Susan B.
Hi, My name is Susie and I am 45 years of age. I have battled being overweight all my life. When I was a toddler, I learned to walk late as I was overweight then too. I was so heavy, the Doctor told my mother to put me down and force me to crawl as I was causing her hip to shift and she would suffer permanent damage if she didn't force to move on my own. During my Elementary years I was made fun of because of my weight. The first time I heard about dieting, I was 6 years old. All throughout high school I tried many different diets, quick fixes and even limiting my calorie intake to 250 calories a day. Although I lost weight, once I stopped following those diets, I gained all the weight back plus 10 lbs. When I was 33 years old I weighed the most I had ever weighed 170 lbs. and at 5' 1" that's pretty chunky. I suffered a broken heart as my relationship of 11 years ended. I lost 35 pounds in two months because I had no appetite. I tried to keep it off by starting an excercise regime and watching what I ate. I kept it off for about one year until I met my current husband and stepdaughters. Gradually, the weight came back plus 15 pounds. I developed hypothyroid and high blood pressure during this time also. When my husband and I married 3 years later in 2001, I weighed 185 lbs. I got pregnant 3 months after our wedding and managed to keep my weight below 200 until the last two months of my pregnancy. Then my weight shot up to 212. I went into labor 4 weeks early and when I left the hospital, I weighed 179. I couldn't believe I had lost all that weight just giving birth. Since 2002 my weight has gone up and down 2 or 3 times and I topped the scales at 221 pounds this year. Some may say that 221 pounds is not that bad but at this size, I can barely get out of my own way. Not to mention the uncontrolled bloodpressure (even with meds), constant sweating when I do get out of my own way and the sleep apnea. I'm also very limited on what I can do physically with my 6 year old daughter. This needs to change. Last summer a coworker of mine had the Gastric Bypass surgery and she just reached her 100 lbs. goal. Early on after her surgery, I was inspired to inquire through my PCP whether I would be a good candidate for the Lap Band. My bmi was 39 with 4 co-morbidities. I was told I am the perfect candidate. I met with the dietician 3 times since last december, and did my psych eval this spring. I was approved by my insurance company and am having my pre-op appointment on August 28th. I should get my surgery date on that day. I'm so excited and still cannot believe it really is going to happen.
