Hello everyone! My name is Jennifer. I'm 34, almost 35, a wife, mother, and OB nurse. I have been overweight my entire life, and morbidly obese for as long as I can remember. I have tried pretty much everything, including spending thousands of dollars at the gym on a personal trainer. Don't get me wrong, the trainer was amazing, I lost weight. But I've gained everything back. My real issue is with my intake. I don't eat well, and I eat large portion sizes. Once upon a time, I viewed weight loss surgery as a cop out, the "easy way," and way too dangerous to even contemplate. I lost my mom 5 years ago, she died due to complications from obesity (Type II DM, HTN, COPD...). Due to my struggles with yo-yoing (though the most I'd ever lose is about 20-25 lbs) I started thinking about WLS a few months ago. At first I researched lap-band, thinking it was less invasive and could be removed if necessary. However, I later realized that due to complications, reoperative rate, and knowing that I shouldn't go into this with the attitude that something can be reversed, as this is a lifelong lifestyle change that needs to happen, I ended up researching the Gastric sleeve. It seems like the best option for me. I currently, luckily, do not have any comorbidities and am relatively healthy. I met with Dr. Josh Long at the Bariatric and Metabolic Center of Colorado here at Parker Adventist where I work. He and his staff have been amazing! I met with their Counselor, Dr. Long, and their nutritionist. I was cleared for the first phase, and now have to complete six months of hospital monitored classes, as required by my insurance to cover the surgery. My first class is tomorrow I'm hoping to be done and approved for surgery by July/August 2014. I'm not really that bummed that I have to wait 6 months, because this gives me a lot of time to prepare and get ready for what life will be like after surgery. I've already started making changes like trying to cut out carbonated drinks and slowly making the switch to decaf coffee. I need to get better at planning my meals and bringing Breakfast and lunch to work with me, rather than eating in our cafe. Baby steps. As for support, my husband is extremely supportive. We have been together for 17 years, and he is so happy that I'm doing whatever it takes to get healthy. He also realizes that as I make lifestyle changes, he will be forced to as well, which is something he's happy about. My best friend is also a huge support. I have slowly started telling my family that I plan to go through with surgery. My sister is nervous because I'm having surgery, but she's supportive of my decision. She actually told me that when I do have surgery she wants to fly out to Colorado to help my husband take care of me and our 4 year old. My grandparents were not "supportive" as I had suspected they wouldn't be. I know they are very nervous of the surgery, but beyond that, I'm not sure why they don't want me to have it done. My grandfather's response was "dont do it" and my grandmother's was "just make sure you do a lot of research!" LOL. Believe me, I have done A LOT of research. I wouldn't go into anything like this blind, and working in the medical field, I Iove to know how the whole process works. My mom had talked about getting bariatric surgery once, and my grandparents talked her out of it. Who knows, maybe if she had gone through with it, she would still be here today?! All I know is that I'm not getting any younger and I want to be healthy, and of course look better too! I want to be active and be able to play with my daughter rather than tire out quickly and have to sit and deny her play time. I want to go out not feeling self conscious about what other people think of me. So many reasons for having this surgery. I fully understand now that it is NOT an easy fix, and without serious lifelong changes, the surgery can fail. I'm ready to make those changes though, and I'm soooooo excited I have the opportunity to have this done!

I look forward to posting here more and learning from everyone. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading this crazy long post

Jenny

good luck on your journey... seems you are headed toward the "light"

Hi Jenny,

Welcome!

You sound like you have a great mind set and support system in place and that is priceless. I think some people's concern comes off as unsupportive and it is really just based on a lack of knowledge. Your grandparents love you and don't want anything to happen to you, which is understandable.

Best of luck throughout your pre-op. I also took the time before surgery to prepare myself and I feel I went in knowing what I needed to and being as prepared as I could.

I found the boards to be of the utmost help. So many wonderful people here.

Nice to have you!!

Welcome, Jenny!

Don't worry about being long winded, I can identify. As a public speaker I have enthralled many people into a drooling stupor with my seemingly endless verbosity.

Sounds like you've done your research and you are on your way. We are here for you, you are so welcome here!

Welcome Jenny,

I had the surgery because I HAD to. I had no co-morbidities BUT at 48 they weren't far off. My mother died from Type II diabeties, my maternal uncle died from Type I diabeties. My father died of congestive heart failure.

Now that I'm a little over month out--my energy level is so much higher AND I don't hurt everytime I move anymore!!!

Wishing you the best on your journey and I hope you have a routine surgery and easy recovery.

Kathleen

Hi Jenny! I'm also in Colorado (Denver) and hope to have surgery in April/May with Dr Brown at Prespytarian St Luke's. Love connecting with other Coloradans!

Hi jenny and welcome. Your story sounds like mine. Im 37 married with 3 kids. Ive tried everything and I mean everything to lose weight. I work out about an hour everyday and couldnt lose and keep it off. I have my last weigh in feb 11 and meeting with the surgeon that day. The 6 months actually go pretty fast. Gives u time to prepare for whats next. Good luck. And this site was a huge help for me. Read it often