When did you know the moment was right????

Hi Julie:

I am a research addict.  before I do anything I research it to death ( hysterectomy, breast reduction) and ask a lot of questions.  I was almost ready to set a surgery date when i decided to move to Maryland and be with my bf.  I knew it was time when got hurt at work and could no  longer exercise the way i like to. ( knee injury). I can't enjoy simple activities and have to set on the sidelines.   You will know when your ready.  Do your research, talk to people and go with what is best for you.  

We are here to share with you anything you need/want to know 

 

Julie.....
   Wow, so many have shared their stories & so many sound like mine. My surgery is scheduled for June 26th, I am having gastric bypass surgery. I too have been tormented since elementary school for being overweight. I grew up on a farm........farm families work hard & eat huge, delicious meals! And believe me....the hard work doesnt burn off all that food, I am proof! When I was 7 I started playing baseball in the county I lived.....I was the ONLY girl in the whole league & it remained that way for 4 years! Even tho I was "special", and I was a good player, I still caught alot of grief because I was fat. Then in my freshman year of highschool, I made the varisty softball team! That was big for me.....the only freshman to make it to the varsity team! Softball was my  LIFE!!!!!!!!! I was overweight, but you put me on a ball field and I would shine! That year I suffered a bad knee injury. My ortho doc {I had seen him for years due to a genetic knee problem} told me if I didnt quit softball & loose weight, my knees would be shot forever! I was crushed!!!!! This lead me to a downhill spiral of depression & substance abuse. At the age of 19 I realized that drugs were not the solution & I got clean......... but I was still fat! Aside from my knees, I was healthy & became a happy fat person!
Fast forward to the present.......now I am 36 and have worn out & extremely painful knees, diabetes, high blood pressure & cholesterol {that I have had since age 6!!!!!}, chronic back pain, chronic headaches, chronic bronchitis, and I am not the happy fat girl anymore. I decided that I wanted my life back.......I have had one knee fixed, and plan on having the other one done soon.....I want to loose this weight, take control of my life, and get my a** back out on a softball field! I want to have energy.....strength......and above all my health! I have lost 15 pounds during my 6 month supervised diet, and I have started a exercise regimen. I feel better! BUT I need this surgery! I will suceed & I well regain my life!
You can sit here all day & read OUR stories, but your story is the one that will lead you in the right direction. I know its scarey, I am still scared but for really goofy reasons, but once you decide what you want to do......you will find your comfort zone & just go with it. I wish you the best of luck & if you ever wanna talk, message me!
Hugs~
heather

Pictures with friends - everyone was normal cept me

I was totally against surgery......until, after I had my second kid, I could barely walk from back pain.  We were on vacation, and I had to rent a scooter cause my back hurt so bad.  That was the "straw" for me that made me reconsider, and, ultimately change my mind.

I felt kinda like I think you are saying, even after I decided.  I thought I was crazy to do this.  I managed to have surgery by *not* rethinking things once I set the ball in motion for surgery.  I knew if I thought about it, I'd back out.  I'll say, I don't think that was the best approach, I should have faced my concerns and been better prepared.

Good Luck!!

I just recently made the decision to pursue surgery.  It's been coming for a while, but I got married in 2007, and I realized that I wanted to live a long, healthy life with my husband.  I suffer from CAD, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol...all the medications I take for my conditions make it impossible to lose weight with diet and exercize, but I can't get off the meds until I lose the weight.  I was talking to my cardiologist about it, and he actually suggested I think about gastric bypass to allow myself to heal and become healthy.  That's what made me decide to pursue it.  I go to the seminar on Tuesday, and once I complete that, I can make an office appointment for my consultation.  I feel like it's Christmas all over again.

Thanks to all of you *****plied. I feel like most of you and am now feeling that I am ok with all of this.. I will be making a couple of doctor appointments this week...Thanks again for all your honesty...

                                                                                                Julie