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My story and what led me to the Gastric Sleeve.

KarenKaye

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KarenKaye    16

KarenKaye
Posted

I am a married, 49 year old new mom. To a 12 year old. I never had a weight problem until I was in my 20's. I got into an abusive marriage that lasted for 5 long agonizing years. I was told I was fat ( I weighed 150 when we married), I was worthless and nobody else would ever want me. I had black eyes, bruised ribs and had a gun held to my head on several occasions. When you go through that, daily, you start to believe it. I gave up on myself. In those 5 years, I turned to food. It never let me down or disappointed me. I had gained 60 lbs by the time I got out of that marriage. Then I met my current husband. He is everything my ex was not. He was a little overweight but, hey, so was I. He never ridiculed me he was kind and supportive and loved me for me. So a couple of years later we married. Two years in we found out we couldn't have children. I was devastated. Once again I turned to food. That was 15 years ago. About 12 years ago we were both approved for gastric bypass surgery. Before we could get it scheduled, our insurance quit covering it. Fast forward to January, 2013. We get a phone call at about 3am that my little sister was gone. She'd had a massive heart attack. (It runs in the family). She was only 44 and was my very best friend in the whole world. She left behind a husband and a 10 year old son. The husband wasn't able to take care of her son due to his addictive nature and the state took over care of her son. My husband and got custody a year ago and just last month the adoption was final. So I finally became a mom. :) we couldn't be happier. He is such a blessing and an inspiration to us. Now it's time to get healthy so we can be here for him. On Tuesday July 14th both of us got the gastric sleeve. We are committed and dedicated to getting healthy and being here for our son. By the time I made it to surgery my BMI was 49. My husbands was 62. We have quite the journey ahead of us, but we're up for the challenge and like everything else for the past 17 years, we're doing it together.

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The Candidate    3,215

The Candidate
Posted

It sounds like you've had a very traumatic past and I'm so glad you've gotten a second chance at so many things, marriage, adoption, and now health. You have an incredible future ahead of you I'm sure!

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laura4923    137

laura4923
Posted

Wishing you all the best!!

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Nickyspencer    21

Nickyspencer
Posted

Karen....you are an inspiration to us all...you doing it girl!!! Keep up the good work and we will be praying for both of you!!

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RaginCajun    177

RaginCajun
Posted

Past abusive ex will get his due. Karma works like that.

That you are on this journey and will be successful after all he did to you, proves he is a coward and you are brave.

-RC-

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jane13    2,256

jane13
Posted

@@KarenKaye - teamwork and love will win! You guys "got this" -

what a great story to hear (sad, losing your sister) but still its nice to hear REAL life stories of people overcoming the odds.

Congrats to all three of you!

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Go To Topic Listing Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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