windyacres
I've kept the pregnancy weight through three pregnancies and beyond. I've tried many exercise programs, weight watchers a couple of times. I don't like to look in mirrors. I still can't believe my weight as I was very athletic into my 20's.
Eventually the health problems started. I've had migraines since my 20's. Added hypertension, then hypercholesterolemia. The thing that really made me realize something had to change was when I developed diabetes. My father basically died of diabetetes. He lost vision in one eye, he developed severe neuropathy and eventually lost a leg. He had a heart attack and two bypass surgeries. My father was THIN and athletic, and this still happened to him. The diabetes put me over the top.
One day I read an ad by a local surgeon who was starting to do lap band surgeries. They said that this surgery could cure almost every health issue I have AND help me lose weight. It was like a light bulb came on. I went to the surgeon's information session. I was sobered by the fact of how few of these surgeries she had done. I talked to my family practice physician who had reservations about WLS, but NO reservations about the surgeon.
I thought I needed to have a BMI of 35 with two co-morbidities, and I hover around the 35 BMI. I sure wasn't going to GAIN weight to have surgery. I was doing okay with the diabetes, and I was busy. I let it slide. Then my blood sugars got worse and I was motivated again. Checked more with my insurance, and found that MY policy was special. My husband's employer determines what is covered and what is not. Under MY policy, I have to weight 100# over the Met Life standards for healthy weight. This is a weight RANGE, and they don't want you 100# over the bottom of it. So I would have to gain probably 30# to qualify.
As I was visiting Obesity Help, I ran across some posts about the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. At first I thought there was no way I would want so much cutting going on inside of me. However, I have read about a LOT of issues with the lap band, and since it was starting to look like I would have to be self pay, the after care with the lap band would cost me a fortune. Another personal issue, is that I don't LIKE being a patient. I want to just get a normal life back, and it sounds like I can do that with the VSG.
My wonderful husband is 100% supportive. I am a midwife in private practice, and am on call 24/7. Since I already have clients due into 2010, I will bracket out a two week "vacation" in March, and travel to Mexico then for the surgery. And I am excited!
Update: It is August 2010 and no surgery yet. The house has not sold. I am still waiting for it to sell, or for Blue Cross, North Carolina to start covering VSG.
