45 year old woman

Introduction: Meet me: I'm a 45 year old who feels 30, and some days about 15. I work in advertising and love what I do. I'm funny, sarcastic, bright and nurturing. I love my friends dearly and I think they feel the same about me. I'm married to a funny, sarcastic, bright man who works in TV. I have a funny, sarcastic, bright 17-yr. old son who lives at home and will be graduating from high school this year. I also have a funny and bright (for some reason he's not sarcastic) 21-yr. old who just bought his first home - so needless to say I'm extremely proud of him.

I've never been thin, but I used to be about a size 12 and curvy, voluptuous and sexy. I loved how I looked. Then childbirth, then aging, and before I knew it I'd ambled right past curvy and chubby straight to fat. But I still saw myself as sexy, so when I walked by a mirror one day and caught a reflection of myself I thought - "Who the hell is that fat chick in my clothes??"

Time to do something about it, dammit.

30 year old woman

Introduction: I am a 30 year old mom of 3. I have struggled with my weight since I was a teenager, but at 27 yrs old I got pregnant with my 3rd child and ballooned to 247 lbs. After I had her, I didn’t lose any of the weight. I was doomed! I was always above 200 lbs but never this big! I tried every diet imaginable, Atkins took off 40 lbs of it, but I gained it back as soon as I stopped Atkins. I was horrified when my husband and I got married and I saw the pix!! Oye vey!

Path: I tried every diet imaginable, every diet pill etc. Nothing worked. I hated being ashamed of my body, hiding it when I and my hubby were "together",, not being able to do the things I wanted, etc. Finally I made an appt with GI Nutrition, My 1st appt was a nightmare as they told me @ 219 lbs and 5'4,i wasn’t eligible since I didn’t have any comorbidities. They did bloodwork and guess what??? I was diabetic,,,YAYYYYYYYYYYY! Next I had to go through a 6 month process before the surgery, it actually took 8 months but that’s OK,, I was approved!

Surgery: I had the surgery May 3rd,2007.About 2 months ago. I remember waking up and feeling the worst pain I ever felt and I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. Morphine wasn’t working so they gave me Dilaudid (SP?)That worked somewhat but ,,,oye, the pain at night was unreal. So, the next 2 days was hell, but I did what I had to do, walked, sipped water, etc. I was released 2 days after surgery.

Post_Surgery: Ok so at my first appt I was shocked.& 7 days post op, I was down from 215 to 202!!! Then I dropped down to 192, and now I’m at 179! But it hasn’t been easy. Emotionally I’m a wreck - so many ups and downs. Physically, I got dumping 3 times, but I do feel great and get lots of compliments something I’m not used to. I’m still struggling with the fact that my body cant handle what it use to. Sometimes I eat to fast but my pouch lets me know it!!!!! lol It was worth it though, I still have a ways to go but I will do it. For those of u thinking about the surgery, make sure u are mentally prepared, and willing to work hard. Surgery is only a tool, you have to be willing to do your part!!!

52 year old woman

After many years of hearing this one say, oh, I had a gastric bypass, I would look at them and think are you crazy!!! This seemed so scary to me. About 2 years ago my daughter said she was thinking about having one and I said to my then 29 year old daughter, absolutely not!!! I am afraid for you. Well, because she and her husband were expecting, she dropped it, golly was I glad. Then I watch both my granddaughters, one is 4 and one is a year old. Guess what guggy (what my 1st born granddaughter calls me) decided I couldn’t keep up with them. I am soooo tired, I hurt, I am constantly trying to run after them. Well, on April 10 2007 I had my gastric, now it took me almost a year to decide to do it and then had to apply and be approved. I all of a sudden wanted it soooo bad. Thing is I wanted so bad to approved, and so bad to not be approved!!! Sounds stupid huh? Well after being a prime candidate, all the test showed my heart was in terrific shape, all my tests came back and wowed the dr.s. then I was really scared! My approval came the last few days of February, my count down started, I kept thinking, should I or should I not? The only people who knew I was having it done until about 3 days before was my husband and daughter. I told my small family 3 days before and got a great reaction! I have had such great support.

