Jaimieiola
Member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2014
- Messages
- 10
Hello lovely people,
Can I just say that for the last few hours I have been reading this site and all of the wonderfully supportive and informative posts from people. I'm posting this in this area as it mainly to do with my DS, but as I'm a complete newby to this forum I thought it rude to not give you all some background (if one of the lovely mods needs to move me, I apologise x)
If you would indulge me a little to let you know a bit more about me and my journey so far?
I am 36 years old and have struggled with being SSMO for most of my life (at my heaviest I was BMI 80 and over 500lbs). It's no fun at all. On the NHS I was waiting waiting (being told all the usual poop of "eat less, do more you'll lose weight!") I was approved for having a gastric balloon inserted before having an RNY, well after 7 cancelled appointments I was ready to kill myself. I quite simply did not want to be alive anymore. I saw no purpose for my life, I was a burden. Then my WONDERFUL parents paid for me to have a procedure done privately (at that point I had no idea what would be suggested).
I met with the most amazing surgeon (IMHO) in England, Mr. David Kerrigan - a long drive from one side of England to the other. I did my reaserch on the RNY and went to the appointment armed with all my work. He suggested something I'd never heard of.... A 2 part DS, as I was so big he said it was just safer to do the VSG first so that I could get a big portion of weight off.
In Jan 2010 I went under....
I woke up, literally thanking everybody for saving my life (they still talk about the mad thanking lady today!). That day was the START of my life.
I'm almost 5 years out from my Sleeve and I really didn't want, in the beginning, to have the second stage of the operation. Mr. Kerrigan (now Professor!) said he expected me to not loose enough weight with the Sleeve alone (funny old thing - turns out he was right!). At my lightest I've been around 290 but now I'm back to 310 - I really need this second stage.
So what has happened in the years that have passed? So much, my life is unrecognisable. In a nut shell : discovered husband was a "feeder" and wanted to keep me fat for his self esteem (much more complicated than that but too painful it rake up again) - left him to discover who I was. Threw myself into making a new life for myself. Quite successful there. Became a gym bunny. Lived in Spain for 2 years "found myself"- came home to have my Gallbladder removed, met somebody new. Stayed home. Got engaged. There endeth my potted history for the last 5 years....
But all that changed in May when I was having mobility problems, stiffness in the mornings, mood changes, swelling in my joints... Referred to hospital and was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The concoction of drugs I'm on have had a terrible effect on my body and my weightloss - turned into weight gain. Stopped going to the gym. Now the weight has been going back on. Old demons returned, can eat a lot of food now. And the steroids I'm on make me ravenous!!
So - next week I'm going to meet with Profesor Kerrigan again to have my VSG converted into a DS - I'm doing all my research again (as I did last time) - I'm hoping to have it done in January (not even going to entertain the NHS again - not after last time). I know a lot of these questions are very personal, but Inthought I'd ask:
1. What is the *sweet* Common Channel length?
2. How long is the average recovery?
3. I'm getting married in August (definitely MR RIGHT!) - not Mr. I'll take you because my self esteem is lower than yours and I'm going to keep you fat! Should I hold off choosing my dress until... When?
4. Should I ask for a full vitamin and mineral blood work up before th Op so I know what "my" levels are?
Oh goodness... I've just seen the length of this post.... I'm going to shut up now... Thanks for reading!!!
Can I just say that for the last few hours I have been reading this site and all of the wonderfully supportive and informative posts from people. I'm posting this in this area as it mainly to do with my DS, but as I'm a complete newby to this forum I thought it rude to not give you all some background (if one of the lovely mods needs to move me, I apologise x)
If you would indulge me a little to let you know a bit more about me and my journey so far?
I am 36 years old and have struggled with being SSMO for most of my life (at my heaviest I was BMI 80 and over 500lbs). It's no fun at all. On the NHS I was waiting waiting (being told all the usual poop of "eat less, do more you'll lose weight!") I was approved for having a gastric balloon inserted before having an RNY, well after 7 cancelled appointments I was ready to kill myself. I quite simply did not want to be alive anymore. I saw no purpose for my life, I was a burden. Then my WONDERFUL parents paid for me to have a procedure done privately (at that point I had no idea what would be suggested).
I met with the most amazing surgeon (IMHO) in England, Mr. David Kerrigan - a long drive from one side of England to the other. I did my reaserch on the RNY and went to the appointment armed with all my work. He suggested something I'd never heard of.... A 2 part DS, as I was so big he said it was just safer to do the VSG first so that I could get a big portion of weight off.
In Jan 2010 I went under....
I woke up, literally thanking everybody for saving my life (they still talk about the mad thanking lady today!). That day was the START of my life.
I'm almost 5 years out from my Sleeve and I really didn't want, in the beginning, to have the second stage of the operation. Mr. Kerrigan (now Professor!) said he expected me to not loose enough weight with the Sleeve alone (funny old thing - turns out he was right!). At my lightest I've been around 290 but now I'm back to 310 - I really need this second stage.
So what has happened in the years that have passed? So much, my life is unrecognisable. In a nut shell : discovered husband was a "feeder" and wanted to keep me fat for his self esteem (much more complicated than that but too painful it rake up again) - left him to discover who I was. Threw myself into making a new life for myself. Quite successful there. Became a gym bunny. Lived in Spain for 2 years "found myself"- came home to have my Gallbladder removed, met somebody new. Stayed home. Got engaged. There endeth my potted history for the last 5 years....
But all that changed in May when I was having mobility problems, stiffness in the mornings, mood changes, swelling in my joints... Referred to hospital and was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The concoction of drugs I'm on have had a terrible effect on my body and my weightloss - turned into weight gain. Stopped going to the gym. Now the weight has been going back on. Old demons returned, can eat a lot of food now. And the steroids I'm on make me ravenous!!
So - next week I'm going to meet with Profesor Kerrigan again to have my VSG converted into a DS - I'm doing all my research again (as I did last time) - I'm hoping to have it done in January (not even going to entertain the NHS again - not after last time). I know a lot of these questions are very personal, but Inthought I'd ask:
1. What is the *sweet* Common Channel length?
2. How long is the average recovery?
3. I'm getting married in August (definitely MR RIGHT!) - not Mr. I'll take you because my self esteem is lower than yours and I'm going to keep you fat! Should I hold off choosing my dress until... When?
4. Should I ask for a full vitamin and mineral blood work up before th Op so I know what "my" levels are?
Oh goodness... I've just seen the length of this post.... I'm going to shut up now... Thanks for reading!!!
