McLisa
I am post-op lap RNY and this is my story.
I have been struggling with morbid obesity for many years. I was not overweight during my childhood or young adult years, but my genetics was bound to catch up to me sooner or later. Almost all of my family members have been obese. Having grown up around heavy people all my life, I never harbored any of the typical prejudices against them (us!) However, I do recall thinking it was strange for the weight watchers to be so proud of losing "only" a couple of pounds. It was so easy for me to keep the weight off! Now, looking back, I realize that it was so easy to keep off the weight because I barely ate anything and exercised like a mad woman. I have never been able to eat like a normal person and keep off the weight.
After getting married and having two children I still managed to keep in very good shape. I would receive compliments all the time on how I didn't look like a mother of two. Then, the catalyst to my weight gain was when I hurt my back moving my son's bed. I was out of work for several months with no exercise whatsoever. Long story short, it was the beginning of my ever-spiraling-up of weight gain. Fad diets, losing, gaining back more than before. It's the age old story.
At one point, I decided this was my destiny. I quit trying. I was tired of fighting. I decided I was going to become one of those Big Beautiful and Proud of It women. Only, I wasn't proud of it, and could never seem to accept and love myself the way I was. Let me mention here that my husband has always loved me and desired me regardless of how heavy I became. I was the person who didn't like who I'd become.
I never considered WLS because of all the horror stories I had heard over the years, but all that changed after I officially hit my "double" weight. I weighed exactly double what I weighed on my wedding day. I took a long hard look at my life. All the joint and foot pain, headaches, sleep apnea, social phobia, missed opportunities with my teenagers.
It was time to do something drastic.
After researching, I found that my Federal Blue Cross would be covering the Lapband after the first of the year(2007). It sounded so much safer than gastric bypass that I made the big step to make an appointment with a very highly recommended doctor (Dr Jawad - Bariatric Clinic of Ocala). I only told my husband and my best friend, and neither approved of my decision. They both ended up coming with me to the introductory meeting, and afterwards they both gave me their full blessings. As a matter of fact, they both now have appointments of their own to meet with my doctor about their own WLS! I eventually decided to proceed with the Lap RNY instead of the Lapband. I didn't tell my Mom, Dad, or other family members until about one week before the surgery, so that I wouldn't have to listen to their doubts and worries. Only time will tell how they'll eventually feel abut it.
I am now one week post-op and starting to feel like a normal person. My doctor requires a gastric tube be in place for 4-6 weeks, which is really uncomfortable. I haven't read yet of anyone else experiencing this, but hopefully, as I make friends on this website, I'll hear plenty of stories!
