Heather E.
Hi, I'm Heather, a 35 year old single mom of an autistic boy. I've struggled with my weight my entire life, and remember being on diets since about age 13. Things have progressively gotten worse over the years - my weight keeps going up and up despite doing months of WW, prescriptions, even a BL contest at work. My health keeps getting worse, as well - I am now pre-diabetic, have suffered from GERD for about 4 years now, and have extremely high triglyceride levels. Guess what? It's time for me to take charge of my life and my health and do something now! I am exploring my options, but am leaning towards Duodenal Switch surgery through Grand Health Partners in Grand Rapids, MI. I was excited to find out when I called my insurance company that I don't have to jump through a bunch of hoops like I would have had to do with my old insurance company. My only hurdle is getting approved because I am at a 37.1 BMI, but I am hoping that my above-mentioned health issues will be enough to help me get approval. I'm being realistic with myself about the whole process - unlike what I've heard a lot of {skinny} people say, I know that WLS is not an easy or quick fix. I know that it takes work, and is a tool to help me become a healthier person. I guess, though, that that is what I am looking for out of it - HELP. I need help changing the way my body works. One of my doctors basically told me once that she thinks I have a metabolic resistance to losing weight after trying several different prescriptions failed to produce any WL results. Awesome....NOT!!! I just know I need to take some action now before my health gets really scary. Almost all of my excess weight is concentrated in my abdominal region. My grandmother weighs about 300 lbs. My grandfather probably weighs close to that much too, carries all of his weight in the abdomen as well, and has gone through four angioplasties....SCARY!!! I know that my son needs me to be healthy and to be around to take care of him, and that is why I am pursuing WLS.
