carrielee

That is my reality if I don’t go through with surgery. Doctors are saying without it I probably won’t see 40. My mom died of multi system organ failure due to co morbid conditions and severe obesity at 50 and it was such a devastating thing to witness. I don’t want that to be my reality. But if I don’t get the weight off, it will be and I’ve tried for years without surgery and been unsuccessful (I’ve been obese since I was a young child).

I’m basically bed ridden at this point due to all my conditions, constantly in pain, exhausted, get winded walking a few feet…I’m not living, just existing.

That is my reality if I don’t go through with surgery. Doctors are saying without it I probably won’t see 40. My mom died of multi system organ failure due to co morbid conditions and severe obesity at 50 and it was such a devastating thing to witness. I don’t want that to be my reality. But if I don’t get the weight off, it will be and I’ve tried for years without surgery and been unsuccessful (I’ve been obese since I was a young child).

I’m basically bed ridden at this point due to all my conditions, constantly in pain, exhausted, get winded walking a few feet…I’m not living, just existing.

So, I’ve posted in this group before about being uncertain about Bariatric surgery but knowing it’s a tool to literally save my life. I had an initial appointment booked with surgeon Dr. David Brandon Williams at Vanderbilt (where all my specialists are), but canceled it again (5th cancellation).
Well I’m back in the medical hospital again with erratic blood pressure, severe headaches due to my IIH, and off and on chest pain and today the internal medicine doctor seeing me point blank said “you’ve got to get this weight off you or you may not survive the full life you want to live. This weight is killing you”.
So I’ve rebooked the appointment and it’s on 9/18. I’ve got to do it, no matter what.
I’m almost 33, 5’1” 271 pounds, BMI of 51.2, (I’ve gained about 5 pounds in 2 weeks).
My current co morbid conditions are Right Heart Strain/Heart Failure (just diagnosed), labile hypertension, severely high cholesterol and triglycerides, fatty liver disease, Type II Diabetes that is not well controlled, past history of PE, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, widespread arthritis, frequent shortness of breath, sleep Apnea, PCOS.
My mom died at 50 of a massive heart attack and lung failure, maternal grandfather passed at 76 of a massive heart attack. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension run rampant in my family.
I don’t want to be next in the line of deaths in my family due to weight related conditions. So I’m finally ready to start this.

Having weight loss surgery is a big deal and not to be entered into lightly. Most people have to get to a point when this is the last resort. You know a light bulb moment. From what you have mentioned this has been it for you. Sounds like if you dont deal with this then this will deal with you.
It is not a magic bullet that will solve everything you will still have issues but they will hopefully be easier to manage. I have arthritis in my lower back and ankles. They no longer give me pain. I have diabetes but now I dont need to take insulin or any other medication to deal with blood sugar levels though I still check my blood sugar levels. I am not on any blood pressure tablets any more.
I dont break out in a sweat after having a shower. I can look after myself more easily and dont having a coronary while cleaning the house. It really is a huge struggle with a BMI of 51. I can go for a walk and enjoy it. Life is hard enough without the extra weight.
Be kind to yourself and your body. You can do this.

You can do this!! I know it is scary. But weight is not worth dying over... I keep reminding myself that with the horror stories I've read about surgery, there are tenfold that never get told about obesity co-morbidities killing people. It is worth trading medications for Vitamins. It is worth trading co-morbidities with some POSSIBLE side effects. It is worth trading physical dysfunction for wellness. Living like this is a life half lived and that is not something I want for myself or anyone else. So I will do the hard thing! I have done hard things before in the name of a well lived life. This will just be another on the list. People very, very rarely regret this surgery. The odds are overwhelmingly in our favor... Your life is worth doing scary things and being rewarded with health! ❤️

I feel like I could have written this myself! I'm 34, 5'0, 230, surgery date is 8/15. My IIH is causing me to go blind. I have to do this. Best of luck with your surgery!

So, I’ve posted in this group before about being uncertain about Bariatric surgery but knowing it’s a tool to literally save my life. I had an initial appointment booked with surgeon Dr. David Brandon Williams at Vanderbilt (where all my specialists are), but canceled it again (5th cancellation).
Well I’m back in the medical hospital again with erratic blood pressure, severe headaches due to my IIH, and off and on chest pain and today the internal medicine doctor seeing me point blank said “you’ve got to get this weight off you or you may not survive the full life you want to live. This weight is killing you”.
So I’ve rebooked the appointment and it’s on 9/18. I’ve got to do it, no matter what.
I’m almost 33, 5’1” 271 pounds, BMI of 51.2, (I’ve gained about 5 pounds in 2 weeks).
My current co morbid conditions are Right Heart Strain/Heart Failure (just diagnosed), labile hypertension, severely high cholesterol and triglycerides, fatty liver disease, Type II Diabetes that is not well controlled, past history of PE, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, widespread arthritis, frequent shortness of breath, sleep Apnea, PCOS.
My mom died at 50 of a massive heart attack and lung failure, maternal grandfather passed at 76 of a massive heart attack. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension run rampant in my family.
I don’t want to be next in the line of deaths in my family due to weight related conditions. So I’m finally ready to start this.

