Moma V.

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Obesity & Me

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

When things didn't go right, I ate, when I was stressed I ate, when I was unhappy I ate. I was on a constant diet, but when I failed, I ate more. Dieting only slowed down my weight gain to a minimal 10+lbs a year. No matter what I did, my weight kept climbing up.

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

My sons having to take care of me instead of me taking care of them. Not having a life sucked also, my friends stopped coming around and stopped inviting me places. I was miserable, why would they want me around?

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

everything I have a life again!

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

Research.. then my cousin had GB, then a friend, and another friend. My intial impression of the surgery, This was MY ONLY option to regaining my health.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was miserable, there was no real decision made, either I have the surgery or I truly wanted to stop living.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted the procedure I had, I wanted a tool that would slap me in the face when I ate the wrong thing, I needed to relearn to eat. Even if I had wanted another procedure, my insurance company then would ONLY cover the RnY.

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 really didn't have fears, my bigger fear was the downward spiral to death, from my weight.

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

2 days, then released, then back for 9 more days. I got a internal staph infection and my fever had spiked, so I was re-admitted. At that time the RN's sucked on the floor, ignoring my IV's beeping, ignoring me, not much in the way of offering to assist me with any of my personal needs. Chap stick and someone that cares-don't leave home without those.

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

I had LAP RnY, upon closing the staplegun misfired, nicking my spleen, I was bleeding out, after hours in the OR, my surgeon removed my Spleen. He was after all, doing a surgery to save my life, so he saved my life twice that day. The first 3 months of my recovery were very slow, I only ate ice chips and broth.

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

.

How far did you travel to have your surgery? (If far, how did this affect your aftercare?)

200 miles and yes it has affected my after care, I have seen my surgeon at 23 days post-op, 9 months and 18 months, right now I'm past due to see him again, but I haven't the means to travel at present. When going this far from home, I can't attend the support meetings, the biggest part of the aftercare is support, I feel.

What was your actvity level in the days and weeks after surgery?

non-existant.. I was in terrible pain and miserable. I didn't leave home until I was 3 months post-op, other than my initial follow up visits to my surgeon.

What vitamins and/or dietary supplements have you taken since your surgery?

Vitasmart - Calcium Citrate Vitasmart - Multi-vits Profect - less than 3 oz's and 25 g's of protein! Scitec Protein Delight is a good tasting suppliment.

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

my LAP RnY scars are barely visible. However the scar from my Splenectomy that I had at the same time is ugly and I have a hernia.
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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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