nursehageman
My weight loss struggle began from the time I was about 13 years old. All of my family is overweight. My grandmother averaged about 450 pounds most of my childhood. I remember yo-yo dieting all through high school. The last two years of high school I practically starved myself to stay thin. I remember surviving on a few life savers a day. I was sick, thin and depressed. When I was 20 years old, I decided that I was not going to starve myself anymore. My weight ballooned to 200 pounds within a very short time. Three years ago, I consulted with a physician about having the gastri bypass surgery done. At that time I was 245 pounds. I had 2 back surgeries under my belt, as wel as a diagnosis of infertility and diabetes. However, I decided against the surgery and continued to diet. I tried everything, even the cabbage soup diet! Last summer (summer 2006) I had a consult with my surgeon from Scottsbluff. I decided to go ahead and have the lap-band surgery. To my misfortune, I ended up needing an emergency spinal fusion done and my lap-band surgery would have to be put off. I had the spinal fusion done in September and started waiting again. Finally in January, I was given the ok to proceed with the lap-band. April 2, 2007, at the weight of 263 pounds, I had the surgery. I had no complications and to this date have lost 68 pounds! I have no regrets! I feel great. My knees and hips feel better and most of all, my back is better. I had lived with chronic back pain for so long that it seems weird not to have my back aching all day! Now it only hurts when the weather changes or I do too much. My diabetes is undetectable now and I am off all medications. I love the new me and I love how I feel. I am excited about geting close to my goal weight! Only 33 pounds to go!
