Lesley S.

Obesity & Me

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

Before i learned anout the surgery i was a very sad person .I for one was in a bad relationship it was terrible .I was so unhappy with how i was liveing and where i was liveing and who i was liveing with.Me and the guy was never married but i sometimes used his ;ast name so everyone called us common law married we where together for 6yrs i had a son by him also his name is Johnathan A. and now at this time he is 6yrs old.I also have a daughter that i had before i ever meet this guy she was just a new born when me and him hooked up so he was her step father and well at the time only father she ever new.Well he was very mean to us.At first evrything was peches and cream until i got preg,with his son.He hit me a few times he was very abuseive by saying horrible horible things to me calling me name and putting me down he even was doing it to my daughter also the name calling and yelling and gripping at us costantley he was a very unhappy man very insecure with him self.I would cook and clean and have his clean clothes done and evrything and it never matter i acted as if i was his wife .See when he meet me i was 18 just turned 18 to a few months after my baby was born i meet him i weighed about 260 then.But after i had my baby i never lost that weight i kepp gaining and gainging.Few yrs past there i was weighting in at 350.I keep blowing up like a balloon.Then when my daughter was 4 yrs old i got preg,with my son Johnathan i really started haveing problems then i was so big i couldnt breath at night i would actully stop breathing in the middle of the night.I hurt all the time my back my legs joints could walk very far at all without almost crocking over.Well i was in and out of the hostpital when i was preg,couse i was haveing pains in my tummy like contracions and i had mussle cramps in my tummy and hurt like hell all my preg,at night it was so bad to where i had to sleep with 4 pillows behind my back with me setting up almast in the bed at night couse coulnt breath.Well anyways after i had him he was 9 pounds and 6 oz by c-sec.I was in soooooo much pain after haveing him couse my belly was so big i was really big i was at 400 pounds then i think.Well anyway life was so bad my love life was so mest up i felt like he didnt love me the only thing that ever made him happy was MONEY and me allways doing for him.I treated him like a F---ing King but he treated me like the Sh-- on the bottom of his shoes.I felt so worthless i felt so unwanted so ugly and i hated my self low low morels about my self couse he didnt care about me for so long i grew num and cold, i really wanted to just not exsist any more.But one day i was setting on the couch eating and crying feeling real bad and a preview of the Gastric Bypass story came on and it had a phone # SO I jumped up and wrote it down and called and asked what i needed to do to find out more and they said come in and see a doctor for a concletion and said it would be 80$ a vist.So then i was thinking oh my god what now i dont have that kind of money couse we where very unwell off low income .And i just knew he wouldnt give me the money couse he never would ever give me money unless it was to get him something or pay bill and he allways wanted proof of how much change he was getting back i all ways wore cloths with rips and holes all in them everything was old and just not good to wear.But he aways would but him new pants shorts and it was name brand honny let me tell ya he would wear cheap cloths new shoes hats nikes and tommys hilf,clothes allkinds.So see i knew i wasnt going to get the money from him so i took chance on calling my mom to get the money and me and my family havent allways been close at all so i never really got to see them much and plus they hated the guy i was with and now looking back i can see why only if i could had seen it then but then i would had had my son and i dont regreat him at all just who i had him with is who i regreat.But see i thought i truely loved him and i thought that the way i was beeing treated was the only way to live .BUT I WAS WRONG!I JUST SETTLED FOR THAT COUSE I WAS SO OBESIST.But anyway got the money my mom took me to Wyle Tx To SEE DR.Leverton AND I KNEW THAT SURGERY WAS MY ONLY HOPE OF ME SEEING THE AGE 30.So i went home told my at the time common law whatever he was that i wanted that surgery .And u know what he said ? Well just guess. HE SAID NO!That he wasnt going to pay for no 60,000 dollor surgery for me when all i need to do is get on a diet and loose the weight that way.Yep Thats what he said.He was so cold and hurtful to me it made me so mad and HURT ME THAT I WASNT GOING TO LET HIM STAND IN MY WAY I WANTED THAT SURGERY SO I CALLED HIS WORK AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE INSURANCE PLAIN AND FROM THAT POINT ON OUT I DONE WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET THE SURGERY.Then when he seen i wasnt going to back down from getting something that i wanted for a change he changed his additude but it wasnt until i got my last test done on me THE SLEEP STUDY.That night when he was droping me off at the sleep study office he said to me he wanted me to get it BUT I OWE HIM MY LIFE BECOUSE HE WILL BE SAVEING MY LIFE HE SAID TO MA AS I WAS GETTING OUT TO GO IN. See i knew if i didnt do something about my weight soon then i wasnt going to see my kids grow up i would die.So it was my prim focus.It took me 1 yr to get a sugery date and then it happoned i got the letter im appoverd.I called them got my date for sugery and my date for pre -op blood work to be done and i was on my way. I have allways been over weight all of my life so when i found out i was appoved i was so happy i lost 33 pounds on my on i weighed 435 pounds and i lost 33 so the day of my surgry i weighted in at 402.

