H. MC

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Obesity & Me

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

This is a hard question. it covers everything. I will say this from the age of 10 to 12 my weight double I went from 85 pounds to 160 pounds. My battle with my weight has been a very self destructive one. I would starve myself, I tried the up chucking thing now and then it was kinda of funny I would eat a ton of food and then fall asleep LOL so I was not very good at that. But I really felt out of control like watching someone else blow up a balloon, knowing they are over filling it but not being able to stop them.

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

Not being able to be the Mom I would like to be. I am fortunate to have married a marathon runner so he will get out and do all sorts of things with our sons. but if I come along I usually have to scout out all the places I can sit down and rest while they have the time of their life. My oldest son is like forest Gump he runs every where. Once I tried to do what he did and just run everywhere. I almost died that day LOL.

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 had my Surgery in 2005, since then I have become a Zumba fitness instructor. I get to help other people reach their goals. What I enjoy most?? STAIRS I use to not be able to walk up a flight of stairs with my knees swelling up to the size of a grapefruit. Now at times I week I am jumping and kicking and rocking it out with my students and my knees are doing great!

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

in 2001 my best friend had the gastric bypass done. She weighed 422 we were afraid for her. I watched the struggle and the reward of having the surgery. I knew I didn't want as evasive a surgery as the one she had, but in the back of mind I would think you know it must be nice to know you will lose weight. looking up info about gastric bypass led me to info about gastric banding. I felt that was a better alternative for me since I am only 100 pounds overweight. "only what a funny word.

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

I didn't bother trying. I have tricare prime. I didn't have any co-morbidity dieseases and I didn't want to jump through the hoops only to be turned or worse approved and have a surgery date set for 4 years from now. UPDATE I found out the tricare will cover the lapband. So I decided to go through the process, I have completed the 3 steps they make you go through now I am waiting for a surgery date. I have not given up the idea of self pay if my surgery date is too far in the future I am ready willing and able to head south of the border and have it done there.
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