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

I have always been an overweight person. As a child I was heavier and taller than all the other kids. As a young adult and even into my early twenties I was overweight, but not severely. My serious struggle with weight control began after I had my son and went through several years of serious medical issues that no one could find an answer to. When a neurologist gave up trying to find answers, said I probably had ALS, and walked out of the room I gave up. The emotional spiral that I had been on for the years prior (that resulted in weight gain) became a complete and utter nose dive into depression. I had a young son and was just given a death sentence. If it wasn't for fate stepping in and the wife of my boyfriends coworker suggesting her neurologist, I don't know where I would be. Luckily, her neurologist didn't give me a death sentence and took the time to look over my records (from so many different specialists, procedures, etc.) and check that every "T" had been crossed and every "I" dotted. A sleep study revealed (within a week of the study), that I had a rare sleep disorder called Narcolepsy with Cataplexy. While this didn't help me lose weight, it did give me a answer that didn't end with me in a coffin before I was 30. I did still have to deal with this disorder that has its own obstacles. Because I was already SEVERELY obese at this time, losing the weight was still a difficult task. Pain, strong emotions, or even strenuous activity causes my body to collapse, and I am unable to move, Trapped in a body, completely conscious, but unable to speak or move. So while I wasn't going to die, my life had completely changed. I had to learn to manage this disorder the best I could, so that I could at least function on a daily basis for my family. I began looking into bariatric surgery at this time. Researching my butt off is more accurate. By changing my eating habits, I was able to lose almost 30 lbs. Being handcuffed to my Narcolepsy/Cataplexy, I can only get so far. This "tool" which is what it is a "tool" will help me lose weight. Losing the weight will benefit my ability to do more, which will all help the condition I cannot cure. My weight I can cure. A battle I can win, so that I have strength to fight the bigger battles.

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

Carrying around such a large amount of excess weight exacerbate my condition. This causes me to not be there for my family like I should. I want to be as much like "ME" as I possibly can. While I don't expect a miracle, I know that losing weight will allow me to do more that will allow me to lose more weight and so on and so forth. I know I will never drive a car again, but having more energy to take a walk with my kid, to swim, to laugh, to cry, to LIVE, without the fear of collapsing. That is what I want. So what is the worst thing about being overweight...everything.

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 cannot wait to enjoy my entire life more!