meredith1153

Obesity & Me

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

Personal Diet History Meredith Pierce 7/31/02 Where to begin? I remember being teased about being fat from the time I entered school. I was in the 5th grade when I turned ten. I remember visiting the doctors office (where my mother was the nurse), stepping on the scale and hearing my mother say, in an exasperated voice, You weigh 117 lbs that is ridiculous for a 10 year old! Thus started my familys attempts to make me normal. Please dont get me wrong, I am loved VERY much by my family and I love them, but weight has been an issue for me since then. After the doctors visit, I cried so hard that I threw up and got very sick. The next day I stood on the scale and discovered I lost 5 pounds! I thought, Gee, by throwing up I can lose weight! And so my fight with my weight and then bulimia began. My older sister was very thin; she only weighed 95lbs when she started college. She was a thin baby, thin child and now a thin adult! Oh, how I wanted to borrow her cloths! But she would refuse, telling me I would ruin them and stretch them out! My younger sister was so cute; she could wear little yellow bikinis when I had to wear tank suits. I am the only one of my sisters with large breasts 5th grade is when I started to develop as well as realize I was fat. My mother put me on the Atkins and Scarsdale diets and on many nutrition programs. We ate very healthy at home, always balanced dinners. We were only allowed one serving of bread and meat, but we could eat all of the salad we wanted. I am the only one who was fat. Then as my younger sister hit puberty, she gained weight. My parents were on her about it but she is stronger than I am, and she told them she was happy. Both of my sisters now battle obesity. My parents are after all of us to lose weight. They are worried about our health. My father had a heart attack at 48 years old and has gone through several heart surgeries and is not overweight. I went to Weight Watchers in 1973 while in college. I lost the 25 lbs I needed to lose to get to goal. (Not on their program I threw everything up!). I continued this method of controlling my weight, but it got progressively worse. When I graduated from college I worked at a dude ranch in Colorado and thats when my obsession about my weight got out of hand. I got down to 103lbs and thought I was still fat! I weighed 117 when I got married in 1977. Still keeping my weight under control by vomiting. Then I got pregnant with my son who was born on April 8, 1981. I stopped getting sick because I thought it might hurt him. I had a severe gall bladder attack when I was 5 months pregnant. I had to have emergency surgery in the middle of the night. I gained 35 pounds when I was pregnant. I went to Weight Watchers again to lose the weight. (Of course I added the benefit of vomit!) I lost the weight and became a Lifetime member. Finally, at 35 years old I decided that throwing up every day was absolutely stupid! So, I quit. And subsequently gained over 100 pounds. I have carried this weight for 14 years. I have tried every diet, program, pill, exercise EVERYTHING EXCEPT VOMIT since thenthe most I have lost is 20 lbs, but then something happens and I gain it back. Health problems meningitis in 1993 and 1995. Traumatic events take place: My son suffered a traumatic brain injury in 1997 and was in a coma for 3 months I was told he was brain dead and that I should remove him from life support. I didnt, and he survived! His doctors said he had a miraculous healing. At the time of his death in March of 2001 (from hypertrophic cardiomalgia) he was attending college and had his own company. I have been lost in grief since then. I am scratching and clawing my way back into life. I want to live, be happy and enjoy every minute I am alive, for myself and to honor my son! I want to be healthy! I want to be normal!

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

The constant ridicule by perfect strangers and the public's general assumption that fat somehow determines a person's intelligence.

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

SHOPPING!!!!!!! Walking! Sleeping! (my sleep apnea was horrible!), Painting, working in my yard, walking my dogs...I was very limited when I was obese! I am free now and am spreading my wings!

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

One of my friends had the surgery and was very successful. But, at the time, I felt that it was too radical for me and that if I just ate like she did I could lose the weight too...Yeah, right!

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

I am currently a patient with NeWeigh in Houston, TX. They were great and helped me get approved within 3 weeks. I would recommend going through a special program like NeWeigh...the follow up support is FANTASTIC!

