jmille28

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Obesity & Me

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

I have been fighting my weight ever since I quite smoking 28 years ago. That first year I gained 100 lbs. and more since. I have yoyo dieted for years. Meridia, Weight Watchers, B12 shots, an Optifast program, etc. I would get to a point where I couldn't stay. the most I ever lost was 60 lbs. and when I went on maintenance I gained 54 of it back. It was at this point that I finally decided that WLS was my best option. The disappointments, and frustrations of dieting over and over again were unbearable. I had borderline hypertension, sleep apnea, asthma, high cholesterol, arthritis, etc. The co-morbidities were going to kill me.

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

Trying to put on that "happy face" when dressing for occasions, or work and knowing that you just were fat. Thinking that you looked pretty good and then looking in a mirror. Having people ask you "Are you pregnant", "when are you due". Not being able to take long walks because my feet, knees, back would just be so painful. I could go on and on.

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

It is 3 years since my Roux N Y surgery on 5/4/2010. It was a journey not without hurdles. Major infections after surgery, 7 weeks in the hospital, fighting these infections, a hot appendix which happened while I was in there, home a week and back in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism. Contracted C-diff during my hospital stay and had many relapses until in Feb. 2011 I went to Minnesota and had a "fecal transplant", Have been c-diff clear ever since. I have kept 100 lbs off and am working on taking off the 10 lbs I gained this year due to uncontrolled snacking. I am back on track. Exeercise religeiously, lap swimming, walking the golf course, taking classes like Move to Lose at my local YMCA. Try to exercise at least 5 days a week. On the last 12 week class of Move to Lose lost 4 inches overall. I am healthy, off of all precription drugs, Happy and if you look I have posted some more recent pictures. Yes the road was rough, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Have gone from a size 24 to a size 10 and have maintained that size for the last 2 years. Best wishes to all of you on your weight loss journey.

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

I had heard about bariatric surgery for years. A lot of horror stories and mis-information. My first impression was that this was something I did not want to do. Finally after many years of depression and weight gain, I did some real research and decided with my husbands and my mothers help to seek this solution.

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

When you get the packet to fill out be extremely accurate about you past history of weight loss attempts. Make sure you have all the information requiored. Make sure that you have your primary care doctors approval and a letter of medical necessity. These will all make the process easier. Then, a lot of it is up to how well your surgeons office handles your paperwork and their interaction with your insurance company.

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

My husband came with me for my first visit with my surgeon. We had with us a list of questions, and I would advice everyone to take a written list of questions with them so that they don't forget to ask something. It may seem trivial to you, but you need to know the answers. The surgeon that we saw was very friendly and took the time to go over all of the WLS options that we had, and the pros and cons of each. After discussing my eating habits and looking at the material I had brought with me, the fact that I am a woman and older, and a volume eater, had him make the suggestion that the RNY would be my best option. We agreed with him.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After talkign to the surgeon and having done some research, I made the decision right there and then that I wanted to proceed with having the WLS.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My decision to have the RNY procedure was based on my medical history. The fact that I am an older woman and that I am a volume eater. These facts mean that I needed an option that allowed for some malabsorption as well as restriction.. A lap band would not accomplish this. The vertical sleeve gastrectomy did not appeal to me and my insurance most likely would not pay for it. And I did not want the more complicated bileo-pancreatic duodenal switch, which I know would most likely give the most weight loss but I did not wnat to be that mal-absorptive. Thqat was a personal decision.

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 think with all of the improvements over the years in doing gastric bypass surgery that the risk of dying is no more than any other surgery and in fact less than some. I believe the risk is about 1%. No surgery is totally risk-free. I do fear some of the complications that can arise, but in order to live a full life and enjoy the years I have left, I feel the risk is worth it. Nothing in life is free or simple. There are always consequences. I feel that I can live with the consequences of this surgery.

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?

I am being somewhat selective in who I tell about my decision to have WLS. Most of my friends know, but only some of the people in my family know. There are some people in my family who are extremely negative people and I would be inundated with "horror" stories. I am perfectly aware that the surgery I am having is a "tool" and unless I change my way of eating and take all of my supplements, I could become either malnourished or I could gain my weight back. These are facts and I feel that I have the support I need to accomplish my goals. After the surgery I will tell the rest of my family.

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

I am retired, so thankfully that will not be an issue.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

My first information seminar was excellent. It helped to see so many other people that were "in the same boat" so to speak. The information was spot on and I have continued to attend support group meetings while I wait for my surgery and I will attend support group meetings after my surgery. I feel that this is very important to maintain your initiative and to reach your goals. Every little bit of information helps and there is always someone who asks a question that you might not have thought of, but that is one that makes a difference in your life.
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