Hi everyone

cherish_mj · 12-30-2006, 03:45 AM

Hello everyone,
I just wanted to introduce myself as a newbie here. My name is Cherish and I just found this sight on a web search on WLS. My doctor recommended surgery to me almost a year ago, but wanted to wait a few months before grasping that option to see if I could loose weight with prescribed medications and diet, etc. (I was also not sure if I was comfortable with surgery at that time). I did loose a small amount of weight since then but not really enough to make any difference to combat health issues. I am now going to meet with my doctor Jan. 8th for a regular check up and am going to discuss with her the option of surgery yet again and express to her that I finally agree that it is a good decision.

I am only 23 years old and 300+ pounds and have many health conditions including hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes (insulin dependant), fatty liver disease, sleep apnea and Polycystic Ovary Disorder (PCOS, which makes it SO much more difficult loosing weight). I have been overweight most of my life and most diets I have tried I have lost some weight but then frustratingly gained it back and then some. I have researched the risks and benefits of the surgery after my doctor initially suggested it, and can now definately see how the benefits would far outweigh the risks for me.

My ex-boyfriend's mother made the comment that with my health complications she does not believe I will live to see 30, she is not a doctor so by no means can offer medical advice, but I know that the path I am on IS greatly shortening my life. I know that surgery will help me to regain my health, regain my confidence, regain my normalicy, and regain my life. I am hoping that my doctor still recommends the surgery for me, and I am extremely greatful that I found this site amist my search for information about WLS, from the posts I have already read, I see how caring, supportive, and inspirational, everyone is, and it is so helpful to know that so much support can be found here during this journey. I look forward to getting to know all of you!

Cherish

DocSanae · 12-30-2006, 04:08 AM

Welcome to the board, Cherish, thank you for joining us.
I hope you'll feel at home here.

I can see that you have a couple of medical issues (hypothyroid and PCOS) that makes control of obesity difficult. The other issues should be improved greatly, some probably completely, with losing significant weight, but the first two will have to be continued to be treated, even with weightloss. I agree with your dr that it is imperative that you lose weight, whatever method, for your health and life expectancy. As medicine stands now, the most successful method is weightloss surgery in some form.
However, as you well know, the choice is yours from the beginning to the end, so it is very good that you are doing extensive research, and searching your soul if this is the right choice for you, since your life is going to be changed completely in so many aspects once you have gone under the knife.

Good luck in your search and research, may your journey go well.
((((((((HUGS)))))))

fr1endly2 · 12-30-2006, 06:44 AM

CHERISH! WELCOME to the boards!

I am so glad you found the board. PULL up a chair and read read read there is tons of great information on the board on the surgery. I am pcos and have been successful looseing with Weight loss surgery.
I am in fabulous health now and started my journey at a horrible
weight of 310 lbs. I am not down to 170ish depends on the day....sometimes lower sometimes higher.
KEEP in touch and good luck with discussing with your doctor at the upcomeing appointment!

I look forward to getting to know you thru your posts and do update us on your journey. We are all here for all your questions!
hugs

mike · 12-30-2006, 09:23 AM

Very sorry to hear about your health problems. It has to be hard for you trying to battle all of that, and still try to deal with the fact that you are just overweight. All of us have been there as well. You have come to the right place though for guidance and support. MMMAAAAANY wonderful people here to give you what you need. The journey of weightloss is for sure not an easy one, but with support and the want to, YOU WILL DO JUST GREAT! I KNOW IT! Hang in there kiddo, journey is just about to begin. GOOD LUCK TO YA! Keep us posted.

mike

Kat · 12-30-2006, 09:34 AM

Hi Cherish! Welcome and glad you found this spot. It sure has helped me with all kinds of support and information.
Having been overweight my whole life, (75# in kindergaten & 140 in 4th grade) I started at 365 in May '06. I just cleared the 100# mark recently. I too, had type 2. Within 3 weeks of the surgery, I was off all meds.
I hope all goes well for you in making your decision. It took me about 5 years to make up my mind. I wish I could have those 5 years back but I wasn't ready till I was ready. Looking forward, it is just unbelievable what is happening. After a lifetime of dieting, I had pretty much given up hope. The "real" me is coming out again-getting my life back. It is a wonderful feeling.
I hope all goes well for you and that you hang out on the site for any questions, concerns or support that you need. That's just a little bit of my story. Good luck and please feel free to send me a PM any time.

cherish_mj · 12-31-2006, 01:11 AM

(((hugs everyone))) and thank you so much for your responses!

