Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
My name is Bianca I am 23 years old. I've been struggling with my weight for my whole life since I was a baby; I was a really hefty child. My parents thought it was just "baby fat" and that I would grow out of it. I was picked on as a child and given the nickname "fatso" in elementary school among other names up until about the 7th grade. I had tried various diets that my nutritionist would tell me to follow and lost about 12 pounds in 2 months one time around the ages of 10-12 I was a very depressed child and the only thing that kept me going was playing music and singing. About 2 1/2 years later I went to see a gynecologist because I had just started my period a year prior to my visit and then it all of a sudden stopped. She told me I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). At almost 14 I really didn't quite understand what it really was, and little did I know that it would effect the rest of my life. I started growing thick black facial/body hair and started rapidly gaining weight. It was very emotionally damaging to me; I had people ask me if I was a hermaphrodite, or a man. At the time I was about 15 almost 16 I was in a relationship and was mentally abused, the most harshest things said to me dealt with my weight and then the name calling started again "fat lard" "man" among some others. I felt as if I wasn't a woman and that I was just this fat pile of useless crap. My weight and my PCOS caused me to drop out of high school so that I could be homeschooled and wouldn't have to deal with anyones crap. I had since then been a vegetarian and have managed to not gain weight and maintain a healthier lifestyle than most folks. I was also vegan for a year and lost 45 pounds and recently gained it all back. Not too long ago I was at a bar with some friends in my home town. The owner invited my friends to stay after hours and have a few more drinks. He told me to leave and called me names that had to do with my weight, he called me a transvestite and a man. I had found out that year prior to this incident about the gastric sleeve surgery. I had known about gastric bypass lap-band etc. through out my teen years and had been to a couple of seminars and each one I found that they wouldn't accept my insurance even after the appeal. I was told that I would have to pay out of pocket which I didn't have the money. My father and I have been trying to get approved for a loan since I was 16. Both of our credit was unsatisfactory and since then my emotional stability was crumbling. I started to give up and just thought that for the rest of my life I was going to be overweight and miserable but there was still hope left in me that I would find a way to finally have this surgery to help with my PCOS. I forgot to mention that I have scoliosis and lordosis which i have a curvature in my lower spine and it sways inward. (With PCOS most of your weight is in your mid-section). In this past year it has caused me so much back pain to the point that I can't get up sometimes in the morning or from sitting down. I'm a photographer/photography college student and the majority of my work is bending and lifting equipment. I just recently had to go see a physical therapist. She told me that the only exercise I could do involves swimming. I'm a very strong swimmer however my self-conciousness had the best of me and I didn't want others to see me in a swimsuit and in december it's a little bit to cold to be going swimming. lol. On December 24th 2012, I opened a gift from my father. It was this beautiful sterling silver flower bracelet. As I was about to give my father a hug he told me to look further in the jewelry box and there it was.... the letter that would change the rest of my life and relieve my suffering...it said "Bianca I got the loan!" I'm so prepared for this, and for the rest of my life. I am grateful to have a father that loves me so much, and also my boyfriend whom is amazing and supportive, that is going to continue this journey with me. I had to wait 23 years but I'm glad I did. I have my very first appointment January 7th 2013 with my surgeon. To everyone else that has gone through anything similar to what I have, please just don't give up and be patient and positive. When you least expect it the universe will give you something back in return. =) (this will be updated soon) as well as my blog.
What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?
For me it's most definitely my back pain and all of the negative emotions that come with it.
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 haven't had it just yet.
biancamauri
