Ready for change
This Weight Loss Buddy is : Offline
This Buddy last logged in at 11-08-2008
Birthday: 28-07-1969
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This is my story
Hi my name is Kelly I'm 39 years young, married to Kevin we have four children together (three of our own and one from his previous marriage) and one grandchild.
My parents were both large and I was brought up in an unhealthy lifestyle of convenience food and snacks as my parents both worked. I've always been a big girl and was bullied at school for being overweight. I found comfort in food
This philosophy has followed me through my life when things get tough I’d reach for the things that made me happy like cakes, sweets, chocolate etc. I remained adamant that if I can still buy clothes to fit me why worry! But it did worry me. I hid behind a fake smile making jokes about myself to fit in with people.
I yoyo dieted all my life and even tried Xenical/Orlistat to aid weight loss, but all failed. I was stuck in a rut of depression and agoraphobia due to my size. I went to my GP for help, but she was unsupportive to consider surgery saying that I was only looking for a quick fix, but would prescribed Xenial/Orlistat. So I tried, but after 6 months I found it hard to tolerate the side effects. I asked again about surgery she went to town on me telling me I was a waste of her time and resources. I felt deflated and I returned to the comfort of food.
In July 2005 we took the family to West Midlands safari park. I could hardly walk and was unable to fit on any theme park rides with the kids. I felt people were looking at me and it made me really uncomfortable. When we got home I weighed myself I was nearly 25 stones. I felt so down and annoyed with myself for letting my weight get so high. Soon after our trip I started having severe chest pains and was rushed into hospital I thought I was having a heart attack, but it turned out to be gal stones, but they wouldn't take them out because of my size. It was this that broke the camels back so to speak
My husband said ‘research weight loss surgery and prove you are serious’ so I did. I trawled through tons of information on the internet about the different procedures, mortality rates and success stories until I had enough knowledge to prove I was serious. I got together a kind of portfolio with my health problems, the diets I’d tried and failed surgery information and the NICE guidelines. I went back and saw a different GP who referred me to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
I got an appointment in 2006 to see Ms Sally Norton, she seemed impressed with my research and felt I was a good candidate for a gastric band, but I had to see other members of the Avon Obesity team before I could get the green light for surgery. I saw Dr Andrew Johnson, a consultant physician with specialist interests in obesity, diabetes and endocrinology. He also agreed with Ms Norton, but said I needed counselling with regards my personal problems. Mrs Sharon Bates a Clinical Nurse Specialist / Counsellor in Surgery for Weight Loss. She has particular expertise in the gastric band and has personal insight having the surgery herself. I got called in to have a consultation with Dr Johnson who was pleased with the personal changes I had made to my life, but informed me that even though I met most of the NICE guidelines I was only borderline diabetic and the procedure could only be funded at the time for people with diabetes.
I would have to go to the PCT and try for exceptional funding. The team all endorsed my application by writing letters on my behalf, but I was turned down at first. Whilst getting ready for my appeal in July 2007 my GP diagnosed me with diabetes so the PCT cancelled the appeal and said I could now get the procedure through the hospital and they referred me back to Dr Johnson and saw him in October 2007. He did some more blood tests and was satisfied with my GP’s diagnosis so he told me I could have the operation and it would be done within the next twelve months.
It’s been a long hard road and has taken over two years, but I was determined never to give up hope or go back to the comfort eating. I’ve had two further tests to make sure the gastric band is compatible with me. The oesophagus test which measures my swallowing and an endoscopy to look at my stomach. I was told by the Mr Justin Morgan another surgeon who works along side Ms Sally Norton that the more weight I can lose pre op the easier it will be to fit the band.
At the start of this year I weighed 24 stones 5 pounds. I saw my GP’s diabetic nurse for routine blood tests and told her my news she offered me vouchers for Slimming World to help me lose weight in preparation for the surgery. With the support of my husnabd and the group I’ve now lost over 3 stones and currently weigh 22 stones 2 pounds.
On 30 May I had my pre op check and i'm all ready for my surgery al I needed was my date.
On Monday 9 June I had my operation date confirmed as 22 July 2008. I 'm going to continue Slimming world until my vouchers run out in four weeks time. I then will have to leave my group as I feel it wrong to continue with the unfair advantage of a gastric band. I have to then go on a yoghurt diet a week before the operation to shrink the liver as much as possible.
CHECK OUT MY BLOGS I WILL BE WRITING SOON HOW MY SURGERY GOES
