An Introduction as well...

Hello all,

I have posted responses on the RNY Board and the WLS over 50 board and have introduced myself on both but I would like to do it again.

My name is Sylvia and I am 54 years old.  I had my RNY on July 9, 2008 (1 year, 2 months and 3 days out).  I started out at my heaviest at 407 which was 3 weeks before surgery and at surgery date I was 386 (the weight I was at 6 months before at consult).  It is fortunate that my insurance company only required 5 years history and 6 months of data and my surgeon just asked me to try not to gain any weight which is how it ended up by surgery date.

I have been overweight since kindergarten and have battled this beast and have been the yo-yo diet queen.  I did WW when you made your own ketchup and had canned french style green beans for snacks (not conducive to a 16 year old dating) and joined and rejoined so many times I lost count.  I did another commercial program as well as liquid diets and the like.  One after another and it is like a treadmill to nowhere. 

Things got out of control more after a complete hysterectomy in 2004.  My turning point came after a trip to the east coast to meet my daughter's now inlaws and family (and I mean the WHOLE family).  I am from Wisconsin and the airplane trip was miserable because of the discomfort in the seat, the seatbelt extender and the wheelchairs in both airports.  I was scared stiff that the people pushing my chair would either have a heart attack or a hernia.  After that trip, information on my radio station at work talked about the program I ended up going with after researching another one.  My appointment was January 31, 2008 (and the only time I ever looked forward to going to the doctor). 

I have to admit I have no insurance horror stories--they were extremely helpful and customer service was excellent after a minor misunderstanding.  I had to talk to them directly to solve the problem and had to actually fax info myself to them to get approval timely.  That approval came on June 3, 2008 and my surgery took place on July 9, 2008.

I weighed 386 on surgery day.  It has been a real journey with twists and turns and bumps but this is the first time I have more than a 50-50 shot of being healthy.  I had comorbidities I didn't know I had (asthma and severe sleep apnea which were discovered after pulmonary testing which I never would have had if I were not pursuing surgery) and ones I knew about (edema, knee pain, degenerative disc disease, back pain, joint pain, fatigue and feeling generaly miserable as well as high chloresterol and the others). 

I have to update my ticker but I weighed myself this morning and I weigh 217 (190 pounds from my heaviest and 169 pounds from surgery).  I still have some to go but it isn't a race.  I would never get down to anything below 350.  I went into this saying if I get under 350 it works, then I kept going in 10 pound increments.  I think it is working but I have my own goal and I know eventually I will get there. 

April and all, we can never have too much support.  Best to all of you and I look forward to keeping in touch.

Sylvia

Congratulations on your weightloss so far and Welcome to the over 50 BMI club April!!!!  I just recently found this forum and I felt like home. Its so good to talk to folks that knows the EXTRA struggles we faced in life as being severly overweight. I had my surgery 1 day before you and I was 337 and now down to 309. So it seems like we are almost in line with each other. I still feel so overweight and I do not see any difference in my looks. I think for me its a challenge of feeling MORE confident and secure with myself which is slowly changing. I had a mini WOW moment today. I went into OLD NAVY ( a store I have never shopped at before other than for my daughter) and tried on a 2x shirt and guess what,,,,,,,it fit!!! I was like OMG this is unbelievable. I started jumping up and down in disbelief and thanking GOD that this tool is really working for me. Even though I feel like the weight is coming off slowly, I am just glad to see that the scale is moving in the right direction. I am hoping to be under 300s by month end. This is my first mini goal and then my next mini goal will be the 100lb Century Club which will be 284lbs. At my highest I weighed a total of 384lbs. WE will make it through this LIFESTYLE change journey with the support and encouragement. I wish you well and good luck on your contiue weight loss.

What a bunch of inspiring stories - many of which I find myself COMPLETELY relating to!   The airplane - I used to have to travel for work (I was in the high 300s -like 375 at that point) and it was miserable.  After I hit the 400 plus category, when I went on a trip with my husband (I no long travel for work, thank goodness!), we purchased 3 seats.  Humilating AND expensive, so I could be comfortable.  That's ridiculous.  

My doctor set a goal for me of 215 and I would be thrilled to be that weight.  I got down to that about 20 years ago on optifast and I looked good!  It only lasted a few minutes, and I gained it all back and another hundred for good measure!   DANG - this is a beast.  See you all on the Loser's Bench, and of course for support along the way there!