nancybird
I've been overweight all my life, my first diet was at age 5 and followed by countless others. At age 38 and my highest weight, I reported chest pains to my doctor. I could hardly walk or go up steps, and my feet and knees were always hurting. When tests showed my heart was healthy, he suggested Prozac to help with anxiety and depression. Within one week, my life started to change. I became energetic and happy, and in the process I started exercising, went back to college, and lost 110 lbs over a couple of years. I have kept most of that weight off, but since I moved to New Orleans in 2000, remarried, and quit smoking, I've gained back 40 lbs.
Now at 51, the weight is starting to cause more problems with my hips, knees, and feet, and I'm not able to exercise as much as I'd like. I'm basically healthy but those poor health indicator numbers are going up, and I can see diabetes and heart disease in my future. I'd like to lose 100 pounds.
Last year I gave myself one more year to lose weight on my own, and I researched WLS during that time. I was going to get the Lap Band, but then I heard about the Sleeve (vertical sleeve gastrectomy or VSG), and I thought that was the perfect solution for me. I want to eat a healthy variety of foods, just less of it. Fortunately, my insurance started covering the Sleeve in 2009, so I took that as a good sign, and I am going for it.
I am looking forward to a more active life, getting satisfaction from relationships and experiences and accomplishments, rather than from food. I want to dance, hike, garden, travel, bicycle, and walk without hurting. I'm happily married to a great guy, I love life in the Big Easy, I have a good job, great friends, loving grown daughter and family back in St. Louis, and lots of interests and hobbies. I see the Sleeve as a tool that will help me gain some control over my appetite. I will continue therapy after the surgery, because I know I will need help replacing food with something else for my comfort.
