What event prompted you to seek WLS? - Page 3 - ThinnerTimes

Vim&Vigour · 11-19-2007, 01:59 AM

Thank you "AlwaysPrecious", "Fisher1000" and "GodBlessedMe". Your personal stories ring so many bells and it is obviously the responsible parenting and self-preservation in you that got you kick-started. Through the pages of this Forum, it is evident that "we" all try to lead by example.
Change what you can, and if you can't learn to adapt to it!
Cheers!

Vim&Vigour · 11-19-2007, 02:10 AM

"Always Precious", "Fisher1000", "CuppyCup", "Hoping and Praying", "Alleusion", "Toony" and "Van", your events mirror mine and make me feel "normal". Yes this yoyo life of dieting, pain and depression, guilt, low self-image/esteem are destructive ingredients.

My 23 year old son has a girlfriend who is lovely, bright, motivated in work and life, but, But, who is not "right for him". In England the class system weighs heavily and as a foreigner in England, I have been more attuned to the "Britishness" of my Life in the UK for these last 25 years. "If" my son were to marry - with me looking "like this", I wouldn't do him proud. I usally say "I don't care how I look", that "I am above that" but deep down I know I am "different" from all my school and other friends. I am the ONLY fat one in the circle. Now I'll show them "I don't do" fat anymore.

The above had been my thoughts for the greater part of my life. Then suddenly I was approaching 50 this Summer, my mother who was just short of 90 died a month beforehand, and all my perspectives changed. My priorities changed as did my values. The warning bells came when I had palpitations when clearing out my dead mother's flat - I did not want to create another funeral in this family! I haven't even reached 50! Besides, there is a great nephew to be born next month... My own silver wedding anniversary (to my Prince Charming). Besides, the girl he married has become twice the size, not twice the person! I want to be healthry for myself, look good for myself (I have been brought up with the French for whom Woman is all important) and additionally return to my husband whom he took on 25 years ago. I owe the "intelligence" of my decision to my late mother and indeed set the example for my children.

Thank you all for your kind replies. I wish you all continued success, inspiration, motivation, faith in yourselves and spread the word - not the fat!
Cheers!

Dayanara · 11-19-2007, 05:39 AM

I have been researching WLS since I was about 22 years old and yo-yoed on the idea while I dieted and failed. I have really bad knees and have had 7 surgeries combined for each knee, but luckily no other co-morbidities. However, most co-morbidities associated with obesity run in my family and I have a good chance of developing them if something was not done ASAP.

When this past summer I hit an all time high of a weight even while dieting I figured enough was enough. One of my best friends had the surgery in May and I saw how well she was doing, it is nice to see someone first hand going through it as well.

I saw my doctor he gave me a referral and I made appointments with Ontario surgeons to only find out the wait list is 1.5-6 years for RNY. So I hopped across the border to MI in August, loved the surgeon there, got my OHIP approval for out of province surgery and had my surgery done Oct. 22. It still seems surreal since it happened so fast but I know I made the right choice.

One of my other reasons is I would like children by the time I am 30 and do not want this weight to be a burden on me when trying to care for a child. Having this surgery at 25, then waiting 1-2 years before becoming pregnant still leaves me at 27, giving me 3 years to get pregnant before I reach 30 (granted if I don't have kids before I am 30 it is not the end of the world, hehe).

knitsouth · 11-19-2007, 06:19 AM

I've always been overweight, but really started to pack on the pounds about 10 years ago. Two years ago I was diagnosed with dilated cardio myopathy. Found out that was partially caused by sleep apnea. My cardiologist said if I didn't lose weight fast I would have to have gastric bypass because the extra weight was putting a lot of stress on my heart. That really scared me, so I joined Weight Watchers and did well...for a while. Now I've gained back the 60 pounds I lost and realized that I did need the surgery to survive another year. I'm now awaiting approval.

Deirdrea · 11-19-2007, 08:09 AM

Very interesting question!

