luv2lw
Where do I begin, I guess at the beginning. I was a normal sized child until I was 6 years old, and from that moment on I have grown and grown. Of course, like most overweight individuals, I have occassionaly lost weight, only to put the weight back on with some additional pounds thrown in for good measure.
I remember being in second grade, my mother in her infinite wisdom, sent me to school with celery sticks and some carrots. Well needless to say, I guess I was crying or something and my teacher felt sorry for me and bought my lunch for me. So my first diet was at 7 years old. Even though my mother was embarrassed by her fat little girl, and placed me on a diet at that tender age, she was also sort of like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, when I got home from school she would have goodies there for me to eat. I never learned good eating habits and have gotten to the point that now my body goes into "starvation" modes. No matter how little I eat, the weight continues to pile on.
I found this site in 2008, started doing some research and found the name and location of Dr. Shin who is the bariatric surgeon I hope will be doing my surgery. With much tredipdation, I attended the initial seminar in August of 2010. There I learned what a process you had to go through to get insurance approval. For my insurance, which is PEIA, I have to be on a diet for a year with monthly contacts with my general doctor. My GP also has to write a letter of recommendation for the surgery, and I have to lose at least 10% of my body weight.
Now, I realize insurance companies have to set controls and checks up for procedures, but you would think that if my GP and my bariatric surgeon feel that I would benefit from this surgery that would be sufficient. However, I will play the game the insurance company has set up and I will be the victor.
Wow, I got off track there a little, I just have a slight problem with insurance companies making medical decisions concerning my health. After attending the seminar with Dr. Shin, who I was highly impressed with, I realized this is what I want to do. I always said that when my weight started keeping from doing things I wanted to do, I would do something about it. Just didn't realize it was going to be this hard to lose the weight.
I want to lose the weight so I can go for long walks with my husband, and do some of the things we both used to enjoy, but since the weight has ballooned, I can't do anymore. I am sure he will be there with every step, and pound just as he has been there through every other thing in our life. Girls, if you can't tell I married a good one. He is my rock, and also my cheering section and my defender. He has loved me and I him for over 32 years, and hopefully with this surgery, we will have another 32 years to enjoy each other.
I have now been going to my general doctor since last September, making my monthly contact as my insurance requires. I have also given up caffeine (for the most part), and stopped smoking. The one crucial thing that I have been unable to obtain is the requried 10% weight loss. I have been following weight watchers point system, and being pretty faithful, but I am unable to lose the weight. I go for my initial consultation with Dr. Shin next week, and then I go for my psychological evaluation the following day. Hopefully everything will start falling into place and I can have the surgery before Christmas of this year, but of course I am not getting my hopes up about that.
Well that is where I am at this point in my weight loss saga. I wish you all out there that are struggling with the same saga the best of luck in your quests for a healther you, and I will continue to pursue the final goal of surgery along with the rest of you.