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

My health afraid of dieing becouse i was so so over weight.I was 435 pounds and at that time i had 2 little kids and i would cry all the time becouse i didnt know what to do with my self.

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

crossing my legs and just other things like that WE WANT GET IN TO ALL THE OTHER THINGS LOL

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

Well one day i was setting on the couch in front of the tv crying and i was so hurt and deprssed that i just was numm from life and its crule ways.I prayed to god to please please help me and to please show me the right path to take in life to please help me and i was so heart broken and i was hope less and alone.I seen a advertisment about Bariatric treatment center free vidio and info on sergery it gave a 1-800 # so i called and had it mailed to me and i watch it when i got it and i just knew that god had heared my prayer and i felt a seince of peace and i just knew that ,thats what i was going to do is get the RNY-GASSTRIC BYPASS.So i went to a cosl,with a doctor and i was on my way working toward geting my date set up.....

Describe your experience with getting insurance approval for surgery. What advice, if any, do you have for other people in this stage?

Well its a long road but well worth it i can say.My experience with getting insurance approval was after seeing the Surgen Dr.Leverton i called up his work where he had his insurance and i asked them about the surgery and would it cover the surgery got the insurance card mailed of and got my list of things i need to get done in order to see if i was healthey anuff to even have the sugery.It took 1 yr and in that yr is when i was getting all my test done.AND MY ADVICE IS HANG IN THERE DONT GIVE UP THINGS WILL WORK OUT .Keep trying even if you get a letter back saying NOT APPROVED YOU TRY AGAIN AND KEEP TRYING .

What was your first visit with your surgeon like? How can people get the most out of this meeting?

My first vist with Dr.Leverton was nice.She was very nice and explained everything really well and answered all mine and my moms ????"s she was very helpful and kind.And to you ones who want the surgery to when you go meet your surgern ask pleanty of??????????"s Take notes and ask about COUNCELING BEFORE YOU GET SURGERY BEACOUSE THE SURGERY ONLY FIXES OUR STOMACH NOT OUR BRAIN OR OUR THINKING HABITS GO THOU SOME KIND OF COUSELING PLEASE I SO WISH I COULD HAD DONE IT.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I KNEW FROM THE VERY BEGAINING THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE IT DONE THERE WAS NO IF & AN"S ABOUT IT I MEAN YEAH I WAS SCARED OF GOING UNDER THE NIFE BEACOUSE I HAD ALLREADY HAD SO MANY OTHER ADADOMAL SURGERYS DONE BRFORE THAT ONE AND I WAS AFFAID OF DIEING. But I KNEW IF I DIDNT HAVE IT I WAS GOING TO DIE ANYWAYS FROM BEING SO UNHEALTHEY AND SO OVERWEIGHT.HEART ATTACK OR STROKE MY FATHER DIED OF A STROKE IN 1992 HE WAS OVERWEIGHT ALSO MY WHOLE FAMILY IS OVERWEIGHT .

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Well when i watched the type on the surgry the RNY OPEN GASTRIC BYPASS I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE ONE WAY TO GO Plus my sister done alot od reasech on it.

What fears did you have about having complications or even dying from from the surgery, and what would you tell other people having the same fears now?

Fear was dieing on the table under the knife.Feared i would never see my kids ever again.But i just KNEW THAT THE SURGERY WAS MY TO HELP MY SELF LIVE.I WAS WILLING TO TAKE THAT CHANCE I JUST GAVE IT OVER TO GOD....