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

He was very serious and attentive. He answered all of my questions. (I prepared a list of questions and concerns to take with me).

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had several co-morbidities (sleep apnea being the most severe)

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I did research regarding the success and failures of each surgery type. I decided that I wanted the RNY because of the long term results. I know this surgery is irreversible ~ but why would you want to reverse it????????

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 did think about dying during surgery ~ I made arrangements with my family and friends to "adopt" my dogs and cats if I passed away. They each had a wonderful home to go to if I died. I do not have a fear of death ~ I just want to live my life as healthy and happy as I can....and I certainly couldn't do that being morbidly obese.

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?

My family has been GREAT! I can't believe how supportive they have been. They were so worried about me being morbidly obese and having sleep apnea, etc. I have a huge cheering section. I was very open about my surgery with family, friends and co-workers. Generally every person has been positive ~

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

They thought it was great! I was only out for 2 weeks. I am very lucky!

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

My hospital stay was fine. The nurses were very attentive. I would say a comfortable pair of slippers that you can slid into to walk. The more you walk the faster you heal and get rid of the "gas" ~ OUCH! I went home on the 3rd day after surgery.

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

Yes, They couldn't bring me out of the anesthesia.. I was in intensive care for almost 2 days. Once I was able to go to a regular room, I did everything they told me to do...walk, walk, walk, breathe, breathe, breathe....I just wanted to go home!

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

My waiting period was looooong! Lots of anxiety. I threw myself into my work and travel and the weeks flew by. The scariest part of the wait was when I was on the gurney being wheeled into pre-op...I thought "here's my last chance! I can just jump off of here and go home! Of course I didn't - and I'm sure glad!

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

The first few days I felt like a turtle on it's back...once I laid down, I just couldn't get up! Ow, Ow, Ow!!!

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

About 60 miles

Please describe in detail what things you could and couldn't eat in the weeks and months following surgery. What foods have been off limits? Please explain how your dietary tolerance changed week-by-week, and then month-by-month since surgery.

The first 3 weeks were intense to say the least...only liquids and then the second 3 weeks they put me on "soft solids"...Tuna never tasted so good! I had trouble with chicken and other meats in the beginning. I really "dump" with potatoes, breads, pasta, rice, etc...guess I am one of the lucky ones! I am 11 months out from surgery and have gone from a size 24 to a 1...just bought a size 0 skirt yesterday! I really don't miss any foods...I feel GREAT!

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

I have walked every single day since my surgery...I believe it is one of the reasons I have been so successful! I walk for an hour everyday...sometimes even pick up the pace and run! I can't believe I can RUN!!!! WOW!

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

In the beginning I took chewable Centrum 2X's a day - Now I take the Centrum capsule 2X's a day. Plus I take 1cc of sublingual Vitamin B12 complex 1X per day and 2 chewable Viactives for calcium 1X per day.

What side effects (nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbace, dumping, hair loss etc.) were worse for you? For how long after surgery did they persist? How did you cope with them?

I had minimal hair loss during the 5-6 months post-op. My hair is growing back in now...that was the only side effect I have had.

What was the worst part about the entire bariatric surgery process?

The worst thing was waiting so long to do it! I should have considered this a looooong time ago!

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

I attend a support group weekly through NeWeigh (actually my social calendar has been so busy lately that I have missed a couple of meetings!) I feel that aftercare support groups are also a very important key to success. It's great to have others share their experiences...you don't feel so alone. I have made some very special friends over the past 11 months.

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

I had laproscopic surgery...I have 6 little incisions...almost invisable. This is exactly what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I really don't consider them "plateaus" I think of them as a period of "sustained weight loss." I have had a week or two where I stayed the same or only lost a pound and then 3 or 4 will drop off at once. This has been an incredible journey so far!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Of course! But I think my attitude towards others has changed as well. I do feel people in general are intolerant of obesity and would be treating me differently now anyway, but I am happier and I project this new attitude. Doors are opened for me, I am asked out on dates, my job is better...
show more answers

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.

Share Now
×