ScooterMama

I was a very athletic & skinny kid. Very active. Went to college & became a professional orchestral percussionist. I got "itchy feet" in 1981 & joined the Coast Guard, went to sea for 5 years. I was still nice & slim. Then I got married, left the Coast Guard, had a sweet baby boy (now a handsome 18-year-old young man), then developed a series of health problems including back surgery, fibromyalgia, hysterectomy, gall bladder removal, & depression. I got less & less active & have now been a big tubbo for about 15 years. I have tried various diets like the rest of you, including giving a prolonged & earnest effort at diet & exercise under a doctor's care. None of it got me anywhere. All my clothes feel tight. I love to ride motorcycles (currently not riding a motorcycle, but have a Honda SilverWing 600 scooter). I don't fit in my motorcycle pants anymore. I can hardly swing a leg high enough to get on the scooter. I used to play catch with my son, used to play racquetball, basketball with friends. For 15 years I haven't been able to do any of that. Getting out of bed is my biggest accomplishment of the day. So THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!I'm waiting for approval of surgery. Still have all the tests to go through (psychology, internist, x-rays, EKG, etc.). I want what the surgery will give me but I'm really, really scared. I've had 8 surgeries prior to this (not related to weight) & each surgery scares me more. Then I think, what if the band slips? What if I throw up a lot? What if I'm allergic to the band material? What if, What if.....So that's where I'm at as of December 5, 2009.