Wake Up Call?

[HalloweenBaby24 447]

What was you're wake up call when it came to you're decision to get WLS?

For me it was mortality.

From summer 2012 till Fall 2013 I watched my father battle lung cancer.

He was a man who I remeber as being strong and handsome though he had horrible habits, he ate poorly (but was never overweight), he smoked and he drank to excess. Through the year he was sick I watched him change and it terrified me. He passed 16 day's after his 58th Birthday in November (a month after my wedding) and all I could think is "It didn't have to end this way" if only he had taken a step to take care of himself he might still be here. And then it hit me, Just because I don't smoke or drink doesn't mean I'm taking the best care of myself.

And that's my reason, to be here when my daughter is 24 and beyond.

[ATTACH]45453[/ATTACH]

[Westfield27 54]

My wake up call was about two years ago when I found out that I was pregnant and had a miscarriage. A few months later I found out I have PCOS and was devastated. I want nothing more in life to be a mother and unless I fix my weight problem I will never be able to get pregnant.

[DarbiMolly 188]

First of all, beautiful pic of you and your dad.

Mine was when I went to the pharmacy with my son and while we were waiting I tried out the blood pressure machine and my bp was high. I have never ever had high bp. That was it for me.

[blondiebabs 214]

My dad is only 60 and at one point in his life he weighed over 500 lbs. I'm not sure where his weight is at now, I know he lost a couple of hundred pounds at one point a few years ago due to a stroke and diabetes. However over the last several months he has had one issue after another with his health - high blood pressure, diabetes, hundreds of strokes over a few days due to embolisms, infections, and now melanoma cancer. I have a ton of health issues myself and I'm already miserable at 35 so I'm just like watching him and thinking holy crap, if I'm already this bad off I will be doing worse than him by his age, if I even make it to his age. I had high blood pressure at my last dr appointment, I've been dealing with scoliosis pain non-stop for months, much worse than I ever have dealt with back pain before, my asthma inhalor dosage had to be doubled at my last dr appt. I just felt defeated because I work so hard to lose weight with no success. The melanoma cancer scare, even though it isn't related to weight, is just what kind of woke me up that I need to take control now and take drastic measures, otherwise I really may not make it to his age. I want to go into my elderly years happy and healthy and have the ability to actually enjoy my retirement, that is something I really look forward to in the future.

[BeagleLover 1,020]

My wake up call was about two years ago when I found out that I was pregnant and had a miscarriage. A few months later I found out I have PCOS and was devastated. I want nothing more in life to be a mother and unless I fix my weight problem I will never be able to get pregnant.

I came across these Powerpoint slides by Dr. Henry Buchwald which mention statistics on bariatric co-morbidities including PCOS. I hope this helps.

http://www.t2dmcanadasummit.com/videos/Buchwald1.html [downloadable Powerpoint presentation]

[HalloweenBaby24 447]

@@Westfield27

I also know that story all to well.

2012 I was pregnant with my second child, At 13 weeks the heart stopped beating. It's another reason for my wanting to get the surgery.

Also High Blood pressure is now starting to rear it's ugly head.

[BeagleLover 1,020]

My wakeup call was finding out that the co-morbidities I had: diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver were *progressive*. That prompted my next question, "So where is this heading?" Even though my blood sugars were well-controlled, the doctor said that I would wind up with an insulin pump. I also have sleep apnea. The doctor told me that my weight would shorten my life by 10 years. Holy smokes! That's a LOT of time! Then I thought of my kids and their marriages and potential grandchildren. Didn't want to miss everything OR have my husband and kids hurt big time for 10 years longer than would have been necessary.

[kimba6999 125]

What was you're wake up call when it came to you're decision to get WLS?

For me it was mortality.

From summer 2012 till Fall 2013 I watched my father battle lung cancer.

He was a man who I remeber as being strong and handsome though he had horrible habits, he ate poorly (but was never overweight), he smoked and he drank to excess. Through the year he was sick I watched him change and it terrified me. He passed 16 day's after his 58th Birthday in November (a month after my wedding) and all I could think is "It didn't have to end this way" if only he had taken a step to take care of himself he might still be here. And then it hit me, Just because I don't smoke or drink doesn't mean I'm taking the best care of myself.

And that's my reason, to be here when my daughter is 24 and beyond.

