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 but 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.

OMG up until the you met your husband at 33 that was my life! I am new here too ya'll I just figured out how to reply so this will be my intro as well. I also noticed a pattern growing up that whatever age I have been I have worn the dress size to match ...or almost. I am 26 right now and wearing a 24 dress size and this is the end. I am currently at my highest weight 274lbs and am scheduled for lab testing Nov. 22. (I had to do it on Thanksgiving break cause I am in RN school right now) and in Dec. I am getting the RNY. My hubby just called me on skype today to tell me he wont be home from Iraq till Dec. 30 so I am having my mom come up to help me recover after surgery (although my nursing gals said they would help if I needed it). I am so stressed right now with school that I am just worried I am gonna gain more weight before meeting with my surgeon and they told me I couldnt gain any more or run the risk of having to pay for a month long liquid diet that he prescribes that cost 400 bucks. AAAANNNDDD my hubby and I have been saving to buy a car when he gets home! So I really cant afford to pay for that...plus I just payed off my charge card from school books and this is right before Christmas! Anyway, I am just on here hopeing for some support and to provide support for others since I don't really have many friends here and the ones I have are really only from school and have their own lives or children outside of it. I always feel left out or not accepted which is really my own depression sinking in I know that logically but It really is not cool living somewhere on your own, with no kids, hubby is deployed for almost a year now, and my family is all 7 hours away! Add to that working at night as security on the military instilation by myself and being at school or clinical the rest of the time I get super lonely. So that's my story so far. I hope to hear from ya'll and will keep you updates as my schedule permits! :)

Great to read your post Daniestar.  I am in health care too, work night shift, RN.  My co-workers were great about covering my shifts while I recovered.  I am here for your support.  Best of luck with nursing school, you will be glad when it is complete.  I can sense that you miss your hubby, Dec will be here soon, just not soon enough.  Keep us up to date with your story.  Keep a few minutes free each day to care for yourself.  Ask any and all questions. 

Find things to do when the emotional eating pangs strike.  Have a list of things to do instead of eating.  I have been reading on alternatives.  Someone suggested putting alternatives on slips of paper, draw out 1 to 3 of the papers with options and do one of the choices before thinking of eating again.  Only include things that you are willing to do.  Small ways to pamper yourself.  Study and work make for busy times.  Be kind to yourself.  Hugs

Hello and welcome to our group daniestar.  I wish you the best of luck in everything timing out perfectly for your surgery to be done when most convenient. We have another gal in our group here who's hubby has been deployed for some time now. She had her wls while he was away.  Just be sure to have a strong support system in place so you have the help you need the first couple of weeks.

Come here anytime for friends, support, etc. We also have a monday evening chat you can come to. Kathy sends out the reminders each Monday earlier in the day.

I am 44 and an LPN, and am currently in the process of gearing up to go back for my RN, after 20 years as an LPN. YIKES... all those body peices parts and things are not as clearly remembered as they used to be..lol Gotta brush up!

Thanks for sharing your story Patricia.  I fianlly made the decision to have the surgery in 2009, it was one of the best things I have done for myself.  I still have a ways to go, but life is so much better with less of me to move about.  My knees are thankful for the decision for wls.

Sharing stories helps many of us.  Anything we can do to support you at this time.  Keep looking for the positive results, success will be yours.  If you can, come to chat sessions monday evenings.  I send out a reminder each monday with a shortcut to the chat area.  Men and women from all over come for the caring and sharing that happens during chat.

I had RNY in sept of 09 and have lost nearly 100#.  I am married, 2.75 years already.  My hubby and I have two small dogs that we care for.  Pics of the dogs are on my page.  Their names are Oscar and Gretta.  Thanks for joining the bariatric buddy group, you will find great support here.  Some days are quieter than others.  We each make the group the best possible by posting often.  Hugs

Thank you for sharing.    =)

Patricia and Daniestar, welcome to you both!

Colleen

I too welcome you Patricia 

There are so many of us here with stories that are so similar to others. And some of our stories are so different. But one thing is for certain, we are all on the same journey to health and happiness and freedom from obesity and food.

Wow.. that is awful about your friend that died due to complications of Plastics. I had PS last Feb, and actually am going back to have something revised at the end of this month.  What went wrong with your friends surgery? My heart is with you.

What procedure did you have? Your tool is still there.. just have to use it. Reach out and let us help. Thank you for sharing so openly.