Hi there,
my name is Courtney and I just found this site yesterday. I had my surgery August 9, 2006 and am excited to find a site where fellow bypassers can share their experiences.
Lets jump in with my story. I have been overweight my whole life. I have literally no memories of being a normal weight. I always avoided scales, even to the point of when I was a kid I would beg my mom not to take me to the doctor when I was sick, because I knew they would weigh me. At 9 years old I was 150 lbs, at 13 years old I was 264 lbs. I have always been tall, but unfortunatley that didn't hide my weight
In high school, I was able to lose some weight, but I never got any smaller than about 220 lbs. I have done every diet, every fad, taken diet pills, you name it. I prayed and prayed for a solution to my obesity. On top of everything else, I have also struggled with an eating disorder since childhood (really, don't all overweight people have an eating disorder?). I was always a binge eater...I didn't realize until fairly recently, through my studies in psychology and counseling that binge eating is a real disorder. I have had episodes of bulimic-like behavior, but would not classify myself that way. In fact, I always felt like somewhat of a failure because I didn't have a "real" eating disorder, like bulimics and anorexics, but I just couldn't control myself. I have grown to understand so much more about eating disorders as a whole.
I was both blessed and cursed to have a best friend (more like a sister) who struggled with the same weight issues I did. In college, we consoled ourselves with binges. There was the era of the dozen donuts a day, and not to mention the fast food. I calculated an average day of fast food eating not long ago, and it was shocking. Around 2000, we saw a program about Carnie Wilson having gastric bypass on t.v.
The show intrigued me, and also scared me...it seemed so "drastic" but it never left my mind. Also, this was during one of my many diets and up and down weights...so I was actually not big enough to have the surgery, just on the edge. I think I put it out of my mind because I thought it couldn't be an option for me. A couple of years later, my friend started thinking about the surgery again. At 21 years old, her health was rapidly deteroriating and she needed to go on cholesterol medication. She decided that her only hope was gastric bypass surgery. She started researching, and found a great doctor here in Dayton, Ohio. We both went to his informational sessions, and it was there that I realized this was my answer as well. We were both going to have surgery, and finally conquer our obesity.
Then I was delt a crushing blow. My best friend got approved for surgery through her insurance and I did not. I was denied and devestated. She had her surgery in July 2002 and went on to lose 193 lbs. My best friend who had always been my size or even a bit bigger all of a suddenly weighed 123 lbs.
I was so happy for her, but I will admit I was jealous. We had our ups and downs, but I'm happy to say that we weathered the storm and our friendship is stronger than ever. I had about given up hope for my own bypass. I felt that since I had been denied I had no chance and would have to go it "on my own." I had thought of trying again, but I never really thought it could actually happen.
Then last year, (around this time of year, in fact) a MIRACLE happened. My best friend had started being the "after" person at the very information sessions we had attended. During one of those sessions, one of the ladies in the office who is in charge of insurance authorizations asked about me. "Didn't Courtney try for the bypass once? What happend" "Well, she was denied and has been afraid she can't get approved" "Oh, I can get her approved in 3 days!" I had changed my insurance since the first round, and apparently my new one was much more bypass friendly. I was so excited, I didn't believe it was happening. I went through all the normal pre approval processes, and true to her word, I was approved for surgery 3 days after all my stuff was submitted! I was approved in March, but due to my schedule, work, life, etc... I had to keep pushing my date forward. It was an exercise in willpower. I couldn't believe after all that I had to keep waiting, but I also kept telling myself that I had waited 4 years, I would wait a couple of months.
My surgery was August 9, 2006. I was scheduled to have a lap Roux-en-Y, but during surgery the doc had to open me up. I was so bummed about that at first, but now it is so no big deal at all! I'd rather have my scar than all that weight!
I'm feeling great, and even 6 months later I can't really believe it happened. I had a gastric bypass...me! The girl who thought it could never happen. I have lost 80 lbs so far, and am still losing.
So I guess my first post was a bit on the long side
I'm still just so excited!!
~Courtney
Hi Everyone...Newbie Here
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