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Obesity & Me

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

I had no control over emotions, behaviors or food. It's been an absolute nightmare for me over the years. As I have gotten bigger, and my self esteem, energy and the quality of my lifehas gotten smaller, it's been awful. It's been absolutely awful for me. I hated my life. Very few things gave me joy...not even my children could give me total joy because I was too heavy to enjoy the fun of being a Mom to them. I was jealous of the "smaller" moms who could keep up with their kids.

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

Being unable to control my eating, knowing it, and not being able to do anything about it. Feeling like I was a lousy mother for not being able to keep up with my kids...being embarrassed for them having to be seen with me.

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

Playing outside with my kids...shopping for new clothes!!!

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

The first time I heard about it was from a co-worker, who had a relative who had the "old" stomach stapling procedure almost thirty years ago. That person unfortunately passed away within two days of the procedure. A friend of mine had open RNY done in March of 2001...and I began to research the procedures then because I wanted to know what was happening with my friend. That is when I realized that it might be the solution I had been searching for. I began to look at it much more closely at that point.

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

My approval was very easy...they approved within hours of receiving my request from my surgeon. I would like to thank HealthNet Northeast...they have been wonderful to me and my entire family.

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

Nervewracking and humorous!!! I was nervous as all get out and then my surgeon called me a "lightweight" I had never heard anything so ridiculous in all my life. Make sure when you go to that initial appointment you have researched what you want to have done...so you know what your surgeon is talking about.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The before and after pictures on obesityhelp.com

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon's suggestion...he is a premiere lap surgeon...his expertise was my guiding light!!

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?

I had no fears of anything...I felt I was too determined to succeed at this. I had failed so many diets that I would not allow myself to think about failing wls. And I saw on the message board once that you have a 99.5% chance of success...those are better odds than Vegas gives...I'll take it!! And that's what I tell people.

How did your family and friends react to your decision? Would you have communicated anything differently if you could now? How supportive were they after your surgery?

Most of my family and friends were supportive. I had one co-worker, who had a relative die 25 or so years ago from one of the old procedures who was less than enthusiastic...another co-worker who does not believe that she has a weight problem and is very jealous of the attention I get from others...and my husband at first "forbid" me to have surgery...no one was going to rearrange his wife's guts...but...now: everyone is very supportive and awesome about my surgery!!! I wouldn't change a thing!!

How did your employer/supervisor react to your decision? What did you tell him/her? How long were you out of work?

No reaction...my supervisor is in a completely different area of the State and hasn't even seen me. I was out of work for 3 weeks.

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

NO COMPLICATIONS !!!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

You better believe it!!!!! People who wouldn't look at me before all of a sudden pay attention to what I have to say...superficial nits!!!
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Before & After
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before photo after photo

ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

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