HI
My name is Helen. I was always underweight as a child and couldn't go over 110lbs as an adult UNTIL...I went to an endrocrinologist for my thryroid (family dr referral) and he wanted to do a radioactive iodine test! Problem was the hospital where the test was to be done called up every week and rescheduled until I was THREE months without my medication...cause you can't take your meds for a week before the test (or at least you couldn't back in the 80's). So I ballooned up 100 lbs and lost memory and the will to do anything...in short my metabolism just shut down! And the weight will not come off!
I lost 30 lbs on the south beach diet but the person who was buying the food for me...stopped buying it and since I am below poverty level and only get $34 a month is food stamps....I couldn't afford "special" food.
Nor can I afford the good cuts of meat, frozen vegetables or fresh fruit with any frequency. My diet consists of: Hamburger, Hot dogs, potatoes and pasta! Not good...I know!
However I figure AFTER the surgery...I can buy the good cuts of meat, fruits and veggies because I won't eat as much of them as I am now.
I also suffer from one arthritic knee...the other one was already replaced...that should be replaced it's so bad. Diabetes and high cholesterol. I lost my dad to "hardening of the arteries" that caused him to develop a clot that shot to the heart. And I lost a brother in 2007 from Diabetes and heart disease. I do not want to be like them!
I stand 5'1" and weight 221 lbs.
I also have a habit of binging (no purging!)...when there is good food around because I don't know when I will get a good meal again.
I am under NO illusions! I know I have to change my eating habits and also exercise AFTER the surgery. I know it won't be easy.
But dam mit...I have two beautiful grandsons (one who will be 4 in May and one who just turned 2 today) and I want to live long enough to see them married with children of their own...and at this rate that will NOT happen. I want to be able to play with them and take them to the park and not have to rest every 2 minutes cause I'm so fat I can't breathe!
I also have a wonderful great pyrnees puppy who loves to go on walks but I get tired long before he does. I want HIM to get tired before I do!
I'm tired of sticking myself with 3 needles a day! I want to get off the needles sooooo bad.
Anyway I am in the early stages of the journey. I went to the seminar the dr had and just had my family dr fill out the papers the surgeon needed him to do. I am faxing them tomorrow to the surgeon. I still have to see a nutritionist, get a psych evaluation, and attend a few support group session and above all GET APPROVAL.
I don't know if I'm going to have the lapband or the gastric bypass. I think the gastric bypass because my surgeon said that liquids and oils slide through the lapband really easy and then into the gut where they travel down 20' length of intesting with all the enzymes that allow you to absorb everything...the good and the bad stuff! While the gastic bypass takes out several feet of intestine so the food doesn't get absorbed as well.
And since I have a real problem with FATS...it doesn't sound feasible to have the lapband and then eat BUTTER or Margarine, salad dressing etc...go into the intestines and all get absorbed!
And yes I do know that I will have to change my eating patterns and I am fully prepared to do but I need some help and this surgery seems like it will help a lot.
Helen
Just joined and just beginning the journey. 
Denise
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