I was in surgery for 8 hours, I had a little scar tissue from a gall bladder operation when in was 17 years old. That was the hold up. When I woke up in the recovery room, all I could see were the feet of people across from me and I thought to myself, well, they don't have toe tags, I must be alive. Then a nurse spotted me looking around and said, hey, your awake, everything went great and we were just waiting to take you to your room now that you are alert. When I got to my room there were my husband (who I couldn't have gotten through this without him) my daughter and my youngest granddaughter. They were never so happy to see me, and I them. I started crying and saying thank you lord, for letting me make the right decision and for getting me through this. Everything went well, I was released 2 days after. Now I just couldn't eat anything, jello, ice, popsickles. All I could do was drink water, I had the gas bubbles that are expected, and my back hurt!!!! My husband would sit beside me and rub my back and pat my back like a baby and it really helped. Then after waiting 2 days and showering, I felt like a million bucks. As the days passed, I still couldn't eat. I neglected to tell you I am diabetic. The assistant dr. To my main dr. Decided to change my insulin. I asked him 3 times not to change it, I know my body and have had diabetes for 17 years. He got very indignant, and stated, I am the dr. Not you. So I said, ok. Then after being home for about 10 days I started throwing up for 25 hours. I called and told the office I was desperately sick, they said come to the emergency room. I was dizzy, confused, dehydrated, and wasn't aware as to where I was. When I got to the ER. They knew I was coming, my husband left me off at the door and I went in and sat, I couldn’t sign anything to let them know who I was then my husband came in and notified them. They took me back and said to my husband get her shirt off stat!!
A nurse pulled my pants off and the quickly laid me back on the cart and started to work on me. My husband told me all of this I had no memory of anything. I was so dehydrated they couldn't even get any blood out of me. They started I v's and poured me full of potassium because I didn't hae a readable level. They waited 2 hours on getting me re-hydrated, and then I came back to and realized what was going on. Then ER doctor came in and was talking with me, and said I was just minutes from going into diabetic coma. Talk about scared!! Well I was in intensive care for 5 days, but the day after I was admitted the assistant doctor came in and I read him the riot act!!! There was nurse in my room at all times for a couple of days and I said it in front of her, I told him that the main dr told me he was going to graduate in may. Well I informed him he was not going to make a good dr. Because he didn't listen to his patients, he was arrogant, and in my opinion from what I had observed, he was prejudiced against heavy people, and most of all he didn't seem to value a woman’s opinion, in all honesty he was from a foreign country. He actually stood there and listened to me, and then he looked at me and said I am sorry you were right, turned and walked out the door and the nurse looked stunned!! She said, no one has ever heard that Doctor say he was sorry for anything (and he had made boo boos in the past) she said you are my hero. I felt better. Anyhow, after all of that I came home and started to feel fantastic in about a week after I got my strength back. My birthday is June 1st and I had a goal, I wanted to lose 50 pounds by then, but I missed it by 2 days, on June 3rd I stepped on the scale and it said 50 pound loss, yahoooooo!!! But then for the next three weeks I didn't lose anything, not one ounce.

I was scared and worried, but a retired nurse explained to me that losing so much weight in only 7 or 8 weeks shocked my body and my body said oh no, we are staving and we are not going to give any more weight up, which made sense to me. It has been 12 weeks and I have lost a total of 58lbs. It is starting to move again. For being so scared of having the operation, and never think that I would be the one to do it. I am so glad I have watched my clothes get bigger and we are going to a wedding tomorrow, and I actually can look in to the mirror and say, hey you aren't done yet, but you are starting to look ok. I still want to lose about another 70 lbs but now I am riding my bike in a park and I can ride about 2 or 3 miles which is amazing for me my 4yr old granddaughter keeps right up with me and encourages me to go a little farther guggy!! I exercise, and walk. I know I will make it, but I am going to have to work every pound off. I hear of people saying " oh, the weight just fell
off and I didn't even exercise," I just want to slap them. Ha ha. My husband said I will appreciate my weight loss because I am working hard to accomplish my goal. Even if you think you are thinking about it do it!!! It will change your life for the better. My sugar readings are about 90 to 120 now. My blood pressure is perfect, my cholesterol is perfect. What a difference it has made in my life.

Love to you all Luann

29 year old woman

Introduction:My name is Audra I have suffered with morbid obese for so long. currently I way 283lbsand I’m in the process of having gastric bypass surgery. I suffer from type2 diabetes, high blood pressure.

Path: I had to do a lot of test and blood work before I could actually have my surgery.

Surgery: my recovery wasn’t bad at all I had my surgery 7 months ago so far so good.

