There's 3 of us here and 2 of us need to get out!

[Kate Helms 0]

Posted this in what seemed to be the logical place ... and which was the wrong folder. Moving it! Sorry for the blonde move.

Hello. I'm Kate and I just got my surgery date last week (July 5). I am a 51 year old mother of five. My son died in 1999. I still have one daughter at home, the other three are married and have their own families -- I have four grandchildren so far.

Like probably just about everyone else here, my weight-loss successes — and backslidings — were always less than impressive: I’d lose 50 pounds, gain back 55. Lose 40, gain back 60. Drop 20, find 30. Back and forth, up and down, two steps forward and three steps back. My biggest success was in 1984 when I managed to lose 111 pounds while taking physician prescribed amphetamines. I kept the bulk of it off for almost two solid years after stopping the drugs, but it (of course!) all came back with a little more to spare.

Although I wasn't what you'd call "happy" about being overweight, I had finally come to terms with it, and I had learned to live with being fat. I was very active, and other than being an insulin dependent type 2 diabetic, I wasn't experiencing any negative impact from my weight, so it was easy to overlook. My weight generally hovered in the mid-200 range and I was okay with that.

Then in late 2009 and early 2010, all hell started breaking loose. First my diabetes medications stopped working -- this happened every couple of years, I'd build up a tolerance or something and I'd have to switch things around -- and my weight suddenly (and without any discernible reason) ballooned to 317 in January of 2010. I began looking into weight loss surgery because I had *never* weighed 300 pounds and I was by God not going to stay there.

I was an exercising fool all summer long and I managed to hold my weight between 298 and 317 until mid-September. In mid-September I had an "event" where I blacked out due to extremely high blood sugar and wound up in the ER. My weight at that point was 311.

My doctor sent me to an endocrinologist, who promptly switched me to a concentrated insulin (u500). The diabetes is now under control, but as a result of the heavy duty insulin, I am retaining massive amounts of Water and my weight began ballooning. (And I do mean ballooning: less than a month after I started taking the new insulin, I had packed on 36 pounds.) This Fluid is not just in my extremities, it's also collecting around my heart and lungs. The cardiologist says it's a testament to the strength of my heart that I haven't yet had a heart attack.

My endocrinologist broached the subject of weight loss surgery with me in October. She told me that if I didn't get off the u500 insulin, my life expectancy could be measured in months rather than the decades I should be contemplating. With my diabetes being as bad as it is, the only way they're going to be able to get me off it quickly and immediately without causing more problems in the process, is thru bariatric surgery. In November she gave me a referral to Premier Bariatrics and in December I began the (seemingly endless) compliance efforts required by the insurance company to consider the surgery.

I have been following a very strict diet since January, and yet my weight keeps going up. I haven't been on a scale since March (ours is broken here at home and I've not gone out of my way to get on one elsewhere) but in March I was at 379. I would not be surprised to find I had lost a little, but I would also not be surprised to learn I've gained more too. I'll guess I'm somewhere between 375 and 420. (I'll find out for sure on the 17th when I have my next appointment with the endocrinologist.)

In late March, I began a weight-loss blog ( http://www.naebunny.net/fatnomo/ ) and here I am.

And, finally, last week, the call I'd been waiting for: the insurance approved of the procedure and I was given the next available surgery date. I go in June 13 to meet with the surgeon again and get my pre-op diet plan, then on June 20 I have a half day of pre-admission testing, and then the surgery itself on July 5.

And, that's my how I got from there to here. The next chapter in this story will be how I get rid of the equivalent of two people and get on with the rest of my life!

[Caitlyn_Cat 7]

Welcome! I look forward to following your journey.

[coops 1,790]

Kate,

welcome to the board... this is a great place for support and advice. I was sleeved the 3rd July 2010 so we are going to be a year apart!!

I wish you the very best in your weight loss journey and the road the health. =]

[Starry 6]

Hi Kate!!

Great story... I was sleeved in April... Can't wait to see your journey along the way... There is TONS of support and advice here.. I'd be lost without this place!! Don't hesitate to ask for help there is always someone eager to help and the advice you get is GOOD advice cause everyone here has at one point experienced what we go through...

Welcome to Loserville.. your journey begins now

[quints 1]

We'll be here supporting your every move and cheering you on when you need it..

[sunnyd 32]

Sounds like you are making a great choice by having the surgery. You will find so much support and great information/stories on this site. Wishing you the best as you begin your weightloss surgery journey! We'll be cheering you on as you become a success story!

[Disney 20]

Good for you for taking control of your health! I, too look forward to following your journey

[KellyL 173]

Welcome, you have found a wonderful place for support. Looking forward to more of your posts.

[feedyoureye 3,087]

Welcome! This is the best thing you have ever done for yourself... and this forum is awesome.. Your not alone.

[M2G 1,836]

Best of luck with your surgery! You will find a ton of supportive people and great information here...WELCOME!

[So Cal Kurt 32]

Congrats on taking this step and doing the most important thing of all, controlling your diabetes. Even though I wasn't on insulin, My diabetes was progressing rapidly and the next step was the needle. I am 49 years old, 11 months post op and I am sure that by the time I hit your age I would have been in the exact same place with my diabetes. You should see an unbelievable improvement and possibly be able to reverse the it totally. To me, that was the main reason to have the surgery. Although vanity has set in, I really didn't care about my appearance before surgery and it wasn't an issue. I have been drug free (was taking a cocktail of metformin, glyburide and actos) twice a day. My blood sugar wasn't close to being under control. My A1C was 7.4 and my morning glucose readings were averaging in the 160's -180s and I would only take it if I knew I had a good day the day before. The last diabetic drug I took was a shot of insulin in the hospital on June 9 of last year. My last A1c was 5.6 in November and My doctor didn't even order one when I went for labs in march. He said it wasn't necessary and just did the standard fasting glucose. It came back at 81. His exact words were that I was no longer diabetic nor even at risk for developing diabetes or pre-diabetes. I never in my life thought I would hear those words. Stay focused and follow your dietitian and surgeon's plans, get as much exercise as you can fit in and stay positive. You will have ups and downs, expect it to be mentally hard as well. Lean on people from this forums like this one, they are a great source of support. Being that you are here pre-surgery, you are way ahead of the game. Good luck on what should be an amazing journey towards restoring your health.

[grannyk 58]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!! You will find lots of support and information here. See ya later...Kathe

[meggiep 57]

Welcome to this wonderful forum! YOu will ind tons of information, love, and support here.

I am actually shocked that with a sentence like that you were given your insurance would not approve you immediately and fast track you! It is not as if your need is not apparent. That is a thing that bugs me about this process- somehow we all have to dance a bit and prove ourselves worthy- and I can't help but feel that the inherent bias against the obese is rampant even among the health care professionals here to help us. Rant over!

I wish you the very best health and happiness and can't wait to hear about your journey!

[****** 12]

And, that's my how I got from there to here. The next chapter in this story will be how I get rid of the equivalent of two people and get on with the rest of my life!

Kate:

Welcome to the best support group you'll ever find for -- encouragement, experience, straight talk and incredible humor. All the things you'll need for the journey.

We're here for you and will do everything to help you lose those 2 creeps (and help ya hide those bodies too)!

Empress

[Raine 170]

I was sleeved on April 27th, my diabeties was getting out of control too, not that it has ever really been under control. SInce the surgery, I am on one diabetic pill daily, Glipizide, and my morning sugars range from 90-104 and dailies have been at the highest arond 150, the first few days and 120 the last few days. I expect it to go away altogether eventually. Not to mention my blood pressure medicine and others.

Good luck on your journey, you have made the first step in taking back your life!