Where do i start................????????

Good day all.....38 yr old male, some how i have gained approximately 200 lbs in the last 15 yrs. I say approximately because i cant find anyone to weigh me. i am probably around 475??Thank god i am 6'2". ....i have been in denial for years, i have gained at least 100lbs since i quit smoking 4 yrs ago..My doctor has not been able to weigh me for years and just says "you have to do something....but at least you are not smoking"...

I have suffered depression and they have medicated me for it , i feel the meds have caused fluid retention. I am no longer sleeping through the night, i wake up in a bed of sweat and am suffering from apnea but i havent told my doctor yet..my wife has been kicking me for a couple of years now to start back breathing...i sleep 2 hrs at a time and only fall asleep at night due to exhaustion.but could sleep on and off all day...My knees arent the best ,but it is probably just the weight. This is beginning to affect my work because i am avoiding people/situations/meetings due to self esteem.

I am sickened to say that it is going to get hard to mainain proper hygene if something isnt done soon...I am disgusted with myself and i need help..
please tell me someone has been here and now has had sucess...

Hi Troy, yes your situation sounds familiar. I am 37 and at my highest weighed 362lbs at 5foot 5" so probably suffered with about the same discomfort as you are now. I would really really encourage you to start by getting a CPAP machine for your sleep apnea. You will have to go through a simple test to see how strong it needs to run. Your dr. can recommend you to Vitalaire or a company that deals in cpaps. It changed so much for me to get that under control and is a great first step. I wasn't tired all the time, I had more energy and the list goes on, not to mention that my spouse wasn't awakened all the time by snoring and my restlessness. So that was the first thing I did to help myself. Next i would research weight loss surgeries big time. Find a good weightloss surgeon close to where you live and get a referral from your dr. sent to them as quick as possible. I personally chose the VSG surgery(Vertical sleeve gastrectomy). Once again it has changed my life and the lives of my family, I have 3 children ages 12, 8 and 3. They are as excited as me for summer to come this year. I lost 100lbs in 6months so far. A quick healing for me and very low maintenance. They say the weight comes off even quicker for men due to their make-up than it does for ladies. Check out the VSG forum here, it is amazing and very helpful. For those who don't have insurance coverage or medicare coverage there are many very reasonable self pay options available abroad. Good luck on your journey and questions are welcome anytime. I also have a public blog you can read if you chose by clicking on my name. Blessings Trish

Hi Troy,
Welcome to the board. I agree with Trish- get that sleep apnea machine. If you don't have health coverage- they are very pricey, I am getting a new one shortly & I think am going to sell my old one cheap. My husband needs a machine but I can't get him to even try it.
I suffer from depression too, & though losing weight has not cured it, I am much, much better. My bouts are shorter & less severe. I have only lost half my weight so who knows how I will feel when I lose the rest.
I think you should consider Bariatric (weight loss) surgery & get your doctor to send a referral ASAP. We have 2 different doctors in NB- Dr Savoie in Bathurst has the shorter list but it is still a long wait. Both doctors will put people to the front of the line when it is medically necessary. i don't know if that would apply to you or not.
You need to do a lot of research before deciding what type of surgery you want. In the end, the doctor will decide which surgery you have, but you are the one who has to live with the results. All of the surgeries change your life dramatically, & you need to know what you are willing to live with.
There are different forums for the various ways to lose weight, including the old fashion way. I warn you there are people that have very strong opinions for & against particular surgeries. take want they say with a grain of salt. There are successes & failures with all surgeries. If you expect the surgery to do all the work- forget surgery & go to weigh****chers.
Almost everyone on the boards has been at least 100 pounds over weight- many many people have been where you are.  You will find kindred spirits here.

Good luck with your journey. There are people here to answer your questions & offer support, & even tell it like it is when needed.

I forgot to say that the bariatric clinics at the George Dumont & Bathurst Hospitals have oversized scales & they would likely allow you to get weighed if you ask.

well i agree you have too pick your own weight lost surgery, i was told the band doesn't work good for guys so i went with the ryn, lost 63 lbs sence feb 1 this year. If you have the cash and don't want to wait the 5 - 7 yrs there is a doctor in montreal that will do it. better then going to mexico or somewhere else.Besides the NB goverment might not allow medicare to cover it after june of this year.

congrats on the weight loss scully,
also just to add, if your in fredericton,
the diabetic clinic in the medical clinic has the larger scales and doesnt mind you using them now and then.

Your post touched my heart because I understand the desperation you are expressing.  I am going to add you as a friend, I havnt posted in a while but it tells my story.  I was 436 lbs and only 5 foot 4 Feb 2010 when I started this journey.  My highest was almost 500lbs around 5 years ago when I was going through pulmonary hypertension that led to congestive heart failure.  Although I have had gastric bypass and have lost 130lbs, I am stull struggling every day with my food addiction, depression, sleep disorder etc.  I would not change having the surgery at all but it does not FIX us..we have to fix us.  Does your wife struggle with weight issues as well....my husband does and is a good support.   I am more than willing to share my experiences, email me if you like

take care
Angela

Hello Troy!  Everything you have said rang true for some of us! It's touching to read what you said. The simple reason because you are  a male. I don't hear tell to often a male admits someting is wrong............And ladies please don't tell me this one that one does...and you know who you are that would say it.
I got my surgery on Sept.28 just over 7 months now. I almost died twice 1 in surgery and 3 days later I was sent home I was doing good or so we thought. Not 15 mins after being home my husband had to rush me to the hospital. I had a fever over 103 I was so lost slept for 3 days didn't know what had happen.
Honestly I had it rough before and then after. BUT with that said I would do it again in a heartbeat. Dr. Beausoleil is a god sent to the ones who got the surgery so far which is over 600 and so many waiting for the surgery.
My weight was just over 450lbs Now 7 month later I am proud to say I'm at 343.4 This works but you need to be committed you must follow you diet for the rest of your life.
I too have sleep apnea but it isn't as bad right now. I was a diabetic...Was told I can stop taking the meds for it.   WOOHOO
However I am in a wheelchair been over 7 years now that is so hard for me to understand I miss walking and running the little things we take for granted. Now I  have fibromyalgia also have a crush disk and slip disk and a herniated disk. Walking and running I may never do but now I can have a chance to live longer.
The whole thing about you not going out because of your self esteem I  understand it far too much! Listen hun the best thing is to do the surgery but first let me tell you this before my tears make my laptop short circuit take control its yours to take Hun your wife if doing the right thing  kicking you to do something! Please take the first step to taking your life over!!!! AND Go out have fun Hun everyone needs friends trust me on that one. I only have 1 friend which she comes on here as well and my rock which is my husband and my mom. When I gained all my friends left. I know about being disgusted with your self been there done it sometimes the feeling comes back but I deal with it.As for hygene I took my very first shower alone 2 months ago it has been 7 years that hubby had too help me.OK so Please feel free to message me on here or if you want to you can email me at [email protected]
Say hi to the wife and good luck with everything
Take care cause we care
Denise