Good Morning. The last straw

Another poll question...

What was the straw that broke the camel's back for you? What tipped the scales in favor of WLS? Who planted the seed of an idea in your head that you might finally be able to get the weight off through WLS?

--gina


The last diet I tried broke the camel's back for me. I was on Nutrisystem for 6 months and dropped 9 pounds in the first month and a half and stalled out. I had yo-yo'd for years to maintain the Army weight standard but blew my metabolism in the process. I also had back surgery at Walter Reed and knew I wouldn't be able to exercise like I was to keep the weight off.
My mother actually planted the seed without knowing it. She just mentioned that my aunt had had WLS and wasn't negative about it...pretty neutral, really. At some point within the following months I started researching my options and looking for surgeons in my area and here I am today almost 5 years post-op, healthy and within a normal BMI range.

Hi Gina,

for me it was my mom too!!!  I ran into a friend of my mom's at the store and she looked great!!  When I later told my mom she said Hi, my mom asked how she looked.  I told her awesome and she commented that she had RNY.  I did 't think anything of it and went on my merry way.  1 year later and so down about my weight, my mom commented, "ya know, I will support you any way you need, but why don't you look into the WLS".  "You are so young, do it now and get your life back".

I never thought my husband would go for it!!  I had to break him in in baby steps and initially told him I want the band.  I knew in my heart I was getting RNY!!!  3 mo later I was in the OR having my surgery!!!

Today, 2.5 yrs later I have lost a total 123 lbs, I maintain a 111 lbs loss and my body seems comfortable where I am.  I am still considered "overweight:  by a whopping 2 points, but it is better then being super morbidly obese, any day!!!!

I wouldn't change a thing!!

I don't even remember.  I joined this site in 04 so I had started looking into it way back then.  But I knew I couldn't do it without insurnance.  I do remember getting something from my insurance in early 2010 about approval changing for WLS to only groups that were Centers of Excellance and was amazed that it was approved at all.  That started my search for a Center of Excellance that I had to have to get it approved. 

I had tried all the suppliments, diet aids, etc over the years.  I lost 60lbs with WW in the 80's and was their WW of the year.  But nothing was working anymore. I had gotten to the point that I wasn't even trying anymore.  When I did, I would lose 10 lbs and gain it back.  I was working out at Curves, doing the horses, certainly active, and basically eating ok, just too much.  Nothing I did seemed to really make a difference.  I knew it was a last chance for me.

Hello Gina,

                For me I was driven by the simple fact I knew  I had to do something!  It was the constant gaining and no end in sight!!  My blood pressure was thru the moon and I was having problems with my knees and hips.  I couldnt do stairs without stopping every few steps to breathe!  I knew this couldnt go on.  I was referred to a respitory specialist who kindly told me my weight was most of my problems and thanks to him he put my feet on the path to Weight Loss Surgery!!  I have thanked that man everyday since, what a caring and wonderful doctor he is!!!  Fast forward to today, Ive lost approx 115lbs and am loving and living my life!!  No more high blood pressure readings, no more gasping to walk and climb stairs!!  I have had a few challenges since my surgery but have overcome them.  I give thanks to my wonderful DH and little ones who believed in me.  Have a wonderful weekend Everyone!!!

Actually dh did it for me...he joined OH in 2006 and was starting the process for the RNY but before we could get far, we moved...then we both kinda dropped the idea.

Fast forward to the spring of 2010 and something in ME clicked. My need for insulin was rising regardless of how well I tried to control it and I knew I was losing the insulin sensitivity battle. So I told dh I wanted to look into it...I googled surgeons here where I am and found out I had to attend an info seminar...they did mention the DS which sounded perfect for me...

And the rest is history.

Liz

 Good morning,

I went to my PCP in October 2009 because of my gallbladder.  She mentioned WLS to me at that visit.  GB removed 11/2/2009,  WLS orientation two weeks later.  VSG 2/17/2010.   Once the seed was planted, I just had to get over the " I'm a failure if I do this, I will be taking the easy way out" mentality.   My son convinced me that I needed to do it.  My list of pros and ons definitely tipped the scale when I saw all of the heart disease of my ancestors.

Its taken two years but my blood pressure, cholesterol and weight are finally all in normal ranges.

It was my neighbor. He had GB and didn't die and lost weight and that changed my thinking about it as a viable choice.

I had a couple of things.  First was when I had to start taking diabetes medicine and sticking my finger.  I really worked hard at the diet and exercise, but just could lose any weight.

Then when my DS got married and I looked at the pictures - I was like stunned - Did I really look like this???  I don't know what kind of hiding my head in the sand world I was living in, but evidently it was not the real world. I had done every diet/diet pill/program out there and could lose but couldn't keep it off.  The last few years - I had a really hard time even losing weight so I'm guessing my metabolism was pretty shot also.

I had looked into the lapband about a year prior to all of this and had pretty much decided to do that.  Then a neighbor of my parents had WLS and she looked like a different person.  I talked to several people who had different types of surgery.  Got the money together to pay for lapband and then found out our insurance was going to start covering it so I waited.  Did the six months of diet and six months of counseling(or support group meetings).  I had two surgeon consultations and both said lapband was not enough for me, so I decided on RNY.

Almost 3 years later - best decision I ever made.  I have my life back and really enjoying it so much more.  Doing things I never thought were possible.

Linda

my before pix is from my neices wedding.  I had no idea I looked like that.  It certainly was a contributing factor in deciding on surgery.