Beginning to Seek...

[BCFossett 0]

Hi everyone!

I have been reading everyone's responses and posts and boy is there a lot of information! I figured I would introduce myself to the group.

I'm 28, I have been overweight my whole life. The ONE time I was able to loose weight was when I was single, living alone, hardly eatting, smoking like a train and drinking like a fish. Not exactly your health-conscious way of loosing weight.

I have since turned a new leaf and became healthier, and then I got pregnant. Since then I have fought SOOOOOO hard to loose weight. I am 5'9", 285 lbs. I wear a size 20/22. I am a single mom and I currently have no insurance for either myself or my child. I am the sole support of my household. I love my job, but it is demanding as I have found myself to be in a management position after only a year and a half with the company (I actually moved up to management status eight months ago).

I had a gym membership, however with the 10 hour days I have to work and having to be the only parent for my child, I don't have time to go work out as well. My son doesn't deserve an absent parent. He also doesn't deserve a fat parent. I have not introduced junk food to him and he is almost three years old.

I don't want to be this person any more, but it doesn't seem like anything I do makes the weight come off.

What are the possible complications? If I were to get this surgery, would I be in any shape to care for my child the following day? The following week? My employer is thinking about getting health insurance, so of course my being able to have this surgery done is going to be based on if my future insurance covers it. I will have two weeks of vacation next year, so if a week is a good recovery time, then I'll be able to do that, but my main concern is if I would be able to care for my son in the days after the proceedure. I don't have a lot of family or support in the area, so that's why I'm overly concerned about being able to care for him.

Well that's me in a nut shell. I loved my grandmother very much, but when she died, she was 5'4', 450 lbs. She had a defibrillator to keep her heart going, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. To me, that's not living, that's being trapped inside a body that just won't cooperate.

Any and all thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Sorry for the long post!

~Brandy

[Tonice 0]

Hi Brandy! I have not had the surgery yet, I have my first consult with a surgeon on Friday! I am a single mom also, but my daughter is a lot younger, she's 17months. When I went to the seminar for the band, I asked the surgeon about caring for my daughter and I was told that I will not be able to pick her up for about 6 weeks, so I should get some help for that time. Other than that, I should/will be able to care for her soon after the surgery. I'm going to have to stay with my mom for the 6 weeks post op, but I guess it's not that bad compared to being overweight and being depressed about it. Do you have any friends that you can stay with or who'd be will to stay with your for a couple of weeks?