silvasnj4

[color=#4b0082][font='comic sans ms'][size=3]Hello, I am new to this site, just getting started on this bariatric journey to a new life! I have not told many people about what I've just committed to doing in my life. There are about 3 people I've told, and one of them has had the gastric bypass and is doing great! She's lost more than her goal weight and she looks great! It's now my turn and I haven't even told my HUSBAND!!! I know, terrible, I will, just not yet! He says people should have to "earn" their weight loss, not take the "easy" way out! Can you believe those thoughts?!? Anyway, he's very judgemental and I don't feel comfortable with telling him just yet.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#4b0082][font='comic sans ms'][size=3]As of yet yesterday, 22JUL14 I went to my first doctor appointment with Dr. Nguyen (Win) is how he pronounces it. He was really friendly, spoke to him for about 5 minutes tops, then I received a packet to read. Packet contained information of a few weeks before surgery, and post op information. I'm not there yet, I still have many "go see's" as I like to call them! I still have to see other doctor's to clear me before the actual surgery happens. I'm told the whole process takes about 6 months, which is totally fine with me. I'm definitely in no hurry to get this done, I like to do my research which I'm still doing, but I'll give you a little history on what brought to me this decision. [/size][/font][/color]
[color=#4b0082][font='comic sans ms'][size=3]I am a mother of two children, one boy and one girl, they are both older kids, son is 22 and daughter is 15 1/2, (her words!) :D[/size][/font][/color]
[color=rgb(75,0,130)][font='comic sans ms'][size=3]Moving forward, I was never an overweight / obese person throughout my life, until about 10 years ago. I had a layoff from work and couldn't find work anymore due to the slow economy so I got really depressed, stayed home and ate all day! I couldn't even get out of bed some days due to stressful situations, which in turn after 5 years time I went from about 170 lbs to 280lbs! I could definitely feel it, it was terrible and my body hurt! I started going to a gym 5-6 times a week and lost only about 42 lbs in 6 months, which was a little discouraging to me. [/size][/font][/color]
[color=#4b0082][font='comic sans ms'][size=3]I had to have a female surgery due to my IUD and I had to stop working out for about 6 1/2 weeks. [/size][/font][/color]
[size=3]I gained some of the weight back and then started work again, but I can't tell you the numerous times I've called my insurance asking if I had bariatric benefits, contacted a center for this type of surgery and had the made the actual appointment to see a doctor, but then always FLAKED out when it came to see my doctor. I had let my negative thoughts, husbands opinions and other horror stories get the best of me which is why I chickened out for those last 5 years until now! Now I don't care what my husband thinks, and I don't care that he thinks I'm taking the "easy" way out, I'm not and it's definitely easy from what my research has been. I give everyone kudos on doing this, even to the people who have done it already![/size]
[size=3]My major decisions on FINALLY going through with this is because I was told my cholesterol is high, I'm pre-diabetic and I'm majorly over weight and it hurts now. I want to live a quality life and I'd like to live to see my future grandchildren someday when they come. I want to be able to take walks weather they be brisk or long and not feel like I need to sit down right away because my body is having a hard time getting from point A to point B. It's awful to live and feel this way, also my daughter is very chubby and overweight for her age and it's not good so I'd like to show her that if I can do something about my health so can she! Though I want to her to be active because she's youthful and doesn't need surgery, she still has YOUTH on her side to just be active by walking, swimming or playing a sport and she'll the loose the weight! Am I right people out there in cyber land, isn't that true?[/size]
[size=3]Anyway, it's a been a long struggle in my head, a long battle with words between myself and someone I let get in my head always because he matters and I love him as well as care about what he thinks, but this time cyber land, I've figured out that I need to make this decision based on whats not only making me happier, but making this decision for MYSELF PERIOD! I'm tired of putting everyone first and not thinking of myself!!! Wow! I feel like I've written a dissertation or something! :wacko:[/size]
[size=3]Anyway, in my conclusion I've found "Bariatric Pal" because I searched bariatric sleeve in my local area and this site came up. I want to read, research and hear the BEFORE stories of what people are experiencing and going through before their surgeries, like what how is/was their process before the day of their surgery? What type of process did they have to go through? How many doctors did they have to see and how long did it take them? Did or do they have to attend any classes or self help groups? Do they need to start a rigorous workout everyday until their surgery? Is there any special foods or regimes we should be eating and following? These are types of answers I want to know about the BEFORE process. [/size]
[size=3]You now have my beginning story to my long awaited journey that has just begun, hopefully this will start to help someone or not. If you have any questions, let me know and I can't wait to see what other information is out there. I don't expect this to be easy as pie, nor do I expect this to be magical, what I do expect is to learn, and have this site to be helpful to me. :rolleyes:[/size]