My long journey...

[tammyandtommy]

I would love to journal about my long journey from fat to gastric bypass. If anyone is interested please post a note and I will be happy to write about it. I know people who were loved on these boards have passed after this surgery but not all experiences are bad! My surgery date was 6/9/08!
Love Tammy

 

[Mary Anne]

Tammy I would love to hear of your journey. Everyone has different paths that have traveled or are traveling. Please tell us about yours.

 

[JudyS]

....I know people who were loved on these boards have passed after this surgery but not all experiences are bad! ....

There were DISboards members who passed away after gastric bypass? I didn't know that! I thought it was pretty rare to die from gastric bypass surgery.

I'm glad that you are doing well! How are you feeling since your surgery? I'm interested in hearing more about your experience.

I have sometimes wondered if gastric bypass surgery would be a good choice for me. There are two main reasons that I haven't done it: Not everyone has a good result (even besides complications, not everyone loses much weight), and I hope better drug treatments for obesity will be available soon.

My sister-in-law was very heavy (probably a bit under 400 pounds), and wasn't having luck dieting. She had a lap-band procedure done. She had no serious complications, but she still isn't all that happy with the result. She throws up a lot, and in the year since surgery has only lost about 60 of the 250 or so excess pounds she was carrying. Did you have a lap-band, or a different procedure?

 

[tammyandtommy]

First of all thanks for the intrest in my story! i will answer any and all questions that I can as I go...

Well where do I begin with my story?
I am currently 31 yrs old, married to Tom for almost 12 yrs (been together 16), we have 2 great kids, ages 13 and 10. I have been overweight all my life. When kids in school were size 8 or 10 I was a 14 or 16. After having children I kept on gaining weight. Sure I dieted many times, but after my second child I became diabetic. just some info, when you are diabetic and your blood sugars are out of control you lose alot of weight unhealthily (is that even a word? LOL) when your sugars are in control the weight packs on and stays on. I looked into bariatric surgery with my husband for the last 5 years. We both decided that I wasnt ready. Not mentally, and not with out trying more diets harder, and more strict.
About 3 years ago, my endocrinologist (diabetes Dr.) and I talked and I couldnt get my blood sugars where they should be they should be 70-100 fasting, mine were always about 140 - 150. We agreed I should try a small dose of insulin twice a day to help in getting my sugars in control. It would also prolong the life of my pancreas (where insulin is made). It worked wonderfully, except the weight. No matter what I did the weight just packed on. At my highest weight I was 320lbs. I still wasnt ready for surgery, I tried weight watchers and it was great I got down to 280. then nothing, I jus plataued. (SP?) It was at this point that Tom and I went for another surgery seminar. I took my mom, her life partner and Tom. We were armed and ready with tons of questions. Stay tuned for more , time to go for a walk!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Very interesting...please post the rest of your story.

 

[tammyandtommy]

Ok so we left off at the meetin'! I brought along family mainly because I get very frustrated with people asking me questions over and over. I thought that if they went they could ask their own questions and leave me alone! LOL Well as we were leaving my mother and her life partner has signed up as patients! I was in shock and awe! I admit I was a bit peterbed! I wanted this to be about me and they were stealing my thunder.... Ok tantrum over, they wanted to become healthier and more active, how can I be a brat? I got over it. We all scheduled our appointments with the dieticians, and Drs. We were on our way to a healthier life style! The process for each of us has been different. I saw a dietician for 6 months, but when it was time for labs my blood sugars were elevated and I had to go to diabetes management for a month or two to get my sugars under control. Next thing I knew it was time to meet the Dr! I was nervous and had lots of questions, but he eased my concern and answered my questions! I felt like I was ready. Until about 2 weeks before the surgery.... WOW I was anxious, crying all the time! It wasnt the surgery tha scared me exactly, it was the knowing that people can die during any surgery! That is what sccared me! I cried my eyes out the night before the surgery and my husband did the best he could to calm me down and ease my fears, but in the end a shoulder to cry on and being held was enough! I woke up Monday morning June 9th ready as I could be....

 

[HockeyKat]

I want to hear more too...