crystalschnarr

I have always been heavy. Even when I was a child. Every picture I have ever seen I was fat. I think it really struck me when my primary (in Missouri) marked my chart as "morbidly obese" in 2008 or 2009. I never realized just how heavy I was until then. At my largest I was 254 pounds. In 2010 I managed to drop 35 to 40 pounds but then fell off the wagon and put most of it back on. I have since fluctuated from 249 to 236 and every where in-between. I decided to pursue WLS. My primary at that time (in Georgia) referred me to a specialist that could do the lap band. I researched and went to my appointments and the classes they required. When we started doing my medical workup I had to go for an upper endoscopy because of my history of reflux. I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus (damage to lining from years of acid creeping up) and there was evidence of it trying to turn to cancer. I was sent to a Gastroenterologist and more biopsies were taken two more times. I moved to Jacksonville shortly after and continued receiving care at the Mayo Clinic. They did another set of biopsies of my esophagus and determined that I had pre-cancerous changes in a few spots and treatment was performed. During all of this they also discovered a hiatal hernia. Repair was never discussed, just placed me on Omeprazole to keep my acid in check. We recently moved back to Missouri and I have resumed care with my original primary and she gave me referral to the Bariatric surgeon to get my hernia repaired and my WLS using the VGS. I go on July 25th for my consult appointment and to hopefully get the ball rolling on this. I can not wait for the end results. It is going to be a long journey but well worth it.

There are other comorbidities that they will consider but without testing for it you won't know if you have it. Back in 2010 when my husband was deployed I started having heartburn really bad. Was put on Nexium. Went through a weight loss program with my doctor to try diet, exercise, and an appetite suppressant. It helped but after my husband came back I put it all back on because he didn't understand why I was buying food that no one else would eat. Was approved to start the process for the LapBand and that is when they did my first upper endoscopy. Because of my reflux this was required prior to surgery. They found that I had a Hiatal hernia (where part of your stomach slips up into your chest) and Esophageal issues. Long story short I couldn't get the lap band due to my reflux but now that I have treated my esophagus I am going back to address the weight. My Hiatal hernia is considered a comorbidity. Talk to your doctor. They may want to run some other tests to ensure there aren't any other underlying issues. A lot of people have reported not knowing they had a hernia until after the doctor did their sleeve or RNY. Keep communications open between you, Tricare and your doctor so you will be able to consider all possibilities.

Not being able to play outside with my girls without getting tired, my body hurting at the end of a work shift, I am pretty sure my weight is a big reason for my hiatal hernia which is causing my horrible reflux which makes it difficult to live without Omeprazole every day (40mg 2 times a day), being too heavy to ride my bike with my girls-we took the bikes with us camping and the tires couldn't hold me, they kept going flat; camping in our pop-up and the combined weight of my husband and myself (about 500 lbs) on one end causes the frame to bow just enough that the door doesn't close correctly. I could probably go on but I won't, you all get the picture.

I am more than just a surgery and weight loss. I am a mother of 2 beautiful girls whom I want to set a good example for as they grow into 2 beautiful women. I am a wife to a husband that depends on me during his own struggles with PTSD, TBI, and physical ailments from being in the Army (Infantry). I am an Equestrian and look forward to getting back on a horse in the next 2 to 5 years and training to do endurance riding and maybe even attempting Tevis (ride 100 miles in 24 hours) in 10 years. I am a Veterinary Technician who sacrifices my home life to work 10 hours a day to care for other people's pets. I have been heavy for as long as I can remember. My heaviest being right after giving birth to my oldest at 254 pounds. I have been active all through my child hood and into my early 20's but was never thin. My oldest wants to get into soccer and running while my youngest wants to get into volleyball. I don't want to just sit on the sidelines and cheer them on. I want to help them practice, teach them, and maybe even coach them. I want to run next to them in marathons. I want to ride horses with them and teach them everything I know. I want to be there when they have children of their own. I can and I will change my life. I go for my first appointment on July 25th. Fingers crossed that everything goes well for this opportunity because my body high-jacked the last attempt with esophageal issues.

I went in for my EGD or Upper GI scope because I suffer from Gastric Reflux. As many of you probably know most or all doctor's require it as part of the pre-surgical workup. They do these to check for several different issues. I was diagnosed with Reflux in 2010 but had been suffereing from daily boughts of reflux before that. It had finally reached a point where I couldn't sleep because of it. During my Upper GI my surgeon found severe irritation and a hiatal hernia. He took biopsies and found it to be Barrett's Esophagus with highly reactive cells (pre-cancerous). He mentioned doing a bypasss instead of the band now. Has anyone had this issue? If so how did it all work out for you? I go on Feb 7th for a consult with a Gastroenterologist and to have further testing done. My wls has been post-poned until my esophagus has been taken care of. Any and all input is greatly appreciated.

I, too, thank you for this thread and all the advice every one has given. I have started the process of the support groups and required testing needed prior to surgery per my surgeon and am hoping to be banded the end of January or beginning of February.

I am just starting this journey and new chapter in my life. After reading some of the different threads on here and in some of the other forums I think I have started to understand some of the reasons behind my weight problems. I have always been heavier than other people I knew. All the pictures from my child hood show a child that would be considered obese by today's standards but was considered healthy then. I was bullied all through school until I moved in with my dad and started attending a more rural school. My child hood friend's father molested me and I never came forward because I didn't want to lose the only real friend I had so I have carried it with me only telling one other person before today. I was taught to clean my plate as a child and was given all the cookies and snacks I wanted. I have family members on both sides that are obese to morbidly obese. I did lose close to 30 pounds on my own in 2010 while my husband was deployed but quit my diet and work out when he came home. I am so self-concious that I don't even exercise in front of my own husband who talks every day about how much he loves me as I am. I work 10 hour days 4 days a week and spend the rest of the time running erands and taking care of my family. I have a hard time making time for my self. On top of those 10 hour days at work I drive almost 2 hours round trip each day when I commute to work. I am hoping that this is going to be that one tool that will help me to achieve my goal. I am tired of being in pain and being ashamed of my body. I am ready for some change.