Stacey-in-Syracuse

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Obesity & Me

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

I have been an overweight most of my life. I know when it started, and i can track it in pictures. When I was 5-6 years old, I was molested, and that's when I started gaining the weight. I have literally been on every diet plan and fad that is available, some safe, others not so much. I never thought I would ever consider bariatric surgery because I thought I would just find a way to cheat by eating jelly beans or sour balls (my favorite!), instead of healthy foods. I thought that surgery was "cheating", that I new how to lose weight without it. I was wrong.

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

Pain. I have Degenerative Osteoarthritis in both hips, and arthritis in my lower back and neck. I tried hip injections for the first time in December of 2012 and it was amazing!! Instantly numb, the pain was gone, I felt new! They lasted 6 months. I got another set of injections, but nothing. I was told that I would have to have bilateral hip replacements at 49 years of age! The only way to stave off the surgery was to have the weight loss surgery, so that made my choice completely different, any my insurance would cover it since it was a much cheaper alternative. I have hidden behind my weight my entire life. It prevented unwanted attention. I have been through therapy, moved on, finally forgiven the people that needed to be forgiven for me. I'm not that scared, abused, beaten girl any longer. I'm successful. I have friends. I have a husband that loves me regardless of the hard times and loves me no matter what I look like. I'm ready to shed this suit of blubber!

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

I had my surgery 4 days ago, on December 20, 2012. I am home recouping now. I cannot say that it's all pleasant or pain-free, but every day seems to get better. The hardest part right now is forcing the fluids.

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

All of my life, I have been aware of bariatric surgery, and I always believed that it wasn't for me. It was the cowards way out, I could lose it on my own. How could I spend the rest of my life not eating? No, thank you.

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

The only requirements that my insurance company had was that I was on a six month weight-loss program that was monitored by my doctor. I saw my doctor every month, gained weight every month. I think I went about it all wrong! My thinking was that I would never eat these foods again.
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