sherryf
My story keeps disappearing, so I will try again.
I like most of you have the same similiar story with just a few changes. Normal when younger, slightly overweight during the puberty years, enough that my size 4 friends fit into their gym suits just fine and when we had our yearbook pictures taken, the one size fits all sweater didn't fit this one size. But I did have a wonderful time, lots of friends of both sex. My mom always was concerned about my weight issues, I weighed 145. What I wouldn't do for that weight now. she would buy me Metrical, green salads with diet dressing (if you remember, years ago that stuff was not very tasty), put wheat germ in my food!! AARRRGG. But I still managed to find my soul mate and future husband during my senior year. Mom said it wouldn't last, but so far..................42 years.
Anyway, after marriage, things were ok, but a couple of pounds here and there crept in until I started having kids. Gained bunches of weight with each one and lost part of it. Finally after our 3rd daughter, I asked the Dr for something to control my appitite. It worked, I had more energy than a mexican jumping bean, didn't eat hardly at all, lost enough so that I went under 200 again. I was thrilled until I learned that the weight loss triggered another pregnancy. Wasn't happy. But our 4th child was finally the boy and has turned out to be the best kid ever. But as usual, I gained a few extra lbs and was back over 200. I don't know what happened. It must have been that I was a full time mom, didn't work out of the home and the full cookie jar I kept. Also, you know, as a mom, if your children don't finish their plate, you can't let it go to waste, you eat the rest. Espcially if it's the dessert. The lbs. just kept slowly creeping on and I found myself becoming lazier too. My mind was busy working away, I was just having trouble getting my body to respond.
The kids are now all out on their own but I still have that full cookie jar, of course its for the grandbabies
now. I had no medical issues other than being fat. In 2000 though, I was diagnosed with BC. But for the grace of God, I managed to go through the chemo with no problems and I'm an 8 yr. survivor. My cancer was a very aggresive type but found very early. One reason I having the surgery is because I feel that there was a reason I was given more time on this earth and I guess I have to get my head out of my butt and do my part to make sure that happens. I quit smoking when diagnosed, so needless to say, another 30 lbs. This isn't an easy out, I have spent most of my adult life dieting or at least watching what I eat. I will still have to watch what I eat but it will a whole lot easier to do it at a maintainance weight. Besides I do have plenty of health issues now. Type 2 diabetis, gerd, pacemaker for an electrical problem, high cholesterol, certain type of sleep apnea, degenerative disks in the spine,dropped bladder, depression, I'm sure I forgot something and I'm sure the dr. will find something new at some point and time.
My husband is 62 and is taking an early retirement the end of this month. We don't have plans, but what ever we decide to do, I want it to be with him for as long as we can be together as God has planned. He does his own thing and I have found volunteering is meeting my needs. I love being around people, helping out, and such. so far I have been "working" at our local hospital wearing many hats. He understands this and has no problem with it. Both of us really don't like snow and cold anymore, so maybe the south for part of the year. My son just so happens to live in SC with his family, what a coinsidence.
A quick note about the process taking 3 years. Took me a long time to come to the realization that I needed more help than a diet could give me. Went to nutritionists, diet dr's,all that, lose a few and regain. So 3 (almost 4) years ago I made the call. Our town is small and doesn't have a bariatric program. Syracuse is the next large city, but they were just starting their program and I want'ed a dr. with more expierence and they didn't do the lap. so after talking to some former patients I got good feedback for Dr O'Malley in Rochester. So having BC/BS I asked if they took it, no problem. Guess what, 6 months into the program, I get a letter from the ins saying they would cover the surgery but not with Rochester, out of area, even though the ins. was based in rochester???. Okee dokee then, and I called his office, explained what happened and the gal I talked to said that happens sometimes. What happened to hell or hot water, we will go to bat for you. Just so happened the following Jan, we changed ins. companies. We now have MVP. Rochester took MVP. But it was now a year later so I decided that maybe Syracuse is alot closer, they have experience under their belt now, so I called them. Guess what, they don't take MVP. Actually MVP doesn't take them, not a center of excellence. So I go back to Rochester. Mind you, each appt. is at least a month apart, so with all of the testing that I had go through again!!, it was at least 9 months into it. I did'nt hit it off with the nutritionist very well I guess, cause she decided that I wasn't ready for the program because I was having problems following her schedule and diet. I was losing, not gaining, just not fast enough for her. It was hard she had me following the post op diet, not enough protein in my salad, make sure you drink, make sure you eat 5 servings of veggies and fruit a day, etc. I understand all of that. But first I need to lose my required weight, and I basically need to eat under 900 calories a day to lose, thats me, always has been. Never claimed to be speedy. I left and didn't go back. In a 3 yr. period of time, the only time I ever saw the dr. was when he was doing the seminar for a whole bunch of people. Was very depressed for the next 6 months.
Researched Dr Graber in Utica. Felt comfortable first time I walked in the door. They were pleasant, friendly, offered you coffee or tea. Second visit was with the Dr. 3rd was with the nutrishionist, 4th with psych and then back to dr again. My last visit was going over the post op diet, with tons of papers with it all written down so I can refer to it. That was last week and tomorrow I go for pre testing with surgery the following week. My first call to Dr. Graber and Dr Fitzer's office was in July. I had to do the testing all over again but the whole process has seemed to fly by and in a much shorter period of time. I got the impression that everone was on the same page and organized. I would recommend their practice to anyone. I don't have an opinion on the hospital yet, haven't been there, but they know what they are talking about. The ins. didn't have the request papers for the surgery yet as of Wed.Dec 31. But that day I met the ins. requirements and they turned it in. Friday I got a call early afternoon that they had approved it. Whewwwww, was worried for a couple of days there, but she said that I had complied and mvp is quick but don't apply until the required is done.
