ItsMyTurn

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Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

My life as an overweight person is like a neverending black hole. I struggled between being counseled to love myself the way I look and loving myself enough to not accept the way I look. My decision to change my body is because I was not just a big girl that would always be that way no matter what. I was a big girl that just keeps on getting bigger and in the end I could not claim that God made me this way becuase 2 years and 20 lbs later I would be responsible for making me that way and not taking care of what God did give me. A temple to be respected and honored as the home of my Christ.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

The worst thing about me being overweight is dealing with the prejudice and assumptions by other people. Assumptions that I do not love myself, that I like to eat anything and always eat to excess. The embarrassment of sharing public seating. Wondering if I will fit comfortably or worse fitting comfortably and others not thinking there is enough room for them to join me. In most cases I decide to stand and avoid the situation all together.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

Feeling more self confident with each pound lost.

How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

I've always known about it. Even considered it a couple years ago to the point where I made appts. I can't remember what deterred me but I guess it just was not the time for me to pursue it. This next go round I am moving full steam ahead.

Describe your experience with getting insurance approval for surgery. What advice, if any, do you have for other people in this stage?

The wait could have been nerve wrecking if I did not have the support of fellow OHers! I knew what to expect and I had an army praying for me. My advice is to be informed of your insurers process and be diligent and have faith.

What was your first visit with your surgeon like? How can people get the most out of this meeting?

My first meeting with the surgeon was exactly what I expected. After letting the doctor talk I had to throw out my list of questions because he answered them all! But my advise is to write your list out anyway just in case!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Continued weight gain despite regular dieting and exercise.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I chose the LapBand because I did not want to commit to forever altering the way my body accepts nutrition and processes it. The LapBand is less invasive and reversible should my body not tolerate what I am choosing to do.

What fears did you have about having complications or even dying from from the surgery, and what would you tell other people having the same fears now?

Because I have a minor child my biggest decision was making responsible decisions about her care in case it was my time to go. I prepared for the worst but trusted in God to make the best decision.

What was your stay in the hospital like? How long where you there? What things are most important to bring?

My stay in the hospital was less than 48 hours. I was comfortable and the staff were competent

Did you have any complications from the surgery? If so, how did you deal with them?

I did not have any complications

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

After getting my date I tried my best to just forget about it because it was about a month away. I then focused on all that I neglected while on my journey to get approval!

Describe your first few weeks home from the hospital. What should people expect from this period?

I am now exactly 2 weeks post-op and would recommend this be the least amount of time people give themselves before going back to work. I only took one week and was still physically adjusting to my diet and mobility.

What aftercare support group/program do you have? How helpful/important is this?

My surgeons office offers 2-3 support meeting per month and the staff have made themselves very available for questions and concerns between these times.

What is your scar like? Is this what you expected?

I have 4 very small scars and one about an inch and a half long scar. They have healed and are barely visible except for the larget one. It is still healing.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No.
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