TinaMW
Hello, my name is Tina, I am 47 years old, married and have 2 boys, ages 23 and 16. Below is the letter I wrote in response to "Why I want to have Bariatric surgery". Hopefully it is not to boring.
When asked why I want Bariatric Surgery, I have to tell you my response would vary from day to day. One day it would be a simple, one sentence response phrased as follows: “Because I am sick and tired of being FAT!!!” Another day it would take a 500 page novel to put into words what life as an obese person has been like. Today I will try to give you the Reader’s Digest condensed version. Here goes……For as long as I can remember I have been overweight. My earliest recall from childhood was around the age of 8. I remember visiting a grandparent’s house and having my siblings offered a Hershey bar and me being told I should not have one because I was chubby. From that time on, I went through a typical overweight childhood. Of course I was teased by other kids, cried because the cute or “in fashion” clothes were not made to fit overweight children, and felt humiliated to have to shop in the “chubby kids” department at the store.
My first formal attempt at losing weight was at the age of 12. That was the magic number back in the 70’s when someone could join Weight Watchers. My mother joined with me for support and to know how to cook for me. (No one else in my immediate family was overweight at that time) Thus began my struggle to lose weight. In high school, I tried various diets and would always lose weight but could not seem to keep it off. Although I was a good student and spent a lot of time reading, I was also very active.
I played softball and basketball in high school and was in the marching band. I broke my ankle in high school while doing a flip on the trampoline in gymnastics. My activity was slowed by the cast, but not for long. I was back on the trampoline 2 months later with a cast and trying to play ball. By the end of high school I weighed around 230lbs despite my level of activity or my attempts at weight loss.
During college, I continued to be active and played basketball. We were required to run 2 miles prior to practice and then spend 2 hours on the court. Even with that I left college weighing between 210-220lbs, and consequently had caused some damage to my knees.
My weight from that time to the present has gone up and down with various life events and attempts at dieting. Life events include marriage, the birth of 2 children, death of a significant people in my life, job changes and just daily stressors. My attempts at losing weight have run the full gamut. I have tried most diets know to man: Weight Watchers on numerous occasions, Jenny Craig, Atkins, other high protein/low carb diets, Medifast, Fen/Phen, low calorie plans, low fat plans…..you name it. Four times in my life I have gone through a physician supervised diet. And still here I am 47 years old weighing more than I have ever weighed in my life. It is not that I can’t lose weight, because I am usually quite successful, I just can’t seem to keep it off. So as you can see Yo-Yo is my middle name.
I have thought about Bariatric surgery in the past, but as a nurse felt that it was to risky, had children to raise and my husband was vehemently opposed. The older I get and the more weight I gain, I am starting to see health issues. Problems with arthritis, GERD and stress incontinence are just a few. Since having a hysterectomy in January of 2006, my weight has gotten out of control. I now weigh more than ever and have an appetite that is ravenous.
About 3 months ago, I decided to start researching Bariatric surgery again. I have tried everything else and feel like I am at the end of my rope. If I don’t do something to get my weight under control the yo-yo losing and gaining and the continued increase in my weight will kill me. I am to the point that I do not want to continue living with this struggle. I feel that gastric bypass will give me a lifelong tool to not only lose the weight but keep it off. I desperately do not want to spend the next 47 years of my life struggling with my weight as I have in the first 47 years.
I have spent numerous hours doing research, speaking with other people who have had successful and unsuccessful Bariatric surgery, looking at internet message boards and reading everything I can find, good and bad. My husband is now supportive and will be with me every step of the way. I feel I have chosen a Bariatic program that includes everything needed to help me be as successful as possible.
I fully understand the risks involved but am willing to take them if it will give me the opportunity to leave a healthier, happier life.
