Introduction (New Beginning)

I've been lurking on here for alittle while so it's probably time I introduced myself.  My name is Brandy and I have struggled with weight most of my life.  I was a chubby kid, but thinned out as a teen due to sports.  I have never really been the thin girl, even when I was thinner- I was still a big built girl.  At 20, I went on Fen/Phen and lost 40 lbs.  I was livin life for awhile and then the weight came back on plus more.  As an adult I have battled weight for years, trying one program after another.

3 years ago I was put on blood pressure meds, 2 years ago I was diagnosed with sleep apenea but never treated, one year ago they told me I was pre-diabetic.  So I joined another weight loss program, lost alittle weight then gained it back.  I went to my first weight loss seminar in July, thinking I was too small to be there and this was for those people.  Well, there were people bigger and smaller than me.  At a BMI of 41 with all the above issues, I am one of those people.

I am pursuing the gastric sleeve for surgery.  I have met with the Baritric coordinator, had testing, my psych test is next week, and then my sleep apena test.  I have some great supporters and some nay sayers.  I know the nay sayers care about me but just don't understand yet.

I have probably typed way too much.  I look forward to sharing my journey with you and gaining knowledge from everyone who has already began theirs.

Brandy

Welcome, Brandy.
Glad to see you posting. Good luck with your journey. I think you'll love your Sleeve. :)  If you have any questions, give a shout out. Someone here (maybe even me) will be able to help.
Blessings,
Mary

Welcome to the board Brandy! I totally understand where you are coming from about not thinking you are big enough and then finding out that you are :) ! My BMI was 39 before surgery and is now 32.5 in only 7 weeks! I won't lie, the first month I thought I had made a HUGE mistake but now I know that my RNY was the best decision I ever made. I actually feel like I'm living again.

The thing that helped me the most in my "dark" moments after surgery (ex. when I was sick, when I was in the hospital getting fluids, when I was hungry but on liquids only) was that I knew 110% that I had thoroughly researched the surgery and made an informed decision. It sounds like you are doing a great job at that! Had I of just blindly walked into surgery I would have wondered what else I could have done different or what I had gotten myself in to.

Another thing I did was make a list of all the physical reasons I wanted to have the surgery (ex. having arthritis at only 27-years-old) and another list with the personal reasons I wanted to have the surgery (ex. so I could be a healthy role model for my children). I pulled that list out a lot the first few weeks post op.

This is a great board for support! Welcome again!

welcome to oh

Welcome, Brandy. You'll find a lot of nice, supportive "losers" who'll be glad to share information. I was sleeved a week ago and am feeling great. There are a lot of veterans with much more knowledge than I have, but feel free to ask anything you like. Good luck!

Brandy, Welcome to Oklahoma OH and congratulations on your WLS decision.

Welcome! This is a great place for advice and support. I had RNY almost 9 months ago and i don't know what I would have done without  the Oklahoma OH crew. Even though I am not always actively posting, I am always actively reading and learning from each and every person on here. Good Luck! 125 pounds later i can say IT IS SOOOO WORTH IT!

Welcome to the family Brandy!!  When are you thinking your surgery will be scheduled?  We are there for you!   Don't worry about the nay sayers, they come along when they see the big changes in your life and how healthy you end up.  Congratulations on beginning this journey!

I go back to the doctor on Aug 21st to go over test results.  This coming week I visit the sleep clinic.  I am hoping to have everything completed and schedule surgery in Sept, but I have to travel for work the end of Oct and I am not sure if I will be approved to travel by then.  I really don't want to wait until November.  Years of being obese and I just can't wait one more month!  I think it's the little kid voice, saying, " I wait it now!"