How did your family and friends react to your decision? Would you have communicated anything differently if you could now? How supportive were they after your surgery?

THEY WHERE HAPPY WITH IT BEACOUSE WHEN EVER I DID SEE MY FAMILY WITCH WASNT MUCH BUT WHEN I DID THEY WOULD BE ON ME ABOUT LOSEING WEIGHT ALL THE TIME JUST MADE ME FEEL EVEN WORSE IS ALL THEY DID..

How did your employer/supervisor react to your decision? What did you tell him/her? How long were you out of work?

I didnt work then i was a stay home Mom...full time

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

When i woke up from surgery boy i felt like i had been ran over.I didnt have any family there with me when i woke up but i was so out of it that even if they where there i wouldnt had known it .But everyone that worked there was so kind and loveing they took care of all my needs and pampered me.I was in there for about 3 or 4 days im trying to remember well it was something like that .They want let you leave until you BOO BOO LOL....

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

Well When i went home i stayed with my sister for 2 weeks then i had to go home to hell.See he didnt even drive me there to Wyle Tx for my surgery he said he had to work and make money.So i had to pay my cousins wife to take me.And then she left after they checked me in.So i was all alone but hey i keep it together and i was scared dont get me wrong but i was doing it so i was also happy at the same time.Well after i went back to my house after staying with my sister for 2 weeks i was up doing everything AND WHEN I SAY EVERYTHING I MEAN COOKING,DRIVEING,CAREING HEAVEY LAUNDRY BASKETS OF CLOTHES AND WASHING AND DRYING AND FOLDING AND CHANGEING DIPERS AND TENDING TO KIDS BOTH OF THEM CAREING MY SON AROUND CAREING HEAVY THINGS VACCUMING DUSTING REACHING HIGH AND LOW BENDING ALL OF IT AND YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY?WELL ITS BEACOUSE WHEN I GOT HOME MY SUPOSE TO BE COMMONLAW HUSBAND DIDNT LIFT A FINGER TO HELP ME I HAD TO STRUGLE TO GET UP OUT OF MY BED AND EVERYTHING AND OH MY GOD WAS I IN PAIN YOU KNOW HE YELLED AND BITC-ED ME OUT AND SAID I OWE HIM EVERYTHING BECOUSE HE SAVED MY LIFE AND I SHOULD WORSHIP THE GROUND HE WALKS ON ....CAN U BELEAVE THAT HE REALLY PROVED TO ME HE REALLY DIDNT LOVE ME LIKE HE SAID HE DID I WAS SO HURT BUT IT MEADE ME STRONGER AND STRONGER THE MORE HE DISHED OUT THE MORE I GREW MENTALLY STRONGER HE MADE ME HATE HIM BEACOUSE OF THE WAY HE DONE ME .WELL ANYWAY MY BELLY BUSTED OPEN 1 1/2 INCHS LONG AND 1 1/2 DEEP AND 1 INCH WIDE IT WAS HORRIBLE OMG IT HURT SO BAD IT BLEED AND DRAINED U COULD ACTULLY SEE THE STICHES IN MY BELLY WAY DOWN IN THERE SO SEE WHAT I GOT DUE TO TRY TO KEEP MY HOUSE HOLD A FLOAT WELL I HAD TO GO BACK TO WYLE AND SEE DOCTOR SHE TOLD ME GET ON TABLE IT WAS SETTING UPWARD AND THEN SHE TOOK A SCALPEL AND CUT MY STICHES YOU KNOW THE ONES I TOLD YOU THAT I COULD SEE WAY DOWN IN MY BELLY YEAH THOSE YEP SHE CUT THEM AND SHE SAID TO START PACKING THE HOLE WITH GALLS TO KEEP THEM CLEAN AND BANGE THE OUT SIDE PART OF THE OPENING AND I WENT HOME AND OH YEAH SHE JUMPED MY BUTT ABOUT DOING ALL THAT I WAS DOING AND I CRYED AND BROKE DOWN IN HER OFFICE AND SHE WAS REALLY UP SET THAT I DIDNT HAVE ANYONE TO HELP ME AT HOME. bUT NOTHING CHANGED I WENT HOME KEEP DOING IT ALL COUSE SOMEONE HAD TO AND IT WASNT GOING TO BE HIM.YEP IT WAS A BAD OPEN incicion .

