carrielee

Hi friends, I was in this group, then I left it. I had my initial appointments scheduled with my surgeon, the dietician and my psych eval, had cleared things with insurance, then got really cold feet and decided I wasn’t going through with it. Well this past week I had another new weight related health diagnosis that shouldn’t be something a 31 year old should be diagnosed with, my weight is still climbing, got told by two different doctors they won’t treat my pain because it’s my weight causing the pain, so I’ve emailed my coordinator at Dr. Houston’s office and plan on calling Monday to get appointments back on the schedule.

I guess I just need some reassurance that it’s ok to go back and forth with commitment in the beginning?

Hi friends, I was in this group, then I left it. I had my initial appointments scheduled with my surgeon, the dietician and my psych eval, had cleared things with insurance, then got really cold feet and decided I wasn’t going through with it. Well this past week I had another new weight related health diagnosis that shouldn’t be something a 31 year old should be diagnosed with, my weight is still climbing, got told by two different doctors they won’t treat my pain because it’s my weight causing the pain, so I’ve emailed my coordinator at Dr. Houston’s office and plan on calling Monday to get appointments back on the schedule.

I guess I just need some reassurance that it’s ok to go back and forth with commitment in the beginning?

Well, I unfortunately tested positive for Covid on May 8, so my initial appointments got pushed back. I now see the bariatric nutrionist for the first time on May 29, and the surgeon in June 2. I’m eager for the appointments but know I need to get through this rough patch first!

Well, I unfortunately tested positive for Covid on May 8, so my initial appointments got pushed back. I now see the bariatric nutrionist for the first time on May 29, and the surgeon in June 2. I’m eager for the appointments but know I need to get through this rough patch first!

Initial appointments today!

Meeting with my Bariatric surgeon at 10:30 am, appointments with the dietician and exercise specialist after!!!!

I’m so anxious, excited, nervous.

Ready to do this, been waiting a long time.

The health issues have piled on as of late and my weight keeps climbing.

Starting weight today of 284.2 pounds, height 5’1” and BMI 53.7.

After waiting for what seemed like forever, more weight gain, and health scared due to my weight, I finally officially have my initial consults with my Bariatric surgeon team on Monday!!!!

After waiting for what seemed like forever, more weight gain, and health scared due to my weight, I finally officially have my initial consults with my Bariatric surgeon team on Monday!!!!

What a journey it has been lately.

I’ve gained nearly ten pounds in two weeks...slowly creeping up to a number I fear. At 5’1” I’m now 272 pounds, BMI 52.4.

I originally was diagnosed with multiple right upper lobe PEs on 4/16. I was not originally admitted, just sent home on Xarelto.

Fast forward to last week, I was admitted for a few days on the cardiology floor for a work up due to a return of symptoms.

No new clots, but was diagnosed with Right Ventricle enlargement and Pulmonary Hypertension via a right heart cath.

Got discharged, saw pulmonology yesterday, did a walk test, scheduled to come back for PFTs.

Last night was feeling worse, high Hr and BP, severe headache, re admitted. Had some basic labs and tests today, they felt comfortable discharging me.

Got home an hour ago, started feeling short of breath, dizzy, nauseous again.

Checked BP and it’s really high. Going to rest a bit and re check.

Don’t want to end up back in the hospital. So exhausted...sick of my weight slowly killing me.

I have my initial consults with my Bariatric Surgeon, nutritionist and exercise specialist on Monday (it just got scheduled today) so there’s the beginning of a light, but I’m exhausted.

Please pray my BP comes down and I don’t end up back at the hospital.

What a journey it has been lately.

I’ve gained nearly ten pounds in two weeks...slowly creeping up to a number I fear. At 5’1” I’m now 272 pounds, BMI 52.4.

I originally was diagnosed with multiple right upper lobe PEs on 4/16. I was not originally admitted, just sent home on Xarelto.

Fast forward to last week, I was admitted for a few days on the cardiology floor for a work up due to a return of symptoms.

