Milestones!!! Can you tell me your milestones???

Hello again friends! Last week I asked you guys to share experiences where the public had been insensitive to you regarding your weight. For anyone who didn't see that post - I am working on a lecture/article to lobby the insurance commissions, ADA and anyone else who will stand still long enough to listen on behalf of the obese. I genuinely feel like it's my mission in life to do everything I can to see that future WLS patients and obese people in general don't have to endure the discrimination and misery I experienced in the past simply because I was bigger than most people. You gave me enough posts and replies to fill a 37 page WORD document! I am STILL looking for stories on how the public mistreated you or was insensitive to you because of your weight but now I would like to follow the bad with the good and hear your milestones. I DO want to hear how many meds you were on and how many you've gotten off of but I also want to hear how you've begun to be more participatory in your life - I want to hear the wonderful, heartwarming stories. For anyone who might be concerned - I'm not using this info to write a book or make money or anything else! This information is strictly going to be used to help US - the ones who seem to be the last on earth who are still considered social outcasts. I'll share my milestone first. Here goes...........Before WLS I had Adult Onset Type II diabetes, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and was spiraling down fast! I'd begun to suggest that my husband and kids have a "boys day out" when they wanted to go to the park or Six Flags and such because I just couldn't do it. I'd become an observer in my life instead of a participator. When I had WLS I asked my husband what my prize would be if I lost 100 pounds. His answer was "Anything you want." So, being the romantic that I am, I told him I wanted him to take me to this scenic overlook and play "Could Not Ask For More" by Edwin McCain and dance with me. He agreed. (Can you believe it???) So I lost the 100 pounds and waited and waited to dance at the scenic overlook. One weekend Edwin McCain came in concert and Wade got tickets for us to go. When "Could Not Ask For More" came on Wade got up out of his seat and pulled me into the aisle and we danced while the song was performed live. Before WLS I NEVER, EVER would have considered standing up and dancing in front of all those strangers. I felt like 40 years of pain and misery from being obese just fell away and I was a normal person. It was joyous! A few days later I got a letter from Edwin McCain and an autographed photo telling me how proud he was of me. WOW! Since then we danced at the scenic overlook too. It was one of the high points of my life following WLS. In addition to the fun things - I no longer take any medication at all and can wal****il my hubby begs for mercy! Happiness and good health is so awesome!! Can I ask you post ops to share with me again? Can you tell me about the joys and health benefits you've experienced since WLS? I'm also happy to have more stories regarding public insensitivity toward the obese. You guys are the best and please know that I'm working hard to make the world a better place for all of us!

Hi there! I have been overweight for 30 years (I am age 49) and have had dangerous uncontrolled hypertension. Last year my doctor took an echocardiogram and said my heart was beginning to get slightly enlarged due to the years of hypertension. I had a horrible heel spur and was in a knee cast for 8 weeks and even after the cast was off the pain was still bad every time I walked. I would always get terrible sinus and kidney infections from the blood pressure meds. I had been thru this for a long time. I have a son Andrew who is 21 and had been at 350 lbs. for three years. I knew he was headed down the same road I have been on and it broke my heart. I had gotten to the point that it was difficult for me towork at my job due to the fact that I walked all day and I could not clean my house as well as I used to. It was getting harder and harder. Furthermore, I had gotten to the point where I did not want to go out anylonger. My son was getting the same way and was having a limited social life.I had to do something so I decided to stop this insanity - quickly. My insurance approval was easy, but my sons' was a nightmare. There was an exclusion in the policy and we did not know about it. United Health Care Customer Service kept saying yes he was covered but in the end an exclusion came up. The doctors office told me I didn't have a chance and an attorney told me not to waste my money for it would do not good. I was so depressed because I really wanted this surgery for my son and he couldn't get approved. I said a prayer and sent one final letter of appeal to United Health Care Regional Coordinator and it must have worked. It was hard for me to talk with them because I was in tears, but they told me due to the errors made this case fell into a "grey" area and they approved the surgery!! So, both of us had surgery on May 13th at Emory Dunwoody in Atlanta, Ga. Dr. Williams of Dr. Champions' office was the surgeon. The experience was very organized and it is now a little over six weeks post op. Andrew has lost about 51 lbs. and I have lost about 48lbs. I am no longer (for the first time in 30 years) on any blood pressure meds and my pressure has stayed at 127/72. I hope that I have reversed or stopped the heart enlargement. I have no pain when I walk and my house is clean. I can bend down and do all kinds of work in the house and in the garden - and this is just the beginning. Andrew is looking very handsome (you can see his profile in Georgia under Andrew Delpercio - mine is Lisa Solis in Georgia) The old hunger and appetite is gone and life is getting better and better every day. I thank God for this surgery!