New to all of this

[Princess Naomi 2]

I have started the process of getting bariatric surgery. I am in month 2 of going to the nutrition meetings required by my insurance. I never really thought this would happen for me. I have been thinking of having the surgery in an abstract way for years. I always said that if I won the lottery I would do it in a heartbeat. I found out a month ago that my insurance covers the surgery if they find it medically necessary. I am type 2 diabetic, high blood pressure, higher than my doctor would like cholesterol, and I have extremely bad sciatica issues from a car accident when I was 14. It seems like every time I go to the doctor I get some new medication to add to the 13 pills I already take a day. I also have anxiety issues that I take medication for and I am currently trying to quit smoking. I know that is a lot to take one but I am a goal setter and a goal keeper.

5 years ago in 2009, I was depressed, I mean extremely depressed. My friend that I have known since I was 13 told me she worried that I was dead on the floor and my cats were eating my body. She was joking of course but, I didn't really talk to anyone for 6 months. I stopped wanting to leave my house, I had no motivation to take a bath, no motivation to do anything but lay on my couch and wish I was dead. I finally pin pointed the reason for my depression as I was stuck in a job I hated with no real way to get out because I had no high school diploma. I made a plan and a 5 year goal and a 10 year goal, I decided to get my GED at 35 and go to college. I bought books and started studying for the GED test. I came to a point where I knew I needed help because math is not my friend. I went to my local GED prep classes to get help. The process took a week to see where I was with my English and math skills. I kept taking test after test until I took the practice test and I was told that I could take the real test the following week. I passed my first try. I entered college in the fall of 2010. I will graduate next May with 2 degrees, I will graduate from the Honors Program at my school, I am a member of the Honors Society, and I have carried a 3.5 GPA the entire time I have been in school.

That was my 5 year goal. To get my GED, go to college and get a degree, find a job with good insurance so I could try to get the surgery. I think I did well so far. LOL Anyway, the second phase of my ten year plan was to get into shape and get my health where it should be. I was diagnosed with diabetes at 33. Only because I had shingles for the second time in my life and I went in for a physical.

Sorry this first post is so long but, I feel like if I get support now the next 7 months will fly by. I hope to have the surgery next summer. The point is that I make and keep goals. That is something I have been bad at most of my life but, I know that I must keep this goal in order to live a long and healthier life. It will also help with my favorite passtime of throwing pottery on the wheel. Its one of the talents I found while in school. I never knew I was talented or creative in anyway before I went to college and now I make beautiful art pieces with just my hands, some clay, and a kiln. It is my zen place, the one place where I am completely in the moment and not worrying about everything. It gives me peace.

Now I found out that my insurance provided by my state through Medicaid expansion, because I am a poor college student that moved back in with my dad at 35 so I could concentrate on school. I do work, but I work for my school and it is part time so I get the Medicaid because I am poor. I always said if I had health insurance that covered it I would jump at the chance to get it. Well here is my chance and I am going full steam ahead with it. I will be attending my local support group that is part of the program I am working; I have been having a hard time with the exercise portion of the program though. I have long standing back issues and I really have to be careful what I do because I get this horrible burning pain that shoots down my leg sometimes just from normal walking. Plus I can't afford a gym membership right now. I did look into my local rec center and it seems they have pool exercise 3 times a week which I am going to try next week.

I am not sure which surgery my surgeon will recommend for me but I am pretty sure I will ask for the bypass because of the remission of diabetes. I have been reading all about it in medical journals and I even tried to join the Cleveland Clinic study on the subject but I didn't have insurance before and they would not take me. I really am only worried about my health. I have seen what this obesity can do to a body from my mother who was 518 pounds at 53 and we had to put her into a nursing facility because she could no longer take care of herself anymore. Her story is sad, but it has a sort of happy ending in that, for her the surgery was a success and she is now living in an apartment on her own and able to take care of her own needs.

Anyway, I am Naomi and I will be posting here.

(If your read that whole thing I am really sorry, I tend to be long winded.)

