Lisa Ducharme

Hello, My name is Lisa and I am 31 and now faced with the decision I need the Weight Loss Surgery. I can't do lap-band because my body doesn't tolerate foreign substances. I weigh 300 pounds and I know for the last three years I have stayed at this weight range. I have tried Weight Watchers...etc...personal training you name it. Right now I have to see my Primary Care doctor to get the approval from my Insurance to go for it. It will be a long journey before the actual surgery and after. With my insurance I have to do a Psychological Assessment and nutrition and fitness with the hospital doctor for six months before being even approved for the surgery. What if I lose a lot of weight in the six month dieting? I don't understand that part? Not like I have lost a lot of weight before. Or what if I keep yo-yoing? I'm confused about the six month dieting and exercising before surgery. Thanks for any information you can give me, Lisa

I have read on some sites that bariatric surgery won't be done on somebody with a serious mental illness in which I have. I am confused, I am not incompetent or incoherent I can make my own rational decision. Somebody please let me know thank you

My sad devestaion with Weight! Many happy moment that I can recall surrounded my weight; such as meeting the love of my life that makes me happy and many other solid blissful memories. The saddest moment were that I couldn't enjoy the simple things in life due to weight restrictions. People avoided my line at grocery stores because they couldn't manuevere around me. I got a lot of stares and nasty comments through the years! As I hardened myself to the negativity I put up a barricade. I figured I could brush off the remarks on my size and stay comfortable where I am at. Then it dawned on me, I have stomach pain that presses on internal organs and bladder. My knees are not as strong and I can't wear rings because my fingers are so puffed up! I then realized how it was taking a toll on my family, how sad my family was for me. I would raid the refrigerator at night and touch food that was being saved for a different meal. I was hiding food in my drawers and storing it like a rat with cheese. I wasn't helping anybody and most important myself. I had to let the walls come crumbling down and expose the vulnerability that I can't hide the truth from the mirror or the clothing that fits snug. We can lie to ourseleves until we are downright blue in the face about why we don't need to make a needed change, when in reality the more harm those lies bring the further we get from achieving true success and goals we made to attain! I was once a Thin child to a thin young woman, I wasn't truly happy. I relayed the information in my brain that when I was thin I had low self-esteem so what is great about being thin anyway? All I have known is the fat has brought me much needed happiness and more of an appreciation and understanding of others called empathy! The last remark I recieved was yesterday at the mall while I was waiting for Lee to drive from the parking lot to pick me up since it was 111 degrees outside and I couldn't walk all the way down in sandals. This younger man and his son whom looked about six years of age took one glance at me. Then came the dreadful words the man uttered. "Hey Son look at the size of that girl's behind." I snapped and told him off realzing I did what he wanted he got a reaction out of me. So he laughed and walked inside. I then started to cry in Lee's car and in between sobs Lee consoled me. The strong interior for such comments had deteriorated and I felt so human for weeping like a child being cradled in Lee's arms. So many times I had my hands on a plate of glass window looking in from the outside, to the beach bikini bodies and athletic toned stomachs. Even regular sized clothing and the sales-clerks telling me I didn't belong in that section. I felt like a deformed outkast in society. Sometimes I wanted to fade, other times I wanted to die. Just simply die! I wouldn't hurt myself I just wanted God to take me, so I wouldn't have to live another day in this jail cell of a body! As I picked up the pieces of the scattered jigsaw puzzle I began to unravel clues and hints that nothing brings happiness to you, you bring it to yourself. Happy comes in all shapes and sizes and all kinds of faces. If I wanted a better qaulity of life I would need to make a drastic change. This didn't come out of the blue I have had a decade of trying every diet. I have had some doctors tell me nobody would do Bariatric Surgery on me because of my mental illness. The same went for Hysterectomy but I came out fine after that, in fact the Hysterectomy improved my moods. My parents who never supported or entertained the idea of Bariatric Surgery were now pleading with me if I wanted to save my life, I needed it to be done. They were right...so now my story is a work in progress. More to come and more hope always!

Hello, My name is Lisa and I am 31 and now faced with the decision I need the Weight Loss Surgery. I can't do lap-band because my body doesn't tolerate foreign substances. I weigh 300 pounds and I know for the last three years I have stayed at this weight range. I have tried Weight Watchers...etc...personal training you name it. Right now I have to see my Primary Care doctor to get the approval from my Insurance to go for it. It will be a long journey before the actual surgery and after. With my insurance I have to do a Psychological Assessment and nutrition and fitness with the hospital doctor for six months before being even approved for the surgery. What if I lose a lot of weight in the six month dieting? I don't understand that part? Not like I have lost a lot of weight before. Or what if I keep yo-yoing? I'm confused about the six month dieting and exercising before surgery. Thanks for any information you can give me, Lisa

Hi, I know this should be the last of my worries but it plagues me. How soon after the Gastric Sleeve were you able to work out? Did you get much lose skin? What did you do afterwards and how much did it cost to get the skin removed? Thank you, Lisa

I remember reading this article Jillian Michaels wrote. She said to dig down to the deep rooted issues of why you want to lose weight and what healthy means to you, not just for healthy? I know Healthy for me is so many things, getting off my cholesterol medication and metformin for pre-diabetes and PCOS and metabolic syndrome. It's seeing my toes, it's the ability to walk up the street without getting out of breath...etc.. I made a list: 1. Not seeing the doctor so much! 2. Being able to wear what I want in a normal size! 3. A better quality of life where I know I will live a longer life! 4. Getting off medications I don't need! 5. Squeezing into tight spaces! 6. Not taking up much room in general! 7. Not minding having my Photograph taken! 8. Consuming food that is nourishing! 9. Riding on an airplane! 10. Looking into the mirror and knowing I did it!!! Those are my top ten...what are yours? Lisa

My parents after the whole procedure is done and I get down to my goal weight of 155 are throwing me a Weight Loss Party!! I think that's a nice incentive as well to lose the weight! I never really thought about a Weight loss party to be honest with you and what it entails. Has anybody done this before? I know the party wouldn't be surrounded by food. LOL I know what I want to wear which is a Little Black Dress to the party and have a Before and After photo up of me and the pounds I lost! I also want it Butterfly themed. Because of the metamorphosis of coming out of the cocoon. Any other ideas??? Lisa

Hey thanks for the responses! I will definitely take your guys advice and check out those books. I will be sticking around here for a long time. This is a great place of support and people understand. My parents are now behind me 100% before they worried but now they know I have no choice this truly is the last resort. Other people just think I'm taking the 'easy way out.' Really there is no easy way out because no matter what you work hard to lose the weight. *hugs screen* You all are stuck with me! LOL Lisa

Hey it's on my 32nd Birthday all of your surgeries!! Good luck! I will be thinking of you on that day! Lisa

Thank you for your response, I hope to lose as much before surgery also to retrain my mind on food. I have had bad eating habits forever. I am seriously considering the Gastric Sleeve. I will go and update my profile now. Lisa