I've struggled with weight issues mainly from college years to now. I've joined Weight Watchers, had gym trainers and also attended a medical weigh loss center. I then moved on to the various prescription medications. Most of them had no effect on my brain.
I have to applaud Weight Watchers. It's a good program. I lost weight. Did I learn enough? Not for my issues. Even the medical weight loss program gave praise to WW. The 2 separate times I joined, I lost weight and then got pregnant. So I'm not quite sure what the program is doing to me. ha! I had a single baby the first round and twins the next round. I'm not going back! :)
The weight loss program through the hospital, I have to say, was the hardest and most educational for me. You have to search yourself to figure out why you are addicted. I still use a lot of the lessons learned from my few years in the program. But you have to be ready to pay a lot and be focused. You will lose. Quickly. It's the transition from shakes and liquid soups back to regular food is the hardest part. They warn you too. I had personal issues that I let interfere with my success. I gained back the almost 60 lbs. I lost and a few extra for good measure.
I'd been working with my PCP after finally stopping the program. We tried the Rx drugs to see if I could get my mind off of food. One worked for a while but it seems like my body got used to it... or my addiction conquered it. After a year or so of that, my amazing doctor wanted to know what is next for me. What was I wanting. I hadn't a clue. My health was OK but some signs of future issues were creeping up. My doc is on the holistic side. Not a pill pusher... wants to know how I want to conquer my weight. She mentioned, while stating it was merely a thought, if I wondered about surgery, to attend the free sessions to see what it was all about.
About the same time as this appointment or soon after, I had my annual mammogram. They detected something and ended up doing a biopsy. Thankfully everything is fine and I'll get another check in 6 months. It made me realize how short life it.
A few months later, my family and I went to Winterfest at King's Island with friends. It was amazing! We were all going to ride on a rollercoaster. I was in the front with my 7 year old. The employees came by to check our bars. The young guy pushing my bar, I could tell, was pushing with all his might. I couldn't believe it. I calmly said that I apparently didn't fit and asked the guy if he could just quickly unlatch my hubby so he can replace me. We have a family of 5 and it so happened he was on his own. KI was amazing with how fast and efficient it was. While I was mortified, I can't thank them enough for being so efficient and not causing a stir.
That was it. I realized how out of control I was.
I went to a bariatric session. Learned my insurance doesn't cover it (but if you have government supported insurance... medicaid, medicare, caresource - it's covered. Or typically if it's small business coverage)
My husband is so supportive and simply asked what do we need to do to make it happen. I cried. How wonderful. I know I'd figure it out and he'd help.
I discovered a few people I know went to Mexico. So, after much research, finding complication rates, looking at costs, materials they use and travel costs, I made the best decision with Endobariatric, where Dr. Guillermo Alvarez is a master surgeon and only performs the gastric sleeve surgery. Even has a hospital made just for it.
Let the adventure begin!
