Lori B.

Obesity & Me

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

I work in the field of addiction and what my clients went through in terms of a drug or alcohol addiction, I also went through. I cannot control my eating. I would eat when I was happy, sad, lonely, depressed and even when I wasn't hungry. Any excuse was a good excuse to eat. Eating took over my life. I really look at this surgery as a tool that God gave me to begin back on the path of normalcy and to give Him control of my addiction.

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

No energy!! Now that I look back on when I was so heavy, I mourn the times when I couldn't walk without getting winded or sweating profusely. I was in pain all of the time. My back hurt, my feel hurt, everything hurt. I never realized what a wonderful feeling it is to walk miles at a time and not hurt. Some comments would be made like, "You have such a pretty face -- It's too bad your so overweight" Those comments are frustrating and counterproductive.

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 like to walk. I could only do that is short intervals before. Now it is very different. I like the fact that I have lots of energy. I get many things done in my day. That would have never have happened before.

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

I had no complications from surgery.

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

I felt good. My worst part was being bored. I thought that if I had to watch another afternoon talk show I would go insane. I would walk every day and talk with my friends. Keep in mind, I would not walk very far but, at that point, a little walk was better than no walk.

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

I only have to travel about an hour to my aftercare and it's a very nice trip. My husband and I make a day of it and go to lunch and shop. We make it fun!!

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

Currently, I take iron (prescribed to me), Vitamin C, a multi-vitamin, B-12 and Calcium. I've recently began Folic Acid because my husband and I are trying to have a baby.

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?

Thankfully, I had none of those. I dumped a few times and I'm really careful about what I eat. That is not pleasant, let me tell you!

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

The wait before getting surgery. I was excited and anxious at the same time and I just wanted it done NOW!!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People look at me differently now. There were times when you could see digust in people's faces. This is not the case now.
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