So, I’ve posted in this group before about being uncertain about Bariatric surgery but knowing it’s a tool to literally save my life. I had an initial appointment booked with surgeon Dr. David Brandon Williams at Vanderbilt (where all my specialists are), but canceled it again (5th cancellation).
Well I’m back in the medical hospital again with erratic blood pressure, severe headaches due to my IIH, and off and on chest pain and today the internal medicine doctor seeing me point blank said “you’ve got to get this weight off you or you may not survive the full life you want to live. This weight is killing you”.
So I’ve rebooked the appointment and it’s on 9/18. I’ve got to do it, no matter what.
I’m almost 33, 5’1” 271 pounds, BMI of 51.2, (I’ve gained about 5 pounds in 2 weeks).
My current co morbid conditions are Right Heart Strain/Heart Failure (just diagnosed), labile hypertension, severely high cholesterol and triglycerides, fatty liver disease, Type II Diabetes that is not well controlled, past history of PE, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, widespread arthritis, frequent shortness of breath, sleep Apnea, PCOS.
My mom died at 50 of a massive heart attack and lung failure, maternal grandfather passed at 76 of a massive heart attack. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension run rampant in my family.
I don’t want to be next in the line of deaths in my family due to weight related conditions. So I’m finally ready to start this.

Hi all,

my name is Carrielee. I’m 32, from TN. I’ve been overweight/obese since childhood and the weight keeps piling on as well as the co-morbid diagnoses. I was finally referred to Bariatric surgery earlier this year after an Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension diagnosis and just finally scheduled my initial consult. I’m scared and anxious and overwhelmed and questioning things but also don’t want to die early and that’s where I’m headed with things as they are so it’s time for a change. At 5’1”, I currently weigh 298 pounds, putting me at a BMI of 56.3.

I currently have Hypertension refractory to medications, Type II Diabetes, angina, high cholesterol and triglycerides, sleep apnea, arthritis in most joints, past history of pulmonary embolism, IIH, fatty liver disease, tachycardia. I’m on a fast track to early death due to obesity like my mom and grandfather faced and that isn’t what I want my reality to be.

i considered it about a year ago and started the process for surgery to happen, but backed out, gained more weight and lost more health. I’m literally eating myself to death and it’s not what I want for myself.

No afters yet. Here are my before, my Day 1 of my journey (taken yesterday) pics at 278 pounds and a 54.3 BMI. First appointment with my WLS is on the 25th

Hi friends, I was in this group, then I left it. I had my initial appointments scheduled with my surgeon, the dietician and my psych eval, had cleared things with insurance, then got really cold feet and decided I wasn’t going through with it. Well this past week I had another new weight related health diagnosis that shouldn’t be something a 31 year old should be diagnosed with, my weight is still climbing, got told by two different doctors they won’t treat my pain because it’s my weight causing the pain, so I’ve emailed my coordinator at Dr. Houston’s office and plan on calling Monday to get appointments back on the schedule.

I guess I just need some reassurance that it’s ok to go back and forth with commitment in the beginning?

Initial appointments today!

Meeting with my Bariatric surgeon at 10:30 am, appointments with the dietician and exercise specialist after!!!!

I’m so anxious, excited, nervous.

Ready to do this, been waiting a long time.

The health issues have piled on as of late and my weight keeps climbing.

Starting weight today of 284.2 pounds, height 5’1” and BMI 53.7.

Initial appointments today!

Meeting with my Bariatric surgeon at 10:30 am, appointments with the dietician and exercise specialist after!!!!

I’m so anxious, excited, nervous.

Ready to do this, been waiting a long time.

The health issues have piled on as of late and my weight keeps climbing.

Starting weight today of 284.2 pounds, height 5’1” and BMI 53.7.

Question for those who struggled with type II diabetes prior to their WLS...if you don’t mind me asking, what were your sugars running prior to WLS, (and how long had you been a diagnosed T2, what were you doing to treat it before) and what are your sugars now? Are you able to come off diabetic meds post surgery?