Edited November 22, 2014 by Princess Naomi

[jomamacita7 51]

Welcome! I'm glad you were able to overcome your depression. I can totally relate because I suffer from clinical depression (for several years now) and I isolate myself at home and don't go anywhere unless necessary, have no motivation to shower, workout, etc. It is debilitating. Good luck to you on this journey!

[Princess Naomi 2]

Thanks jomamacita7, The depression was totally not like me. It came on slowly and I didn't notice. Now I am not depressed at all. I love school and work is a pleasure for me.

It feels kind of weird to be on this journey to surgery, mostly because I have only told a few friends that I plan to have it. My mother would be a great resource for me but unfortunately she no longer speaks to me because of religious differences. I can't just call her anymore and ask her questions. I mentioned it to my dad once but he sings like a bird to my mother and I drew a line with her that if she wanted to know about my life she would have to ask herself. I haven't mentioned it again to him.

Crazy I know, but thanks for reading that long post.

[SuzeMuze 338]

Wow Naomi, what a courageous chapter of your life you've been living and will be embarking upon with your surgery! Your story is incredibly inspirational- I have no doubt others will be comforted and motivated by your determination to make a better life for yourself. These forums are a great source for advice, opinions, support and venting about anything & everything related to bariatric surgery- type on! We're all in your corner as you work your way toward surgery

[Princess Naomi 2]

Wow Naomi, what a courageous chapter of your life you've been living and will be embarking upon with your surgery! Your story is incredibly inspirational- I have no doubt others will be comforted and motivated by your determination to make a better life for yourself. These forums are a great source for advice, opinions, support and venting about anything & everything related to bariatric surgery- type on! We're all in your corner as you work your way toward surgery

Thanks SuzeMuze, I try to take things one step at a time so I don't overwhelm myself with the enormity of it all. When I made my goals I decided to concentrate first on getting my GED, than getting into college, then getting through my first semester, then my first year and so on. Now that the 5 year plan is almost done I am still taking things one step at a time. Tomorrow I am going to try swim aerobics for the first time. Can't wait because I do like to swim.

[mommy2jab 16]

Good for you. You mentioned Cleveland Clinic. Do you you live in Cleveland? I'm in Brunswick and getting mine done through UH.

[Naomi H 3]

I am Princess Naomi. I lost the book mark to this forum and I thought I had been here before but I could not remember my user name because it is not one that I have used before. I got approved for my surgery yesterday and I am from Cleveland. I will have my surgery on August 18 at UH Parma. I am nervous and excited at the same time. I feel like now it is real and I know it will happen for me. I am the kind of person that doesn't count her chickens until they hatch and they are in my basket.

For months I have been telling myself that it may not happen and I kept telling myself not to get to excited because I might have to fight my insurance company to get approval. I didn't even have to make a peep let alone scream at anyone. My surgeon’s office called me at the end of June and said they were putting it through that week and gave me a possible surgery date of August 18. They said I needed to get one more record for them before they could submit to my insurance and asked me to get it ASAP. I went that day and requested it and I set in to wait and then have my surgery rescheduled because of delays that never happened.

Now it just got real and I am scared, excited, and nervous all at the same time. I know I won't back out, but I now have allowed myself to begin to think about life after surgery and what that might be like. I look forward to the weight loss, but I am wondering if I will have any regrets later. I hope not because I am doing this. I want my health back and diabetes can suck it!!

I worry about getting dumping syndrome, I worry about replacing clothes as I lose weight, I worry about loose skin, I worry if I will find anyone that doesn't mind my thinner and still imperfect body. I wonder if this will change the way I feel about myself. Will I like myself better or will I still deflect my body image issues with humor? What will I be if I am not the funny fat girl? Will people still like me? Will I like myself? How do you dress a body that is new to you? Will I have to wear Spanks under everything? Do they make Spanks sex lingerie?

These are just a few of the thoughts running through lmy head right now. Aggggggg!!!

PS Sorry for making 2 accounts. I am using Naomi H now.