My mother and father are over weight. They had 4 girls. 3 which were perfectly skinny and then there was me. I was always "solid" never a tiny kid.. Then I started to get sick. I was 12 that's when I had my first experience with Prednisone. I went from 130 pounds to 170+ in a few short months. It was traumatizing. I got made fun of so bad in school that I got home schooled. When I was 12 I remember asking my mom about gastric bypass surgery. She explained to me I'd never be big enough to get it. I had hope at one point or another in my life. I've dieted numerous times I've walked. Did the gym. I've binged I've grazed. I've did it all. Now that I'm 24 and 252 pounds from prednisone I know it's time to make a change. My heart is the ONLY organ in my body that lupus hasn't attacked. And I know when it does I want to be healthy enough to beat it. I've been going through the gastric bypass (sleeve) pre op apps since May and hopefully by mid July I'll have my sleeve. I understand that this isn't the answer. That this is probably going to be more work having it to lose weight rather than not having it. (Reminding yourself to eat, etc) but I'm ready for it all. I always get "you're too young for wls just do it yourself" don't you think if I could do it myself I would have? Don't you think I'm sick of being a walking embarrassment? Having Lupus, colitis, aps, Cushings, sleep apnea and more isn't enough I have to again shorten my life by being so OBESE.

Highest weight - 316 Current weight - 252 Surgery goal - 249 Goal - 160-180

If only I had it done when I was SOOO much younger... ...my knees would probably not be bone on bone right now (replacement for 2015, I hope)... because you are younger, your skin will bounce back better, you will learn better eating habits that you will be able to follow for the rest of your life with the surgery as your tool.

Don't let other people sway you from what you think is best for YOU... rely on your surgeon and your own self...let people say what they will, with a "thank you for your concern", non commital response and move on! Do what you need to do NOW!

Good luck to you!

I have been in your shoes as well i got sick when i was 16 with lupus and had to take massive does of steroids for over a year like you i was always solid. after taking the steroids i gained about 100 pounds and i hurt so bad that i could not move. i was fat and miserable. People always told me that since i was young i could do it on my own and loose the weight and i tried everything from going to the gym all the time and not eating anything because i was afraid of gaining so much weight. I finally reached my breaking point when i weighed 314 pounds. i met with my lupus doctor and told her that i wanted weight loss surgery and the hugged me and thought that it was a great idea. the only two options that i was allowed to have was the sleeve or the lap band because the bypass would be to dangerous with my history of bleeding out. I was scared at first but finally had the surgery done and the 100 pounds i gained is almost gone my knees dont hurt anymore and the bursitis in my hip has finally started to feel much better. it is a hard road ahead of you but i think that you can do it. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you get your surgery done soon to that you can get to feeling better.

If only I had it done when I was SOOO much younger... ...my knees would probably not be bone on bone right now (replacement for 2015, I hope)... because you are younger, your skin will bounce back better, you will learn better eating habits that you will be able to follow for the rest of your life with the surgery as your tool. Don't let other people sway you from what you think is best for YOU... rely on your surgeon and your own self...let people say what they will, with a "thank you for your concern", non commital response and move on! Do what you need to do NOW! Good luck to you!

Thank you! I love how you said my skin will bounce back. I've been wondering about that! I guess I just feel older than I am because of the arthritis that comes with Lupus lol!

I have been in your shoes as well i got sick when i was 16 with lupus and had to take massive does of steroids for over a year like you i was always solid. after taking the steroids i gained about 100 pounds and i hurt so bad that i could not move. i was fat and miserable. People always told me that since i was young i could do it on my own and loose the weight and i tried everything from going to the gym all the time and not eating anything because i was afraid of gaining so much weight. I finally reached my breaking point when i weighed 314 pounds. i met with my lupus doctor and told her that i wanted weight loss surgery and the hugged me and thought that it was a great idea. the only two options that i was allowed to have was the sleeve or the lap band because the bypass would be to dangerous with my history of bleeding out. I was scared at first but finally had the surgery done and the 100 pounds i gained is almost gone my knees dont hurt anymore and the bursitis in my hip has finally started to feel much better. it is a hard road ahead of you but i think that you can do it. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you get your surgery done soon to that you can get to feeling better.

So nice to see some of the lupus community on here. I'm so glad you're doing well. This gives me tremendous hope

You're making a great life choice by doing this, don't worry about what others have to say. I'm a year younger than you, gained weight from medicine also, and had been trying for years to lose it on my own, or at the very least maintain. I'm now two weeks out from getting the sleeve and feel awesome. I too was concerned about how young I was but the more people I've met and have spoken to, the more I realize how much more I would've regretted waiting to do it. Best of luck! There's no time better than now.