New Here (kind of long)
Hi,
You have a great attitude about this. You are right--WLS is a tool and not a magic bullet. Knowing that up front (I know that is the absolute FIRST thing my surgeon told me). What I have found through my journey is that WLS has given me the capability of sticking to a plan to lose weight and be healthy. You will hit the stalls (I hit the real first one I have had in the last 19 months since surgery--have stayed about the same for 2 months-I guess I have to look at the bright side--I didn't gain 20 pounds over Christmas).
My journey started long before January 31, 2008 which was the day I walked into my surgeon's office for my initial consult. I have battled my weight since I was in kindergarten (and I will be 55 in July) and have spent more money on weight loss programs and plus size clothes in my lifetime than I think what my insurance company covered with the surgery. The last weight loss program I went on I spent over $3000 and lost 50 pounds, stuck there and gained it back and more. That, along with my general health and the way I felt about myself, made the decision to get WLS easier for me. I will tell you, however, that no matter what anyone says, it is definitely NOT the easy way out. That is a myth. The key here is to make an informed decision which you are doing.
Like I said above, my journey to a healthier life started on January 31, 2008. Everyone has their breaking point but mine was when my husband and I flew out to NH to meet our daughter's now in-laws and the family. I weighed close to 400 pounds, could not walk through the airport (had to have wheelchairs and hoped I didn't give the poor person pushing it a heart attack or a hernia), could not sit comfortably on the airplane, did not like the way I looked or felt and was embarrassed to meet these new people in my daughter's life looking the way I did. I had to order Roamans 5X which was getting tight. Where was I going to get clothes--I couldn't even fit into Catherine's largest size.
During the screening process, I found out about medical problems I knew I had and suspected. Among them were edema, borderline high blood pressure, horrid chloresterol, degenerative disc disease, and found out I had Severe Sleep Apnea which I suspected but didn't get the realization that it could actually kill me. That made my decision easier.
After the screening process (make no mistake--this is not given to you--you are screened medically and psychologically to make sure things are safe), I was approved on June 3, 2008 and had my surgery on July 9, 2008 (6 days after my actual 53rd birthday). In this time, I went from 407 (my heaviest weight) to my now weight of 202 (I want Onederland but I know eventually I will get there). My BMI went from 67 at its worst to 33 now. I am still a work in progress.
The steps you are taking with watching your food and exercise will go a long way. What I found with WLS is that it enhanced my ability to lose weight. I have heard it said that with WLS, it is 75% YOU and 25% surgery.
I wish you the best in your decision whatever you choose to do. What you decide must be right for you.
Sylvia
RNY Surgery Date: 7-9-08
Dr. Manfred Chaing, Bariatric Institute of WI
Scott
Well.... I'm a newbie still, but this is one of the best decisions that I have ever made!
:Danni >>>AIDS/LifeCycle 10 & 11 Finisher: 545miles on the bike in 7 days <<<
HW390/SW340/CW 208/GW170
If the place that has a seminar also has a support group, you may want to go to that as well to learn more in-person. I didn't really go through all of that process until I made the choice to do it, but I did find there was a lot of positive to be learned from attending and seeing real people in person.
♪ ♫ ♪ lost 75 pre-op, surgery 1/20/10, 125+ since RNY, 200+ pounds off ♪ ♫ ♪