Post_Surgery: things are going really well now I have lost about 83lbs I don’t have to take medicine for diabetes.
I do throw up more than I have ever did in my life.

Relationships: My relationship is currently going well I’m trying to get my fiancé to have the lapband or gastric bypass to get some of his weight off.

Advice: if you are suffering from morbid obese don’t be afraid to take the big step to change you’re life forever and have gastric bypass to save yore life before its to late.

48 year old woman

Introduction: What can I say? Food was a major part of our lives? Parties, any celebration would include a feast. My parents were from the generation of "eat everything on your plate and you will get dessert." Food wasn't just tasty, it was a comfort for times of depression and anxiety and after my parents painful divorce, short time in foster homes, my weight ballooned, my self-esteem plummeted. Eventually, my dad remarried and I got the support I needed to lose weight in high school. But later in life, after a young marriage, anytime stress or depression would rear its ugly head, food became my closest friend. I started to gain weight from a healthy 135 in high school ballooning to 200 by age 28. Then it just became habit. I enjoyed it like a drug (food). By the time I hit my 30's my weight continue to creep up. In my early 40's I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes, a heart defect, and was showing signs of problems with eyesight and neuropathy. My new meds were now for a disease that was getting out of control. I saw the lives of my aunt, uncle, and mother before me, having died from complications of diabetes and here I was heading headlong for the end of the road. I had a beautiful life, family, friends I all loved, and I was determined I would not be a victim to it. So I started the research on bariatric surgery and decided to ask questions and learn everything I could, pray, and go with my gut (pardon the pun here). My heart told me to go forward and start the process of getting the surgery done and so began my journey on December 28, 2006. I signed up for my consultation and have never looked back. Maybe, I could get my life back.

Path: I didn't realize it would be so hard. It was endless tests. Though I knew they were necessary I had to have them, it seemed like I was continually going to the hospital for screening, blood work etc. Then started the real hard work, working with the dietician to lose 10% of my total weight to be approved for surgery with this surgeon. This meant exercising 5 days a week, which I hadn't done since high school, and total change of habits, which included keeping a food diary with calories, protein, time of meal, and mood. I then had to share this and get weighed in once a month. It took me about 6 months to lose the 25 pounds I needed to lose. I did finally get approved, and I was so excited to have reached my goal: My surgery date was scheduled for July 9, 2007.

Surgery: 7:30 a.m. July 9th. Lap Roux en Y bypass: Wheeled in. Don't remember much until I was in recovery. The doc had to spend lots of time with my case. I had major adhesions that he had to remove. The bypass itself went well. But...then came the pain, wow! I had morphine for 2 days, which I weaned myself off of. But I had a set-back. I had hemorrhaged in the soft tissue post operatively and was found to need a transfusion of 2 pints of blood to start on the upswing. After the blood given I was starting to feel much better. But the pain and sleepiness was still there. The last yukky thing I experience in the hospital was the removal of the drain from surgery. Removing it, it felt like I was in labor. It truly felt like labor pains while they were removing it. But after 5 days in the hospital I went home. I had a lot of support from my husband. You need support when you get home (physically, and emotionally). Believe me when I say that you won't care that you can't eat for a while. Get rest, follow the doc's plans, and you'll get stronger every day. Every day I can sit up longer, stand and walk longer and do more. I am starting to see progress after just 8 days. No nausea, gas, or dumping syndrome, but I followed their instructions to a "T". I am trying to recoup. I still can't bend over, so I can't do laundry or certain things. But I'm feeling stronger every day.

Post_Surgery: It has been eight days. I came home on codeine/tylenol, but it dried my mouth out and made me too drowsy. I then went to Tylenol. On day 7 after surgery I removed myself from all pain killers, even Tylenol, because that's my preference. I have lost at day 8, eight pounds. I am so excited about what the future holds, but I know that I have been given a tool to help me lose, but inevitably I have to do my part too! In 2 more weeks I hope to go on vacation with my husband and enjoy it.(3 weeks post-op). I won't be totally quite ready for anything too strenuous, but I am so psyched that I am looking back at this in the mirror, and I am happy I made the choice to change my life for a healthier more vital one! Despite the work to get to this point, I believe it was all worth it.

Relationships: Most of my family was guarded about this surgery, wishing I would just try to lose the weight the conventional way. But the more I researched it the more I saw it was my only hope after years of struggling with small weight loss success and worsening health. I think inviting your family and interested friends to meetings and informational seminars, and encouraging them to ask questions in that forum is so important! It helped them feel more at ease and helped ease their initial fears. Eventually they came to truly support my decion for lap Roux en Y bypass.

