Saved by the Bike
by OH member Paula Fischer
When I heard one of the post-surgical members of my local support group say, ?Weighing out the problems and benefits that I have had since my surgery, I would have still gone through with it,? I was already focused on having the surgery and this was further proof that I was doing the right thing. What I failed to hear until after the surgery was that it was no magic safety net to keep my weight off. When I was sitting proudly post-surgery, missing the ravenous hunger that had consumed my life for over 50 years, and finally did hear these words, I took notice. I didn?t panic; I just devised a plan that would allow me to live semi-normally and gain the control to change my life forever.
Because of my insurance, it took me two years to get my surgery. My support group put me in contact with a doctor in the city of Orange by the name of Dr. Hajduczek. I had to travel two and a half hours, and having no car, this was quite a stretch, but nothing was going to deter me from my goal! The procedure took place on September 3, 2004 at the Chapman Medical Center.
I have had no major complications since my surgery, and I followed the protocol by the book. I maintained my exercise program, which at first was limited to running in the pool for one hour a day, five days a week (I was too buoyant to swim, weighing in at 425 pounds). The weight started to drop off, but during my time in the pool, I felt like a rat on a wheel. As I ran my laps, I fretted over the rest of my daily activities and how I was going to accomplish them. Then, one day, I got a brainstorm?why not combine my exercise with my transportation?
I purchased my first bike on April 11, 2005. It was a shiny red one-speed with a huge seat. Perfect! Now all I had to do was get the sucker home. My balance was way off, and it took me 20 minutes to get out of the parking lot of the Palm Springs Cyclery. The sales staff watched me through the window with their fingers crossed as I tried to get both feet on the pedals. When I finally did, I was scared to death!
It was a three-mile ride to get home. When I pushed that bike through the front door of my apartment, I fell to my knees and kissed the carpet, swearing that I would never get on that contraption again. My butt hurt like crazy and there were bruises that swelled up like anthills, but the very next day, I was out again, and I have been riding ever since.
I think of my bike like most people think of their cars; the only difference is that I have to carry mine down a flight of stairs. Oh, by the way, I have a much more lightweight bicycle now. It has 27 speeds and a tiny seat. I do everything on my bike; the only thing I couldn?t get home from the store was an ironing board!
Due to the surgery, much determination and my exercise program, I have lost 250 pounds, which included a complete body lift performed on July 11, 2007 by the magic fingers of Dr. Hajduczek. During the procedure, 21 pounds of skin was removed, and Medicare surprisingly reimbursed me for nearly the entire surgery.
For people who are contemplating gastric bypass surgery, I need to tell you that your reasons should go beyond just looking better. I get infuriated when people tell me how wonderful I look; looks are just an added bonus to the benefits I have gained by losing weight. First and foremost, I lost the depression I had suffered from since the age of seven, when I lost my mother. Second, I have gained physical strength and am able to do things for myself that I used to have to ask others to do. Third, I have gained inner strength and am now able to set boundaries (not always the firmest, but I am still working on this one). Fourth, I have discovered that I don?t need a significant other in my life in order to feel complete. This is because I am finally discovering who I am and what I will tolerate, and most of all, I love myself now. This has nothing to do with how I look; it is totally about how I see myself spiritually, intellectually and honorably. I honor myself when I used to be selfless. I have learned that being selfish is not a bad thing. I have learned that in order to help others, I have to help myself first.
I am still discovering things about myself. I am in school, and at my age, struggling with it, but just as I made it home on that first bike?I am going to make it!
To visit Paula?s ObesityHelp profile click here. http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/paula2pinhasik/
