Shay

I remember in kindergarten being called FAT. Didn't know what it meant at the time, but soon figured it out. Have been overweight ever since. I always realized that I didn't eat any different than others, nor excercise, just like everyone else I knew that was "thin". I was a size 18 and weighed 200 lbs when i graduated HS. Finally at the age of 23 they diagnosed me with Hashimoto's Disease, Hypothyroidism and  I had a goiter. This explained ALOT of things about my heatlh problems. They took out my thyroid, since it was totally destroyed anyway, and the pounds started to pack on. Over the next few years, after my thyroidectomy, as they continued to try and stabalize my thyroid hormones, I ballooned up to 300 lbs. My husband and I received guardianship of a family memebers children the summer before my lap-band surgery. That summer, we took the kids to Dollywood in TN. I coldn't fit on ANY of the rides. I was embarressed, devasted and heartbroken for the littel girl we were taking care of, because, she wanted her Aunt Shay to ride the rides wih ehr and I just simply could not fit. That was my "aha" moment. i knew something drastic had to be done. I had never had my weight affect my life before. I married a slim, healthy, handsome man, who is soooo good to me! I had friends, I had a great career, I had a home, everything I could want. I was never one of those "depressed" people. I was clearly in DENIAL! So, I saw a lap-band commercial on tv and did my research and without hesitation made an appt. I was lucky, no fighting with insurance companies or anything. 3 months after my first appt, I had my surgery. Total loss to date is 85 lbs and counting! I can now fit on the rollerocasters and I love it! I have  my life back, a life I never realized a had slowley lost.