Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
I have been overweight the majority of my life, beginning in my teens. Right now I weigh more than I ever have in my life at 360+. I have been on every diet known to man, and some not known. My weight began to creep up when I reached puberty. Every summer I would lose a little, maybe 10 or 20 lbs, only to gain it back and more the next year. My struggle with medical issues because of my excess weight began in my late teens and early twenties. I was diagnosed with Hypertension at that time. My blood pressure would always be 160/80 or better and my weight continued to creep up every year. My first diagnosis of Diabetes came in 1978. It was treated with diet and oral medication from 1979 until about 1994. The oral medications became ineffective and I was placed on Insulin with injections twice a day. I began a real effort to lose weight at that time. I began walking everyday at least a half hour; most days more. I was placed on a 1500 calorie diet, but never saw a significant or permenant weight loss. I lost 30 or 40 lbs., but gained it all back. During that weight gain I reached about 280. At the insistence of a friend/co-worker, who is also an aerobics instructor, I began her two session a week aerobics class. I had stopped the 1500 calorie meal plan and was basically eating as I always did, however, I did TRY to watch how many carbohydrates I ate. My periodic 'binges' kept me from losing very much, but I kept going to class because I noticed an increase in my energy level. In the second year of that program I began to see some weight loss. I wasn't weighing myself, however, I went down two or three dress sizes. I added a day of exercise through my church's fitness program. We did a modified version of the Billy Bank's TaeBo Program. With the addition of that program I ultimately lost about 70+ lbs. and was in a size 18 for the first time since high school!!! Then I accidently stepped on a straight pin. The wound became infected and I was hospitalized for about 8 days. I had to keep my left foot elevated and was sent home with a pick line and 24 hour antibiotics for six weeks with a visiting home nurse administering wound care daily. The wound wasn't healing properly and I landed back in the hospital for surgery on the foot and my foot was placed in a non-weight bearing cast for another six weeks. Eight+ weeks of inactivity dropped my metabolism to 'zero', and caused a rapid weight gain that I still have not recovered from. By the time I was able to be up and around again, I had put on so much weight it was too exhausting and painful to work out so I stopped. Moving around started giving me chest pressure and pain in my legs and feet. The pain in my feet, especially the left one, became so bad some days I could hardly walk at all. I becan to notice something forming near the arch of my left foot and my foot would swell, especially if I was on them a lot. The right one would swell too, but not like the left. I noticed that more and more in my left foot it felt like I was walking on a 'wad' of rags or something and my whole left leg was beginning to swell. It was almost three times the size of the right one most days. In addition I started having pain in my knee and I thought it maybe arthritis. The doctor I had at the time sent me to Yanke Bionics to be fitted for a knee brace that I was told to wear when I started back with aerobics. I tried that, but the knee brace would not stay on moving around in aerobics, and I was still having the pain that was getting worse in my knee and seemed to be going down my leg and effecting my ankle and the swelling was getting worse. The 'wad' in my foot seemed to be getting larger too. I decided maybe I better see a podiatrist. When she saw my foot she immediately knew what was wrong. 'Chargot', she called it. Her explanation was that the bones in my left foot had collapsed due to diabetic neuropathy. I was sent back to Yanke Bionics to be fitted for a special brace that I have to wear daily. If I don't wear it when standing for long periods of time, my left leg collapses and I can't stand on it at all. I know this condition is aggravated by my weight, but I've gained so much weight now, with the pain and pressure I'm AFRAID to try and exercise. The last time I went to walk in the park, like I used to in the past, my hips hurt so bad I couldn't continue. The pain is unbearable just to walk more than 100 feet. Because of the pain and my weight any time I don't wear the brace, I have to walk with a cane. Most of the time I'm so embarassed by how long it takes me to walk around, or walk up a flight of stairs, I just sit around. My feet and legs hurt so bad in the evenings, once I get home, I can't do much else. Just to get up and go to the restroom is a very painful experience for me. I'm a gospel singer and I sing with my church praise team every Sunday. I also sing with another group from my vocal training school periodically. They have no idea how much pain I'm in when I participate with them. Usually on Sunday evenings or at the end of performances, I'm through. I have no energy for anything else. I was relaying all this to my primary care physician, Dr. Matthew Chung and he gave me the name of Dr. Zografakis. He told me with my medical problems I should be a good candidate for bariatric surgery and I agree. I'm 360+ and climbing. I've GOT to do SOMETHING.
What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?
I think the worst part of being overweight is that people you work with and interact socially with treat you as if you're not there. In group settings your input is not valued. Most of the time you are downright ignored. You're not always given the same respect as your 'normal sized' friends. Men tend to treat you like you should be so grateful that they took you out or talked with you, until you'll do anything to show your gratitude. ANYTHING!!! I think that some people even treat you as if you're stupid because you're overweight. It's a rough way to live.
If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?
This may sound funny, but I enjoy going out to eat with my friends! Now I'M the one saying, "Oh, I just can't eat another bite". Or after a half sandwich and a side salad, "My, I'm stuffed" (Smile) It's WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!
CWalters