No new clots, but was diagnosed with Right Ventricle enlargement and Pulmonary Hypertension via a right heart cath.

Got discharged, saw pulmonology yesterday, did a walk test, scheduled to come back for PFTs.

Last night was feeling worse, high Hr and BP, severe headache, re admitted. Had some basic labs and tests today, they felt comfortable discharging me.

Got home an hour ago, started feeling short of breath, dizzy, nauseous again.

Checked BP and it’s really high. Going to rest a bit and re check.

Don’t want to end up back in the hospital. So exhausted...sick of my weight slowly killing me.

I have my initial consults with my Bariatric Surgeon, nutritionist and exercise specialist on Monday (it just got scheduled today) so there’s the beginning of a light, but I’m exhausted.

Please pray my BP comes down and I don’t end up back at the hospital.

Well,

I had my day 1 of my journey on Sunday 4/17. At that point I weighed 278 pounds.

I’ve had quite a few doctor visits lately so I’ve been weighed more frequently and I’m gaining.

4/21/22 279.4
4/23/22 279.2
4/24 (today) 282.2

I’ve been eating a little better and trying to move more so this is very frustrating. A weight I have always feared is being 300 or more and it looks like I’m rapidly getting there.

Well, I’ve hit a little bit of a bump in the road.

The appointment I had with the WLS surgeon on the 25th had to be canceled as that particular clinic is out of network with my insurance, but they didn’t tell me until 2 days ago.


I immediately reached out to another clinic and they ARE confirmed to be in network. They explained the steps required by my insurance.


First they requested records from my PCP yesterday. Once those are received, they’ll schedule a consultation with their WLS, then I’ll have to have a psych eval and a nutrition assessment.

So the process is slowed down a little, but I’m determined to make this happen.

My initial appointment with my WLS surgeon is in 6 days...and I’m 100% committed to showing up and beginning this process of healing my mind, my body, my soul. 31 years of destroying it have caught up with me and now my body is screaming that it’s hurting...if I don’t turn this around it’ll give out. I had appointments for consults scheduled over a year and a half ago but kept backing out and in that time I gained close to 80 pounds, blood pressure/cholesterol/heart rate and sugars climbed, other things declined...my whole body hurts.

It’s time for surrender and change. I’m going to that appointment on the 25th...NO EXCUSES.

Question for those further along...what have been some of your “non scale” victories or changes?

Things I’m hoping improve with surgery include things like mobility. At 31, I’m having to rely on a walker to get around. I can’t climb stairs or walk more than 5 minutes without being winded. I can’t bend over to tie my shoes or put on socks. My back and joints hurt all the time. I’m on an extensive medication regime and see many specialists just to stay alive.

And of course there’s the more concrete medical things, like having sugars that never drop below the 150s, body being more acidotic, rapidly climbing lipid levels, angina and chest pain, and my extremely high BP that seems to be resistant to meds, climbing risk of cardiac events...plus things like not being able to fit in public places that normal size people don’t struggle with...

I’m just so hopeless and sick of this life and am ready to commit to life style changes before during and after the surgery process to start living a new whole life with a much healthier self.

I’ve been overweight my whole life. I tipped past 150 before I turned 18 and I remember the pediatrician raising major concerns to my mom about my weight, but because she too was immensely obese and didn’t do anything about it, my weight continued to climb even as a kid. I think the last time i was in a normal weight range was when I was a very young kid...

Finally back from the ER after spending pretty much the whole day there. It took them a long time to stabilize my BP and heart rate enough to feel safe sending me home. The tests they did showed no extra strain on my heart from my PE’s, but the chest x ray did show slight / mild pleural effusion which they said should clear on its own.

My BP hovered in the 170s/100s for a good while at the ER and with IV anti hypertensives they finally got it down to basically as low as mine gets right now, even with taking Calan and Lopressor...down to 142/88 when they discharged me with a heart rate of 110. (Down from the 130s when I got there)...

