JerseyGirl68

I think one of the hardest things we deal with is the advice of others who may mean well but often don't understand why we need surgery.
 
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The Advice Of Others

So here I am… I’m finally getting around to starting my blog on here after lurking for a few weeks… commenting on a few posts and making a few new friends (virtual ones if nothing else). We all have a story right? How’d we get here? I got here courtesy of an angry failed (I guess you could call it the black sheep of the family) thyroid and a b!tchy thin doctor who told me I just needed to eat less and walk more as I packed on weight (my underactive thyroid was discovered YEARS later by another doctor when I’d finally given up – she was reviewing the old lab results). It’s been almost 7 years since it started failing and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still bitter… I’ve gained somewhere between 80 and 100 pounds since then. I’ve lost as much as 50 of it and gained back nearly all that I’ve lost.
 
About two years ago my doctor told me to have surgery (she had Lap Band in Mexico before it was approved in the US) and I joined Weight Watchers instead… I was convinced I could beat my thyroid if I just worked hard enough… I worked hard for my less than a pound a week losses only to find that when I stopped WW I gained it all back! Last year the same doc told me that at 29 years old, I was prediabetic , prehyperlipidemia, and that pain I was having was degenerative joint disease because of my weight and I had to lose weight immediately… Less than 10 years before that I was in the military! Needless to say I dieted a ton after that and regained everything immediately when I stopped…
This past winter I was doing a couch to 5K program (not losing weight though LOL) when I contracted pneumonia which was not a fun mix with my asthma. After the pneumonia was gone my asthma became severe and the steroids to keep me alive caused even more weight gain. As my medicine cabinet became more and more full between the asthma and other conditions I realized I can’t keep going like this and my doc was right two years ago – If I’m going to get to and maintain a healthy weight I need to have surgery and if I’m going to see my daughters become adults, I need to get healthy…. So that said, here I am.
 
I’ve done everything and now I’m waiting on the insurance company and a date. I’m here for support and to be someone’s support. In my life I’m strong for everyone and I always have been and the downfall of that is that for the first time I need people being strong with me and for me and I don’t have that.

I have been waiting awhile you would think I wouldn't be nervous. My journey starts tomorrow. I hope it goes well!!

Seminar July 5th
 
Surgeons office visit August 24th
 
Nutrition class August 27th
 
Psych Evaluation August 30th
 
Insurance request submitted September 10th
 
Approved September 17th!
 
I really didn't think this day would come. So many personal hurtles and worries about insurance. Im estatic! I really look forward to starting my new life which won't revolve around food. It's going to be hard, so hard, but it will be so worth it. I just hope and pray I make it through surgery <3.
 

So, I went to my first pre op doctor's appt today and am excited to say that I am down 27lbs so far. The down side is that she wants me to stay on the liquid diet for one more week because she says that she does a very tight sleeve. But overall she said I am doing good and I really do feel great!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning I stepped onto my scale to discover I hit One-derland! Last I checked I've been hovering between 200.6 and 200.2, this morning I was 198.0.(I checked several times just to make sure). A lot of this had to do with working out. I'm 20 days post op, and I survived my first water polo practice last night. Note to all those who about to start workout regiments... STRETCH before doing the activity. I got to the pool deck late because of my class and I threw on my swim cap and goggles and dove in- BIG MISTAKE. I felt everything in my body shift and have a ripping sensation. IT WAS NO BUENO. No damage was done, but I think I shocked my body. I took it slow on the conditioning portion, swam steadily- backed out of the sprints, and then did fine during ball handlng and shooting drills. I opted not to scrimage my first couple of days back to prevent anyone from kicking me in unnecessary areas. All in all practice was a success but lessons were learned about listening to your body. Today is my first masters swim practice at lunch then round 2 of water polo practice tonight. It's looking to be a long week, but I'm totally ready to "embrace the suck." Nothing is more motivating to work out than to see your numbers go down!
 
‎8/17/12 Post-op 20days
 
5'9
 
HW 216
CW 198
(-18)
GW 169