Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group
Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.
Hello there! I am new here, and I most certainly look forward to being here to offer and receive support. Having said that, I will delve into a bit about myself and what brings me here.
I am a 37 year old mother to 2 amazing kids, ages 10 and 3. I am a wife. I am at the point in my life where Ive come to accept the fact that I need help getting healthy and that I will fight the fight with everything I have to get to the health goal I aim for. Which is being here for my kids for as long as I can. Growing up, I was always athletic and at a healthy weight. Then depression and anxiety hit. I was having marital problems, and I had 2 kids. I felt alone all of the time in my marriage and as a result, I think I just decided to give up.
The turning point for me was watching my Dad struggle and suffer from diabetes, type 2. This eventually would lead to his death and to the point where I tried my hardest to revive him, but failed. There I sat, screaming at his side, begging him not to leave me. My daughter was 3 at the time, and she witnessed his passing and my failed attempt at saving his life. This isnt a piece of info meant to have people feel sorry for me, but only to inform you all of what motivates me. I refuse to have my children screaming at my side as I lay dying. I refuse to have them watch the life drain from my face and the sparkle leave my eyes. These treasures, these 2 kids, are what will keep me going. They are my life.
Fast-forward to present day... after trying and repeatedly failing at different attempts to lose the weight non-surgically, I finally talked to my Dr. She informed me that Id be a great candidate for the surgery and immediately referred me to my weight loss surgery clinic. I have insurance approval, have had several appts. Everything was going swimmingly until the fateful day of my Psych eval. After 384 questions, it was established that my anxiety is out of control... something I already knew. ROAD BLOCK. NOT A CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY AT PRESENT TIME. Are you kidding me? 3/4 of my anxiety comes from being unhealthy! This happened almost 2 weeks ago.
This is where I am choosing to fight! I will up my Celexa as suggested. I will go to counciling as suggested. I will make sure I am taken care of metally as well as physically. Making up my mind to do as she suggested... I feel fantastic. I have been ensuring the proper amt. of protein which was a struggle of mine. I've not been skipping meals like I used to. I have so much more energy than I used to. I havent had an anxiety attack, and my mood is a lot better. My first counciling appt. isnt until August 30th, and I am excited to report to her and to show her my food and drink logs.
Life is looking bright for me, and I am excited to feel like I am finally doing something for myself instead of everyone else. PLease, share your stories with me. Lets compare, and be here for each other. Here are my numbers so far...
Height- 5'0"
Heaviest Weight - 251
Current Weight - 246
SUrgery Date- to be announced
Goal weight - happy and healthy
Bravo for taking a stand for yourself!! I'm 7 1/2 years out from my RNY.
I dieted myself to obesity. I weighed 125 during high school and was always trying to lose 25 lbs (gotta love those old height/weight charts that said a 5 ft tall woman should only weigh 100 lbs). I gained over 100 lbs during my first pregnancy and was able to get back down to 130 just in time for my second pregnancy. However, I wasn't able to shed the excess weight after my daughter was born. At some point, I gave up on dieting and decided I'd just be a happy fat mom/wife. However, I'd messed up my metabolism from all the years of starvation diets and my weight just kept climbing. I developed sleep apnea, pitting edema in my legs, GERD, and was pre-diabetic. Eventually, I got to the point where it hurt to walk. I didn't see my son's dorm room because I couldn't walk that far.
Then, I had a cancer scare (huge ovarian cyst) - but my OBGYN wouldn't remove it because she said I was too fat for surgery. I knew obesity could kill me, but that was the first time I realized that it could actually keep me from getting medical care. I found a new OBGYN and had a complete hysterectomy... and on the day I got home from the hospital, I attended an orientation meeting for gastric bypass surgery. Best decision I've ever made!!
Pre-op, I lost 40 lbs by following the principles Geneen Roth described in her book, Breaking Free from Emotional Eating. By the time I had my RNY, I'd found this group and said "goodbye" to Diet Coke, Quarter Pounders with cheese, and desserts. For me, the surgery "re-set" my metabolism. I stuck to the plan my surgeon gave me and was at my target weight (125) 11 months after surgery. I stayed within my target weight range for 6 years. However, the last year of my doctorate was brutal - I stopped exercising and stress ate, so I'm out of my target weight range right now (I graduated in May!). Last month, I started exercising again (kickboxing!!) and I'm back on my eating plan. I know that I just need to do my part of the deal, my body will return to my healthy weight range. I refuse to diet myself to obesity again!!
Height- 5'0"
Heaviest Weight - 300+ (I stopped looking at the scale when it hit 300)
Current Weight - 150
Surgery Date - 2/10/2010
Goal weight range -125 to 135
I too am short at 5'2" and was over 300+lbs. 298 pre op. I shed 175 lbs. Like JJ, I went back to school and got my bachelors degree. I also picked up 25 lbs from falling back into old stress eating habits. RNY has been one of the best decisions in my life. It certainly hasn't been a fix all and I have had to constantly work at taking care of myself in quality ways. RNY gave me a great reset and the tools I needed. I have found that one of the best ways to heal from the intense stress I have been under not only from school, but a really rough last year and a half, has been rest, quite time, and relaxation exercises. I mean days at a time. Giving myself and my body permission to "do nothing" and just rest has allowed my body to begin shedding the extra weight again. We all know the correlation between stress and weight with the cortisol connections. In essence, we really are doing something when we are doing nothing. Laying on the couch napping, reading, loving on my babies (3 cats), staring at the light patterns on the wall that the Solatubes create, sitting on the patio watching and listening to the birds and wind chimes, and listening to the water fountain have been wonderfully productive "doing" exercises for me. I've finally embodied that I am good enough. I've learned to give myself permission to listen to my body and take care of its needs. I've learned that taking care of myself first is the best way I can then be there for others.
RNY gastric bypass or whatever you choose is one step in your life's journey, and a never ending process of making choices. Bless you as you move through this part of your life's journey!
? is there even a place to upload them here? I havent done too much exploring on this site opther than to read peoples stories. :) I hope you guys have a blessed and amazing day!! Please dont be shy! :)
I have been heavy since I was a young child in high school I was probably 25lbs overweight. However, I was conditioned to believe I looked much heavier. Like JJ I dieted myself up to 299, I refused to let it go to 300. I'm 5'3" and I lost 99 pounds, like every other time I started to gain the weight back. I have Type 2 Diabetes, High Cholesterol, High Triglycerides and recently found out I have sleep apnea. I have major problems with my back and hips well now only 1 hip. I told my Doctor I was tired of not feeling well, and I wanted to let the thin person that's been trapped inside out. She really surprised me when she mentioned the sleeve to me.
I was dead set against wls, because I was stupid. Well after all the research and my 3 month pre op program I decided along with my surgeon to have the RNY because it brings the best health benfits to me, and I can't wait for it to happen I'm so excited. I started the program at 275 and my last weight I checked in at 263. I will support you in any way I can! Congratulations on deciding to fight rather than let the weight rule your life. Your gonna do great! Take Care Dorothy
In a bit over a month I have done a 180. I have been exercising daily, and have lost 13 lbs!! I have to meet with my therapist on the 30th and I am truly hoping she will give me the ok to proceed with surgery. I bet you are so excited for your surgery!! I envy you! Id love to hear more about you and all you have been going through! I will be here for you to lean on if you need someone!! God Bless you.