I’ve had D2 for about a year and a half and my A1C keeps climbing, as does my dose of metformin. Despite that, my sugars hang out in the 150s-180s consistently and my body is in an a acidiotic state more and more often...

Well, I unfortunately tested positive for Covid on May 8, so my initial appointments got pushed back. I now see the bariatric nutrionist for the first time on May 29, and the surgeon in June 2. I’m eager for the appointments but know I need to get through this rough patch first!

Initial appointments today!

Meeting with my Bariatric surgeon at 10:30 am, appointments with the dietician and exercise specialist after!!!!

I’m so anxious, excited, nervous.

Ready to do this, been waiting a long time.

The health issues have piled on as of late and my weight keeps climbing.

Starting weight today of 284.2 pounds, height 5’1” and BMI 53.7.

Initial appointments today!

Meeting with my Bariatric surgeon at 10:30 am, appointments with the dietician and exercise specialist after!!!!

I’m so anxious, excited, nervous.

Ready to do this, been waiting a long time.

The health issues have piled on as of late and my weight keeps climbing.

Starting weight today of 284.2 pounds, height 5’1” and BMI 53.7.

I'm not sure, but a bariatric surgeon may require your heart to be healthier before clearing you for surgery.

Wow. I don’t understand much of that but it doesn’t sound fun. I am glad you have your consult Monday. For most of us insurance requires 6 months of a physician monitored diet before they approve the surgery but it goes by faster than you think.

Congratulations on starting your journey. Lizonaplane has a great suggestion. From my experience They don’t mind taking time to answer your questions at all But they don’t want to hang around if they think your done either so if you have a list it’s easier to make sure you don’t forget anything. Most likely you do have to do the monthly visits for several months so you will still get more chances to ask questions but after the initial visit you may see the NP until closer to surgery day. My NP was extremely knowledgeable and easier to talk to so I didn’t mind that at all. She answered all my questions and I had a lot. Lol

Make sure to write down a list of questions to ask. It's so easy to forget things you want to discuss when you get there - often the surgeon/team is rushed and you want to be sure you have the information you need!

Congratulations.

After waiting for what seemed like forever, more weight gain, and health scared due to my weight, I finally officially have my initial consults with my Bariatric surgeon team on Monday!!!!

What a journey it has been lately.

I’ve gained nearly ten pounds in two weeks...slowly creeping up to a number I fear. At 5’1” I’m now 272 pounds, BMI 52.4.

I originally was diagnosed with multiple right upper lobe PEs on 4/16. I was not originally admitted, just sent home on Xarelto.

Fast forward to last week, I was admitted for a few days on the cardiology floor for a work up due to a return of symptoms.

No new clots, but was diagnosed with Right Ventricle enlargement and Pulmonary Hypertension via a right heart cath.

Got discharged, saw pulmonology yesterday, did a walk test, scheduled to come back for PFTs.

Last night was feeling worse, high Hr and BP, severe headache, re admitted. Had some basic labs and tests today, they felt comfortable discharging me.

Got home an hour ago, started feeling short of breath, dizzy, nauseous again.

Checked BP and it’s really high. Going to rest a bit and re check.

Don’t want to end up back in the hospital. So exhausted...sick of my weight slowly killing me.

I have my initial consults with my Bariatric Surgeon, nutritionist and exercise specialist on Monday (it just got scheduled today) so there’s the beginning of a light, but I’m exhausted.

Please pray my BP comes down and I don’t end up back at the hospital.

What a journey it has been lately.

I’ve gained nearly ten pounds in two weeks...slowly creeping up to a number I fear. At 5’1” I’m now 272 pounds, BMI 52.4.

I originally was diagnosed with multiple right upper lobe PEs on 4/16. I was not originally admitted, just sent home on Xarelto.

Fast forward to last week, I was admitted for a few days on the cardiology floor for a work up due to a return of symptoms.

No new clots, but was diagnosed with Right Ventricle enlargement and Pulmonary Hypertension via a right heart cath.

Got discharged, saw pulmonology yesterday, did a walk test, scheduled to come back for PFTs.

Last night was feeling worse, high Hr and BP, severe headache, re admitted. Had some basic labs and tests today, they felt comfortable discharging me.

Got home an hour ago, started feeling short of breath, dizzy, nauseous again.

Checked BP and it’s really high. Going to rest a bit and re check.

Don’t want to end up back in the hospital. So exhausted...sick of my weight slowly killing me.

I have my initial consults with my Bariatric Surgeon, nutritionist and exercise specialist on Monday (it just got scheduled today) so there’s the beginning of a light, but I’m exhausted.

Please pray my BP comes down and I don’t end up back at the hospital.