Another Georgia Girl

kathystrick · October 15, 2007

Hi everyone. New here and been lurking around, reading posts and gathering information. Thought it was about time to come out of hiding. :embarassed: I am 37 y/o, 5'10", and about 315. The biggest I have been when I have actually weighed myself was 343, but by clothing size, I know I have been bigger than that. I have always been heavy, but really packed on the pounds about 5 years ago when I had to go on a series of birth control pills for PCOS problems. I gained over 50 pounds in 3 months and it has never come off. That put me over the 300 pound mark and no amount of diet or exercise has been able to get me back below that. :cry I am an emotional eater, something I know I will have to work on if the surgery is going to be a successful tool for me.

I am scared by the idea of the surgery, but I don't really understand what it is I am afraid of. I know a couple of people who have had various wls, lost a lot of weight and promptly put it back on. I know a couple who have had major complications from the surgery (one is in the hospital right now) and their overall health has suffered because of it. Maybe I am just afraid of being one of those statistics we all hear about.

I am new to the Atlanta area, Alpharetta actually. We relocated here from SC about 3 months ago for my husbands job. I like it so far, but it would be much nicer if I could find a job, another thing I am attributing having difficulty doing because of my weight.

Sorry to be so long winded. If there is anything else anyone would like to know, feel free to ask! Looking forward to getting to know all of you...

Kathy

sghatl · October 15, 2007

Hi Kathy. My name is Shirley and I live in Lilburn. Who is doing your surgery? I am having mine done by Dr. Scott Steinbert at DeKalb Medical Center.

abckids · October 15, 2007

Hi Kathy,

I am down south from you - near Dublin... had my surgery in Albany - glad you came out of lurkersville to join the party... LOL

Amy

Boo Boo Kitty · October 15, 2007

Hi everyone. New here and been lurking around, reading posts and gathering information. Thought it was about time to come out of hiding. :embarassed: I am 37 y/o, 5'10", and about 315. The biggest I have been when I have actually weighed myself was 343, but by clothing size, I know I have been bigger than that. I have always been heavy, but really packed on the pounds about 5 years ago when I had to go on a series of birth control pills for PCOS problems. I gained over 50 pounds in 3 months and it has never come off. That put me over the 300 pound mark and no amount of diet or exercise has been able to get me back below that. :cry I am an emotional eater, something I know I will have to work on if the surgery is going to be a successful tool for me.
I am scared by the idea of the surgery, but I don't really understand what it is I am afraid of. I know a couple of people who have had various wls, lost a lot of weight and promptly put it back on. I know a couple who have had major complications from the surgery (one is in the hospital right now) and their overall health has suffered because of it. Maybe I am just afraid of being one of those statistics we all hear about.

I am new to the Atlanta area, Alpharetta actually. We relocated here from SC about 3 months ago for my husbands job. I like it so far, but it would be much nicer if I could find a job, another thing I am attributing having difficulty doing because of my weight.

Sorry to be so long winded. If there is anything else anyone would like to know, feel free to ask! Looking forward to getting to know all of you...

Kathy

Hi Kathy,

welcome to LBT. You are me, just a bit smaller! I am 6'0" I was 320 pounds! I am doing great now and you will too soon! There aren't alot of major complications with the band at all. The RenY does have alot, but the band typically does not! I am not from Georgia, but I do love it there so welcome from a Nothern girl...(ya I admitted that....lol) BUT my heart belongs to North Carolina!

kathystrick · October 15, 2007

Hi Kathy. My name is Shirley and I live in Lilburn. Who is doing your surgery? I am having mine done by Dr. Scott Steinbert at DeKalb Medical Center.

I haven't even been to a consult yet Shirley! I'm chicken!! But my goal is to do that before 11/1 and I am going to DeKalb as well. Not too far from where I live. Do you go to any of their support meetings?

kathystrick · October 15, 2007

Hi Kathy,
welcome to LBT. You are me, just a bit smaller! I am 6'0" I was 320 pounds! I am doing great now and you will too soon! There aren't alot of major complications with the band at all. The RenY does have alot, but the band typically does not! I am not from Georgia, but I do love it there so welcome from a Nothern girl...(ya I admitted that....lol) BUT my heart belongs to North Carolina!

Hi Brandy! I was actually looking at your pics on another post of yours before I started this thread and admiring your success. I had never seriously considered WLS until I found out about the band because of fear of complications and regaining the weight. Hubby's ex-wife had RenY a little over a year ago and is already putting it back on. Hubby is from coastal NC, but we LOVE the mountains, so I am with ya there!!

Kathy

kathystrick · October 15, 2007

Hi Kathy,
I am down south from you - near Dublin... had my surgery in Albany - glad you came out of lurkersville to join the party... LOL

Amy

Thanks for the welcome Amy. You are seem to be doing well to have just had surgery!! Congratulations on that and good luck!!

Kathy

sghatl · October 16, 2007

I haven't gone to any of their support meetings yet but plan to after surgery. Right now I attend a support group with my Optifast diet at Emory.

buttercup76 · October 16, 2007

Hi Kathy. Welcome to the site and also welcome to GA. I am not too far from you. I live in Buckhead/Brookhaven area. This site is very informational and there are alot of great and supportive people on here. I was just approved by insurance on Friday, so next week, I start my pre-surgery testing. I will be banded at Emory by Dr. Edward Lin. Still trying to debate on whether i want to wait til December and enjoy my mother-in-laws great Thanksgiving feast or just take the first available date. You mentioned you were looking for a job, what do you do?

buttercup76 · October 16, 2007

Kathy,

by the way, I am Charise.

kathystrick · October 16, 2007

Hi Kathy. Welcome to the site and also welcome to GA. I am not too far from you. I live in Buckhead/Brookhaven area. This site is very informational and there are alot of great and supportive people on here. I was just approved by insurance on Friday, so next week, I start my pre-surgery testing. I will be banded at Emory by Dr. Edward Lin. Still trying to debate on whether i want to wait til December and enjoy my mother-in-laws great Thanksgiving feast or just take the first available date. You mentioned you were looking for a job, what do you do?

Hi Charise! I know where Buckhead is! :Banane35: Not far at all! This site has provided some wonderful information and I am really enjoying all of the great people here. I have Anthem BCBS through my husband's work and from what I have read here and on other sites, it's pretty easy to get approved by them if your BMI is over 40, which mine is. I hope that is the case. Now I just have to take that first step and get the ball rolling. I wish I weren't such a chicken!!:rolleyes I do clerical/secretarial work. I have been on countless interviews in the past 2 months and honestly the discrimination I have felt because of my size is one of the reasons I have begun seriously considering the surgery. I have always tried to "lie" to myself and think that because I am so tall and just big, that I could carry 300+ pounds and no one would notice. Ha! Then I started going to interviews around here where everyone else in the office is in their 20's and looks like they just stepped off of tv. Talk about a reality check! Anyway, thanks for the welcome and it's nice to meet you. Look forward to chatting more!

Kathy