slcfisher75
Hi Guys! My name is Sherry. I'm 33 yrs old. (34 in a couple weeks. Yikes!) I have four beautiful children! Ages 15-4. God has blessed my life in so many ways. I have wonderful family, amazing friends and a loving, caring supportive husband that means the world to me..
I gained 100 lbs with my pregnancy when I was pregnant with my 15 yr old. Of course through the years, I've added 5 here, 3 there and here I am. 320lbs and miserable!!!! I've entertained GBS since 2002. I wanted to do it by myself though. I thought I could. I'd give myself small goals and never accomplish them. But even then I knew that by the time I was 35. I wanted to be heatlhy at whatever cost. Now that its approaching, I'm happy to say...I WILL BE!
In Feb of 08, I was at my highest weight ever at 347 lbs. I found out that my thyroid wasn't functioning and was put on medication. At the same time, I started my 6 mo diet and exercise plan for my ins. to approve the surgery. I've gotten down to 330 and float between 320 and 332. So its hard for me to say what I weigh on any given day. I just know its alot and I'm miserable. 'nuff said.
Along with the hypothyroidism, I have high blood pressure. I was also diagnosed in June with Pseduo Tumor Cerebri or Intercranial Hypertension. Basically there is too much spinal fluid around my brain and its not absorbing or draining properly. Children can be born with this, or adults can get it. Most commonly overweight woman in their child bearing years. There is no guarentee that losing weight will cure it, but its the first step. I have frequent spinal taps and hospitalizations to remove extra built up fluid. I'm fianlly on medications that help with that and the horrid headaches. And for the first time in months, after 12 spinal taps, I see none in the very near future. So, with that said, I was happy that I had already began my 6 mo plan with my doc when I was diagnosed. PTC causes severe headaches. It mimics that of a brain tumor. (Hence the name Pseudo (meaning fake) tumor) I have it under control at the moment with lots of meds that make me feel like death. SO I'm looking forward to being off those after I have surgery and lose the weight too. ;) I hope that the PTC goes away with weight loss because its affected my life in so many ways. The medication for it makes me severely depressed and have anxiety. I feel like I'm taking one medication to counter act the other. I'm now up to 9 pills a day! UGH!
I've finished all my steps through New Start. Its been sent off to the insurance last week. My regular doctor, Neurologist and neurosurgeon all wrote letters of recommendations explaining how crucial my weight loss is. Plus, of course the tons of records that were sent, along with all the finished stipulations that my insurnace required from the beginning. I am hoping that I covered all my bases with them BEFORE even sending it off. I still have to get my thyroid levels in check before the surgeon will do my lapband. SO we are being extra vigilant in doing that while the verdict is out and we are waiting on the Ins. I have BCBS of Il. (And have for 10 years)
I'm interested in hearing all your stories. Has anyone had the Gastric Sleeve? I really am kind of interested in that too. (But ins. is already been sent off for approval of Lapband.)