Advice: Be informed. Learn everything about the process, follow the process, it was made for success. Get people to support you in your decision to be a healthier person! Get help at home when you first get back from surgery for support. The surgery does has risks, it does involve pain, but there is light at the end of this tunnel... Health and renewed sense of well-being and self-esteem. God bless you on your journey!

34 year old woman

Introduction:I am a 34 year old woman who was about 120 lbs overweight, who is a wife of 14 years and a mother of a very active 8 year old girl. When she was little I my biggest concern was that she would be embarrassed by me and her father because we were big people and I didn't want her friends to make fun of her because of me. I didn't want to go to amusement parks with my daughter for fear of not fitting on the rides. I had a lot of hang-up in my life and the only consolation was food, what I thought was making me feel better (at the time) was actually slowly killing me.

Path: I have always been chubby since I was a kid, but once I got married at an early age I got bigger and bigger and my health started declining. My husband was a big man (over 400 lbs), and he had the surgery first. After his first year post-op and losing 200lbs, I decided to do it as well. I did my check list, did all the meetings and required steps before surgery. I saw how it affected my husband and how flawless his procedure went and how happy he was, what a different person he had become and I wanted the same thing for me.

Surgery: I had my surgery on April 2, 2007 and it went without a problem. I was in the hospital for 2 days and the hardest part for me was I had he hardest time taking deep breaths right after the surgery and it was weird no being able to eat. Even though all the doctors and counselors tell you how it is going to be and how it will probably feel, you truly are not ready for it until you live it. I think the strangest thing for me was not having an appetite, having to remind myself to eat and filling the void of what use to be eating with something else.

Post_Surgery: Although my surgery went off without a hitch, I had to have 2 repair surgeries. I guess 6 weeks post-op I had a lot of scar tissue from the original surgery in April and there was so much scarring it starting to wrap around my newly placed organs and I couldn't even tolerate water, I could not keep down anything. At first they thought it was a hernia, but that was not the case. On my first repair, my surgeons partner did my first repair and I guess he didn’t get all the scar tissue because I was still feeling the same symptoms. Within one week I was back in the hospital for another repair to get the rest of the scarring out. During that time, I questioned my decision if it was worth doing because I was having so much trouble. I mean, I knew 4 other people who did it without any complications what so ever, including my own husband. Once I recovered from my repairs I have a new attitude about the whole process, it is the best thing I ever did for myself. I am 3 months post-op and am down 60 lbs, I still have a long way to go, but I feel wonderful. The hair falling out thing has started and I knew I would have trouble with that one, but I know it will grow back, luckily I started out with very thick hair anyway so it is not so noticeable. I do have a question though, has anyone out there when you have had enough food or if you over eat a little bit, does your nose start running? every time I eat, I can always tell when to stop by my nose starting to run. I now that sounds strange, but it happens everyday. My husband thinks it is weird, the first time it happened he thought I was getting sick, I told him no, and what was happening. So from now on he knows when I am full.

Relationships: All in all during this whole experience, it is the best thing I have ever done. My daughter is so happy, she always wants me around to be with her and her friends and we both love the amusement parks now.

The sad thing is when I was the person I was before, I was just another fat lady, but now I get attention from everyone, even complete strangers. People are more courteous and polite to me then before and are more willing to talk to me and get to know who I am. It is amazing how people treat you when you change for the better.

The other plus, is when my husband and I go out, we share our meals. Sometimes the meal is way too big, me, my husband and my 8 year old share one meal. It also teaches my daughter good eating habits.

I have to say, I have not felt this good since I was in junior high.

Advice: If you are thinking of doing it, and you are truly willing to make the food life sacrifice, (that is truly what it is) I say GO FOR IT!!!!

If you know someone who is thinking of doing this, please, please be supportive. I know it is a controversial thing, but leave it up to that person to decide if it is right for them.

When I had my surgery, I only told 3 people outside my husband and my dad. My girlfriend was against it trying to talk me out of it. I had already made up my mind to do it. My girlfriend has a drinking problem and when she was trying to talk me out of it, I finally had to tell her. Look, with all due respect, you love to throw a few back a lot. I want to ask you something. If there was a medical procedure you could do to restrict your drinking and to help save your liver, and ultimately save your life, would you do it? Could you give up drinking? I told her the only difference between us was my addiction was food, you need food to survive, and you don't need alcohol to survive. I asked her if she would be wiling to give it up for herself to save her life and she couldn't give me an answer. Needless to say, she was supportive from then on out. Now that she has seen the results, she knows it was the right decision for me.