DocSanea, thank you for your re-affirmation of some of the things that my doctor has told me before when she first mentioned the possibility of surgery, it is good to know that it still does sound like the best option medically. My health is definately my main concern, I have not seen many improvements at all over the last year or so, and it is so discouraging to go to the doctors and have her say that something has not been improving or to be diagnosed with yet another disorder. I do hope that the surgery can combat many of these health issues, and prevent more complications in the future. After all, I am only 23, and should have so much more life to live, but with the way things are now with my health, I am afraid that the possibility of that is grim, I am definately for the surgery if it is going to improve my health and improve my life expectancy. Thanks again for all of your support and information!

Lisa, what can I say? You have been such an inspiration to me! I have read some of your posts and the story of your journey that was shared. You are such a brave and courageous woman, and you look absolutely amazing! WOW to you! Thanks so much for sharing with me!

Mike, thank you so much for your warm welcome. It is great to find such a place with so many helpful and caring people such as yourself to walk with on this journey. I look forward to getting to know you better.

Kat, hats off to you on all of your progress! Thank you so much for sharing part of your story with me. I understand about waiting to make the decision, sometimes I wonder if waiting a whole year to decide was too long, but as you said, it had to be in the right timing and I was not ready then. I think I needed all of the information and support that I have now to be ready to make such an important decision. I am so glad I have all of you to offer encouragement and to answer questions, as I am sure I will definately have more as the process continues. Thank you so much!

fr1endly2 · 12-31-2006, 06:48 AM

Awww no need to thank!I am here to be help
to anyone that i can!
GLAD you enjoy my posts!
We are here for any support you need
thru your journey and we welcome everyone.

hugs

12-30-2006, 03:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
cherish_mj Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4 Please Enter Height:	Hi everyone Hello everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself as a newbie here. My name is Cherish and I just found this sight on a web search on WLS. My doctor recommended surgery to me almost a year ago, but wanted to wait a few months before grasping that option to see if I could loose weight with prescribed medications and diet, etc. (I was also not sure if I was comfortable with surgery at that time). I did loose a small amount of weight since then but not really enough to make any difference to combat health issues. I am now going to meet with my doctor Jan. 8th for a regular check up and am going to discuss with her the option of surgery yet again and express to her that I finally agree that it is a good decision. I am only 23 years old and 300+ pounds and have many health conditions including hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes (insulin dependant), fatty liver disease, sleep apnea and Polycystic Ovary Disorder (PCOS, which makes it SO much more difficult loosing weight). I have been overweight most of my life and most diets I have tried I have lost some weight but then frustratingly gained it back and then some. I have researched the risks and benefits of the surgery after my doctor initially suggested it, and can now definately see how the benefits would far outweigh the risks for me. My ex-boyfriend's mother made the comment that with my health complications she does not believe I will live to see 30, she is not a doctor so by no means can offer medical advice, but I know that the path I am on IS greatly shortening my life. I know that surgery will help me to regain my health, regain my confidence, regain my normalicy, and regain my life. I am hoping that my doctor still recommends the surgery for me, and I am extremely greatful that I found this site amist my search for information about WLS, from the posts I have already read, I see how caring, supportive, and inspirational, everyone is, and it is so helpful to know that so much support can be found here during this journey. I look forward to getting to know all of you! Cherish

12-30-2006, 04:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
DocSanae Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 9,321 Blog Entries: 2 5' 5" Height:	Welcome to the board, Cherish, thank you for joining us. I hope you'll feel at home here. I can see that you have a couple of medical issues (hypothyroid and PCOS) that makes control of obesity difficult. The other issues should be improved greatly, some probably completely, with losing significant weight, but the first two will have to be continued to be treated, even with weightloss. I agree with your dr that it is imperative that you lose weight, whatever method, for your health and life expectancy. As medicine stands now, the most successful method is weightloss surgery in some form. However, as you well know, the choice is yours from the beginning to the end, so it is very good that you are doing extensive research, and searching your soul if this is the right choice for you, since your life is going to be changed completely in so many aspects once you have gone under the knife. Good luck in your search and research, may your journey go well. ((((((((HUGS))))))) __________________ "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun." Just a li'l bit 'bout myself

