yminton
I'm 26 and the mother of an amazing lil' boy (he is 7 now). I have been with his dad for 11 years, but we aren't married yet.
My fiance' (Michael) and I are both full time college students, attending the RN program. I am a 3 time Ivy Tech graduate, but I have so many interest... I just keep going back! :) My passion is forensic science (long before CSI came out), but there isn't anywhere around here that I could actually make a prospering career out of it.
Our son is in 1st grade and doing GREAT! I was a stay at home mom with him, therefore I was able to work with him on ABC's, numbers, colors, etc. By the time he was old enough for preschool, he knew everything they were going to "teach" him.... so we decided to let him go anyway... at least for socialization. He is now in an advanced math class on Fridays in order to keep him interested! :) I'm so proud of him.
The three of us make up a VERY busy family. Michael and I serve on our son's school's PTO, I am the Kindergarten representative. We also volunteer at the local clothing center one day a week. When we aren't at our son's school, or in class ourselves we are working on homework, or doing the everyday "home" stuff (cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.).
Outside of school and home, we spend a lot of time at our church, and with church family! We attend supper and Bible study on Wednesday's and church on Sunday's. Of course in between all that time, we are helping decorate, move chairs, get ready for upcoming events, weddings, suppers, cook outs, etc. I also help co-run the Ministry for Pregnant Teens of Jackson County. Yes - I was a pregnant teen, so this is where the urge to help comes from! ;)
Mmmmmk, now that I've covered my everyday life on to the past.
STRUGGLING WITH WEIGHT LOSS - or the LACK thereof. When I was in elementary and middle school I was "pudgy", but started thinning out in high school. My freshman year I was 160 lbs. This was probably my best and most healthy weight. I got pregnant with my son my senior year of high school, and just continued gaining after he was born. I am now heavier than I was 9 months pregnant!!! The crazy thing was... after having a baby, I just stayed in the comfy (stretchy) clothes for a while... so as I was gaining, the clothes were stretching with me. I didn't even notice it!!! The weird thing was, my fiance' didn't notice it either. He knew I was bigger than I used to be, but neither of us noticed the drastic change.
Luckily he loves me just the way I am, b/c I'm the same person I have always been! :) However, I would like to be a healthier version of me! :) Now that my son is 7 and in full-time schooling and I have completed schooling myself, I'm beginning to think more about my self as a person instead of a mommy, or student, or girlfriend. It's hard to focus on myself this much, I'm just not used to it!
After struggling with the weight (UP and DOWN) every month I decided to get serious and REALLY do something about it. I began trying weight watchers and curve work out plans. I lost a few, but gained back more! I then tried counting carbs AND calories... I lost a few more, but gained back even more. I then tried eating salads and no red meat. That worked the best for me, but as soon as I slip up I would be back to where I started. The REALLY frustrating thing is that each time I gained weight back, I was heavier then when I started!!! Now I understand it was a set point in my body moving.
The entire time I was battling PCOS, not knowing the name of this monster!!! I kept going to my Dr. (Community Health Clinic) and they kept telling me "it's stress". WHATEVER!!! So, with my medical schooling knowledge, I began researching my side effects and decided that I had PCOS. I printed it off and scheduled YET ANOTHER appointment with my so called "doctor". I handed her the papers, and said "this is what I have, I just know it... test me for it". She did, and indeed that is what I have. Not that hard, but yep - I diagnosed myself. For the last couple years, I've been on metformin, iron, and birth control to try and regulate my menstrual cycle and alleviate the major blood clotting and cramps, while regulating the insulin resistance. This isn't helping, I'm still not close to "normal".
For the last year I have been meeting with a dietitian at the hospital and following a diabetes diet. Although I'm not diabetic, the PCOS is a precursor to diabetes! Also, carbs are my favorite foods.... so I need to avoid them as best as I can. I began loosing with this diet - loose 20, gain 25... loose 25, gain 30. My dietitian started talking to me about WLS when I first started seeing her last December... and I said ABSOLUTELY NOT. I am too determined and want to give this my all, before I consider something that serious! Needless to say, 1 year of "giving my all" is NOT working. At this point I should include that I have a 3 year old knee injury in my right knee and a high school injury from color guard in my right foot. So, these injuries keep me from any type of strenuous exercise, especially after all the weight gain since the injuries. These areas are inflamed everyday and cause me to have trouble walking or climbing stairs (going down is harder).
Furthermore, considering my injuries and struggle with weight, I have decided to consider WLS. For the last 9 months I have been researching it and was under the impression that the only 2 my insurance will cover is the band and the bypass. With those being my only options, I concentrated solely on them. Everyday I would tip back and fourth between the two and last week decided to go with the bypass. I was finally comfortable with my decision and felt confident that it was the right choice for me. THEN I met with my surgeon on Thursday (12/9/10) and he throws me a MAJOR curve ball!
*I think you would have better results with the Duodenal Switch* ....... WHAT???
I stopped him before he started explaining the two, telling him that my insurance won't pay for that. He said as of 2 months ago, they will, as long as we do it in one surgery, instead of the 2 part surgery we usually do!!!!
I was like, OMGosh! Are you serious??? After all this stressing, and research, and back and fourth.... I finally get to a point of comfort and confidence with the bypass and you're telling me I need the DS? What is that? Is it more serious? More dangerous? What are the risk factors? What are the complications? What is the difference in complications and benefits between the DS and the Bypass? What makes me a better candidate for the DS than the Bypass? Why do you feel I need the DS? -- Yes I was FREAKING OUT! He then chuckled and told me to try and calm down, reassured me that I have time, I'm young and haven't developed any life threatening health risks yet, I have time to make a decision and I don't have to make one today.
So, I left confused, upset, anxious, crying, you name it! My fiance' took me to lunch where we could sit and think and talk about everything I've just been told. Barely able to swallow my garden salad, I asked Michael -- what do you think about all this...
That wasn't even a week ago, so of course I'm still struggling with my decision. So, if anyone has any tips or advice PLEASE let me know.
<3 Destined
