Why do I want to do this? Well, I've been overweight my entire life. Ok, maybe not my entire life, but since 2nd grade and that feels like my entire life. I'm tired of it.
I have dieted and dieted only to gain back more than I lost. Essentially, dieting makes me fatter. Sure, my weight is my own fault - inactivity, eating the wrong foods, lack of willpower. The point is, I want it gone and years of struggling with it have resulted in me not being just overweight, but morbidly obese. Quite honestly, I was horrified to realize this and it took me several months to even admit this truth to myself. Now that I've faced it, I'm ready to conquer it.
Gastric bypass does seem drastic, but the benefits outweigh (no pun intented) the drawbacks. This is a long-term solution that will require major changes in the way I eat, but I'm prepared for that. I'm not completely ignorant of what it entails since my friend Stephanie has already had the surgery and has talked openly about it with me quite a bit.
29th
I admit, I'm worried. Mostly its my insurance that is giving me these moments of ultra-anxiety. My insurance becomes effective Monday (April 1st) and I'm afraid they'll see my weight as a pre-existing condition. I mean, I certainly didn't become MO overnight. Then again, I've never been diagnosed with MO or anything specifically weight related, so that probably works in my favor. I can't check my actual policy since I'm not signed up just yet.
29th Continued...
OK, I'm making some progress here. I have an appointment with my primary care physician (PCP) for April 15 where I will hopefully get a referral to see the surgeon. With my new insurance I had to get a new PCP and I chose my friend Stephanie's Dr. because he's been through the whole thing with her and then again with her mom. I figure he'll be open to the idea and is somewhat familiar with what I'll be going through.
I also just got my appointment for the initial consultation with the surgeon I want. Yes, Stephanie's! lol But I know her surgery went well and so did her mother's, so that makes me more comfortable with him than I would be with another surgeon I have no personal reference for. Anyway, its set for April 22! I really expected to have to wait longer than that.
30th
Found out today that I probably have edema. I had no idea what it even was until I pointed out to my friend that the dent stays in my leg even after I stop pressing and she told me what it was. (Don't ask why I was pressing dents into my leg... I have no idea. lol) My Dr. friend confirmed this is edema and is likely secondary to my weight issue. My first co-morbidity...