33 year old woman

Introduction: I am a 33 year-old single female. I have been big my whole life in 6th grade I wore a size 18. My insurance will cover surgery if I have a psyche eval, a physical, and a meeting with the nutritionist. I started with my family physician right before Christmas 2006. I had my surgery on 03/30/2007. Pre-op I was 242 lbs and I am 5'4". I had high blood pressure, back pain, infertility and extreme fatigue.

Path: When I knew I was going to have the surgery I gave up all caffeine, carbonation and calories in my drinks. I also tried to start eating smaller portions, but then the week before surgery "the last supper" mentality kicked in and I ate like crazy.

Surgery: My recovery went well. I was walking the hospital an hour and a half after waking up from surgery. I have had some side effects. I have had to have 4 EGD with dilatations due to my stricture healing.

Post_Surgery: As of 07/10/07 I have lost 62 lbs. I no longer have any of my pre-surgery conditions. I feel great. The only thing is that I am starting to have an appetite again but it is nothing like it was before surgery.

Relationships: My relationships have completely changed. Some of my extended family members and co-workers are extremely jealous and make nasty comments because they think that I am in love with myself. That is not true though I just finally feel good about myself and they are not used to seeing me that way.

Advice: Follow your heart. If this is what you want and feel you need for yourself then go for it. Anyone that truly loves you and cares for you will stand by you.

37 year old woman

Introduction:I am a 38 yr old mother of 4 who was wearing a 26 pant and hating myself every day. I was a high school and college athlete who let food rule my life after having children. I went from playing sports and exercising to total couch potato in a matter of 1 year! Many members of my mother's family were/are obese and I found myself looking just like them. The funny thing was that even though I weighed almost 300lbs, deep down I considered myself an athlete! I couldn't even answer the phone without sounding like I ran up a flight of stairs. My mother was obese and had the surgery in November of 2004. She had great success and I decided that I wasn't going to wait for a miracle anymore, it was my turn!!!

Path: In 1996 I did the Oprah Winfrey Make the Connection Diet and lost 92 lbs in 5 months. I gained it all back in the next 5 months. I tried Weight Watchers at least 10 times and had varying degrees of success, but always gave up and gained back more that I had lost. After my mother's success with losing 115lbs, I contacted my mother's surgeon and made an appointment. I went to 4 appt's, met with a nutritionist, a psychologist, and attended several support group meetings. My primary care doc was supportive as well as my husband and friends and family.

Surgery: I had my surgery on Dec. 5, 2006. I developed an unexplained fever and severe pain on my left side. I was in the hospital for 6 nights, very uncomfortable, I wanted my own bed! After arriving home, I felt nauseous and dizzy...it lasted about 24 hours then I felt great! I was able to drink protein drinks and chicken broth for a few days, then I ate chicken soup. I run a daycare and was very worried about developing a hernia, so I was extremely careful about following my Dr's instructions about walking, coughing, lifting etc. I had some very emotional days because I didn't realize that I would feel hungry. At meetings everyone said that they didn't want to eat, for me the opposite was true...I was hungry every 3 hours and I still wanted to eat Ben and Jerry's! This feeling went away after a couple of weeks, thank god!! 7 months after surgery I can eat most things, but I don't drink soda or eat much junk food if any at all. I still don't eat bread because it makes me very uncomfortable.

Post_Surgery: It's been 7 months and I feel awesome! I have lost about 120lbs( I am 5'9")...I am wearing a size 12. I run several times a week, from 2 to 4 miles. I have rules that I make sure I follow...I drink water all day, I only eat every 3 hours, I have to eat veggies, I eat on a small plate. The scariest part is reading and hearing about people who put the weight back on. I live in fear. Recently on vacation I tried to eat some things that I haven't had since surgery, but I have been craving. Ice cream, candy, popcorn at the movies. It's very hard because you have to remember portion size and control your taste buds...your brain still remembers and wants you to keep eating junk. I truly believe that exercise is the most important thing I can do. I no longer have heart burn, my back, feet and knees don't hurt yippee! biggest milestone was realizing that I no longer could shop in the plus size stores, the clothes were way too big!!!!!!!

