Ariatdadisco

This group has been amazing and supportive in the week or so since I've been a member but fate has dealt me the cruelest of ironies. My WLS consultation with a surgeon was scheduled for next Monday. I told you guys in my initial post that I have a history of DVT and PE. This dates back to 2011, one catastrophic event that nearly ended my life. I haven't had one since and have been off blood thinners for three and half years. Today, after being in severe pain and noticing swelling in my other leg (not the one I had the original clot in), I found out that I once again have blood clot. WLS will not be an option for the foreseeable future and I'm on an emotional tailspin. Thank you all for you encouragement since I joined this group.

Thanks so much

I wish you the best of luck!

Thank you. I appreciate you saying this.

Thank you

Hey everyone. I'm new here. I have a consultation with a surgeon on June 19th. I'm from NYC. I've had a consultation with this doctor before, over two and a half years ago. At the time, I was recommended the gastric sleeve. I'm 27, currently weigh 406lbs and this is just under the heaviest I've ever been. When I was 22, I had DVT (blood clot which started in my left leg) which lead to compartment syndrome, a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in my lung) and foot drop(a weakness/paralysis in my right foot which causes it to be positioned in a downward angle which affects my gait). I had to have four surgeries on my leg to prevent amputation and open heart surgery to break up the clot in my lung. At 24, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The reason I didn't go through with the surgery the first time was that I wasn't approved. You would think after everything I've been through I would have gotten it together back then but it's complicated because the physical issues I was dealing were constantly affected by mental health issues (another issue entirely but it is being treated) and vice versa. This is a photo of me shortly after scheduling my consultation. I don't take many photos of my body. But I hope that will change. Any words of advice, encouragement? I feel at peace with this decision but it would be nice to talk to others who have had it, even if they are strangers.

Thanks so much. I really appreciate it!!! I will definitely come to this app often.

Oh wow. Congrats to all your success! Thank you for your words of encouragement. The loose skin is the biggest thing I'm concerned about to be honest. I'm wondering what the recovery process for that is like.

I definitely will. You're welcome.

Thanks so much for your kind words and you're absolutely right. People were quick to offer up harsh criticisms but stingy with encouragement. I'm doing this for me and I'm happy to have found this community as well as having my supportive family.

Thanks so much. I feel the same way about it being my time to shine. I wanted to focus on my health so I can go back to college and finish my degree. My health was the biggest obstacle.

It's a shame people are so judgmental about it. They want you to lose the weight but they're so puritanical about what they consider the "right way". There's also nothing lazy involved when it comes to surgery. There's a lot of work involved before, during and after in order for you to be successful and keep the weight off. The surgery is hardly a quick fix! Those who treat it as such and don't make the necessary changes to their lifestyle don't lose as much weight or they gain it back! I'm glad you're moving forward and I'm happy that you have your aunt to lean on during all this.

It's very scary when your health is in jeopardy and you have to make a life changing decision to improve the quality of it. I'm sorry you don't have the support of your mom. I'm sure that's very difficult. I've been mentioning the idea for surgery for years but my parents I think were scared and always said "I could do it on my own". But after everything I've gone through these last few years, when I told them about the consultation, they completely understood why I was doing it and were very supportive and I was so relieved.

Thanks so much. Good luck to you as well.

Thanks so much! I'm definitely ready to change my whole. It's exactly what I need because the way my life has been has led me here. I've gotten to the point, after everything that I've gone through, that I know what's at risk and I'm so tired of living this way and I want it all to change.

I will definitely keep everyone posted. Thanks so much! Good luck! The 28th is my 28th birthday and brother's high school graduation so it's a special day for my family too.

Thank you! I kind of just look at this whole situation as me wanting to having as many years as possible and this is a step in the right direction. The past almost 6 years have been constant doctor visits and this will continue, but it will be me taking control back. Losing the weight will help with all the other medical issues I've been dealing with. Best years are yet to come.

Thank you! It definitely looks like this will be a good place for me.

I hope so too. I'm going to Mt. Sinai Hospital. It's the hospital I go to mostly everything for.

You are definitely right about that! I hope so too!!! It would be a great birthday present! It's my golden birthday this year. I'm turning 28 on the 28th