I also spoke my WLS surgeon’s office and everything is officially confirmed for my initial appointment on April 25. I am feeling all the emotions.

I also see my PCP the 20th, cardiology the 21st, hypertension clinic the 21st, and neurology the 22nd.

All important appointments to get myself in the best shape I can be for surgery and to hopefully help manage some of my chronic co morbid conditions, especially to get my BP down as it sits between 140s/90s to 160s+/100s with two hypertensives and I know it’s putting a huge strain on my body.

On 04/18/2022 at 16:28, Crisscat said:

Kudos to you for being able to step out and take photos! I do not have mirrors in my house (on purpose) besides the medicine cabinet mirror. I did that years ago so I didnt have to see a full body view of myself. I now know that was a big mistake because I was unable to see myself and therefore when I became so overweight I did not see it firsthand. Until I allowed a group of co workers to include me in their picture their office pic took. It was then I got the full in your face view of what I looked like and how overweight I had become. I was mortified at it. It was awful! I couldnt believe I allowed myself to get to that unhealthy weight. Hopefully I will think better of myself after surgery and when the weight comes off. Good luck to you and your WLS

That’s kind of how I felt looking at these...like wow I didnt really realize how heavy/large I’ve gotten until I saw these. And then tonight I was changing and a reality hit that my belly is so big I can’t see my feet or bend over to reach my shoes/socks...and my back is carrying so much strain.

1 hour ago, Suzanne H said:

Bravo to you for taking this leap of faith, taking a deep breath and KICKING DOWN the door to that comfort zone! These photos will be a gift to your future self. You have taken the first steps on your path, and I salute you....you are beautiful and you are about to ROCK this. 👊

Thank you. It’s time to change!

29 minutes ago, summerseeker said:

I woke up one morning and knew I had to get this surgery too. Nothing else would work. I couldn't begin that diet again and then regain the pounds and the extra's that come with it. I am so glad I did it. You will be too

I can’t keep slowly killing myself. My PCP just last month told me I’m on more meds and see more specialists than most 70 years olds she sees, just to keep me barely alive...my mom died at 48 due to a massive heart attack weighing nearly 400 pounds...that’s my fate if I don’t change

No afters yet. Here are my before, my Day 1 of my journey (taken yesterday) pics at 278 pounds and a 54.3 BMI. First appointment with my WLS is on the 25th

No afters yet. Here are my before, my Day 1 of my journey (taken yesterday) pics at 278 pounds and a 54.3 BMI. First appointment with my WLS is on the 25th

Question for those who struggled with type II diabetes prior to their WLS...if you don’t mind me asking, what were your sugars running prior to WLS, (and how long had you been a diagnosed T2, what were you doing to treat it before) and what are your sugars now? Are you able to come off diabetic meds post surgery?

I’ve had D2 for about a year and a half and my A1C keeps climbing, as does my dose of metformin. Despite that, my sugars hang out in the 150s-180s consistently and my body is in an a acidiotic state more and more often...

So tired of this and fed up.

I’m back at the ER with chest pain, nausea, etc and severe headache.

My blood pressure is sky high again...169/118. I’m on multiple hyper tensives and keep having these hypertensive crisis.

I know it’s my body screaming for help. I just hope I haven’t delayed or put off working toward WLS for too long.

I’ve considered it for over a year and in that year I’ve gained nearly 50 pounds.

It’s time for change and it’s time for change now...I’m so scared of dying early like my mom.

More photos from tonight. I’m determined to never be this heavy again.

More photos from tonight. I’m determined to never be this heavy again.

28 minutes ago, Esi said:

You go girl! Love the attitude. GL!

Thank you.

my initial consult is on 4/25. Super nervous, excited, scared, but mainly ready for my life to change

doing something brave, and for accountability...saving these photos as my “Day 1”...super ashamed and embarrassed of how far I’ve let myself go, but it’s only going to get better from here...

Starting weight (and heaviest) 278.49 pounds, 5 ft tall, age 31, BMI 54.3 (pics taken on 4/17/22).