I am still in the process of completing my pre-op requirements. After speaking with my surgeon, the RNY was highly recommended because of severe GERD. I am glad I came across this website and forum, it is my prayer to meet new people, to learn and take something from each person's journey.
So, I am an RN and studying to be a Family Nurse Practitioner. In my Health Promotion class, we were discussing obesity and weight loss surgery. Many of my classmates, all RNs and soon to be primary care providers, had negative opinions of WLS. They all knew someone or took care of someone that had WLS and gained all the weight back or had complications or eating disorders or whatever, which may be true. But I was completely taken aback by the negative attitudes, and frankly, ignorance and misinformation about WLS that still prevails, even among healthcare professionals. My position was that, for the right patients ( those that are mentally prepared and willing to do the work), WLS should be viewed as a viable option in the treatment of obesity. BTW, they don't know that I had VSG.
So, a little about me. I am a 32 year old wife and mommy of 3 and 5 year old little boys. I am 5'2 and at my highest, I weighed 276 lbs. That is a BMI of over 50. I am just shy of 4 months out and am down to 208. While I still have a ways to go, I am already smaller than I have been in nearly a decade. I had no real comorbidities to speak of, but I know it was just a matter of time. I am a black woman with a horrible family history of diabetes, heart disease and renal failure. My own mother has been ill for most of my life. She was diagnosed with Lupus in her 30s. Soon to follow were hip and knee replacements, renal failure (she's had TWO kidney transplants), diabetes, hypertension and TWO heart attacks. And most of this was before age 50. And guess what, while she is overweight, she was never the size that I was. My grandmother also died from complications of diabetes at age 57. My mother's youngest brother is also a brittle diabetic and on dialysis awaiting a SECOND kidney transplant and he's not yet 50. I was heading in the same direction and decided I needed to do something drastic to change my fate. So excuse me for taking "the easy way out" to save my own life and health, to spare my kids the fear of "waiting for the other shoe to drop" that I experienced growing up with a mom that was constantly in and out of the hospital.
Also, I wanted to lose weight before I become an NP. I just don't know how effective I could be at advising patients to lose weight or exercise or eat right when I was so heavy. So, I decided to help myself before I try to help someone else.
Anyway, sorry for the long post. Rant Over!
Hello fellow March RNY peeps! I got a call on Valentine's day, and I will be having my surgery at 8:30 in the morning on the 5th of March!! YAY!! I am so excited!! Can't wait to chat with other Marchers and share our experiences!!
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