hebe935
I never remember a time when I wasn't overweight. My mother had me dieting from the time I was about 8 yrs. old. Nothing ever seemed to work. I tried it all. I seen a nutrionist, tried slim fast, Jenny Craig, Redux, Atkins. I might lose some but then just pack it all back on plus some. I was an emotional eater. Even when I was little I ate to make myself feel better. Then you just feel worse.
After high school I started working at a local factory. I absolutly hated it. I would be depressed about my job so I would come home and eat. I ate when nobody was around. I was ashamed that I ate like I did. I started to push away friends with the exception of a couple really close ones. My best friend Kenny and I got closer and closer until we were finally together. I was on top of the world! I had found someone that I new really loved me. I started the Atkins diet with another friend and had pretty good success. I was happy and I wasn't binge eating all the time.
Time went on and he proposed to me. I was soooo happy. Everything seemed great, I had lost weight and was getting married. Then things at my job started getting bad and some family issues came up and what did I do? Binged and binged and binged and...... Before I knew it I was right back where I started. We got married then I made a decision which I think sent me to the point of no return, I quit my job. Oh I was much happier because I was out of this soul sucking job but it also meant that I was not as active and was eating to fill up my spare time. I ballooned. Then I got cellulitus in my leg and was down for 3 months. Well I am not up moving and putting on more weight then being down that long caused muscle breakdown in my legs. When you are the size I was and have no strength in your legs you aren't going anywhere.
We found out that my husbands insurance would cover my bypass 100%. We found a surgeon and a hospital that was covered by the insurance and was on our way. We went to the seminar and I knew this was the right team for me. I never once felt the need to check out other surgeons. The first appointment I had with Dr. Kerlakian made me so much more comfortable about the surgery. He was up front about the risks. Since I was so overweight(bmi around 100) I knew that I had a higher risk of death. My chances of living without it weren't very good so I said let's do it!
I had to do 6 months of doctor monitored weight loss for my insurance company. That seemed like a lifetime. But it was over soon enough and I had a date set for surgery. November 12, 2007. It never really sunk in that it was finally happening until we were on our 2 hr drive to the hospital that morning. All I kept telling my husband was I don't want to die. I was so emotional at the hospital that morning. The hallway back to surgery seemed 10 miles long. Soon I was out and my new life began.
The only thing I can remember about the first 3 days was waking up and thinking "good, I didn't die" and "holy #$%# my back @#$%#$ hurts". I had kidney failure and muscle breakdown in my lower back. Luckily the doctors got the kidney failure turned around before I had to have Dialysis. On the fourth day I was moved from ICU. I was finally awake and alert and in so much pain. There wasn't pain from the surgery it was just my back. Getting up and walking seemed nearly impossible. But I did. I left the hospital after spending a week there. I went for a 2 week check up and had lost an amazing 70 lbs! 70 lbs in 2 weeks. I thought the scales were broken.
It has now been 17 weeks since surgery and I am doing great. I was able to go to two of my nephews Basketball games for the first time in 2 1/2 years. I have started driving again and I got into a pair of jeans I have'nt been in for over 2 years. As of yesterday I had lost a total of 157 lbs. I have lost more than my 15 year old nephew weighs. I can't hardly wrap my head around that!
Through all of this my husband has stood by me. He never doubted me or his love for me. I am so lucky because I truly married my best friend. I could never repay him for all that he has given to me. He is so wonderful. We are now working toward the goal of having children. I have always known that I am meant to be a mother. That goal seems so close now. I will never regret having the Gastric Bypass. It truly has changed my life.
