Determined_Dawn
Well, I don't think my story is all that different from anyone elses. I'm 44 and I've been overweight all of my adult life. Not really as a kid...maybe a little chubby for a couple of years. In University I gained the 'mandatory first year 15' and then I went overboard and gained another 20 or so. In 3rd year I had a hormone disaster and the weight just kept adding up and up. I remember thinking-I will never weigh in the 200's...not going to happen. I was 192 lbs then...man what I'd give to be there again...not only did I get into the 200's, I added another 100 plus. At my heaviest I weighed 347 lbs...following the birth of my second child. My current weight isn't far from that...338. Or at least it was in January when I went to see the nutritionist.
So, this is the process so far in my WLS journey.
About 7 years ago I asked my family doc for a referral and was sent to a lovely doc who gave me
lots of info, but advised me that although he used to do many WLS's, Lakeridge Corporation (the hospital in my area), was no longer approving the cost. He could send me to Toronto if I wanted. Yes, please...however, the referral never came. I took it as a sign-I can do this on my own...I never pursued the referral.
Two years ago I had a hormone meltdown and 4 months following an ablation, I hemorraged terribly and was referred to a gynacologist in Toronto. Mine in Oshawa said he wouldn't do a hysterectomy on me at my size, but maybe a doc in Toronto would. She said lose weight and a hysterectomy was mine...in the mean time go on Lupron (injectable drug putting me into instant menopause)...not as much fun as you'd think. The drug causes weight gain so it just put me further and further away from what I needed. That and my already bad eating was just a continuous cycle of defeat.
In May I met a new neighbour of my parents who had WLS in the US about 2 years ago. She lost 150 lbs...she looks and feels terrific. She was very honest and candid about her experience so... a trip back to my doc for another referral for WLS...this time to Humber River Credit Hospital (?). That was May 2010 and I still have not heard 1 word from them. I saw my gynacologist in July 2010 and she wondered why I had not considered St Mikes for my WLS-because I didn't know they did it...she referred me...speedy quick too...and I met with a surgeon at St Mike's in Sept. Since then it's been a really great process...
Dr Grantcharov...Sept 2010
Orientation at Toronto Western Hospital...Nov 2010 (they work together-Bariatric Unit)
Nurse 1:1 appt, Social worker appt...Dec 2010
Nutrition class...Dec 2010
Psych consult, Nutritionist appt...Jan 2011
Meet with surgeon to get a date...Feb 18, 2011...thats this week.
So, you can see, not a story much different from most. I am ready for this...It is going to save my life. I have type II diabetes, and have had for almost 20 years. My feet hurt, my knees hurt, I have little energy for my wonderful husband and 2 great kids...I'm tired all the time...I need a hysterectomy when the weight is off...I want my life back...I don't want to watch my life pass me by anymore...I want to be all that I can be...and that's so much more than I am right now. Don't get me wrong...parts of me are fabulous...lol...I'm a good person, I'm well grounded, have a superb family who supports me fully...I'm strong in my career and I have a great network of friends who want only the best for me...this is part of that plan...to be my best!!
So, here I go...in 5 days I will begin the next chapter in my life...stay tuned...the best is yet to come!!!!!!!!!!!!
