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My initial appointment with my WLS surgeon is in 6 days...and I'm 100% committed to showing up and beginning this process of healing my mind, my body, my soul. 31 years of destroying it have caught up with me and now my body is screaming that it's hurting...if I don't turn this around it'll give out. I had appointments for consults scheduled over a year and a half ago but kept backing out and in that time I gained close to 80 pounds, blood pressure/cholesterol/heart rate and sugars climbed, other things declined...my whole body hurts.
It's time for surrender and change. I'm going to that appointment on the 25th...NO EXCUSES.
Getting off all medications and only having to take the required supplements was a huge NSV. The level of activity I'm able to do now includes things I wouldn't have done (or would have done with great difficulty) pre-WLS -- I climbed to the crow's next on a tall ship; I have zip lined several times, I don't have to worry about researching ahead before I do anything because I'm worried about any weight limits; I was able to ditch the seatbelt extender for flights; I never have anxiety about whether I'm taking up more than my share of space. I"ve gone from high blood pressure to low blood pressure (which has it's issues); I do eat high protein low carb for the most part which isn't the most cholesterol friendly but within parameters not requiring meds so it's not that things are perfect.
I find that maintaining a healthy weight is hard, WLS or not, and WLS only works on the body, not the mind -- but being obese is hard too - choose which hard you want.
I know you said your appt is next week, do you have any idea yet if they have a full program (with registered dietician, behavior modification, etc ) support? My program required that we read and do the cd for Mindful Eating by Jan Chozen Bays (I know someone else recommended WLS for Dummies, which we had to read as well). ME had some really good things on the different types of hunger that I still use today (little over 4 years after surgery).
Good luck!
HW: 306 SW: 282 GW: 145 (reached 2/6/19) CW:150
Jen
Question for those further along...what have been some of your "non scale" victories or changes?
Things I'm hoping improve with surgery include things like mobility. At 31, I'm having to rely on a walker to get around. I can't climb stairs or walk more than 5 minutes without being winded. I can't bend over to tie my shoes or put on socks. My back and joints hurt all the time. I'm on an extensive medication regime and see many specialists just to stay alive.
And of course there's the more concrete medical things, like having sugars that never drop below the 150s, body being more acidotic, rapidly climbing lipid levels, angina and chest pain, and my extremely high BP that seems to be resistant to meds, climbing risk of cardiac events...plus things like not being able to fit in public places that normal size people don't struggle with...
I'm just so hopeless and sick of this life and am ready to commit to life style changes before during and after the surgery process to start living a new whole life with a much healthier self.
I've been overweight my whole life. I tipped past 150 before I turned 18 and I remember the pediatrician raising major concerns to my mom about my weight, but because she too was immensely obese and didn't do anything about it, my weight continued to climb even as a kid. I think the last time i was in a normal weight range was when I was a very young kid...
Finally back from the ER after spending pretty much the whole day there. It took them a long time to stabilize my BP and heart rate enough to feel safe sending me home. The tests they did showed no extra strain on my heart from my PE's, but the chest x ray did show slight / mild pleural effusion which they said should clear on its own.
My BP hovered in the 170s/100s for a good while at the ER and with IV anti hypertensives they finally got it down to basically as low as mine gets right now, even with taking Calan and Lopressor...down to 142/88 when they discharged me with a heart rate of 110. (Down from the 130s when I got there)...
I also spoke my WLS surgeon's office and everything is officially confirmed for my initial appointment on April 25. I am feeling all the emotions.
I also see my PCP the 20th, cardiology the 21st, hypertension clinic the 21st, and neurology the 22nd.
All important appointments to get myself in the best shape I can be for surgery and to hopefully help manage some of my chronic co morbid conditions, especially to get my BP down as it sits between 140s/90s to 160s+/100s with two hypertensives and I know it's putting a huge strain on my body.
Thank you. I can do this...I can make a change for myself for a healthier life.
It's time to take care of YOU and realize you don't have to continue on the path you are on. I hit my own rock bottom and there is hope and help all around you.Reaching out here and sharing your thoughts is a good first step.
Congratulations on taking the first steps on getting your health back. You and I have similar stats.
You've receive some really good suggestions hear. May I make another? There's a book called "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies" and is written by Dr. Marina Kurian. She's the surgeon who performed Al Rokers' bypass. It goes into a lot of information about the types of surgeries(pro and con), hospitals, what to look for, and everything in between.
SW 327
GW 150
CW 126
Congratulation on making this decision. You'll never regret. The only thing I'm going to suggest is a book called "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies." It's by Dr. Marina Kurian. She's the physician who did Al Rokers' bypass. It goes into what to look for in centers. types of surgery (with the pros and cons of each), insurance, hospital stays, and beyond.
Good luck in your journey
SW 327
GW 150
CW 126
