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Suzanne-photog4fun · 04-22-2004, 07:57 AM

Here's my personal history about my weight loss journey:
Hello, My name is Suzanne and I am 49 yrs. old. I have struggled with my weight since childhood, and have ranged between 230-275 lbs. most of my adult life at 5'6" tall. I have had, over the many years, brief successes with weight loss, but I always gained the weight back and eventually more. I come from a long family history of obesity.
When I developed Diabetes at 44 yrs. old, my delusion that I would be the one who didn't develop obesity related health complications disappeared. Being in the medical profession, myself, I KNEW THAT THERE WERE CONSEQUENCES TO POOR LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS (obesity, poor diet, & lack of regular exercise). I had just not quite developed the most serious ones YET. Well, they finally arrived and I felt hopelessness & despair. No matter how hard I attempted to eat healthier, I just couldn't stick with it. Lifestyle changes, for me, are the hardest to achieve long term. I was failing miserably with them, and the future (now at 273 lbs. in Oct. 2001) looked grim.
After my sister & uncle (only a few years older than myself) almost died in July, 2001, of obesity related complications such as diabetes, heart, lung, kidney disease, etc., I seriously started researching gastric bypass surgery. I was ecstatic to read about its long term success rate of keeping off 2/3 of excess weight. I felt hope that maybe, just maybe, that I, too, could be successful at this. It seemed like such a drastic measure, and I feared some that I'd fail at this also. After jumping through all of the insurance hoops over a 4 month period, I had my surgery January 29, 2002. MY NEW LIFE BEGAN THAT DAY!!!
Over 2 yrs. later, I'm down to 155 lbs. (about 10-15 lbs. from an ideal weight). I dropped 80 lbs. the first 5-6 months postop, and another 25 lbs. over the next 6 months. I had hoped that my weight loss wouldn't stabilize until I reached my goal weight but it did. Since my surgery was on my stomach, not my brain, I still have intermittent food issues and cravings, though nothing like before my surgery ! Most days I eat healthy overall. I stay away from my previous binge foods (sweets & fast food) fairly well but it is difficult at times. Being consistant with exercise continues to be a challenging life style habit. Thank God that I don't have to do the food or exercise perfectly to be successful after gastric bypass surgery. I do the best that I can each day, praising my efforts, and being gentle with myself most of the time when I make poor choices. Gastric bypass surgery is a "TOOL", not a "fix it all solution". It sure was the right decision for me after a lifetime of struggling with my morbid obesity.
I FEEL ALIVE TODAY !!! IT HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY ROAD SO FAR, BUT IT HAS BEEN WORTH EVERY BIT OF DISCOMFORT & FRUSTRATION ALONG THE WAY !! I FEEL RELEASED FROM BEING IMPRISONED BY FAT. I AM RE-BORN ! I'M LIKE A COCOON HATCHING INTO A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY.
Here are some of my miracles since my surgery:
Diabetes.... Gone
Urine leakage with sneeze or cough....Gone
Chronic fatigue.....Gone
Irritable bowel syndrome...Gone
Chronic back, knee, foot pain...Gone
Always hot & sweaty.... Gone
Chronic indigestion (acid reflux disease).... Gone
Difficulty reaching to do personal hygiene...Gone
Chronic nasal stuffiness... Gone
Shortness of breath with walking....Gone
Chronic depression... 80% improved
Self Esteem...80%improved
Feeling unattractive & unfeminine...80% improved
Feelings of humiliation & embarrassment regarding my morbid
obesity,especially in my professional life.....GONE !!!!
I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE RECEIVED THIS GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY. It isn't a "cure all" for my eating & life issues, but it sure has helped me tremendously in achieving a healthier, happier ME! ONE DAY AT A TIME, with God's help, the support of the Gastric bypass community, and my family & friends, I am recovering from the devastating condition of morbid obesity. I have come out of my cocoon & blossomed into a lovely lady. Thank you, God, and the miracles of modern science. Suzanne