Stacy B.
For just about my entire life I have been "Pleasantly plump" as I would like to call it rather then "Fat". Just like many others I have been on the rocky roller coaster of yo-yo dieting, the way ups and way way downs. I have been on every diet and program you could possible think of including a few I invented myself however they all ended up in failure. I have had my fair share of cabbage soup and never want to see it again....never want to see another point system....and Jenny Craig can keep her expensive no good tasting food!!! LOL :) I looked into Gastro Bypass surgery for the first time about 5 years ago and decided I wanted to look further into it. I went through the beginning process with Kaiser which some of you know can be a VERY lenghthy process. When I saw the Phyciatrist at that point they told me they didn't feel I was "Ready". I thought to myself "How could anyone else tell me I wasn't ready", when I knew I was?? A few years past and being that I always thought I was ready I thought I would try again. This time the Phyciatrist suggested I go to a class called "Mindful Eating" as well as see a Behavior Health specialist. I did go through the class and met with the specialist on many occasions. After all I guess this time I really wasn't ready because as I never heard back from Kaiser I also failed to follow up.....was I REALLY ready???? If you ask me now, was I ready back then, I would say no...am I ready right now YES. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am so done with hearing those dreadful words from the doctors "You have some many health problems at such a young age". Because of all the weight I have put on I developed Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Acid Reflux, and not to mention all the female problems. I guess the most scary part is only having one kidney and the doctors "Threats" of being on dialysis. It has been about a year now since I started the process again to have the surgery. It was very disapointing that I have had to go through some of the processes I have already went through but I believe it is only for my benefit. Kaiser Bariattrics has one of the stricted Gasstro Bypass surgery processes out there. I have already been through the initial classes, 2 Phyciastrist appointments, orentation, and just saw my surgeon yesterday. Not to mention they require you to loose 10% of your body weight prior to progressing to the next step. I still have a long road ahead of me but for now the road seems a lot shorter then when I first started. Please read below as my journey starts...... 11/7/06- After driving for 2 1/2 hours I my the Gastro Bypass orentation. There were about 40 other people there and for once It made me feel good that I wasn't the biggest one there nor was I alone. We met with one of the surgeons, nurse case managers, and nutritionist. They also had a patient that had the surgery about 6 months and her testimony. WOW!!!! Her story was amazing and very encouraging. We were all given binders to go through and study. They also gave us a list of things we need to start now as though we have had the surgery to get use to the lifestyle. The daily diet consists of a 1200 calorie a day, no more soda (OMG I AM GOING TO DIE), no more coffee (WHAT????), no more chewing gum, no drinling from straws....the list goes on and on. They also informed us that the next step would be meeting with our surgeon and we would be receiving a date in the mail any where from 4-8 weeks. They weighed us and I was at 333 (OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST TOLD YOU THAT) and then they sent us on our way. :) 11/15/06-Received a call from The Richmond Bariatrics department and was informed my appointment to meet with my sergeon was 12/7/06 @ 4pm...YAHOOOOO!!!!! That was the best news I heard all week. Wow, and so fast. It was cool because they gave me my sergeons name which happend to be the same surgeon that was speaking at my orentation. I really liked her so this was a VERY good thing. 12/07/06-- I met with my sergeon and she advised that I should be ok to have the Laparoscopic surgery (that is the one I wanted). I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT after being weighed I was at 319.5 (I lost 13.5 pounds since orentation). She also informed me that my goal was to be at 300 even and then my surgery could be scheduled. I have 19.5 more pounds to loose and I am extremely motivated. May God be with me through my journey as I go forward.
