Betts69

My name is Beth, and I'm 45 years old. I've been considering WLS for over 10 years, but only made the decision to pursue it in May of this year. I had a major motorcycle accident when I was 17, which resulted in a severely broken ankle, and 3 broken vertebra in my lower back. Unfortunately, my bones never healed correctly, and even with multiple corrective surgeries over the years, I suffer from constant chronic pain, and can no longer hold a job. I've been out of work on disability since 1999, and things have degenerated to the point that merely walking from room to room is becoming difficult. I will require more spinal surgery to perhaps alleviate some of my pain, but the doctors always suggest a weight loss first. Being faced with being bed bound and perhaps never leaving my home again has forced me to reconsider WLS. I saw the surgeon and began the process back in early June, and have been cleared and now scheduled for surgery October 23 (day after tomorrow). I am eager to get it done so that i can begin the next "chapter" of my life. I have been struggling with the pre-op diet, and have only managed a modest weight loss in the last few months. Without being able to exercise there is only so much weight I can lose. We (surgeon, ortho and me) are hoping that a big weight loss will take some of the pressure and pain away so that I can perform some sort of exercise that will further my weight loss, and perhaps increase my strength and correct some of my current health problems (high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and chronic pain).
 
I was very pleased to find this forum as I needed the extra support offered here, and perhaps I can in turn help someone else like me. My surgeon's office has a support group, but they only meet once a month, and it is not local for me. I have attended a couple of meetings, but they are very impersonal. I was hoping that this forum in addition to the counselor I used for my pre-op psych consult (who will continue to counsel me) would help me learn to adapt to my new lifestyle and provide helpful advice for dealing with the reality of day to day to life post WLS.