Hello Lightweights!!

Well hello there, I think I've landed in the right place. I've spent hours browsing and now I'm just looking for a place to learn from other people. 

I am just starting my journey...all I know is that I will be going to my first consultation/orientation on June 23. And I'm anxious beyond belief. I have only told a handful of people about my journey - my mom, my hubby, my two BFFs. Other than that mums the word, mostly because I dread other people's reactions. Realizing this was a step in the right direction took a lot of soul searching on my part. I have never learned enough about WLS to think it was for me. But now I see. I'm looking to share my thoughts with others who can understand. And as you will learn from my long post....I love to talk (well...type!).

So I'm a 34 year old mother to one amazing little boy, Navy wife (for a very long 15 years!) and girl who has struggled with my weight since about 18. I went undiagnosed with PCOS for years and finally won that battle in 2007. After being told it would be "very difficult" to get pregnant I somehow managed to defy that. My pregnancy was pretty much normal. I was already overweight (180) but I managed to keep my weight gain under 50 lbs. Then at 32 weeks I wa**** with HBP and numbness in my hands and feet and so we struggled to get those under control. I ended up delivering 5 weeks early in an emergency C-section but boy was he worth it. I was excited to lose weight with my breast-feeding and yet somehow that didn't quite work and so we had to turn to formula. After going back to a super-stressful job I managed to gain back the 25 lbs I lost during maternity leave. After much soul-searching, I quit that job in January and now work from home part time as an independent contractor. I can focus on my family (which is important, since my husband stays deployed 75% of the time!!). I found time to begin working out and switched our family to an Organic/all natural diet. And yet, here I am months later not really losing any weight. 

That's when my doctor hit me with it - you MUST lose weight. So we start talking, we discuss family history (diabetes, HBP, heart problems) and we discuss my PCOS, we discuss my failed Weigh****chers, Slim Fast and even South Beach Diet attempts. The next thing I know we're taking about how my BMI and my long-term fight with weight loss means I'm a candidate for WLS. Whoa....I was shocked. But now I get it. And so here I am, waiting to attend my very first appt with the Bariatric clinic. Being military, I will go to the clinic for a 4.5 hour class/physical/meet surgeon appt. And from there, they review all my info and tell me if I am approved and get a surgery date. It's kinda strange how fast it can all go, my doctor just referred me on 5/13!

 

Anyway, just wanted to say hello and see if this is the place for me. I've read a lot of stories and I'm really amazed at the amount of knowledge and support you all have to share. Thanks for reading!!

Glad you stopped by! I have found this forum to be very helpful...hope you do too

Welcome aboard!  I am sure you will find this to be a very friendly, helpful group of people!  Best of luck to you as you start this journey!

Beverly

Well hello there!  I'm torn between calling you Wicky or Girlie.  LOL   Either way, welcome aboard and you certainly found the right place!!  The LightWeights here are most awesome individuals and are very supportive.  I'm military affiliated (married to a 100% DV) and ChampVA paid all my medical costs except for $124!!    I'm very grateful for my 3.5 month old RNY and have no regrets.  

Great that you got your ticker/widget doodad up!   :-))

Welcome - and glad you found us.  We have a few other military associated folks on here and they may be able to give you a little advice along the way.

This is a very supportive board - and feel free to ask away!

Welcome to the LW board and glad you found us.

Any questions, just ask.

I have had PCOS all my life, well, most of it...I was 12 when I developed it and I am almost 57. Since my youngest half sister also has it (and it is primarily genetic) it's obvious to both of us that we got it from our paternal grandmother, who had all the classic symptoms except one...she was very much able to conceive and have kids (my daddy was one of five, altho the oldest was a little girl who died at 24 hours old).

So while not being able to conceive is typical of PCOS, it is not always present.

Which surgery are you considering?

Liz

Welcome aboard!  I hope enjoy your journey with us.

--gina

Welcome, glad you found us.

With a short pre-surgery time and limited classes, you really owe it to yourself to do a lot of your own research.  Spend this time learning about the different surgery types, changes you need to make before and after surgery for this to be a lifelong positive experience for you.  If you don't get the information you need from your Drs, let us know.  Between the group, seems like someone has experienced just about everything.

 Thank you all so much! Love the positive feedback and information! I am very glad my clinic referred me to this site, they seems to understand how quickly the process goes when you are using a military hospital and provide this site on their paperwork and website. 

I am considering RNY, my doctor who I have been lucky enough to see for sometime feels it would be my best route but I of course need to meet the surgeons and get the clinics point of view. I fully intend to read as much as I can. I'm also very lucky to have a friend in the medical field who will a strong supporter and will be by my side. This is a great plus!

So far my experience has been positive and I hope it continues 

I was considering the RNY as well but ended up with a DS after much research.

My issues with the RNY are that I could never take NSAIDS again and that a huge % of the posters on here were reporting issues with reactive hypoglycemia after the surgery. I already have RH and didn't need to aggravate it.

I was a type II diabetic on an insulin pump also taking metformin for the PCOS sympthoms. My surgery was Jan 24th. On the 1st of Feb, I took off the insulin pump and my last shot of insulin was the 11th of Feb. And about two weeks ago, I discontinued the metofrmin.

Do your research and make sure you pick the surgery first, the surgeon second.

Liz