Tanya Burkepile

I have struggled with my weight all my life. My mother is over weight and so is my dad. I was doomed from the beginning. I have always been very active, and I have always carried my weight well. When I would tell people I weight say 350lbs, they would just be shocked, and say I was lying. I would have to ask them why would I lie about being that over weight. My all time high weight was 420lbs. I have since lost weight and I am down to 354lbs. I have two different diseases that work against me when trying to lose weight. (Sorry for spelling), Endemetriosis, where my uterus lining actually grows on the outside of my uterus. I also have polycycsitic ovararian disease where I have over 100s of cycst on my ovaries. Both keep me from losing weight. I finally went to a different doctor and she recommended I see if my insurance would approve the lap band surgery. I jumped through all the hoops and now here I am about to have the surgery in two weeks. I was fine with it all until I got the call saying I have been approved and the surgery actually got a date. Now it is so real. I am getting mixed messages from family and friends. My mom is scared to death for me, my husband won't comment because he is afraid that if he says yeah you should do it, and something bad happens it will come back on him, and if he say no I think it's too dangerous that I will blame him for taking away a once in a lifetime opportunity. My friends are excited for me. They all say I should do. Then I have people who are telling me horror stories of people who did it and their friend either died or they are damaged for life. Then I have those girls that look at me and says oh you should do it, my friend did and it was such a great experience for her. I don't know who to believe.