12-30-2006, 06:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
fr1endly2 Seasoned Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SOMEPLACE LONG ISLAND, NY Posts: 6,756 Weight Statistics June 1, 2005 Start Date: Please Enter Height: 310 lb Start Weight: 167 lb Current Weight: 159 lb Goal Weight: 143 lb Weight Loss: 8 lb Lb Left to Lose: 46.1290322581 % % Lost: Body Mass Index 51 BMI Start: 27 BMI Current: Weight Loss Method Roux en Y Gastric Bypass	CHERISH! WELCOME to the boards! I am so glad you found the board. PULL up a chair and read read read there is tons of great information on the board on the surgery. I am pcos and have been successful looseing with Weight loss surgery. I am in fabulous health now and started my journey at a horrible weight of 310 lbs. I am not down to 170ish depends on the day....sometimes lower sometimes higher. KEEP in touch and good luck with discussing with your doctor at the upcomeing appointment! I look forward to getting to know you thru your posts and do update us on your journey. We are all here for all your questions! hugs __________________ LISA http://w5.photobucket.com/widgets/dy...164/fr1endly2/ LAP RNY Gastric Bypass

12-30-2006, 09:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
mike WLS Master Guru Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: i live in wisconsin Posts: 582 5' 5" Height: 30 BMI Goal:	welcome cherish! Very sorry to hear about your health problems. It has to be hard for you trying to battle all of that, and still try to deal with the fact that you are just overweight. All of us have been there as well. You have come to the right place though for guidance and support. MMMAAAAANY wonderful people here to give you what you need. The journey of weightloss is for sure not an easy one, but with support and the want to, YOU WILL DO JUST GREAT! I KNOW IT! Hang in there kiddo, journey is just about to begin. GOOD LUCK TO YA! Keep us posted. mike

12-31-2006, 06:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
fr1endly2 Seasoned Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SOMEPLACE LONG ISLAND, NY Posts: 6,756 Weight Statistics June 1, 2005 Start Date: Please Enter Height: 310 lb Start Weight: 167 lb Current Weight: 159 lb Goal Weight: 143 lb Weight Loss: 8 lb Lb Left to Lose: 46.1290322581 % % Lost: Body Mass Index 51 BMI Start: 27 BMI Current: Weight Loss Method Roux en Y Gastric Bypass	Awww no need to thank!I am here to be help to anyone that i can! GLAD you enjoy my posts! We are here for any support you need thru your journey and we welcome everyone. hugs __________________ LISA http://w5.photobucket.com/widgets/dy...164/fr1endly2/ LAP RNY Gastric Bypass



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12-30-2006, 09:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kat Seasoned Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,038 5/17/06 Start Date: 5' 6" Height:	Hi Cherish! Welcome and glad you found this spot. It sure has helped me with all kinds of support and information. Having been overweight my whole life, (75# in kindergaten & 140 in 4th grade) I started at 365 in May '06. I just cleared the 100# mark recently. I too, had type 2. Within 3 weeks of the surgery, I was off all meds. I hope all goes well for you in making your decision. It took me about 5 years to make up my mind. I wish I could have those 5 years back but I wasn't ready till I was ready. Looking forward, it is just unbelievable what is happening. After a lifetime of dieting, I had pretty much given up hope. The "real" me is coming out again-getting my life back. It is a wonderful feeling. I hope all goes well for you and that you hang out on the site for any questions, concerns or support that you need. That's just a little bit of my story. Good luck and please feel free to send me a PM any time.

12-31-2006, 01:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
cherish_mj Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4 Please Enter Height:	(((hugs everyone))) and thank you so much for your responses! DocSanea, thank you for your re-affirmation of some of the things that my doctor has told me before when she first mentioned the possibility of surgery, it is good to know that it still does sound like the best option medically. My health is definately my main concern, I have not seen many improvements at all over the last year or so, and it is so discouraging to go to the doctors and have her say that something has not been improving or to be diagnosed with yet another disorder. I do hope that the surgery can combat many of these health issues, and prevent more complications in the future. After all, I am only 23, and should have so much more life to live, but with the way things are now with my health, I am afraid that the possibility of that is grim, I am definately for the surgery if it is going to improve my health and improve my life expectancy. Thanks again for all of your support and information! Lisa, what can I say? You have been such an inspiration to me! I have read some of your posts and the story of your journey that was shared. You are such a brave and courageous woman, and you look absolutely amazing! WOW to you! Thanks so much for sharing with me! Mike, thank you so much for your warm welcome. It is great to find such a place with so many helpful and caring people such as yourself to walk with on this journey. I look forward to getting to know you better. Kat, hats off to you on all of your progress! Thank you so much for sharing part of your story with me. I understand about waiting to make the decision, sometimes I wonder if waiting a whole year to decide was too long, but as you said, it had to be in the right timing and I was not ready then. I think I needed all of the information and support that I have now to be ready to make such an important decision. I am so glad I have all of you to offer encouragement and to answer questions, as I am sure I will definately have more as the process continues. Thank you so much!

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