kyalpn

Angyl2314--having surgery is a very personal, and at times, difficult decision. For me, I was more than ready. I too have been fighting my weight, and have been disgusted with my failures. My advice is to make good and sure their isn't a medical reason for your weight problem (like a thyroid problem or like myself, I have PCOS) first. If it isn't something that can be fixed realitively simply, surgery might be your option. But the biggest thing is that you have to be happy. Read everything you can find, ask as many questions as you have to. If you don't understand, ask again. I just found this site and am loving it, and I think you will too. As a nurse, I always tell my patients not to do anything they're not comfortable with. Go with your gut. And if surgery is for you, you'll know when you're ready. kelly

Welcome! kelly

Welcome Laurie! I joined just yesterday, and am already loving it! I think you've probably done well with weight loss since you've only had it done for two weeks! At least based on everything I've read. Congratulations! I know you're going to like it here! kelly

Boy, everyting said here really hits home! I am the funny one. I have lots of friends, but I don't have a full social calendar. Dating--yeah right! I'm the one everyone comes to with a problem. I'm the one everyone comes to when they need a shoulder to cry on, a "Great Job!", or a kick in the pants with a "What the heck are you doing?" I take pride in the fact that people trust me enough to give them good advice or a helping hand, etc,etc. And I love making people happy. But it gets lonely at times too. I've had the problem with introducing my best friend to someone new only to become the 3rd wheel. I've put my heart and soul into friendships only to get taken advantage of. I don't know the real answer, but the only thing I can think is that my weight is a problem. For me, having surgery is about my health. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't more than a little curious to see if my weight changes a lot of this. I'm glad I've found this web site. People can't understand what obesity is like unless they've experienced it for themselves, so that adds to the lonliness as well. kelly

Me too! I can't wait to buy that lacey sexy stuff in the big department stores instead of the unsexy granny stuff I've had to wear and order out of catalogs all my life (no offense to all the grannies out there... )!

Hi everyone! I'm new to the board, and as soon as I saw this thread, I had to stop what I was doing and start reading! Unfortunately, I'm under a bit of a time constraint, so I haven't been able to read all of your stories. The main reason I'm fat is because I have Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome, and I went undiagnosed basically from the time I was 12 up until 2 1/2 years ago. Oh, it wasn't from lack of trying to find answers. The doctors just never could find anything wrong. When my new OB/GYN told me what the problem was I was relieved. At least I wasn't crazy! But while that is the main reason, it's not the only one. At the age of 13, I suddenly developed this little pot belly, and started hearing things like "Wow Kelly! You are getting so round!" "Kelly, you probably shouldn't eat that." "Doctor, why is Kelly overweight?" That really hurt, but I just stuffed it down and tried harder. When the diet failed, I felt like I had failed, and just gave up. I'd go right back to eating whatever I wanted. I'd sneak snacks up to my room so my parents wouldn't know. That just made me feel worse. You see where I'm going with this? The control issue REALLY hits home! Once I started working, that was exactly the problem. My family lived 45 minutes away from the biggest city, so I had to spend lots of time on the road. And being 45 minutes away from home...well, who'd know what I ate? It didn't help that I worked at a fast food joint. I remember that one time one the way home from work, I hit every fast food drive thru, and convience store between my job and the highway. I even went out of my way for some. It was disgusting. When I got home, I found I was the only one there. I threw all the garbage out in the outside trash so no one would find it, and then went inside and threw up because I felt so gross. I vowed I'd never do that again. Also, my family went through some real tough times. My parents have battled mental illness, the loss of their last child, near financial ruin...it didn't help that we didn't have the support of our church (we had no family in the area). As the oldest child, I took on the responsibility of keeping my 3 younger siblings together, and giving them a sense of normalcy, and didn't let anyone worry about me. Food was my friend and comforter at that time as well. After that fateful binge, I kept my vow and never did that again, but I still had a problem with the defeatist attitude. The PCOS was still working against me, and everytime a diet failed and I gained back all the weight and more, I felt like a failure...one big cycle. I've since gotten into an environment that I feel nurtures me and helps me grow as a person. My family hates their part (well meaning as it was) in my ordeal and supports me 100% (they too are in a better environment, and have healed and are still healing thanks to God's grace). I know who I am and what I have to offer to this world. My choosing to go through weight loss surgery is so I can feel good about myself phsyically, and more importantly be healthy. I know what I need to do. This is for me and me alone. And if others are coming along with me for the ride and taking joy from whatever success I may have, that's just an added blessing. kelly

Hello Everyone! My name is Kelly. I'm 28 years old and I am beginning the process of getting weight loss surgery. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 2 1/2 years ago. It was a hard day from me. It was definetly good in that I finally had someone who believed me and could say, "No Kelly. You're not crazy. There really is a problem here." I mean, since I was 12 years old, I was struggling with symptoms. I didn't have a period for...months at a time. Actually, my doctor has told me I basically have amenoria;my cycles are so irregular. I was irritable. My family and I had just decided that was the way I was--slightly testy. Skin problems, thining hair, hair in places I didn't want it...you all know the drill. And of course, the weight! All of the sudden at 13, I had this little pot belly, and my parents would say "Kelly, you are getting so round." "You really shouldn't eat that." And the weight just kept coming. Slowly, steadily it crept on. No matter what I did or didn't do. I couldn't lose more than 25 pounds, then I'd gain it back and more. :think I knew something was wrong, but how many times can you go to the doctor and leave without any answers? Leave feeling like everybody thinks you're lying or making it all up? :heh: So when my new doctor just matter of factly said "You have PCOS" I was relieved! Where Had She BEEN All Of My Life?!?! She also left me with more questions than answers really. I still didn't know how to get the weight off. Just take this birth control and then what? :phanvan So, that's what I've been doing for the last 2 1/2 years. Trying to control old symptoms and developing new ones. Now, with my BP up, cholesterol climbing, and heavier than I've ever been, I'm finally ready for weight loss surgery. I've gotten to the point we're I realize that this will help me and it's OK for me to ask for help. I'm too young for the health problems I have, and I want to change my life instead of reacting to it. If that makes sense. I'm so glad to find a site that deals with both of these issues. I feel like LapBand is the right surgery for me, but am a little apprehensive as to how well it will work with my PCOS. I'm looking forward to hearing all your stories and recieving any advice.:Banane10: See you on the boards!:bandit kelly