My Story

I was a thin person until my 1st pregnancy in 1970. Gradually continued to get bigger. Had a VBG in 1999 at a weight of 277 lbs. I lost about 75 of it over a eighteen month period and gradually gained it back. I am now at 280 lbs. I have a BMI of 45.2. 

I have terrible problems with stricture. Just taking pills or capsules that are not cut or crushed will get stuck. It can sometimes take 8-12 hours for them to go through. I eat a lot of foods that are not good for me, especially carbs. They go down so easy. I can not eat fruit or vegetables raw. They do not pass through at all and all meats are put in a food processor and vegetables are cooked until there mush. I have been scoped and dilated four or five times. I have been to emergency rooms at least 10 times. Usually all they can do is give me raglan,(settle stomach), pain meds (because it hurts so much), and ativan to help me relax (because it drives me crazy). I am tired of throwing up my food so I take the easy way and eat the carbs. Throwing up is a part of life and I am afraid it is doing damage to my esophagus and stomach. I have really had these problems since the surgery. The doctor who did the surgery said the opening to my stomach was the size of a straw.

I am now trying to get a take down done but, would like to also get it revised to a DS. Insurance will be a problem with the revision because policy state one bariatric surgery per lifetime no matter who the insurance carrier at time surgery, unless medically/clinically necessary to correct or reverse complications from a previous bariatric procedure. 
 
I am in this until I have exhausted every appeal I can. I am just like everyone else here and fight depression constantly because of my weight. Feelings of worthlessness, repulsion over the way I look, sadness for how I feel, constant exhaustion, joint pain (especially legs), back pain, breathless when I try to exercise or walk, and sick and tired of doctors telling me to diet and exercise!!!! I mean they have no clue how hard it is to even walk when you are carrying all this weight and how the hell can you diet when you can't eat fruit, vegetables, salad or any of the things you should be eating when you diet.

My health problems are high blood pressure (controlled with one med), high cholesterol, fibromyalga and arthritis.