Deirdre L.

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I have been overweight for most of my life. I believe I started packing on the pounds around the age of 13 years old. I am an emotional eater. I associate everything with food. It has been a long road to finding happiness with myself. I decided that I needed to like myself before I could do anything about weightless. Traveling down this road was very difficult and painful. But in the end I did learn that I do like who I am - I chose surgery not to like me more, but because I did not want to suffer the health effects of being overweight.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

The worst thing for me is the embrassement and not being able to all the things with my family that I want to do.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

Walking and standing with no back pain. I am even running. My energy level is through the roof. I am a cheerleading coach for my daughters cheerleading squad and with my new energy level we are having so much fun!!!! I can tie my shoes and sit in a booth. Life is good!!!

How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

I was watching TV one night and Primetime or Dateline did a special on the surgery. And of course I heard about Carnie Wilson. I was exetremely interested in the surgery. It was my husband who had concerns because of the risk. I was going to have the surgery regardless of the risk becuase I knew the risk I was facing if I did not have the surgery. They risks for each were the same - death.

What was your stay in the hospital like? How long where you there? What things are most important to bring?

My stay in the hospital was great - as hospitals go. The staff and accomdations were the best I had ever seen for overweight people. I was in the hospital for 3 days. Dr. O wanted to send me home the day after surgery, but my husband felt that I should stay at least one more day - just in case.

Did you have any complications from the surgery? If so, how did you deal with them?

I had no complications from the surgery.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

I had very little time to develop alot of anxiety. I was told my surgery had been approved by my insurance company on a Friday and 1 week later I was having the surgery.

What aftercare support group/program do you have? How helpful/important is this?

My family was my support group for after surgery. This was extremely helpful. My husband did an awesome job taking care of me after surgery. The things he did for me to help me through I would have never thought possible. It was wonderful to have his support at that level.

What is your scar like? Is this what you expected?

My scar is alot bigger than I expected. My scar is my miracle. It is a reminder of how the true me is escaping from behind the "fat wall".

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am a little over 3 months post-op and have not experienced any plateaus at this point.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, everyone keeps telling me how proud they are of me. I believe that my interactions w/ people are so different now because I am so completely different. I am so happy now - I feel like having the surgery has lifted a big weight off my shoulders. My happiness is shinning through which reflects in my relationships with other people.
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