Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
GOOD MORNING TO ALL
I am new to this site since November 2009. (Obesityhelp.com)
( http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/mcbutler/ )
I am just starting my weight loss journey.
I have been heavy all my life when I played youth football I was teased that when I was on the line that I could count as 3 people and it only got worse from there.
September of 2008 I weighed close to 550 pounds and I made a choice that I would not weigh that much.
I have tried diets over the past none seemed to work.
The biggest turning point for me was in May of 2009 when I was involved in a relationship and the lady that I was with (who is also a heavy person) said I was getting fat, I had moved from the Gabriel Iglecias Five Levels of Fatness." (Big, Healthy, Husky, Fluffy, and DAMN!). He later added a new level. (OH HELL NO!) From fluffy to damn. And one night while we were being romantic I was to winded and sweating too much to continue not very romantic at all and I all could think about was the pizza that was in the other room . This was the first time in my life that I was not able to perform or was too tired to continue.
I started weighing myself at work because they have a scale that weighs people in wheel chairs and was able to weigh me. I saw my doctor in September of 2009 for my physical (I hated it I am now in a new age bracket 45+) and since then I have had seen doctors and or had test done almost every week since then, for this and that But they all say the same thing that I am Extremely Severely Morbidly Obese (bmi 72+) With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, High Blood Pressure and Osteoarthritis of weight-bearing joints (My knees) both need to be replaced. I have a past history of Depression, with a family history of Obesity, Cancer and Diabetes. As far as having Heart Disease the verdict is out on that one, the cardiologist does not want to say yes but he won’t say any either, he wants more test.
My cholesterol levels are great my doctor was impressed with them.
Cholesterol 137 Range 100-200
HDL 51 Range 40-60
Triglycerides 113 range < 150
LDL 109 range 89-130
Blood sugar 100 range 80-110
All other blood work came back within normal limits .
What my during point that I need to get serious was when I was at the orthopedic doctor with my knee pain he said that I was Extremely Severely Morbidly Obese that I needed to have surgery but would not perform it until I weighed 300 or less. He said that my right knee is so bad that I could step wrong on it and blow it out and have to have emergency surgery on it. He told me that my knee cap should be about the size of an Eisenhower dollar but mine was the size of a nickel. And that physical therapy or water therapy would not help. I see him about once a month for a cortisone shot. I walk with a cane and cannot walk any distance without pain or becoming short of breath.
So that is why I am here and have decided to have weight loss surgery, to improve my physical health .
Fast forward
Had RNY gastric bypass surgery in October 2010 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady New York with Dr Terrance Clarke.
July 2012 I am down to 315 +- I am on pain management for my knees (still need knee replacement) at this point in my life I do not have medical insurance. I do not use my cane or my handicap parking pass except on bad days and thank god those are seldom.
I am able to walk several miles now. I have walked in several 5k fundraisers since my surgery.
I would do it all over again. My only regret that I have is not doing it sooner to spend my quality time with my 2 sons as they grew up ,I missed going on hikes with them, go kart racing, theme parks going to the movies all the stuff I could not do because of my size or energy level or pain level.
I would like to get down to about 225 I think that would be a healthy weight for me. After I get to where I want to be I would like to receive reconstructive surgery to remove my hanging skin in my stomach area and my thighs.
What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?
My only regret that I have is not doing it sooner to spend my quality time with my 2 sons as they grew up ,I missed going on hikes with them, go kart racing, theme parks going to the movies all the stuff I could not do because of my size or energy level or pain level.
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 can go shopping
i can wear a seat belt
i can go for a walk
albe to enjoy more sexual positions
i can get in a go kart
i can enjoy going for walk
MARK B.