I had my surgery at 29, right before my 30th birthday. There were really 2 events that pushed me towards surgery. The first was 3 years ago when my dad passed away at 57 of a massive heart attack. I just didn't want that to happen to me and with my weight constantly rising I knew that I needed to do something drastic and started to take all of the steps to accomplish that. I found an excellent surgery center in the city that I lived in and was very lucky. I did all my classes and was just waiting on approval when I don't know what happened but I just kind of stalled. I got stressed out or something not totally sure but just couldn't quite do it at that time.

I took a step back and didn't really decide to just stop but it just kind of happened until my mom told me that my oldest daughter had had kids at school making rude comments about my weight to her. That for me was it. I knew in that instant that I didn't want to be "the fat mom". I called my surgery center very shortly after that. Got back to classes and on May 7th changed my life forever. It was the best thing I could have ever done. I've done really well and have even started to slowly walk/jog which I NEVER did even when I was thinner. I love my new body and the new chance at life that I"ve got and I just hope and pray that my kids don't ever have to go through it.

Corrine · 11-19-2007, 08:17 AM

My story is slightly different.

I had never considered WLS for myself until an umbilical hernia I'd had for years started giving me problems earlier this year.

I saw a surgeon in June. He told me that he would operate but that unless I lost weight and kept it off, the hernia would be back in 3-5 years and had I considered WLS.

Although I had no comorbidities, the doc explained that it was just a matter of time with me having a BMI of 43.

So - I agreed to go through the hospitals Bariatric Pathway. The rest is history and I had my surgery 24 September this year - earlier than expected because the hernia situation got worse.

electrichoney · 11-19-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuppycup

My brother told me he was worried about my health when he came to visit, and asked if I'd researched gastric bypass. I enrolled in a pre-surgical program the following week.

Cuppycup, I'm cracking up right now because I just glanced briefly at your avatar and thought, "Wow, that guy looks just like Jeff Lebowski..." and then I realized your avatar IS Jeff Lebowski.

Great movie, no? And that scene with the ashes flying into his face was just classic.

electrichoney · 11-19-2007, 12:13 PM

Now to answer the original question, like others have posted, my decision to have surgery was ultimately due to ever-rising weight and worsening co-morbidities. I've always been fat...I was a fat baby, fat child and a fat adult, but wasn't what I'd consider unhealthy until I hit age 40 and then BAM, in just a few years, my blood pressure skyrocketed, I developed sleep apnea, and in March 2005 was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. The diabetes was the proverbial last straw for me. I just couldn't get my blood sugar under control and was taking three different medications, one of which had nasty gastrointestinal side effects (which, ironically, weren't much different than what I experience now after the RNY, but that's another story...).

I originally investigated having the surgery several years ago, but the HMO I had at the time was shitty about it and made patients jump through a bunch of hoops before they would even consider it and then it was iffy as to whether they would actually approve the procedure. Then, in 2005, I relocated and got a new job with better insurance that has set criteria for eligibility -- if you meet the criteria, you are eligible and approved generally within a few days. I went to my surgeon's pre-op information session on December 12, 2006 and had my surgery on February 27, 2007. I had some doubts and a serious case of buyer's remorse for the first couple of months, but now, almost nine months later, I am SO glad I did it. And like Mike said (I think it was Mike), I wish I had done this YEARS ago.

Jeri · 11-19-2007, 01:20 PM

Mine is short and sweet. I've been over-weight my whole life & have been through every stage. Lose & gain, give up & not care & finally gained to the highest weight I've ever been & unable to lose a single ounce on my own. I am blessed to have no co-morbidities but knew that at almost 300 lbs that wouldn't last for long. I'm going to be 50 in 3 years (I turn 47 next month). I am convinced that if I had not had this surgery I would end up one of those bedridden morbidly or super-morbidly obese people.

LQQkn · 11-19-2007, 01:55 PM

Jumping up and down... me too I can relate to all the stories about what brought me to RNY. I didn't think I could do another diet. How I wish today I had tried... but again that's the ole hind sight thing. I was insulin resistant, having sleep apnea (although they say it was restless leg syndrome) I know I woke myself up many times not breathing.. but also had severe pain in my neck and back from my oversized breasts. I was a mess and I know that I'm better now than I was.. but it's hard to get past the pain sometimes. Janie