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

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Finally diagnosed. It took 8 years. Devastating as I was I had to medical retire from work. I also have diabetes, copd, asthma, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and other muscle and spine disorders. So I thought I can't do anything about MS or Fibromyalgia but I could about the others. So I got the Lap Band. Not a WLS for a person with MS as erosion can occur AND when you can't exercise (and you can't after a flare-up) you regain your weight. I originally lost 50 amazing lbs despite the complications in surgery. Then two years later it started eroding. Thus the need to have it removed. So I opted to be sleeve at the same time.

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

Walking with a walker and everyone thinks it because you overweight. Not because I have MS. And taking so many meds. I was up to 17 when I had the lap band surgery. I went down to 7. But now taking over 18 meds. Also, I took over 70 units of insulin.

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

Dropping my insulin dosage in half with hopes to eliminate it by my birthday in January. Also, I'm feeling better about myself. It's a journey as I am a very slow loser coupled with surgery complications. I thank God daily for getting me through and pray for endurance. It's done now, irreversible and I look forward to my 51st birthday being insulin free, high blood pressure down, high cholesterol eliminated, not having to wear C-pak or take Symbicort and hopefully wearing a size 12!