ConnieS
7/30/06
I suppose it's time I finally write something about my journey so far.
I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. Photos of me at age 3 are normal, but by age 6 I'm becoming chubby. By the time I was 21, I weighed about 190 to 200 lbs. I joined Weight Watchers and got down to about 150, but couldn't maintain the loss for any extended period of time. Did the same thing at about age 30. I have joined Weight Watchers (and followed other mostly healthy plans) more times than I can count. I was able to maintain my weight somewhere around 200 until I hit my early 40s, then seemingly overnight without any significant changes in my lifestyle, I gained 50 pounds. For a while, I gave up and decided I'd just be happy with myself the way I was. In 2001, at my all time measured high of 257, I decided to give WW another try. I lost about 15 to 20 lbs, but same old story, I gained most of it back. At least, for the first time in my life, I didn't gain MORE than what I'd lost.
In early 2004, I decided I owed it to myself to at least consider WLS. After research, I decided the only type I'd consider was Lap Band, but that I wouldn't do that until I'd quit my job (way too stressful) and tried WW type diet and exercise yet again...but this time I'd make the healthy lifestyle changes gradually, instead of expecting myself to be perfect all the time.
I retired in June, 2004 and had started the lifestyle change when, a couple of days before my 54th birthday in September, 2004, I began having chest pains. Long story short, I had a 99% blockage in a major coronary artery and had a stent placed. I was very, very lucky not to have had a heart attack (which probably would have killed me, the doctors say).
I began religiously following a low fat diet, and lost down to 233 without much effort, and there it stayed for months...until I met my boyfriend and gained about 10 lbs, even though I continue(d) to eat healthy foods. I placed surgery completely out of my mind as it was too scary, given my heart disease.
My primary problem at this time is portion control. I just eat too much and am always hungry.
Recently, when I was also diagnosed with gallstones and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (along with the osteoarthritis, borderline hypertension, and mild sleep apnea I already knew about), I decided enough was enough. I have to do something about my weight or I will be dead way too young. My cardiologist thinks I'm not fat enough for surgery and wants me to do it the old fashioned way, but I have 35 years of experience to show I've failed at that. And even though I'm "not fat enough", l have all of the diseases associated with obesity except diabetes (and I have a strong family history of that), including the major killer (heart disease). But he did refer me for a bariatric surgery workup.
So, in May, 2006, I started re-researching and had my first consult with the endocrinologist who specializes in obesity at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, which is where I get all my medical care. At first, I was thinking I'd have RNY surgery, since that's the only surgery that Mayo does and I was scared to go elsewhere given my heart disease. But after much research, I'm leaning strongly toward Lap-Band surgery, which is performed at the two Bariatric Centers for Excellence in Arizona. My cardiologist has told me that both hospitals have adequate cardiology departments in case something goes wrong, and I should base my decision on which hospital to use based upon the bariatric surgeons.
So far, I have had nutrition evaluation, 2 consults with the endocrinologist, a consult with the obesity nurse practitioner, attended a seminar at one of the Excellence centers, and will start at 12 week diet, nutrition, behavior mod and exercise program at Mayo this week. I've also found out what my insurance requires, and have to complete a 6 mo. doctor supervised diet before I can even apply for prior authorization.
Since I will have to make radical changes in my eating habits if I have Lap-Band, and since it takes probably 3 mos after surgery to get a good fill, I've decided I will give myself 9 mos (6 mo supervised diet plus 3 mos) to do this the old fashioned way. I intend to give it a sincere try. But if I fail, yet again, I will almost certainly proceed with surgery. My life depends upon it.
