Introducing me!

Hello all! I have been a lurker for a while and now that I am finally getting closer to approval (hopefully) I thought I would post. I wanted to let you all know that this has been such a great resource for me over the last months. My surgeon recommended it and I am so glad she did. I have two friends who have had WLS, but it is very nice to hear about other people's experiences, pre-op and post-op. So, thanks to all of you for sharing and making this feel like such a nice, safe place to be. So who am I? Hmmm... I am 33, married for 11 years, morbidly obese for the last 8. My husband is awesome. He has NEVER once criticized me for the dramatic weight gain. He is supportive of my surgery because he knows I am not healthy right now. I have a 5 year old daughter, 3 year old son, and 10 month old twin girls. The twins were supposed to be the third and final baby, so it was a big surprise, and a very happy one as it turns out. I am still breastfeeding, so I will not have my RNY until I have weaned them early next year. Since I don't know how long it is going to take to get approved by my insurance (UHC), I figure there is not hurry with weaning. I am an elementary teacher and I jobshare, so I work either 2 or 3 days a week during the school year. I am a lucky lady and am very blessed, but I just really need to get back control of my life and be a good example for my kids. Most of the women in my family are obese and rarely live past 65 due to heart disease, high BP, and diabetes. I have nominated myself to break that cycle, especially with 3 daughters of my own. Wish me luck? Hopefully I did not ramble on too long! Any advice or support would be appreciated. I would especially love to hear any words of wisdom from any women who have families and how your WLS affected your whole family, especially eating, cooking, shopping. My husband, God love him, is already coming to terms that the whole house is going sugar-free, but I know it will still be a huge change for us all. Thanks for "listening", Belle

Belle, Welcome to the board. Glad you decided to quit lurking and post. You're welcome to jump in whenever you'd like. Carmen (with 8 kids) would be a terrific one to say how WLS affects a family with kids. lol. With me, it's just me & hubby. Post-op, I became hypoglycemic so the only time Bill has potatoes is when we go out to eat. I can't eat them, I don't buy them, I don't cook them. We typically have salad, meat (grilled or baked), and a veggie (steamed, microwaved, baked, or sauteed in olive oil or canola oil). I do like my sugar-free stuff. I wish a grocer would start a whole line of sugar-free/lowfat/low carb stores. Wouldn't that just rock!?! Since I don't see that happening, I've become a label shopper. It takes me so long to get groceries anymore..but it's well worth it. You can eat great tasting foods that are good for you...you just have to be willing to devote the time to reading...and being willing to experiment. Your kids are so young. Fantastic time to get them on a healthy way of eating!! Sherri

Belle: What a change you will have in your life! I have a 9 year old boy and 11 year old girl. I find that I have more energy and want to do more things with them now that I have lost the weight. What a blessing!!!! Best wishes Claudette

Welcome Belle! I have two children, 9 yo boy and 3 yo girl. With my son, I talked to him about mommy having surgery to lose weight. He was a little worried but mostly okay. I didn't explain too much to my daughter other than mommy would be gone a couple days, and when I got home about mommy being sore and tender. I am still on liquids right now, so I am eating completely differently than my family, but we're making it work out. Anything worth having is worth some effort. Linda Vicory

Glad to have you here. My only child at home will soon be 21 and (even though he needs to lose weight) eats what he wants. My husband has been very supportive and he has lost 35 pounds since I've had my surgery. We just don't keep some of the junk around the house and we don't eat out as often. Also when I make better choices for me he feels like he needs to follow along for support. Good luck on your approval. this is a great site. kind of like an extended family. Check out some of the posts from the christmas party some of just went to. Are you going thru St. V? What surgeon are you seeing?

i have family...lol...just grown...i bet you need help at first as you may tire faster than before.......now you stick around

my "baby" is 27 so I had the surgery so I could get down on the floor and play with my grandbabies.. I have a 4 year old grandson, triplet grandayghters who are 2.5 and a week old grandson.. FUN!!! Life begins after surgery!!! Stop lurking and get ready for an experience of a lifetime!! good luck with UHC... Linda

You are making a wise decision! Welcome!!

Thanks to all of you ladies for your kind responses. Maybe Carmen will post sometime with some advice for me... 8 kids! WOW! Sounds chaotic, but fun! Jan- I am going through St. V's and my doc is Gupta. I almost went to the Christmas party, but felt strange about it since I have not gotten even scheduled yet. Sounds like I should have gone though! BTW, I think this will be great for my husband too. He doesn't really need to lose weight but he has had high BP since 20 years old, and his dad is a type 1 diabetic. I think some positive diet changes will be good for everyone. Linda- Sounds like a lot of fun with all the grandbabies... my last pregnancy started out as triplets but I lost one to a bad blood clot almost half the way through. I am in a support group with several gals who have trips around the same age as my "surviving triplets" (AKA twins, I feel comfortable with that finally) and they have had a long, but wonderful year. I hear it gets a lot easier with multiples as they get older? Perhaps when they are 20 or so? :) Belle

Belle, I hate to be the one to give you the bad news...but my mom who had twins says it never gets easier....just more expensive!!! I hope u have better luck than she did Mariah