Introduction :)

[jessinoz4 15]

Hello, everyone! As I am new to this site, picking up on the way things are done may take me a little while. lol I am originally from Alabama but currently living in Australia with my DH and just celebrated my 30th birthday! I am not exactly sure where to start specifics about my past leading up to now and when to mention what all has occurred to influence my decision on having the VSG. I have been large from a very young age and I feel that it's primarily due to the sexual and physical abuse I endured as a child. As I grew and years passed, the more and more weight I gained - as that weight piled on, my self-esteem, will power, and self-worth decreased. Fast forward... I was diagnosed with PCOS at 18 but was on OCP for my cycles so I wasn't too worried at that time. I married my first husband at 22 and we were married for 4 1/2 years and TTC for 4 of those years. During those 4 years of Clomid, Clomid, Clomid, Chinese herbal medicine, temperature charting, saliva testing, etc, I gained a substantial amount of weight that would barely budge regardless of diet and exercise routines I put myself on. We FINALLY conceived with ovulation induction but sadly, lost the baby at about 7 weeks. So, on top of low self-esteem, will power, and little self-worth, feelings of severe inadequacy and failure as a woman, along with depression, became parts of my every day life. My first husband and I divorced, and now I am with DH and we desperately wish to have children of our own. With years of unsuccessful attempts at weight loss (vital for PCOS'ers) I have finally admitted to myself that I cannot do this on my own and with being 30 years old now, I may not have many more years left to conceive. I spoke to my GP and got a referral to the Adelaide Bariatric Centre and booked an appointment with the surgeon, Dr. Chisholm, in December 2012. We discussed surgical options (Lap Band, gastric bypass, and VSG). I was originally leaning towards the band but quickly decided to go for the VSG as it's permanent and I won't need to make several visits to find the "sweet spot" where the band is tight enough. My surgeon was ready and willing to do the operation in February but I couldn't as I was still saving up money for the procedure. So now, the surgery date is set for April 22nd. My liver function tests (LFTs) are severely elevated (most likely due to fatty liver), I am Insulin Resistant (THANK YOU, PCOS!), have high blood pressure, and my weight was 316 lbs. at my last doctor appointment. Dr. Chisholm decided to put me on 4 weeks of the Optifast diet to ensure my liver would shrink and be easily moved out of the way and the weight loss is generally nice He wants me to lose between 8 and 10 kilos, or 18-44 lbs., before the surgery. Currently I am finishing up my 2nd week on the diet and have lost about 13 lbs. - Only TWO WEEKS TO GO! WOOHOO! lol So the decision to finally get help to lose this weight was not an easy one. I felt each day I was dying, both physically and emotionally. I felt imprisoned in my own body. A slave to my emotions and hunger. I am ready for a new life and to be healthy and live life the way it's meant to be lived...happily and without regrets. (Oh, and sorry for the HUGE paragraph...my ENTER key isn't working in this box for some reason...)

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

ready for a new life and to be healthy and live life the way it's meant to be lived...happily and without regrets.

jessinoz4

welcome

we have been expecting you

just what we needed - another pretty smiling face to brighten up our board

congrats on coming to the wise decision to be sleeved!!!!!

30 years young????

perfect time to be sleeved!!!

you are "old" enough that you have gone through the common experience of yo yoing

and young enough that you will enjoy a powerful new healthier, happier, longer life with the help of the sleeve

the sleeve will work hard for you - "it" won't allow you to eat as much food and other things

but...............you must work hard too

many people come here wanting to lose weight to make it easier to conceive

the journey you will be starting has ups and downs - but that is how our lives go

i know you want to loose this weight

you are tired of carrying those extra bags of luggage around (we all are/were there too)

you will start to feel so much healthier and happier as you loose weight

never compare your weight loss with newbies or anyone

we all loose weight in different time periods, lose different amounts too

the one thing we have in common is that we're all different

I know you will do great!!!!

good luck

[jessinoz4 15]

Proudgrammy, thank you so much for your reply! It's good to be in an environment with others going through the same things as myself. Congratulations on your weight loss! You look amazing and that is so encouraging.

[Pixie Dust 526]

OMGosh, I just **LOVE** every post I read by ProudGrammy! You are such a jewel!

Welcome jessinoz! I'm sorta new here too. Haven't been sleeved yet & no date yet, but coming up soon I believe. I'm trying for summer since it will work out best with my kids being off school during the summer. I too suffered from sexual abuse (once) in my teens. I was attacked & fought back...like nobody's business. So I don't carry that around, but I know many people do, who have been abused. I hope you can shed all that pain, along with your weight. Let it go...it's time to heal.

You will find a lot of support here & I've learned more here than the appointments I've had with the program manager of my hospitals WLS program!

Wishing you lots of luck & peace! I will need the same as I continue on my journey, so hope you'll be there for me too! I think I'm ready for this. It sounds like it's life changing & mostly for the better. I just want to be healthy & be here for my children....especially my youngest, who is autistic. He begs me to lose weight so I won't die. Talk about a wake up call! He says he doesn't want to live without me if I die & he will die too. So it's time to have the healthy thinner me come walking out of this old terribly obese body! Won't you join me? Lets walk over to the healthy side of life! I have a feeling neither of us will regret it!

[jessinoz4 15]

Hi, Pixie Dust! Thank you so much for the kind words and support. I will DEF be here when you have your surgery done as well! I think you're right about the sexual abuse thing...maybe losing weight will help me shed those negative feelings about myself that started after the abuse. I CANNOT WAIT to be healthier and HAPPY! We all deserve that! I wish you the very best with your upcoming surgery. Let us know when you're set!

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[Pixie Dust 526]

Hi, Pixie Dust! Thank you so much for the kind words and support. I will DEF be here when you have your surgery done as well! I think you're right about the sexual abuse thing...maybe losing weight will help me shed those negative feelings about myself that started after the abuse. I CANNOT WAIT to be healthier and HAPPY! We all deserve that! I wish you the very best with your upcoming surgery. Let us know when you're set!

We will be there for each other, okay? Here's to a new life! **Raises Water bottle**

[pattylo 36]

hello congrats !! am new as well but in the planning stage, before submitting to the insurance for approval. So Bless to have found this site. God Bless !!! keep up the good work...

[jessinoz4 15]

We will be there for each other, okay? Here's to a new life! **Raises Water bottle**

Oh, yes, sister! We're going to hit that ground running...and even perhaps quite literally! lol To a new life! CHEERS!

[jessinoz4 15]

hello congrats !! am new as well but in the planning stage, before submitting to the insurance for approval. So Bless to have found this site. God Bless !!! keep up the good work...

Hello, Pattylo! Welcome aboard! This seems to be an amazing site with so much knowledge and really good people; I am so glad that we have it for support! Good luck and keep us posted how things are coming along for you! *hugs*

[Pixie Dust 526]

hello congrats !! am new as well but in the planning stage, before submitting to the insurance for approval. So Bless to have found this site. God Bless !!! keep up the good work...

Hello to Patty! You will find a lot of support here. I'm so glad I stumbled on this site! Welcome!

[pattylo 36]

Hello' date=' Pattylo! Welcome aboard! This seems to be an amazing site with so much knowledge and really good people; I am so glad that we have it for support! <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Good luck and keep us posted how things are coming along for you! *hugs*[/quote']

Thanks, this site was given to me by my nutricionist and cannot be more gratefull for it !!

[pattylo 36]

Hello to Patty! You will find a lot of support here. I'm so glad I stumbled on this site! Welcome!

thank you Pixie, please lets stay in touch. I would like to have a Bariatic Family.. God Bless