sellabrations
So here's just part of my story.....I started my journey in August 2005, and with great insurance, and a great dr's office, I was able to have my surgery the end of October 2005. At that point in my life, I think I was at my lowest, I wasn't "HUGE", but I was very unhealthy. I am 5'3" (almost 5'4") and weighed 223 lbs (93 lbs over weight). I had asthma, high cholestrol, apnea, beginning osteoarthritis. I wanted to be healthy, no matter what the cost.
Having the surgery was very difficult, while I didn't have alot of complications, I did have a few, but I think the hardest thing was giving up my best friend over night (food). I struggled with my weight ever since I could remember. My mother was a model until well into her 30's and I pretty much fended for myself, so food became my best friend. Then when I turned 17 and graduated high school, it was time for me to help myself..... starting with lossing weight. I tried everything,Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Zenical, Private Trainers, Atkins, and nothing worked...... I would just yoyo. I would loss weight only to gain it back plus more later. My family is "larger" and so I thought perhaps I was just suppose to be a "big girl"..... or was I??! Being as unhealthy as I was, I was slowly killing myself.
Then I found Obesityhelp, and started talking to some of the great people on here. I desided to check into the surgery, and research, research, research. I went through all the hoops and doctors, and finally got my date...... Oct 25, 2005. My surgery went well, I just had an adverse reaction to the medications they gave me. After surgery, my weight loss was "slow and steady"..... it took me over 18 months to loss 83 lbs, I currently weight between 137-140 lbs.... but my weight loss stopped.
Now I have desided to go for a tummy tuck..... which is the final step to my weight loss. I met with a surgeon, and have scheduled surgery for Oct 19th, 2007, (almost 2 yrs exactly since my surgery). I am told I am carrying about 5-7 lbs of skin which will be removed during that surgery...... and I think I will feel soooo much better after that. I still "see" myself as fat due to all the skin that hangs aroung my abdominal area.
The only other thing I can not stress enough to people is the NEED to make sure your are mentally ready for surgery, and realize that surgery may make you look better, but you need to work on yourselves inside in order to trully "feel better". (A process I am still struggling with). Also this surgery is not the "cure" to all your health problems, I am now faced with other problems. I have epilepsy, and still have asthma, I'm cold all the time (no extra padding to keep me warm), I'm anemic (a common problem after surgery), and my muscles still hurt from carrying all that extra weight for so long before surgery..... but over all I think I am better!!
There's just alittle about my journey..... my you stay safe in your journey, and if you have any questions, or would like to talk sometime, please feel free to contact me!!
XOXOXO
