Before & After RNY with KarenP8, losing 155 pounds!
September 5, 2017Why I Decided to Have WLS
My unhealthy relationship with food and my weight struggles began when I was in elementary school. My parents divorced when I was 5 years old and back in the 60's divorce really was an oddity. My mother, younger sister and I moved back to Illinois and my mom found a job teaching school. As the new kid, I was teased and had no friends. I was already a shy quiet girl and school became a miserable experience.
Food became my best friend. When the loneliness of school was too much, I would hurry home from school and comfort myself with sweets of all kinds, such as pies, cakes, cookies, and candy and because my mom was a great baker the treats were always readily available.
As I got older, I lost myself in my schoolwork and that isolated me even more. Because my mom always had to work, I assumed lots of responsibilities at a young age such as watching my younger sister, doing housework and starting dinner for my mom so I didn't have any time for friends or sports. My weight was an issue even in elementary school but just kept climbing because the food was there and I was lonely.
When I left home for college, I tried to set a new course and began the circuit of all the diets known to man such as the cabbage soup diet, Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Phen/Fen and even several doctors supervised plans. I would lose some weight each time but could never seem to keep it off more than a few months.
When I met my husband I weighed about 170 pounds which was the smallest I had been in my life. Life was good but my bad habits and sedentary lifestyle doomed me to regain my lost weight. As I had my two boys, the weight continued to pile on and never came back off. Luckily my husband loved me and stayed by my side because my weight caused mobility issues.
When I was 33, I was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis. My husband helped with housework and caring for our two boys. The more pain I experienced the more depressed I became and the more I ate. It really was a vicious cycle that seemed hopeless.
By the time I was 52, I was hiding my eating and would sometimes buy candy bars (notice the plural here) and eat them in the car on the way home. Wrappers would be hidden under the seat and thrown away when my sons and husband weren't around.
I found myself staying home more and more. When we did go out as a family to fairs or flea markets, I would sit on a bench and watch people. I said I enjoyed watching the crowds but in reality, I didn't want to slow my family down. I didn't want them to be held back or embarrassed by me so I begin to make excuses to stay home. I would send my boys to the grocery store because I hated the way others would stare in my cart and refused to go clothes shopping unless my husband would insist and go along.
The turning point came when I was put on medication for diabetes. I had lost both of my parents at young ages from complications of diabetes and knew I was headed down the same exact path.
I had back and knee pain every single day and was winded going down my basement steps. My depression was overwhelming and I was tired of all the medications I had to take. I had high cholesterol and triglycerides, diabetes and uncontrolled high blood pressure on three pills.
My cardiologist told me that I was a heart attack waiting to happen. He was the first to suggest weight loss surgery so I began to research the options. I worked with a therapist to learn ways to cope with stress and emotions that did not involve food. I had to learn to express and own my feelings instead of burying them under a pile of food. This is still a work in progress.
Before & After RNY with Karenp8
OH Username: karenp8
Total Weight Loss: 155 pounds
Type of Surgery: RNY Gastric Bypass
Date of Surgery: August 31, 2012
Surgeon: Dr. Mario Morales
Having Surgery and Life as a Post-Op
I had RNY Gastric Bypass by Dr. Mario Morales about five months after my first appointment at SSM Weight Loss Institute. Dr. Morales and his staff have truly given me my life back. I followed their directions completely and quickly passed my original goal weight of 165. I kept weighing and measuring my food and the numbers kept dropping.
I finally settled at 118 to 120 pounds. I am now at the low end of a normal BMI. I have maintained this weight for 3-1/2 years. I no longer have diabetes, high cholesterol, and triglycerides, and no longer take the medications for those issues. The only meds I take now are arthritis meds and one low dose blood pressure pill. I've had absolutely no problems or complications from my surgery.
My Milestones and Non-Scale Victories
My life has changed in so many ways. I'm no longer miserable and in pain daily and no longer worry about fitting in a booth in a restaurant or where I will find clothes that fit. I can shop in any store and have gone from a tight 26 to a size 0 or 1. I can now run down my basement steps and walk 4 or more miles a day with my boxer, Lily.
Instead of sitting on the sidelines I encourage my husband and family to be more active. In fact, my husband and I just got back from Mammoth Cave where we did 4 miles strenuous cave hike. And I did my 4 miles after walking 3.3 miles with my dog in the morning. It feels amazing to be able to do anything I set my mind to do.
I now love to shop for clothes and wear a size 0 or 1. Color and accessories are vibrant parts of my wardrobe since I no longer worry about standing out in a crowd.
The real victory is that I was healthier and more fit than most on a recent tour we did -- even some twenty-year-olds. That was a victory I could not have imagined 5 years ago. Life is so different now.
I'm much more outspoken now and am a lay speaker at my church. I enjoy my daily exercise and feel better now at 57 than I did at 27. I can go into any store and buy all sorts of items that look good. I no longer feel like people stare at me in the grocery store. I don't worry about fitting in a booth or wonder if a chair is sturdy enough to hold my weight.
My husband is my biggest cheerleader and often tells people that I've lost over 155 pounds. The woman who was never found in pictures now no longer runs away. I'm an open book and share my story with anyone who will listen because I want others to have the second chance that I have had. For years, I felt if I only ate less or worked out more I could lose the weight. Now, I realize that surgery was the step that allowed me to take control of my life and give me the help I needed. I need to share that message with others too so that they realize help is there.
I no longer sit on the sidelines at flea markets so I don't slow my family down but lead the way and am the last to be ready to head home. I travel tons with my husband and dog and went and hiked in over 20 national parks last year. My surgery truly gave me a far better life than I had ever had before.
One of the best NSVs I've had is when my youngest son who is 23 could pick me up and carry me!
It's hard to imagine that I feel healthier and stronger at almost 58 than I did at 28. I have been at my current weight now for almost four years and though it's not always easy to make good choices on food and exercise, my new and improved life makes the hard choices worth it.
How ObesityHelp.com Has Been a Part of My Journey
OH has been a vital part of my success as my surgeon's office is a 2-hour drive one-way. OH is my support group. I have made so many friends here and received so much valuable advice. It helps so much to know that others struggle too and to be able to help new post-ops and learn from those who have been living the post-op life for longer than I have. If you are pondering weight loss surgery as an option and feel hopeless--you are not alone. I felt the very same way. I had tried every diet under the sun and could lose the weight but could never keep it off. I had finally given up even trying.
Surgery was just what I needed to take control of my weight and my life. If I can do it--so can you. Every day is a struggle to make good choices but I take it one meal and one choice at a time. I am committed completely to living the rest of my life as a healthy normal weight person. By being active here at OH I hold myself accountable and look forward to many more happy and healthy years enjoying life and sharing with each of you.
Share Your Before & After Success!
Celebrate your own Before & After WLS Success, milestones, non-scale victories, and inspire others! The OH team wants to hear from you to share your weight loss surgery journey. Visit our Before & After Submission page for details.
