My Journey

Hello!  My name is Patricia and I just joined this group.  I am hoping to have RNY surgery.
I am an emotional eater. I was not a fat child for the most part, but around the age of 9 or 10 I started gaining weight. I was maybe 15 to 20 lbs more than the other kids my age. But as I got older I started putting on more weight. By the time I graduated from High school I was wearing a size 18/20.  Through nursing school I continued my path of adding on the pounds. By the time I was 21 I weighed 245lbs. But I have always thought of my self as PHAT & FINE. I had high self esteem, out going, traveled and enjoyed life. Had an active dating life and had nothing to complain about life was good. But the pounds kept coming and so did the achy back and bad knees. When I met my husband I was 33 years old & 470 lbs. I was still pretty active at this time working and taking some college courses.  Fast forward 3 years and on the day of my wedding up to 600lbs!!! at that point I did not feel PHAT & FINE. I felt SUPER UNHEALTHY. I decided to do something about my weight. I said if I didn’t get a hold on my weight I wouldn’t live much longer this was 2006. Over the years I have tried every diet, weight loss program and potion I heard of to try and loose weight.  In 2006 I had PPO insurance, after MD referral, Psyche consult and many test the PPO denied the request for surgery. Thank God In 2008 I found out my employer offered an HMO that covered the surgery. I was on the right track following the bariatric program and doing well. I went from 600lbs to 566lbs by September 2009. September 3, 2009 one of my best friends died from complication after having excess skin removed and breast augmentation. I was devastated and lost control. Now I am better and weighting 605lbs. But that’s ok because I am back and getting better by the day. There is more to my story but I will save that for another day. Thank you for listening.