indybuttercup
Let me start by saying that I come from a big family. My mother is 5'11 and 380 lbs, my brother is 6'5 and around 400 lbs. Our grand dad was 6 foot and around 500 lbs. My mother raised me to have pride in myself and lives by the motto big is beautiful. This has been wonderful for my self-confidence but has made it hard to loose weight. I remember being 4'11 and weighing 99 lbs in first grade. I did not realize I was a fat kid, until we had a sub teacher that weighed and measured us all in the middle of class. He was astounded by my weight and made a big deal out of it. I remeber asking my mom if I was different and she said yes because I was a beautiful amazonian princess. (Thank God for mothers - they can always sooth a little girls tears:)
So I am fighting genetics, great self image as well as a love for taste. I am a pleasure eater - meaning if it doesn't taste good I will not eat it.
Because of my positive self image and realtivly good health (until 2 years ago) it took me 2 years to decide that surgery was really for me. After having a PE and almost dying I started researching it in 2003. I was afraid and after getting aproved in 2005, but before surgery, I almost died. I found out the hard way I was a bad diabetic. 30 days before my RNY was schedualed I was rushed to ER with gangegreene. Had to have my right butt cheek amputated. Surgon told everyone I would not live. Spent 30 days in the hospital and 60 more days off of work. It took 2 years for the wound to fill in and heal. At that point I knew that I had to have the RNY to save my life.
I was in a good place mentally about surgery and not scared anymore. I went in for surgery on 10/29/07. I woke up and had to ask if I had been thru surgery already. I have had no pain and no problems. My surgeon was wonderful. This has been the best thing that I have ever done for myself. I am thankful for the oppertunity.
So far I have only been sick a few times - Chew your food very slowly:) I have stuck to the St. V yellow diet sheets almost religiously. They are strict. My friend had surgery 5 months ago at Methodist and can have bread already. None for me for a year, per the yellow sheets.
