Finally Made It

I've been on my weight loss journey for 4 years now. 4 years ago, I decided I wanted to have bariatric surgery after a very dear friend of mine (who also was planning on having bariatric surgery at that time) encouraged me to do it. For years, doctors would ask "have you thought about having bariatric surgery?" And I'd quickly say "No!" Cause I always told myself I would never have the surgery out of fear of DYING. But to hear my friend tell me "look...we could either die from being as big as we are or we could die from trying to get healthy". And it just made sense to me. My highest weight had gotten to 564. And to read on a piece of paper I am "morbidly obese", that just broke my heart. I mean, when you look up the word "morbid", it makes you feel horrible that you're considered "abnormal". And I started feeling like I will NOT allow myself to get up to 600 pounds. So, I had set up an appointment with St. Vincent Bariatric here in Indianapolis, IN. in 2014. Went to my consultation and I went through the nutritional classes but I was NOT eating the way they wanted me to eat. I ended up losing 20 pounds then gaining 20 pounds. I'd lose a little 3 lbs. here, gain 5 more lbs. there. And I didn't see no problem with it. Then, I was a smoker at the time. I could NOT stop smoking cigarettes. Like, that was my enjoyment. I had a routine with smoking cigarettes. I wasn't ready to let them go. Then also, at the time, I was engaged to a man who didn't want me to have the surgery so he would buy lots of snacks and sweets and take out food for us. And honestly, I can't blame him for me not losing weight while going through the 6 month process. I blame myself for not having the will power to not eat those things. He knew if I didn't get what I wanted I'd be upset. I had done EVERYTHING I was supposed to do though as far as testing and completing the 6 months of weight loss supervision. I had gotten down to 530 pounds. The insurance coordinator sent all my things over to insurance. I let them send everything over to insurance just for me to chicken out at the last minute. But I felt like I wasn't really ready. I just tricked my mind into believing I was ready. In my heart, I knew that wasn't true.

Fast forward...last year, I had decided I am ready for surgery. I will be having my surgery at Community Hospital North and Dr. RoseMarie Jones will be doing the procedure. I will be having the Roux-en-Y. The lowest I've gotten down to is 499 pounds. I had my last nutritionist class June 28th and all my things had been sent over to insurance and I first got denied because I didn't know my policy requires me to see a cardiologist for cardic clearance and I also had to see a Pulmonologist. I would've gotten my surgery on my birthday so I was devastated when I got the letter saying I was denied. That would've been the perfect birthday gift right!? Lol. But anyway...set up my appointments with a pulmonologist and a cardiologist. The Pulmonologist was able to get me an appointment a month and a half after I had gotten my denial letter (September 13) and the cardiologist was so booked up, I was gonna have to wait 2 months to see one (October 22nd)! That just discouraged me even more. But luckily, I was able to get my PCP to referr me to a doc that could get me in sooner than October 22nd. I ended up having both appointments set up in the same week so I was estatic!! So I have FINALLY been approved for surgery! I just did my Chest X-Ray, Upper GI, and gallbladder ultrasound on Wednesday! Now, I'm just waiting on them to give me a call so I can do this 4 hour class and then I'll have my surgery date!! I am soooooo EXCITED and I am READY! No more chickening out. I didn't come this far to chicken out again. Also, I have been single for 2 and a half years now. I had to get rid of my ex fianceé and honey...once I got rid of him, I became non-stop with wanting to get my health right. I ended up finding out I was severely anemic. When I have my cycles, I bleed heavily for like 2 days. Then I started craving corn starch really bad so I got in a habit of eating like 2 lbs. of it in A DAY. And I didn't even know why but I knew that could be due to low iron. So I talked to my PCP about it and she was like "OMG! You're so pale I can tell you're anemic". She got my results and she thought I would need a blood transfusion. She put me on iron meds first to see if that would help and it has. I no longer crave corn starch so I don't eat it anymore thank God. I've been keeping my blood pressure in order. And I no longer smoke cigarettes! So I can definitely say AT THIS MOMENT in my life, I am living my best life. I am so proud of myself and I just had to tell my story. Keep me lifted in prayer. IT'S ALL LOVE!

Wishing you the very best as you move forward towards health and freedom!

Thank you very much! :-)

I'm a firm believer that this is not a process anyone should venture into without being absolutely and totally committed. I looked into once A few years before I went through with it. Thinking back about why I didn't do it then proved I wasn't ready.

Wishing you continued success.

You are absolutely right! And if anyone does have this surgery while they're not mentally prepared yheyret headed for destruction. Weight loss and sticking to it ain't no joke at all. Lol. Thank you for responding and for the well wishes! God bless you!

Lady J - it sounds to me like you have ALREADY made some VERY significant changes - the loser fiancé, and the deadly cigarettes !! AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I look forward to getting to know you, and watching your continued SUCCESS

I look forward to getting to know you too! Thank you! :-)

You've done a great job at committing to healthy changes. It is amazing what one can do once you get your head in the right place. Congratulations and best of luck!

Gratitude! :-)

Best of luck on your continued journey.