Ready To Change
Hi, my name is Lea and I am 27 years old. I have a bmi of 43 and have
been overweight my entire life. I have been on every diet you can
imagine, especially as a teenager (highschool was pure hell!). My
doctor promises me now that if I do not do something and keep the
weight off I will have type 2 diabetes within 5 years (huge family
history of it). He also thinks my thyroid problem could be helped by
my losing weight. He recommends the surgery. He says it has shown
more of a percentage of keeping the weight off longterm.
I will be honest about it, I am slightly nervous. I think the main
reasons I am nervous though is because of “everyone else’s” opinions.
But I do stop and think that they are not living my life. They arent
the ones with health problems. they arent the ones who have children
who are embarassed when Mom comes up to school. They arent the ones
who get depressed when they have to buy clothes. they arent the ones
who have to think about being here to raise my children. What do they
know!
I am thankful for google.com pointing me to you guys and hope that
you can give me some facts and some experiences. I know that this
isnt an easy or quick fix. I know this will be something I will have
to maintain the rest of my life –and I believe I can do that. I
simply have to. Almost everyone in my family is overweight (to the
point the word obese is very common — but hated). No one lives past
the age of 56. Heart attcks, hypertension, diabetes, depressions and
many other things are common too. Just this year I have had to have
my gallbladder removed and was told it was a result of my weight.
I dont exactly know what I am expecting from you guys — just really
want to feel like I am not alone in this anymore. Although my family
is quite similar, they don’t want or see a need to change, and I cant
make them. I also am interested in any suggestions or accounts of
what happened with insurance companies and the procedure. i am
worried it wouldnt cover it. my appointment for consultation with the
bariatric surgeon isnt until Valentines Day (thats the soonest i
could get in). So I guess I have time to research and prepare for the
insurance battle.
Thanks for your help — it feels good to have someone/somewhere to go
to talk!
Lea — Alabama
April 2nd, 2005 at 4:18 am
Hi Lea, and Welcome!!
I LOVE your screen name! You will find a tremendous amount of info.
and support here. Also, you can comb through the archives of posts
here also. I still belong to two other groups, but at one time it
was 6. Although I still keep in touch with the many fantastic
friends I have made at them all, I’ve had to go ‘no mail’ on the
rest… couldn’t keep up and they sadly sometimes end up getting
wayyyy off the subject of WLS info. and support.
Just by your screen name alone you sound as ready as all the rest of
us are/were to have/get this done! High 5! As always… my mantra…
research, reasearch, and research some more, and lurk and post here
heavily…
Look forward to hearing more from you and helping any way I/we
can… :o)
Rose :o)