dwhit54

Obesity & Me

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

I have been battling it to some degree since teen-age years. I have lost and gained a few hundred pounds over the year. Like a lot of others, I would be real good for a little while, but then one day I would "cheat" and then continue to blow it for the rest of the day thinking I had blown it anyway - I'll start again tommorrow. Problem, it was a long time before tomorrow came and in almost every case I ended up gaining more than I had lost. I tend to think of myself as weak for not being able to manage the weight. I quit smoking and I quit drinking, but I can't quit eating. I know it is self-destructive and that I continue to shorten my life but still I go on. I have tried so many diets and have failed that I finally got to the point of giving up. There is just too much weight to lose and it comes off to slowly and I always give up. It certainly affects my self-esteem. I am always consciouse of it. I am getting ready to take a business trip by plane and already dreading it because I have to suffer the embarassment of asking for a seat belt extension because the belts will no longer go around me.

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

Low self-esteem Embarassment Not being able to do the things I want to such as going to amusement parks, playing games with my grandchildren Not being able to find attractive clothes and not feeling attractive in anything I do buy. There is nothing good about being obese.

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

Have not lost that much so far, but enough can now at least pull my feet up to me to get my socks on. That is progress.

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

I've known about it for years and initally thought it was ridiculous. I knew someone years ago that had the stomach stapling who had very severe complications and it pretty well turned me off and I wasn't that fat yet and would "never" let myself get that bad. Well....I have learned never to say never. I have read things on it periodically and I don't know when I began to think about it seriously. About one year ago my PCP referred me to a surgeon, but when I found out I would have to go to Dallas to seminar before I could even have an appointment, I blew it off. I wasn't ready to go to any lengths yet. I am closer to being at that point now, but we are changing insurance companies from Cigna to United Health Care in January so am just waiting for the change before I begin the process.

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 good. I was there for 2 days. I was getting ready to be released the day after surgery, but ended up getting very dizzy and nauseated so they kept me an extra day. Probably the most important things to bring are you personal hygiene items, a robe and slippers. I really didn't use anything else.

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

No, I am only 3 and 1/2 weeks out, but no complications so far. I thought I was having some for a little while, but found out that severe pain on the left side that feels like tearing is perfectly normal and that I did not do anything wrong to tear something lose! The surgery itself was really not bad at all.

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 really have not had any anxiety. The first couple of weeks were a little hard only having liquids, but I really didn't feel overly hungry, I felt a little tired and sore. I was excited as I saw the weight just melting away, then a little disappoined when it just stopped at about 3 weeks for about 8-10 days. But I was encouraged to hang in there that inches were being lost and the body had to adjust to it's new stomach. So I look forward to the scales beginning to move again. Can't really give a fair picture because I came down with a respiratory infection that is pulling me down and have not yet had the benefit of the renewed energy, etc. I have signed up for a fitness center and am very anxious to begin my exercise program but have to wait until I can breathe again.

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

I have 5 little scars as I had the lap rny. Most of them are healing well so far and the biggest one is really looking good.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have already hit a plateau at 3 weeks. I have not lost but a couple of pounds in the last 8-9 days and the scale just keeps going up or down by a couple of pounds everyday. Everyone says to hang in there, the body is going through adjustment and inches are melting. I can tell the difference in some of my clothes so that helps. Plus I know I have been sick and also having to take a round of steroids to get over this and go back on my insulin temporarily. I know all of this does not help.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No,not really, but the weight is not yet noticeable. Will update more as time progresses.
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