Okay, so no one knows this, but on August 30, 2011 I had gastric bypass surgery. I didn't tell anyone that I was having the surgery, because of all the controversy surrounding it. I frankly just didn't want to listen to people, and to be honest, I didn't care what anyone else thought.
Just to begin, I did this by choice, but it was because I HAD NO CHOICE. What? That doesn't make sense you say. Oh but it does. I have been overweight most all of my life, and when I became severely ill in December 2009, I began to gain even more, and at a quick rate. Every single time that I went to the doctor, they found something new wrong and added a new medication. I became diabetic, developed high blood pressure (stroke level high, even on meds) and high cholesterol. I have arthritis, muscle atrophy, among other things, and I was on the high risk list for stroke, among other issues. After the 2nd med for diabetes was added, and the 3rd for high blood pressure, I became VERY scared, and wanted a way to change it. I have always been an active person, and very healthy other than being overweight, and I was not an over eater. I got yelled at all the time, because I didn't eat enough. Bottom line is, that I was slowly dying, while my husband and kids watched, so I had to make a choice. Lay down and die, or do something, and I chose to do something.
I began to look into the RNY, and went to a meeting with the surgeon, and my journey began. My surgeon, John Huse in Carmel at St. Vincent, was amazing! He told me that I was an excellent candidate for gastric bypass, and that this surgery could save my life. I was in! In March of 2009 I decided it was time to start living again, so I began the process to get surgery scheduled. I had to collect information from all of my doctors in re to my health, continue to see a dietician, and get a psychological evaluation. I knew I would be fine in all regards, except when it came to the psych eval. Not worried because Im crazy, but worried, because let's face it, we all have skeletons and I was terrified that some of my previous emotional baggage would throw me out of the chance to save my life. However, after 4 LONG months, I had all requirements passed, and was finally able to schedule surgery.
I got the phone call in July that I was scheduled for August 30, 2011 @ 6am....I was excited and scared at the same time. I was so ready for my new life to begin, but so much bad has happened to me in the past few yearss, that I was always waiting for that one more bad thing to creep up. After many sleepless nights and stressful days, I had made it! It was the morning of my surgery. The 1st day of the rest of my life was finally here, and I was STOKED!!!!!
