've been heavy all my life and would like a chance to be healthy.
Now I am a type 2 diabetic and have been on insulin for 6yrs now. I am
tired of shots, and pain in my joints, feet, back you name it. And not only
am I cheating myself out of a healthy relationship with myself, but I'm
cheating my kids also. They are young 5&6 and always want me to play
with them, but I'm too tired all the time. And I also realize now that I
need to teach them healthy habits as well so they don't go through the same
thing I did. All the diets out there haven't worked, so I need to do
something drastic. Because in a nutshell I AM SICK & TIRED OF BEING
SICK & TIRED. Everything else hasn't worked & I need to take care
of me.:)
— vllgmz4
Click Here to Return