The picture above describes how I am feeling. This is not a race its the journey, it is a series of steps to the ultimate goal of living a healthier and better life. I am actually going to share with all of you my entire store how I got to this point. It was not a short story but I feel here I can actually share it.
I have struggled with my weight my entire life, I was diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 18. PCOS is an endocrine disorder in women that makes the regulation of cycles and hormones go all over the place. One of the nasty side effects is massive weight gain and nearly impossible to get off. I have worked out and eaten right and the weight would come off for a bit and it would come back. Its nearly impossible with PCOS to lose a massive amount of weight. I was then put on medication for my PCOS and it regulated the symptoms but the weight kept on piling on. In 2011 I got to a point where I knew something had to be done. Something drastic had to be done. I started looking into surgery I went through the entire process and then was literally on the operating room table and I was then denied. I tried appealing and various other things and then I was denied. But I was still FAT! I then looked into other diets and began the Optifast Weight Loss System. I lost 81lbs and looked amazing, I am not bashing optifast because it really did work. But the problem with it was that my health started to suffer. I had NEVER been in the hospital my entire life except for some stitches and ER runs throughout my life. I was put in for my back and for my gallbladder. I then stopped Optifast and tried Weight Watchers all of last Summer and into the Fall of this year. I gained weight instead of losing it.
I got to a point this past Winter that I could not stand the effects of my Obesity on my health. My back was hurting and my PCOS had come back. I then began the process to have WLS.
I had saved all the paperwork from the first time I went through with it. I knew the surgeons I wanted to use and the hospital where I wanted to have it done. I immediately began the process of going to the Seminar.
Each bariatric center is different. I attended a Seminar and learned about all the different medical options which I will discuss and post later.
I had a choice between the gold standard Gastric Bypass, LapBand, Vertical Sleeve and Duodenal Switch. The idea of a band that literally fails majority of the time was my nightmare. The RNY was too drastic and the DS was not even on my radar. I decided on the VSG it was the best option for me. Drastic like the RNY and purely restrictive like the Band. The wonderful thing about this was that if I did not like my weight loss with the VSG I could turn it into an RNY or DS.
After the seminar I met with my surgeon who explained to me the risks, benefits and all of the options that I had with surgery. We agreed the VSG was the best option for me and I was then told to get my clearance reports in.
Getting cleared for surgery is an entirely different ballgame. I had to see my GP, a Cardiologist, Psychologist etc.. and a dietician. Once that was in I then decided to schedule surgery and on May 16, 2014 my life changed forever.
I was scheduled for 6am that day. My entire family came with me Mom, Dad and my Aunt who had the bypass a few years ago. I then was taken right up to the operating room staging area. My Mom staid with me and doctors and nurses came in and out. I was then hooked up to an IV and given Versed. After that I was wheeled into surgery and did not remember a thing. When I awoke in transport to recovery I was told all went well and I was in pain. I was then told later on that if I had not had bariatric surgery I would have been Type 2 diabetic by 31.
I knew at that moment I made the right decision for me. THIS IS NOT THE EASY WAY OUT! IT IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS SOMEONE CAN DO.
My stomach is now reduced to a 2.5oz sleeve and when fully healed it will be 3oz. That is it for the rest of my life. I still have to exercise and watch what I eat but my after care team is where that comes in place. When I am an 80 year I will still have to follow these guidelines. Its a life changing decision but it was worth it.
Now I am going to post links and pictures of all the procedures.
The LapBand
http://www.lapband.com/
The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy ( What I Have)
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/about_vertical_sleeve_gastrectomy.html
The RNY
The DS
The Sleeve is really replacing the RNY and Band. The sleeve is having amazing results and is quickly becoming one of the most common weight loss procedures. The DS is preformed rarely only in high weight people.
