Mom of 3, 38 Yrs. Old Beginning my Journey to Gastric Bypass - Charleston, SC

I was extremely nervous at my pre-op appointment yesterday, my blood pressure was amazingly high 176/110…they seemed concerned. I took my sinus meds, BP meds and anxiety meds with a big ‘ol cup of coffee today, I don’t usually do that. I think that was the problem. I had to anxiety attacks, but other than that everything went amazingly well and the surgery is a go!
I am nervous and thrilled at the same time. I have told very few people, most believe that I am attending a weight loss clinic run by our local medical university. I have told two people who live 3,000 miles from me and other than that, my children and husband are the only people in my life who know what I am really doing. I don’t feel as though the people around me would support this decision, and worse than that I feel as though they would criticize and condemn. This is a personal, medical decision that I am making and I do not and would not share that information with anyone else under any other circumstances and for that reason I am keeping this information to myself (and you).

So I have decided, since reality is finally setting in, that I should go ahead and make some more measurable documentations of my own personal journey. So I have decided to start with this, where I will be listing my pre-op weight, pre-op measurements (and pictures soon) and I will also just give a "brief" description of who I am and how I got here today.
I have had a somewhat "manageable" weight issue since I was about 13 or 14 years old. I say "somewhat manageable" because with the help of my parents and places like weight watchers and nutrisystem I was able to take off about 70lbs when I was 15 and maintained a weight of about 135lbs from 15-18. At 18 years old I was out on my own in the world, married my husband and was living life and packing on pounds. I topped out around 175lbs,, which I stayed at, until my first pregnancy at 20. With my second pregnancy at 23 I delivered at 202 and got my tubes tied, and for many years this is the weight that I maintained( from 189-202). Let me remind you that I am barely over 5'1" with a very small frame, so 202 is nearly 100 lbs over weight. The 2 or 3 years prior to my decision to look into wls, I have not lost any significant amount of weight and have consistently gained weight, although also not a significant amount. As I am aging I find that I am more concerned over how this excess weight is effecting my overall health, not to mention how uncomfortable it is to be 100 lbs overweight in the south! uggg!. In the beginning of 2013 I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and severe acid reflux. I have exercised, I have changed my diet...nothing seems to help, I don't know if it is age, the tubal ligation, bad juju, heredity...I just don't know. In September of 2013 I contacted my local hospital and was sent the necessary paperwork to apply to the program. After turning in this paperwork I received further info. which informed me of the requirements to qualify for weight loss surgery. I got together with my PCP and she was very supportive of the idea, although I have to say her nurse was very condescending and told me I didn't need to do it and she thought I basically just wasn't trying hard enough...ppphhhttt. Anyway, after finally completing all the requirements,which included 6mo worth of documented weigh-ins with my PCP, cardiology, psychiatric and pulmonary clearance, a nutrition class and several labs, my paperwork was sent off for approval. Two weeks later I received a call saying they required more blood work and a chest x-ray. Geeesh! and they wanted it in 24 hours! seriously?! needless to say I had other unbreakable obligations and couldn't make it in 24 hrs, 48hr probably but sorry not 24...which was more like 17, by the way. Anyway,I contact the nurse to explain my predicament and wait. Two hours later I receive a message saying Great News! They approved with out it! how is July 2nd?! I, of course, called her immediately and set up the surgery date for July 2nd and my pre-op appointment is set for June 26th. It wasn't until the next day that reality set in, this is really happening.I am very excited and super nervous. I don't know if it is silly but because I have asthma and only quit smoking about a month and a half ago ( I know why the heck do you smoke with asthma...no good answer to that question), I am scared of how my breathing will do during and after surgery...is that dumb? I don't know... other than that I am not scared, I am very excited and I feel like because I will be released on or around Independence Day, that day will forever have a double meaning for me, Independence for our Nation and Independence from a life I am done living...on to the new me!

Start Weight:213
Current weight:211
BMI: 39
Measurements:

Bust:51.5"
waist: 52.5"
Belly button area:47"
hips:45.5"
Arm:13"
Thigh: 19.75"
^paints a purty picture lol round in the middle with skinny arms and legs!
I look forward to keeping everyone updated and will add pictures very soon!

Hello all! I am 38 years old and a mother of three. I decided to take control of my weight back in October 2013, that is when I began the research and process involved to get the gastric bypass.I have struggled with my weight from the time I was around 12 years old (attending my first weight watchers meeting at 13); With the help of my father and step-mother I lost 60 lbs at 15 and was able to keep the weight off until I married at 18. From that time on my weight has slowly creeped up to where it is today 211 lbs. and I am 5'1" tall (which was news to me! I thought I was 5'2"! next they're going to tell me I am a year older!) I started this journey in October when it occurred to me that I officially weighed more than I did when I was 9 mo pregnant with my youngest son...who is now 14. along with that little revelation I thought back to how heavy and miserable I felt during that pregnancy and how now I live that every day not just a few months out of a year, From then I began to reveal to myself so many other reasons for doing this, such as the fact that I intend to work in the medical field in the very near future and feel that my health is a direct reflection on how my patients will view me, the lack of confidence I feel and the general discomfort I feel living in my own skin. All of that is, of course, in addition to all the possibilities of health problems worsening or developing in my future as I continue to gain weight. In the beginning I didn't believe that I was a candidate for this surgery because I am lucky enough to have very few related health problems, although I do suffer from the beginning stages of high blood pressure, some low blood sugar issues and terrible acid reflux. I was happy and a little surprised that, in fact, I do more than qualify. I have had my appointment with the surgeon, I have spoken to the dietitian/nutritionist and completed 4 out of 6 mandatory weigh-ins. I will complete my cardio/pulmonary clearance on the 4th of February, the mandatory informational meeting on the 6th and my psych evaluation on February 24th. That mean my final weigh-in will be the beginning of march and then it is off to the insurance company for approval. Soon there after, I am told, I will have a surgery date. Part of me believed this would be a slow and steady process, however it feels more like a whirlwind! I find so much comfort in reaching out to others who are have also chosen to pursuit this tool to better their lives and will be sharing whatever I can along the way!