Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
The first time I saw someone (a doctor) about my weight issue I was 11 years old. I can remember crying because mac n cheese wasn't on my diet plan and I was invited to stay for lunch at a friends house. I ate to feel good, then would feel guilty for all I ate and would eat more to cope with those emotions.
I surrounded myself with unhealthy habits, lifestyles, and people to make myself feel better. I was a clown and people tell me they never really saw my true size.
My weight gain was consistent until I reached my pre-op weight of 410lbs.
I work for the insurance company and they have no coverage for bariatric surgery. A lady I work with took out a personal loan a few years ago to have surgery. When I realized that I might be able to obtain this on my own I started researching. It took 7 months and I selected Jerusalem Hospital in Tijuana Mexico. On June 28th I had RNY. As I type this less than 7 months later I have lost 161lbs..I weighed in this morning at 249lbs. What an amazing ride. I have had no real complications to date and my primary physician is impressed with my results and overall health. All of my labs have improved immensely and are within normal limits. I am healthier now than I have been in years.
What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?
The worst thing about being over weight was the aches and pains and over all fatigue. Last year I was called HUGE by a child at my children's daycare. A week later the same thing happened in a grocery store and the childs parent did nothing to comfort my pain or correct the child. Obesity unfortunately breeds hatred and ignorance just like racial differences and social classes.
If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?
I enjoy everything honestly. I enjoy playing with my kids, intimacy with my husband, shopping for clothes, fitting in a seat at the movies, climbing stairs. ZUMBA, oh how I love to work out. I wish there was a way to explain the joy I have daily in words...I will sky dive in September, Buy a wrist band to the fair in August, I am going tubing down a snow hill this weekend and the list gets bigger and bigger each day.
For once I have the upper hand on my weight and my overall health emotionally and physically!
Spudgrl
