MrsHampton

  • BMI 45.3

Obesity & Me

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

I've been heavy set since I was very young 5-6 years old. I grew up with two older brothers who were active and played sports but of course I was 9 years younger than them they'd challenge me to eating completions. I started to out eat them when I was about 7. My mother, father, and grandmother were all heavy set people. I grew up on Twinkies, cakes, candy you get the point. I was never introduced to fruit or veggies. Middle school is when I started trying to get a hold of my weight everything from weight watchers diet to slim fast as well as high school trying Adkins basketball and eating veggies and less sweets. I still in my twenties can't get a handle on it. I'm miserable and now as a mother to a 4 year old I can't do to much. I'm too big for rides at fairs can't walk to far because of chafing. I'm so embarrassed for my very active husband and my daughter. My husband is active duty military. I'm so blessed for the family I have. I want to be around to see my daughter grow up. We've been trying to have another child bur unfortunately my weight is a big factor in my infertility. My health isn't that great im 22 years old and i take medication everyday for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Diabetes runs in my family on both sides. I've been blessed so far and have not developed diabetes. I know a lot of you are probably thing she's so young she shouldn't need surgery to loss the weight. Please I'm up for any suggestions. I hurt everyday i'm to young to have a heart attack or stroke but it's very possible! Very scary reality!

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

Everything not being able to keep up with my daughter, not being able to walk very far, the medications i take. The very real possibility of heart attack or stroke

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 have not had weight loss surgery yet

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

I first found out about it 4 or 5 years ago. Im initial impression was that's pretty cool but scary.

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

The insurance approval for my surgery was easy all I had to do was talk to my doctor about it and she put in a refferal.

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

May 7th is my first one on one with my surgeon

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After I've tried several different diets and work outs changing my eating habits and still not getting results I've decided that between surgery work outs and changing eating habits i'll get results. I just need some help.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Attending seminars doing research and asking people about what surgery they've had and what there results were and if they regretted that surgery or would do it again

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?

I haven't had my surgery yet, but I do have fears of complications or not waking up ( being able to speak or move but hear everyone around me)

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?

My family were mixed or excited, supportive, disapproving shocked.

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

I did not have to tell an employer because Im a stay at home mom. I'm hoping that my husband will be able to take off for a week to help me.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

I am glad that I attended altho I wish it wasn't so far away. I was rather tired from getting up early and driving about an hour. I was still half asleep during the seminar

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

I'm hoping im only in the hospital for three days

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

.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

.

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

.

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

.

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.

They want us on a strict liquid diet or weight watchers or adkins and water for two weeks before the surgery to help shrink our stomach and our liver. They want the same diet followed for the first few weeks after surgery as well.

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

.

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

.

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

.
show more answers

ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

Share Now
×