First Blog Post...only 2 months late!

Hello everyone!  Forgive me if I'm awkward-this whole "blogging" thing is new to me.  :-)  I've created this blog to journal about a journey in my life that I began 2 months ago, in July.  My sweet hubby, Travis suggested that I begin a blog so that at the end of my journey, I can look back and see where I've been, as well as share my journey with dear family and friends. 

I have decided to undergo weight-loss surgery.  Some of you may remember my skinny days.  Some of you may remember the days when I was energetic, vibrant and full of life.  I remember them too.  I haven't seen those days for quite a while, but I remember them fondly.  For the past 16 years, I have gained more and more weight...year, after year, after year. And yes, I have tried just about every diet there is.  A few years ago, I paid a visit to a doctor for a sinus infection.  Of course, at every doctor's appointment, you are required to weigh-in.  So I did....and for the first time in my life, I was classified into a group that I never imagined I would be in.  I was classifed as "Morbidly Obese".  Morbidly Obese means that your health and your life are in immediate danger-simply because of your weight.   I was crushed..devastated.  I kept thinking, "My God, how did this happen?  How did I get here?"  Anyway, that was a few years ago.  Since then, I have attempted dieting again-with no results, other than to regain the few pounds that I lost plus some.  This is what has brought me to the beginning of this journey.  For the sake of my life, for the woman I know I can be, and for the sake of  my husband, my family and my friends, I have finally reached out for help. 

Like I said, I actually began this journey in July.  After a lot of talking, thinking and praying about this with Travis, I attended the information session and orientation at Mission Hospital's Bariatric Center.  Since then, I have attended a barrage of doctor's appointments, gone through a psychiatric consult, bloodwork, meetings with dieticians, a sleep study, nutrition classes, you name it.  THANKS BE TO GOD that as of now, there appears to be nothing wrong with me related to my weight.  No high blood pressure, no diabetes, no high cholesterol, no sleep apnea...NOTHING.  The absence of what are referred to as "co-morbidites" do not change my decision.  If something is not done about my weight, these health issues are out there waiting for me.  It's not a matter of if, it's when. 

I had originally decided to pursue the Lap-Band form of weight-loss surgery.  Basically a band would be placed around my stomach, making it smaller.  The band could be adjusted with injections/withdrawals of saline to either increase or reduce the restriction around my stomach, controlling how much I could eat. 
However, after meeting the doctor and the dietician, they have suggested to me that for various reasons, the Lap-Band is not a good option for me.  They have asked me to consider Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery.  In the beginning, I was dead set against Bypass.  I have now done a whole lot more research, and have talked to people I know personally who have had Bypass.  I can tell you this:  Gastric Bypass is not nearly as scary and horrible as the media has made it out to be.  Like any surgery, yes, there are people who suffer complications from it..and they tend to be vocal.  :-)  What I have found from my research is that the vast majority of those who suffer complications either 1) are suffering from other health issues prior to the surgery; or 2) are not following the food plan that the Bypass requires them to follow, and they have made themselves sick.  Being that I have no health issues, Gastric Bypass is very low-risk for me.  The surgery is laparoscopic, so I'm not going to be filleted or anything like that.  5-6 very tiny incisions which usually aren't visible after a few months.  I have attended a support group, which is required by the weight-loss program and have spoken with many bypass patients-who have been successful and are so happy that they made the decision to go foward with it.  Every single one of them started out wanting the Lap-Band, and changed their minds and did the Bypass instead.  Not a single regret in the group-I take that back...they all had one regret-that they hadn't done it sooner. 

I have to jump through many hoops to satisfy my insurance...all of the meetings, doctor's appointments, nutrition classes, etc., but if all goes well, I hope to have my surgery some time in November.  I have my next doctor's appointment this Monday, September 20th.  Within the next month or so, I will hopefully be able to finally meet my surgeon. 

Okay, so there's my first blog.  :-)  Sorry, it's a long one...I just wanted to give everyone a glimpse into my journey so far.  Lots of thoughts and prayers are certainly appreciated!  :-)  This has been an emotional journey, but an exciting one.  I'll keep the posts coming as the journey progresses.  Lots of Love to all of you.  Thanks for reading.