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| Welcome To My Journey |
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| I have struggled with my weight all my life. If I had know then what I know now I would have enjoyed my life more and worried about being overweight less. The constant dieting ruined my metabolizim, made me lose self-esteem, and ultimatly set me up for a life of getting bigger and bigger. My depression, which I suffered from for many many years came from the focus on my weight. My weight was the only thing I never talked about with "theripists" I never talked about the remarks made to me and how it made me feel "all the time!" When I moved away from home, (out of state) was the first time I didn't focus obssively on how much I weighed. I spent some wonderful years enjoying life and meetin people, who I believe because I looked at myself differently were able to see me and not just my size. How you feel about yourself, how you treat yourself when no one is looking makes a difference in how people see you. I do know some other things happened that sent me back into depression that didn't have to do with my weight but because of how I handled depression before I think I just returned to what was familure, and that was *Eatting*. Like I said at the begining, because of years and years of dieting the wrong ways I have completely ruined my metabolizim which makes lossing weight, and keeping it off, impossible with out a kind of "super tool". That is what Bariatric Surgery is for me. It is my hope that with the help of this "super tool" that I will be able to regain my health and control of my life again. |
| My Road To Bariatric Surgery |
| I have been thinking about Weight Loss Surgery for many years. Over the years I have sent away for information from the Bariatric Treatment Center a couple of times. A few years ago I started my own support group called DoubleSizeandOver on the internet. Just a year or so ago someone joined that was very "pro wls" I was still very scared of it myself. But she sent some websites and I would check them out from time to time. Well I really started looking at the ObesityHelp.com site and researching the surgery and talking with people who have had the surgery. These were real people that told the bad along with the good. Reading their stories, seeing their before and after pictures helped me to make up my mind to plung into the world of WLS. The information I have on this web page is mostly what I've learned from the people in the ObesityHelp Chat room. I can't thank Andrea enough for opening my eyes to WLS. She has become a closer friend than people I have known most of my life. Having someone to be honest with about how I felt about myself and what my life is really like has helped me in many ways. Just knowing that she suffers with some of the same things like, head hunger and self-esteem issues, gives us both a place to brainstorm ways to combat them. I can't wait to meet her in person! Steps I'm Taking To Have This Surgery |
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| My PCP, Dr. Elizabeth Tree - LeVasseur, and her staff have been wonderful. She is putting together a recomendation for WLS to be sent along with the rest of the information to my insurance company. Her staff has been right on top of getting all the referals done asap. I hope they know how much they have helped me get through this maze and hoops needed for the insurance company as well as my safety. I hope all of their lives are blessed. For the first time I have hope of living again. There is such a family history of heart attack, diabeties, high blood presure, and stroke, I feel like a time bomb being as big as I am. |
| My Family and Friends |
| My family and friends have been very supportive. My kids are so happy I'll be able to do more and be healthier. My husband loves me no matter what size but he wants me to feel healthy and happy and be able to do more, we both know it will allow us to be closer. Everyone has said they are willing to help while I'm in the hospital and after I get home. My extended family, cousins, in-laws, have all been so possitive and happy for me. Even people like the nurses at plan parenthood where I go to weigh (because its the only scale in town that goes high enough) have been so supportive and excited for me. The women at Aqua Fitness have been supportive and interested in the steps I'm taking to have WLS done. It really helps to have people behind what I'm doing, this is a huge decision and a change in life that will effect not just me but my whole family. I am a true believer in the POWER of prayer, so the more people that know I feel is the more people to put in a good word for me! |
| A Word About My Primary Doctor and Her Staff |
| Aqua Fitness is the BEST. This is the only place I can stand or walk *pre-op* I know I'll miss it right after surgery while I'm healing. My next step will be the Gazelle. I bought this *pre-op* but found I couldn't use it even though it is low impact, to much pain in my back. This is my *WISH* for after surgery. Its a bit expensive but, I think not only will it be great exercise but I will enjoy it as well. EZ-3 Trike TOUR & TRAIL CYCLERY 231-796-2414 Big Rapids, MI ($725.00) |
| EXERCISE is not a four letter word |