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 was excided but scared i just prayed that every thing would go really well I WAS SO HAPPY THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE THE SURGERY THAT I LOST 33 POUNDS ON MY OWN.

Describe your first few weeks home from the hospital. What should people expect from this period?

I was with my sister for 2 weeks and she was wonderful she help me so much she was there for me .What to expect hhmmmm feeling sleepy and hurting alot dont really want to move and you really get tired of doing the breathing lessons the thing u know you have to blow in or is suck in air heck i cant remember one of the 2 anyways but PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE THAT WILL BE THERE FOR THE MOST OF THE TIME HELPING YOU .YOU REALLY DONT WANT TO HAVE YOUR BELLY POP OPEN TRUST ME BE CAREFUL DO WHAT YOUR TOLD ITS FOR THE BEST....

How far did you travel to have your surgery? (If far, how did this affect your aftercare?)

To Wylie Tx From Longview Tx Was about 21/2 hr drive almost 3 hrs

Please describe in detail what things you could and couldn't eat in the weeks and months following surgery. What foods have been off limits? Please explain how your dietary tolerance changed week-by-week, and then month-by-month since surgery.

I WAS BAD I EAT FOOD BEFORE IT WAS MY TIME AND IT WAS BAD HABBITS GONE WRONG LOL IM BAD I KNOW AND I WAS SICK TO DUMPING UUUHHHHHH please follow your orders

What was your actvity level in the days and weeks after surgery?

I WAS DOING EVERYTHING I WASNT SUPOSE TO BE DOING WHITCH WAS VERY WRONG,,,PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE TO HELP U AFTER SURGRY I DIDNT AFTER THEM FIRST 2 WEEKS

What vitamins and/or dietary supplements have you taken since your surgery?

SMALL ONES AND CHEWED MY TUMMS

What side effects (nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbace, dumping, hair loss etc.) were worse for you? For how long after surgery did they persist? How did you cope with them?

I HAD SIDE EFFECT LIKE HAIR LOSS LIKE A MONTH ARE SO AFTER SURGERY AND I HAD SLEEPING PROBLEMS AFTER I HAD MU SURGERY COUSE I JUST COULDNT LAY IN THE BED LIKE I WANTED .AND OH YES DONT FORGET THE DUMPING FROM ME EATING AND DRINKING WRONG THINGS IT WAS VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH BUT I KNEW THINGS WOULD GET BETTER GIVE IT TIME....

What was the worst part about the entire bariatric surgery process?

my belly opening up.........

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

I didnt have anyone or any support group.But it is very inportant i belive.I could had really used it.But see after i started loseing the weight and i started likeing my self and i was so fed up with him and his shi-.So i found my on surport on the internet i meet a few men had a blast and some may say im wrong but let me say you was walking in my shoes and until you do then you will understand why i did what i did.I found someone who made me feel ALIVE AGAIN SOMEONE WHO WANTED ME AND DESIRED ME,I FELT SPECIAL AND LOVED AND CARED ABOUT AND OH YEAH CANT LEAVE THE SEX OUT LOL AND LET ME SAY IT WAS WELL ANYWAY LET ME SHUT UP IM MARRIED NOW AND I DONT NEED TO ME THINKING OF THE PAST NOT IN THAT WAY ANYWAYS.THIS SURGERY GAVE MY LIFE BACK TO ME I WAS BLOOSSEMING IN TO A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN THAT HAS ALLWAYS BEEN THERE BUT I WAS SO BEATEN DOWN MENTALLY AND EMONANALLY I DIDNT SEE MY SELF UNTIL ONE DAY I WOKE UP AND KNEW I WANTED OUT OF THAT HELL I WAS IN I DESERVED BETTER AND I DID....SO I MADE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.......AND LEFT HIM.......

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

IT HORRIBLE ITS ONLY LIKE THAT BEACOUSE OF IT OPENING UP.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

This last yr i have been stuck at my weight .

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

OH YEAH
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