Introducing myself!

Hi All,

I just wanted to introduce myself. 

My name is jennifer and I am 38 years old.  I am married to a really great guy for 11 years and we have 3 boys!  Crazy in this house!  I weigh right around 300lbs.  Some weeks under 300 and some weeks a few over!

This is actually my 4th time, coming around for this surgery (4th attempt at going through the motions to do the surgery)  At first I thought lap band would be for me.  I got the referral from my Dr's office and started the 6 month proceedings.  But somewhere in that 6 month time period, I decided that I could do the weight loss myself.   I did for a little bit, but gained it back.  Then with more research, I decided that I would probably be better off with gastric bypass instead of Lap Band.  I just felt that it was a better option for me.  So 2 more times I got a referral for the gastric bypass and for some reason just never followed through.  I think I wasn't ready yet.

So, here I am now and i've still been researching and thinking and finally a few weeks ago, it just hit me that it's just the tool I need to help.  I'm not cheating myself out of anything by not doing it on my own.  I need help.  The surgery, for me, is paid for 100% by my insurance company.  I realize that this is just the gift I need to help me manage my life and take it back.  I am finally ready and without any doubts at all.

I've also been on this site for a year or two (Or maybe more?) reading, watching, seeing people transform.  Recently I went through all of the Before and After pictures and actually cried looking at a lot of them!  In a lot of those pictures I could really feel the happiness that I saw in these people and i don't even know who they are....

I have my first appt this coming Tuesday to start the whole process over.  I'm sure the process I am going through with my insurance and Dr.'s are the same that all of you went through.  I meet with my primary care physician on Tuesday (she is so happy for me, she's actually been telling me I should do this for a few years - I love her)  so I get my weight, she will do blood work, etc... then once I have completed that appt, I sign in with the nutritionist.  We do a group class first, then for the following 5 months, we meet individually once a month.  I will meet with the surgeon and also have a Pysch Evaluation (Bonus - I already see the Dr that approves the evaluation as I have true diagnosed ADD and we talk about my weight often and impulse control) and he said that he already approves this surgery for me, so I won't have to wait the 6 wk wait time to schedule an appt with him!  LOL!!)  I am thankful for the small wonders!   Then meet with the surgeon again.   I know there are more appts, but that's the gist of it.  I'm hoping to have this surgery around January or so, but I am aware that it could take more than 6 months to complete everything I need to do.  I have a hard time being patient, but I'm ready to wait this time.  Because I know the outcome for me will be worth it.

I'm here to build friendships, learn through experience, share good times and bad, up's and downs, offer support and recieve support.  I'm easy going, friendly and fun and hope to find all of that here!

Thanks for reading my long ramble!  I'm not shy either, so ask any questions you may have!

Welcome to the family Jennifer.  We are in this to support each other.  Sounds like you have thought this through.  Knowing that this will help by improving your health is great.  Keep seeing your counselor and follow through the insurance hoops, and surgery will be around the corner.

I had my RNY almost 10 months ago and love moving about with less weight on my old knees.  I am 48, married and we share our home with our two dogs.  They each weigh less than 12 pounds and think they are 150# when they bark.

Any questions, concerns, joys, and just plain old thoughts, come back and post, I love to get to know folks better.  Hugs

I'm actually really new here, about 2 weeks i;ve been on this website. i love it. it is so helpful. i look forward to getting to know you. this is the 2nd or 3rd time ive thought about surgery. off and on for the last 4 years i have and finally got the right insurance, etc and bit the bullet. weigh the most i ever have have the most disorders i have ever have, etc. i need this tool. hope your day is going great


Sara

Hi Jennifer!

Your first appointment is the day I actually go in for surgery.  So I will take the time to wish you the best of luck.  This is a very personal journey that ulitmately only you can go through and make the decisions that are best for you.  Others may try to influence you one way or the other, but in the end, you must go into your heart and find your own answer.  After every step and appointment you take, re-evaluate your choice to ensure that you remain true to yourself and what you need.

This site has been a really great source of information and inpiration. 

Can't wait to see how things go for you!

Take care,
Michelle

Thank you ladies!  It will be nice to have people to go through this with.  And especially with people who have been there and can help along the way.

Michelle - your surgery is tomorrow!!  Wow!  I will be anxious to follow you through out the next year.  Best wishes to you tomorrow.  Log on when you can to let us know how things went and how you are feeling. 

A big part of the reason I kept avoiding the surgery the first few times is because there were people out there who had to put their two cents in and it scared me.  But when I sat down and thought about it realistically (And wrote out my pro's and con's) i realized that those people aren't me, they aren't living my life and they don't know what I struggle with on a daily basis.  Most of them were not overweight, so I'm not sure they understood things that I encountered and then I have a few friends that are quite heavy *****fuse as well.  But that's their business.  Not mine.  It finally just HIT me that it is what I want.  I've been reading for years about it, I've asked tons of questions.  I think i finally understand what it is that I will be going through and I'm excited about it.  i know it's not an easy road either.  But it is what I want to do.

My neighbor had this surgery January 30, 2009.  She is 57 years old.  So I helped her out after she came home from sugery and I've watched her lose the weight this last year and a half .  What an amazing transformation!  She was 265lbs and now weighs 115, which is good for her heights and bone size.  I'm still shocked everytime i see her!

Hey Jenny! Welcome to our great group here! It is so good to have you with us. I too considered this surgery on and off for 3 or 4 years before i took the plunge. During that 3 or 4 years I put it off, I gained another 35 lbs to take off and lost those years to obesity and its ill effects on me....live and learn.. It just comes down to you have to be truly ready and certain this is for you before you go through with it, and it sounds like you are there!

Wishing you the best of luck in the hoops jumping process. Use these next 6 months to really prepare yourself! Learn all you can and ask ask ask anything you need to. This will help the time go by faster too.

Oh yes.. I am 43, Married for 11 years as well. 2 grown kids, 2 awesome grandbabies and another due very very soon...LOVE those grandbabies! I have 2 fur babies too (dogs)
started out at 270 before my RNY. Size 24 pant, which was tight. I am now 153, and in a size 8 I can literally run around and play with my grandbabies. I can bend over and breath, no more high blood pressure, I can reach comfortably to wipe my butt.. haha! Its great!
Great to have you here!
Hugs!

LOL!!!!!  Glad to know I'm not the only one that has (Or had) to do gymnastics to wipe my behind!!  So funny that you said that!  I wondered if it was just me or if it were other's too!  

I have a feeling most of us know this "stretch" problem..lol. It is just something I guess we don't really talk about ... HEY.. lets take a poll! LOL