Why Did You Decide To Have Surgery?

Like all of us, I have tried a bazillion different ways to lose weight.  I would lose, then gain more than I had lost.  Finally at 299 ( I stopped weighing after that) I had to find a better way.  For me RNY was the right choice.  I needed restriction.  I was totally in a commitment, there no backing out frame of mind.  This is the best decision I have ever made (secondary to marrying my husband).  Speaking of which, his is soooo very supportive.  Anyway, I was a self pay patient so essentially I am my "new car". I felt like crap, looked like crap and was just so very unhappy with me.  I want to live to see grandchildren and then some.  My quality of life is so much better.  I would do this again in a heartbeat. Also, as a nurse, I feel people had a hard time taking me seriously.  It was like "what are you telling me to do about improving my health when you can't take care of your own." Sorry for the ramble.

like everyone else around these parts, I have always been fat. I remember hitting 200 lbs at 10. I am now 21 years old, 5'10'' and I weigh over 400lbs. I am built big (honestly) but most of it can come off. I am a diabetic, have high chol., high BP, joint problems, and athsma. i too have been on every diet imaginable, and failed. My doctor brought up surgery about 2 or 3 years ago, however it wasn't until last august that i decided I was ready for gastric bypass.  Last August I miscarried my son. This was my second loss. My GYN... blunt woman that she is looked at me and said I was too fat to be pregnant. that if we tried again... we would loose another baby probably before we even knew it. Yeah, it was later decided that my low iron levels were to blame, but I couldn't get out of my head the idea that I killed my son by being fat. Soooooooo..... here I am, and I'm having my RNY in 3 weeks.

OK girls, your posts are making me cry.  Amazing huh - all of our stories sound the same.  So happy we've either done something or are doing something about it. Peace E

I just want to let everyone know that I read every post and want thank each and everyone of you for sharing the reason why you decided to have surgery!  Regardless of my outcome (whether I get approved or not), I want to yall to know, that I truly do wish the best for you and may all of you live a healthier life. Teri

You know this is an awesome question.  I, like many others had been overweight all my life and there for a long time I grew very comfortable with my weight.  I knew there were people out there for me but obviously for the wrong reasons.  I didn't want to objectified because I was overweight, I just wanted people to like ME.  Of course that wasn't the reason why I had the surgery, I just wanted to point out that if I didn't have health problems and mobility issues, surgery wouldn't even enter my mind.  I was this way until I hit the ripe young age of 31 and my body started to fall apart.  I hurt so bad, I almost needed a wheelchair to get around.  Of course the only other thing wrong with me at that time was high blood pressure.  So I started my journey then and about halfway through, my company switched insurance companies and I couldn't go for it anymore.  I gave up and ate like a pig gaining even more weight and feeling just terrible and not healthy.  I finally had to have a sleep study done and was put on a CPAP.  I got to thinking to myself a LOT and the biggest thought I had was that someone my age should NOT be facing all these things for another 40 years!  So I had had enough.  My company had just been purchased and we had new insurance.  The same insurance I had when I started the process the first time!!!!  So I started again in January of 2007.  I forced a change in my behavior which was really helpful and I do miss food but not as much anymore as I also have thoughts of where I would be if I didn't have surgery and those thoughts are very grim.  As for as the social aspect, I know I'll lose people over this.....but you know what, that's THEIR problem. That's my story from the 100 pound 5 year old to the 500 pound 36 year old :)

I've been fat as long as I can remember. I distinctly remember being called "Boss Hog" in Kindergarten (the days of Dukes of Hazard) and I laughed along with the kids, but cried when I got home.

I tried so many diets over the years, but could never keep the weight off. And being told at 27 that I have high blood pressure and that I'm a heart attack waiting the happen scared the heck out of me. And I was tired of watching my life pass me by. I feel like I'm letting my husband down because I can't be the wife I want to be. I can't walk for hours, I'm too embarassed to hang out at the community pool with him, I can't fit into rides at amusement parks, and I can't get pregnant. I want a child more than anything, but at my weight, it's basically impossible.

So, in a nutshell, I just want to start living. I don't want to die young. I want to grow old with my husband, be able to care for my parents when they need me, and to be a mom that can run and play with her kids. I want a normal life.