Hi I'm new to this forum

Hello, my name is Melanie. I am 48 years old, live just outside of Brookfield NS, am recently widowed, and have a son, Matthew who is 25.

For as long as I can remember I have been overweight; morbidly obese to be exact. I can remember seeing those words on a doctors report in '88, when sent to Halifax when I was pregnant for my daughter; seeing that word was a shock to me, obese was bad enough, but seeing "morbidly" attatched was an OMG. You would think that would have been a wake up call I needed, but no.

In '88 my daughter passed away from SIDS. With numerous failed attempts with diets over the years, my bad habits and emotional eating continued. The secret of how much I weighed to family and friends was kept, and at times even a secret from myself. When one doesn't fit into store bought clothes or can get on a normal scale, you build a life of hiding, avoid it, therefore the problem doesn't exist. 

I ended in the hospital with a ruptured appendix that nearly killed me, (I was 445 lbs then) and subsequesnt appendectomy later in the fall of '86. It was late that fall that my brother told my mother how much I weighed, he had heard it (as well as other stories the surgeon boasted of) around the supper table at his friends house. The friend's mom was a surgical nurse in the OR where I had had my surgery. I wrote the hospital, and never heard anything back. My faith in doctors needless to say diminished.

In "92 I was rushed into emergency surgery for what they thought an incarcerated hernia, but when opened up, found a very large abcess, which remained open to heal. I was in the hospital 10 weeks... then my father passed away and I then was let out and went back to emerge daily for dressing changes. Still had a hernia. I had lost some weight  in the following year...but as always gained what I had lost and then some.

In September of 2009 I reached my biggest. The exact weight I am not sure, but looking back I would have to say I was at least 550 pounds, if not more. Being laid off in January and having been in emergency the day before with pain due to the hernia; it was revealed that my gut was fully outside my abdominal wall. The doctor had told me that if I was to be rushed into emerge with a perforation, they would be able to open me up but not close me. So elective surgery was a must and he would put a referral into Dr Klassin in Halifax to see me. My health was in bad need of a turn around. I went home, stuck to the diabetic diet, tested my blood sugars and took my insulin. After a month of not hearing anything I called the doctors office. I inquired of the referral, of which I got the run around, and in throwing a fit finally got a response that they would call Dr Klassins office for I wasn't allowed. I never heard back. and being fed up, gave up and began to eat whatever i wanted once again.

On Sept 25th 2009 my life changed. A wake up call on health issues that will forever be burned in my memory. My husband of 25 years was diagnosed with High Blood pressure, High Cholesterol, Diabetes and Penile cancer. He had an immediate amputation. Lymphadenectomy followed, he then had a heart attack, went into cardiac arrest, paddled back, heart cath/stent put in, genital edema, subsequent surgury for what they thought a perineal abcess but found to be a reoccurring tumor of the kind before and had mestates in the lungs. Curtis passed away July 14th, 2010. 

In helping Curtis get his diet on track, diabetes & cholesterol controlled, I too hopped on the band wagon and have been on ever since. Eventhough I have had my moments, they are short lived for I am determined to keep this path I am on to a heathier me. In September '09 I was on 90 units of insulin in the am and 80 units at night. Today I am on 35 units in the am and 25 units at night, and am fitting into clothes I can buy in a store! I started seeing the doctor regularly the end of July, in which she got me into see Doctor Dzierzanowski. He referred me to Dr Ellsmere.

Finally on Tuesday Feb 22nd 20011, I received a call from Diane to see Dr.Ellsmere on Feb 24th.

Dr. Ellsmere said he would put me on the Weight Loss Program, and once 30 pounds down (was weighed in at 430lbs) I would have the first surgery so to lose weight. Then once down to 250 I would have a hernia repair. He said in two years I will have this fixed. I was given their website url to read all I could, and Diane would call me with the date when it starts.

My heads full of so much info, trying to take everything in. I have started training myself to eat slower, (I think I am from a family of pelicans sure lol)  and I'm daily making a habit of drinking my water.

I know I will need support and any info out there so tis why I joined, and am glad to see a Nova Scotia forum here, and look forward to meeting others hearing of their journeys.

Thanks for listening,

Melanie Bates/nsblue

Melanie, Wow.  I am sorry to hear of all of these things that have happened in your life.  But I am very impressed and proud of you for turning things around and getting on the path to weight loss!!! 
You can do it!!

Thanks oakley39. I keep telling myself I can, though some moments doubt does creep in. I just have to think of the last year and know, I've GOT TO.

I think what is the hardest is to break old habits...I really need to get out and walk more, and make it a new habit.

Welcome Melanie!  You will find tremendous support on the OH site!  I look forward to following your journey!

Thanks for the welcome Kat_12.

It's taking me a bit to figure things out here in the forum, i think if i was on high speed instead of old dial up things might be faster lol 

Welcome Melanie,

Wow you sure have alot going on in your life You must be a very strong person and therefore you will be successful in your journey.This is a special forum and you will find great support here! Keep us posted and best of luck to you!

Thanks ruthann49.

In the last year I've heard that said... "you are a strong person", and I guess in looking back, I must have been to get through it all, somehow I didnt feel that strong though, I just somehow got through it....looking for the good in it all somewhere. I guess there's times when we do what we must...and i guess in learning that within me the last year...i now MUST DO this... and get healthy. 

lol i have to remember to read this post when i am at low points....and write it 10 times lol

I am thankful to have a place to find the support i will be needing, and look forward to getting to know you all.

Melanie

Welcome to the forums! Sorry to hear you had it rough so far. But we are all here to support you and help you in any way we can.


Ginny

Thanks so much Ginny. Reading everyones stories is so helpful...and knowing i have others here to call upon is wonderful. Having someone in your corner and a support line i think is crucial.i read where you only had your surgery at the first of this year?  How have you been doing with everything?  I am such a gulper and pelican, i hope to be able to slow myself down and be able to get everything into me when i have mine...i guess this is on my mind alot...wondering how one fits in all the water and food/protein etc and not throw up...i absolutely hate throwing up.

Hi Melanie,

Welcome to the forum!  There are a few of us here from the Truro area  :)  I echo what the others have said - it's hard not to turn to food for comfort when it seems there isn't another place to go...  or at least no where that we know about...  This is a great place to ask questions, 'meet' people & learn a little more about wls.  For me it's been amazing - I started out at super morbidly obese too & I'm almost at goal now, and if I can do it...!  lol  We do have support group meetings in Truro - if you are interested just let me know and I will send you some info.

Glad to have you with us!
Angie