Relationships: I have a husband who was super supportive. He never made me feel fat even when I weighed 295 lbs...he was only concerned about my health. My husband and my kids are all athletic and now I fit in!! My family and friends are very supportive and my biggest cheerleaders. Every time I am at one of the kids games, there is at least one person who doesn't recognize me! Pre surgery I hated to go to games because I was sooooo uncomfortable, people thought my husband was a single parent. This year I coached my 6 yr old daughters softball team!! I rediscovered my love for running after my doctor gave me permission. I know that my rapid success is not only related to the surgery, but also my commitment to exercise.

Advice: My advice to people who have the surgery is to keep a diary of the changes in their bodies. Write down when you can tie your shoes, cross your legs, see your ankles, and stop shopping in the plus size section!! Celebrate every milestone. If you write down how you are feeling, when things get tough you can read about how far you have come.

37 year old woman

Introduction: My weight battle has been with me since I was a teenager. I always heard your such a pretty girl if you would loose weight you would be all set. Well at my heaviest on July 19,2007 at 5"8 and 260 this was the day for no looking back.

Path: Up until learning about the gastric bypass I was a repeat offender at weight watchers, I went to LA weight loss, Jenny Craig and in between struggled with a horrible marriage.

Well unsuccessful diets later and a divorce in 2004. Now I was finally free to make my own decisions.

Surgery: The surgery was this past Thursday and I was in the hospital for 3 days. The first day home is a blur I'm trying to take all my vitamins and make sure I'm eating.

I do feel a little heartburn or indigestion.

39 year old woman

Introduction:I was an obese child, who came from a home with an obese mother and a father who fluctuated in weight from thin to needing to lose 50 lbs. I struggled with my weight my entire life. At age 13, I was already attending Weight Watchers meetings with my mother and sister. By the time I graduated High School, I weighed 285 lbs., and was of course the largest person in my graduating class. I cringed every time I walked into a new classroom, looking for the largest desk I could find so I could fit into it. Some worked and some didn't. Sometimes I got stuck and had to squeeze my way out of the desk.

Path: In my late 20's I did a low carb program where I weighed in every day M-F. A year later I had lost 100 lbs., ultimately getting down to 145 lbs and wearing a size 6. I felt great. Shortly after my father passed away from a stroke, and then several years later my mother passed away from heart failure. Being an emotional eater, I didn't care about my body any more. I slowly gained weight over the course of those horrible years. A year before my wedding, I tried desperately to lose weight, but I was not successful. I tried low carb dieting again along with exercising. I would lose 10 lbs and then be stuck for weeks. Many times, I would be verbally abused by the nurses who ran the weight loss clinic I attended, because surely, if I wasn't cheating I would be losing. That wasn't the case. My body had just shut down from all the years of dieting and yo-yoing. Two years ago, I received the biggest wake up call. I was diagnosed with border-line diabetes (of which both my parents had) and was put on blood pressure medication. Both my parents died in their early 60's and I knew I was headed down that same path. I made the decision to have the surgery and I never looked back. My husband was totally supportive. He didn't care about my size, but he did care about my health that seemed to be going down hill. Pre-surgery, I was on 5 prescriptions a day, including medication for blood pressure, acid reflux and anti-depressants.

Surgery: The day I went in for surgery, I was so nervous. I wasn't worried about my lifestyle after the surgery, I was worried about going under and never coming out of surgery. My doctors were great in reassuring me that wouldn't be a problem. After surgery, I was in an extreme amount of pain. I saw others that had surgery the same day, 8 hours later walking around without and care in world. I was not as lucky. I happened to be one who was in a lot of pain, others do really well. Looking back at the amount of pain and where my life is now, I would do all over again without any hesitation, even with the pain.

