EccentricConsejero
I am a 29 year old graduate student at the University of West Alabama. I attended American Public University but transferred one course prior to completing my degree in counseling because of a cut in funding. At UWA I study psychology and will graduate at the end of July 2013 - then I'll transfer back to APU for my last course for the graduate program. I fancy myself a pretty good counselor... so, if you need to talk, I'm ready, willing, and able to listen.
I grew up fat. It's not too hard to do when you're 5'4 1/2" tall.... I have no qualms admitting my size... I am a hefty 316 pounds, which is less than my heaviest 350. I'm currently (as of 8/9/2012) on the second week of the third month of pre-op preparation. I've had labs, a sleep study, a nutritional consult, and have monitored my diet religiously for the past 2 months and 2 weeks. I am ready for this....
I will be having (assuming I don't lose my insurance - it's Medicaid) the duodenal switch. It's time for a drastic change in my life, and I recognize that the surgery is really just a tool, but it is a potentially powerful one that can help me lead the amazing life that has been burried somewhere below all of this chunky for quite some time. I'm not without certain concerns... particularly with regard to my relationship. My partner prefers to date chubby guys. After surgery, I won't be chubby for much longer. We'll cross that bridge when we get there - but I think that after a year of our relationship he's pretty condifent he cares about me. I don't think that will change because of the shape of my body. If it does, it's an unfortunate effect of my determination toward wellness.
I'm limited physically in what I can do because I have avascular necrosis in my right ankle, scoliosis, herniated disks (two in my neck one in my lower spine), asthma, and a mild heart problem we believe may be secondary to the recently diagnosed sleep apnea... I walk, but not much - maybe 1/2 - 1 mile a day aside from "normal" life. I hope that as I continue to lose weith pre-operatively, I'll be in less pain and will be able to increase that.
All things in time.
