38 Year Old, Single Mother of 2 - Needs Weight Loss Help - Margate, FL

I have had a rough couple of years. Starting in December 2011, I was three months pregnant and lost job. My eldest son was 15 at the time so my pregnancies with really spaced apart. I had 1 C-section in 1996, a myomectomy (fibroid removal) in 2009 and a C-section and tubal ligation in 6/2012.

The day before I had the C-section in 2012, I was weighing in at 271lbs. I am 5’8 and have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember, just not this badly. I breast feed for a year for 1.5 years, and tried to eat very healthy, without obsessing about food. However I was really depressed and ate to feel better even when I wasn't hungry.

While pregnant and nursing, I was off of my antidepressants. This was huge for me since when lost my job in 12/2011, I lost my “boyfriend” as well; when the money went, so did he. I don’t take picture, I don’t look at myself in the mirror, in short I am disgusted with myself that I allowed myself to become who I see in the mirror. My eldest son graduated from HS in June of this year and I was too embarrassed to post any of the pictures we took together.

I started taking Qsymia, and lost minimal weight, I've done the green smoothie challenge. In the past I've eaten raw, taken phentermine and Xenical (that is another crazy story), joined LA Weight Loss and Weight Watchers. I hired a personal trainer, did 5:00 am boot camp sessions, and the list goes on; yet the end result is always the same, I lose some weight, gain back even more. Today, I am 263 lbs (dangerously close to my weight at the time of delivery in 2012). I need help, and was convinced that Lap Band would be a great tool for me.

My quest for knowledge had begun and thus I embarked on what I have dubbed as my Lap Band research project. I went to an informational seminar with Dr. Paul Wizman and instantly liked him. I started researching him and lurking on this site :-D. I have found the experiences of everyone to be so informative and helpful, but now I am confused. I am now unsure if the Lap Band is the best option for me of if I should “go big” and get the sleeve. My insurance covers either procedure and tonight is my psychological evaluation. I am nervous but excited as well!

I would appreciate the feedback that any of you would like to share. By friends and family are all supportive in a sense. The consensus is that whatever I decide, they will support. However most just tell me to work out more or harder, etc. They don’t understand the personal hell that life is when you have a love/hate relationship with something you need for sustenance and life. It probably don’t help that I am big in stature and in the past have been able to hide my weight pretty well (now I just hide a lot of my fluff in a faja aka a really really tight corset).

Anyway, I think a have rambled along long enough. Thanks for reading my post.

Stay encouraged, I know I am try to do the same.

Since my last post, I have successfully completed my psychological evaluation and nutritional counseling appointment. My only holdout is the letter of medical necessity from my PCP. In July, my insurance changed and my new carrier does not cover my old PCP. In an effort to expedite the process, I contacted my old PCP and advised that I would pay for the appointment out-of-pocket in order to get the necessary letter, however when I showed up the office, the doctor had already left for the day; very annoying.

I hope that my new PCP will be willing to write the letter for me. Their office has all my prior medical records and has seen me recently. I also have an appointment with them set for next Monday morning, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be successful in this current hurdle.

Dr. Wizman (prospective bariatric surgeon) will not see me for a surgery consultation until I have all three of these documents submitted to his office. My hope is to have the consult ASAP. My oldest son is leaving for Army Basic Training on 11/17 and I would like to do the surgery before he leaves. Speaking surgery, if everything goes well, I feel like I am now pretty set on having the Sleeve rather than the LapBand.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to email me as well as post encouraging messages. I am so happy to know that I am not embarking on this journey alone; RealSelf has become such a wonderful support system for me as I embark on this journey. I am grateful for each of you.

Stay encouraged! :-D

Well after the debacle with trying to have my former PCP write the letter of medical necessity, my new PCP has agreed to write it for me! Yeah!!! What's even better is that I did not have to pay out-of-pocket for the visit. Double Yeah!!!!

On a whim, I called Dr. Wizman’s office yesterday to inquire about scheduling my consult with him. They advised that he would not have an appointment available until early November and that they couldn’t give me that appointment until they received the letter of medical necessity. I advised her of my goal to have surgery in November and that was going to pick up the letter today from my PCP. After putting me hold, she came back and advised that it was my lucky day and that they had just received a cancellation for the next day! She reiterated that they are usually never able to get a patient in so quickly; now I am off to see them in an hour.

For the first time in forever, I feel like everything thing is starting to fall into place and I am so excited about the prospect of new beginnings. Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and wish me good luck!

Until next time! :-D