Pre-Op Vst Newbie - October 1 Surgery

[hsirk 45]

I am sure that most of us sit here with our fingers poised over the keys, wondering what to write. Do I start of with my name, my age, what brought me here? Do I talk about my goals and dreams?

Well, here goes nothing!

My name is Kristine, I am 27 years old, and at my highest weight (that I know of) I was 415 pounds. I live in Montana and it has taken me a long, LONG time to get to the point of admitting I needed the help I am getting now. My whole life I have been the fat kid. I was "gopher cheeks" in the first grade per the bully on the school bus. I was "Porky Pig" per my own mom in a ruse to help me quit snacking after school. I was "thing" per my older sister in her rash of older sister contempt in my teenage years. But mostly, I was and am just me. It has taken me a lot of time, a lot of crying, and a lot of help from special people to know that who I am is not just a number on a scale. That number, however, comes with its own set of problems.

When I was 18, my mom died of a heart attack that left me knowing that I was going to be next if my life didn't change. I was even a realatively healthy weight at that age. I got sick right around the time that my mom passed and life has just spiraled out of control since. I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder that included treatment with prednisone and chemo that just made me sick and, well, fat. Then, once I was medically cleared of that issue, I started getting infections in my lungs that landed me in the hospital twice for a severe pneumonia. The first time it happened, my oxygen saturation levels were only in the 70s. I was lucky that I went in when I did or I wouldn't even be here to realize how lucky I am now. To figure out where the lung infections were coming from, not only was I put back on prednisone, but I started seeing a specialist that recommended I get a lung biopsy. That was done last July and the result was a diagnosis of cancer. Man, I can't even tell you how that blow felt. It was like I was punched in the gut and couldn't breathe (no pun intended). So, they tell me I have marginal zone, B-cell non-hodgkins lymphoma. Quite a mouthful, eh? When my oncologist came into an appointment, asked me how I was breathing, and then proceeded to tell me that the nodules in my lungs were dissapating and that I should be breathing better I realized that my weight was holding me back in more ways than just socially. I finally had something that was concrete to say, "Hey, dummy! Your weight is killing you!"

So, in May 2012 I started seeing the newest addition to my clinic: a bariatric surgeon. I was mortified to admit it to any of my family, so I went just to get things in line and see if it was something I was even eligible for. Four months later, I have a surgery date set for October 1. I started my pre-op liquid diet yesterday (and hating life because of it... Yuck!), and I am finally looking forward to the future. I am ready to start traveling with my best friend and get out of Dodge for the weekend. I want to be able to hop a plane every weekend and not worry about some skinny person telling me that they feel their space is being encroached upon. I want to meet my special someone and feel what it is to be loved without worrying about how I look. I want to buy clothes off the rack. I want to live for a long, long time.

That's the most important thing. I want to live for a long, long time. Sounds good to me, for sure.

[AdeptDreamer 104]

Hello!

I'm soooo happy for you I'm 20 years old and still dealing with insurance but I'm glad to hear you are going be turning over a new leaf very soon! I'm so excited for what the future holds for all of us pre-op'ers Good Luck!

You have been through so much but your still here and your kicking butt! Thanks for sharing

[SkinnyMinnie2Be 255]

I am sure that most of us sit here with our fingers poised over the keys' date=' wondering what to write. Do I start of with my name, my age, what brought me here? Do I talk about my goals and dreams?

Well, here goes nothing!

My name is Kristine, I am 27 years old, and at my highest weight (that I know of) I was 415 pounds. I live in Montana and it has taken me a long, LONG time to get to the point of admitting I needed the help I am getting now. My whole life I have been the fat kid. I was "gopher cheeks" in the first grade per the bully on the school bus. I was "Porky Pig" per my own mom in a ruse to help me quit snacking after school. I was "thing" per my older sister in her rash of older sister contempt in my teenage years. But mostly, I was and am just me. It has taken me a lot of time, a lot of crying, and a lot of help from special people to know that who I am is not just a number on a scale. That number, however, comes with its own set of problems.

When I was 18, my mom died of a heart attack that left me knowing that I was going to be next if my life didn't change. I was even a realatively healthy weight at that age. I got sick right around the time that my mom passed and life has just spiraled out of control since. I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder that included treatment with prednisone and chemo that just made me sick and, well, fat. Then, once I was medically cleared of that issue, I started getting infections in my lungs that landed me in the hospital twice for a severe pneumonia. The first time it happened, my oxygen saturation levels were only in the 70s. I was lucky that I went in when I did or I wouldn't even be here to realize how lucky I am now. To figure out where the lung infections were coming from, not only was I put back on prednisone, but I started seeing a specialist that recommended I get a lung biopsy. That was done last July and the result was a diagnosis of cancer. Man, I can't even tell you how that blow felt. It was like I was punched in the gut and couldn't breathe (no pun intended). So, they tell me I have marginal zone, B-cell non-hodgkins lymphoma. Quite a mouthful, eh? When my oncologist came into an appointment, asked me how I was breathing, and then proceeded to tell me that the nodules in my lungs were dissapating and that I should be breathing better I realized that my weight was holding me back in more ways than just socially. I finally had something that was concrete to say, "Hey, dummy! Your weight is killing you!"

So, in May 2012 I started seeing the newest addition to my clinic: a bariatric surgeon. I was mortified to admit it to any of my family, so I went just to get things in line and see if it was something I was even eligible for. Four months later, I have a surgery date set for October 1. I started my pre-op liquid diet yesterday (and hating life because of it... Yuck!), and I am finally looking forward to the future. I am ready to start traveling with my best friend and get out of Dodge for the weekend. I want to be able to hop a plane every weekend and not worry about some skinny person telling me that they feel their space is being encroached upon. I want to meet my special someone and feel what it is to be loved without worrying about how I look. I want to buy clothes off the rack. I want to live for a long, long time.

That's the most important thing. I want to live for a long, long time. Sounds good to me, for sure.

[/quote']

Welcome to VST hsirk! Why a great day, October 1! A new month and a new you! I am scheduled one day behind you wish u all the best, ur gonna rock this!!!!

[Cookeeeeez 269]

Hiya!!!! I'm so excited to follow your journey!!! Good luck!

[lollyfidy1965 402]

Kristine,

Good for you, for taking the bull by the horns! You've made a huge decision, and should feel so empowered!! Do as much mental work as possible, before your surgery, to make life post-op as easy as possible. Understand your relationship with food....the reasons you eat, when you eat, what you eat....and develop strategies to change it for the better? I highly recommend the book "The End of Overeating"....it truly helped me get a grip on my food issues....mostly because it pissed me off! LOL

I wish you strength and great success, as you embark on your new journey!

Laura