Thought I should finally introduce myself

[ElfiePoo 109]

Hi everyone...

I've been reading the boards for a couple weeks now and thought perhaps I should introduce myself.

I'm a 53 year old wife and mom of 3 adult sons. Well almost, my last one is finishing high school this year. I am also the CEO of a company I started 15 years ago. During that time I finished my doctorate and, for the last 3 years also work part-time for the prison system as a consulting psychiatrist at a maximum security prison.

I was not an overweight child, but at the age of 13 when puberty hit, I put on 50 pounds in one year. The doctor told my worried mom that she's being overprotective...it's 'just baby fat'. Looking back, I realize that's also when my hypoglycemia kicked in and the drop in blood sugar is probably what caused my overeating. By the time I started high school I was 5'3" and 140 pounds. I graduated at 180 lbs. By the age of 25 I was 250 pounds and that's where I stayed most of my adult life with a few with a few forays to 220 when I dieted.

After I had my youngest son 17 years ago, I slowly climbed to 330 lbs, my highest weight. Somewhere at that point I found myself eyeing the motorized carts at the grocery store because my back hurt so bad and had an "OMG" moment which put me immediately on Atkins for the next 4 months, during which time I lost 70 lbs. Six years later I have not gained it back but I just can't seem to lose (and keep off) any more.

I'd been researching gastric bypass and lap band for 14 years, but I just couldn't bring myself to do the bypass (no judgment on those who do) and the lap band wasn't being done in this country (no money to go outside of U.S.). In 2001, I started exploring lap band again but my insurance wouldn't pay.

When I fell in the bathroom a few weeks ago and could barely get up off the floor, I realized I had to do something. It was the proverbial straw piled on top of joints getting worse, perpetual lack of energy and an inability to control my blood sugars due to my erratic eating pattern.

Fortunately, I now had insurance that would pay so here I am. I'm going to a bariatric hospital and the reason I chose them is because they don't pile on a lot of unnecessary pre-op requirements as some doctors do. I think this is because several of the doctors have had bypass and/or lap bands and understand where the obese patient is coming from. No 'prove it to me' six month supervised diet (although I understand that for many docs this is an insurance requirement) and no pre-op liquid diet for several weeks. I found out, upon questioning this past week, that they also don't wait months to do a fill. Their intent is to get the patient is restriction as quickly as possible since that is the whole purpose of this band. No fill at surgery, but first fill at roughly 2-3 weeks depending on the healing process.

I started this whole process 2 weeks ago and I'm told that I will most likely get surgery in the next 2 weeks or so as long as nothing comes back negative on the blood work. I don't expect it will. Despite the fact that I'm 53 and 260 pounds, I'm in pretty good shape...considering.

I look forward to getting to know you all!

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[soocalchic 1,087]

Congrats on your decision and welcome to LBT

[DianaG 0]

I am glad that you decided to join the rest of us bandsters. This site is full of valuable information and help. Of course, it sometimes has some not so valuable information, but we can overlook that!:thumbup:

Welcome!!!

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Hello elfie and welcome to LBT! You will find this place to be a great source of information and support.

There are well over 70,000 registered users on this forum so you will find many similar or dissenting opinions here. However I think that’s what makes this place so great. We may be on the same path, but what we choose to see with our eyes will be completely different that who is walking next to us.

I really hope you like it here. Your introduction was excellent, and maybe you might want to save it as your blog. Many look to the blogs as a means of support, and I think yours would fit in very nicely.

Enjoy!!

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Hello elfie and welcome to LBT! You will find this place to be a great source of information and support.

There are well over 70,000 registered users on this forum so you will find many similar or dissenting opinions here. However I think that’s what makes this place so great. We may be on the same path, but what we choose to see with our eyes will be completely different that who is walking next to us.

I really hope you like it here. Your introduction was excellent, and maybe you might want to save it as your blog. Many look to the blogs as a means of support, and I think yours would fit in very nicely.

Enjoy!!

[ElfiePoo 109]

I really hope you like it here. Your introduction was excellent, and maybe you might want to save it as your blog. Many look to the blogs as a means of support, and I think yours would fit in very nicely.

Enjoy!!

I'm technologically impaired so that one (the blog) will have to wait until I can get my 17 year old to help me out. :thumbup:

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