reader104
My name is Pat.. I have not always been obese. When I married in 1968 I weighed 122 lbs. One child and one divorce later I weighed 170. I remarried, had two more children and then weighed over 200. I've tried many ways to lose weight (diet pills, Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, South Beach, Atkins). I would lose some weight but gain back even more. When I went for my annual physical in June of 2009 I had ballooned to my highest weight of 352. The doctor told me my weight was killing me. I walked with a cane, had diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. She said I was as close to death as someone with Stage 4 cancer. That was my wake up call. She suggesed WLS and I agreed. I was told I would have to lose 10% of my weight (35 lbs.) To me that seemed impossible. The nutritionist put me on a strict diet and I lost the weight. I completed all the requirements for the surgery and filed with my insurance company in late November. They turned me down because I hadn't proved I couldn't keep the weight off. After many calls, with the help of my sister and my case manager, I was finally approved for RYN in March. My weightat the pre-op dr.appointment was 299. I had lost 53 lbs. before surgery!!! My surgery date was 4-7-2010. I am now 2 weeks out and feeling great. At my 2 week check at the doctor I weighed 286.