My husband had left me for someone younger and i was feeling pretty low. That was 2 yrs ago inmarch but he has never filed for divorce. I have 4 children and 2 are his and 2 from my first marriage. I didnt become heavy until i got pregnant with my first child in 1989 and then i had a life changing accident in 1993,a few months after my second child was born. I shattered my left lower leg and screwed up my knee at only 24yrs old. Over the yrs i continued to gain and lose until finally i had enough. I used.my bad leg anf knee as an excuse. My weight was never an issue in my marriage though. I sought out counseling because i wasnt letting go of my husband. As i started to realize how dependant i was i also started looking at myself and why i dont lose weight. I have never been important to me. My kids and marriage always came first. I thought about my kids and how if i kept on this path i wasnt going to be around for them much longer. My therapist also happens to be the therapist for the bariatric clinic i went through. She talked me about considering surgery during a session. She thought with all of my yoyo over the years that it was time i started taking care of me. She was right! I realized then and there that if i wanted to ever truly be happy and be there for all my kids that now was the time for me to taoe control of my life. So last Dec i had my surgery. It has been almost 6 months. None of my kids have ever seen me healthy. Now i play with them amd run around with them and enjoy life with them instead of watching them enjoy life without me. Oh, and right after my surgery I filed.for divorce. I need to move on and be happy. So my turning point was the thought of not being around for my kids. Im gonna be a grandma soon and now i will be able to enjoy playing with him too...no fat grandma!! SW 356 CW 252 GW 170

[HalloweenBaby24 447]

Thanks for sharing you're stories everyone. Sometimes it's hard to remember why I chose this path and I wonder if it will all be worth it in the end. I like to think so, and I know if my Dad was here he'd be my biggest cheerleader, he is my invisible force that keeps me going.

[honeybunz 139]

My wake up call was about two years ago when I found out that I was pregnant and had a miscarriage. A few months later I found out I have PCOS and was devastated. I want nothing more in life to be a mother and unless I fix my weight problem I will never be able to get pregnant.

I have PCOS too and I was able to get pregnant and carry to term 3 times. Once I got my PCOS diagnosis I started working out and following a low carb diet. Got pregnant within 2 months after trying for 3.5 years with zero success! Spent lots of money on fertility treatments. I bet you will have success as well! Good luck & best wishes!!

[honeybunz 139]

Thanks for sharing you're stories everyone. Sometimes it's hard to remember why I chose this path and I wonder if it will all be worth it in the end. I like to think so, and I know if my Dad was here he'd be my biggest cheerleader, he is my invisible force that keeps me going.

I'm so sorry that you lost your dad. He was so young! I lost my dad on his 65th birthday 6 years ago. I know how painful it is to go through. (((Hugs)))

[HalloweenBaby24 447]

@honeybunz

Thanks for the support. It was defiantly a painful process to watch the progression of his cancer leading to his death. Thankfully 7 months later thing's are starting to feel normal again and I'm feeling happy and positive about my decision to get the sleeve.

[honeybunz 139]

I know what you mean. My dad had kidney cancer. By the end he was just a shell of himself. Painfully sad to watch.

Best wishes to you on your new journey! :-)

[belunos 93]

I want to say it was just hearing that I had fatty liver, which is a straight line to liver disease, but I've felt like crap for years. But even feeling bad wasn't it. It was fear. We all either get to an age, or see someone else go through it. Either way, at some point knowing our own mortality will sneak up on you and make you afraid of dying young.

I was stricken with panic attacks. Fear of death. I didn't want to have a heart attack in my forties, or strokes in my 50s. Either way my chance of seeing 60 was grim.

So I got the surgery about 4 1\2 months ago, lost 100 lbs so far, and the fear has abated.

Best. Decision. Ever.

[stacielynntate 88]

For me with getting the band in 2008 was we wanted another child and suffered a miscarriage in 2007. So it was a wake up call to get healthy. I lost 121 lbs after getting the band and we welcomed our second son in 2011. Now the past 3 years has been a struggle with lots of issues with my band. I have out on in the last 3 years about 80lbs which frustrates me. In the mean time my knees have gotten bad, my arthritis is basically caused my left knee to be bone on bone. I had a small tear if my MCL I the right knew a few months ago and it's taken till one to finally feel somewhat normal. I know my weight has caused the slow recovery. In May I talked to my dr again and said I'm ready so on 6/18 I'm getting the lapband removed and getting the sleeve done (as long as there is not a lot of scare tissue from the band). I'm so ready yo move on from this stage and start over new.