Post_Surgery: After the surgery, there were days that I wondered why I had the surgery. I didn't miss the food that most people worry about, I was in pain for 2 weeks and was sad and angry that I was in a position that I had to have the surgery. Honestly, none of that matters now. You will go through those ups and downs along the way, but in the end, when you are healthier and happier, those down periods really become insignificant. The main problem I dealt with after the surgery, was my health care coverage. I started my own business and most insurances would not cover a post-op gastric bypass patient, and if they did the cost was so outrageous. I finally found a company that would cover me, not the best coverage, but at least I was covered if anything major happened to me. 1 1/2 years later, I have lost 80 lbs., and I am no longer on any medications, including my blood pressure medication. Just recently, I switched my medical plan over to another company. Initially, my broker quoted me the highest price because of the gastric bypass. I told her how frustrated I was because 1 1/2 years later I am healthy and off of all medications, but yet I am being penalized for having a surgery that helped save my life. She advised me to write a letter to the insurance company along with a letter from my doctor stating the positive aspects that resulted from my surgery. Long story short, the insurance company rated me in as a regular, healthy, 39 year old and my husband and I are now saving $231.00 a month on our insurance. I was so frustrated with this whole insurance process but am now thrilled with the outcome.

Advice: If you have any doubts about the surgery, that's normal. My advice is go for it! It is amazing the difference in your life. I feel healthier today than I have in the last 10 years. I feel like my health is climbing rather than spiraling downward. I no longer fear my health but celebrate it every day. Each month, when I write that check to the insurance company, I smile, because I'm now looked upon as a normal, healthy 39 year old. No matter what the set backs are, in the end it is all worth it. I would do it all over again without any hesitation! Good luck to all of you who are in the process!

45 year old woman

Introduction: I am 45 years old, have two grown sons and a granddaughter. I had medial gastric bypass RNY on 06/22/06. Today I weighed in at 167, I have lost a total of 168lbs, I literally have lost more than I now weigh.
Surgery went well, with the only complication being an intestinal infection C. Diff, which made me utterly miserable for almost 6 months post op. Before I made the decision to have WLS I had lost 150lbs through diet and exercise alone. And let me tell you, anyone who tells you that having surgery is 'the easy way out' doesn't know what they are talking about and are blatantly displaying their ignorance. When I lost weight before I was very careful with what I ate and I exercised a minimum of walking 5 - 10 miles EVERY SINGLE day, along with other exercise. Today 1 year post op, I have to be very careful with what I eat and I have to exercise every day, but the first 6 months were TOUGH! I now ride my bike to work every day, and sometimes forget that I have a car that I can drive. I have rain gear for my bike and find that in most instances can get anywhere I need to go with a little planning and time consideration. My biggest trip is usually across town to my son's house which takes about 24 minutes each way.

I have gone from a size 26 to a size 8 and even have one pair of jeans a size 6. I had pretty much accepted the fact that I would be single for the rest of my life, men don't tend to look at or give a chance to size 26 women, but at a recent event I had at least 4 guys flirting with me, one of whom was only 29 years old! Wow! Didn't expect that! One of the biggest differences I've noticed is that I'm no longer "invisible". Before surgery I found that many people would look through me rather than at me, as if they could somehow 'catch' my disease by acknowledging my existence. That has changed completely, in line at the grocery store or at the bank, I feel like I am a human being again. I TRULY believe that Weight Loss Surgery is an extremely personal decision, and should not be made to make your husband, boyfriend, and sister, Doctor happy. It is a huge decision that can carry extreme complications and should only be done to make yourself happy, and ONLY if you are willing to make the lifetimecommitments that life after surgery requires. You must commit to all of the protein and vitamin supplements that accompany WLS, and the immediate physical results of eating poorly "should" help keep you in line, but hey... We've got Eating Disorders right?!? If we didn't would we ever get to the point that made us consider surgery as an option. People have asked me throughout the last year if it was worth it, and my answer is still the same... Ask me in 5 years. By then I'll know where my body settles in and will know if there will be any other unexpected complications. But if you ask me if I am happier today than I was before surgery I would say Absolutely! I can move better, I feel better and I look better. For me this decision was not about getting to a special number on the scale, this was about achieving the best health that I can. I never believed that surgery would "fix" me or be a "cure".

A large part of an eating disorder is in your head, and this surgery is on your stomach / intestines not your brain. I look at it as a tool, for me to use to battle this disease. Today, I "Own it". I accept that I have an eating disorder, and I work hard at keeping it under control. Some days are easy, some are tough. My hope is that the easy days will become more prolific and the I hope to see far fewer of the tough days. Is WLS the answer for you? Only YOU can make that decision, and ONLY after YOU have done extensive research, and really searched your soul on how much of what is required that YOU can commit to. If you believe that you'd be happier, and that you CAN commit to eating better, exercising, taking your protein and vitamin supplements and visiting your doctor regularly for the rest of your life... Then it may be the right choice. I'm glad I did it.