Fw: Joining this group

March 7, 2003

Joining this group

My name is A. Simon. I live in Pittsburgh, Pa. I started my WLS journey

with my first appointment with the surgeon in October, 1998.

Weight 356 lbs. - 5' 6 " tall. Second appointment January, 1999 - weight 342 lbs.

Surgery 5/13/199 - Shadyside Hospital (UPMC) Pittsburgh, Pa.- surgeon Dr. Anita

Courcoulas. (UPMC). Day of surgery - weight 321 lbs. (I wanted to make sure I

was as healthy as possible considering all my complications - Type 2 diabetes

(180 units of insulin per day), asthma, high blood pressure, severe sleep apnea,

depression, undiagnosed allergies, needed a wheelchair to shop at malls, stores,

and was basically quite ill.

In May of 1998, after yet another serious bout of pneumonia, my doctor said I

had to do something or I would be dead in a year. I was born in 1942, so I was

56 years old and at a low, low spot. My PCP, my pulmonary doctor and my

endocrinologist all recommended this surgery, with some caution, and helped me

find a surgeon.

My life constantly revolved around food. Food, my compulsive eating and the

effects of overeating and gorging were interfering with my life, my job, my

family, and my sanity. Prior to surgery I had done WW, OA, TOPS, done Medifast,

went " in patient " for a 8 weeks eating disorder program at a hospital, and many,

many years of therapy. Like all of us, I had pretty much done it all. And like

most of us, I lost weight, but never was able to keep it off for any length of

time.

I had absolutely no problems with the WLS. I had a open Roux-en-by. Recovery

was non-eventful and things went very well. I basically tried to do what the

surgeon said. I joined a indoor swim club and swam several times per week. By

January of 2000, I was down to 242 lbs.. - a total loss of 114 lbs. I felt

great, had loads of energy. I was down to 25 units of insulin per day, my sleep

apnea levels were one step above normal, I graduated from therapy, and life was

great.

At that point, I started picking up old eating habits. However, because I was

diligent about exercising, I gained no weight, BUT I did not lose anymore

weight. My surgeon thought that my first plastic procedure might jump start me,

so on July 5, 2001, I had a severe hernia repaired and my upper arm hanging flab

(flying bat wings) removed. This was a different story. I was re-admitted to

the hospital 2 times after the initial surgery and recovery took 8 weeks. The

upper arm surgery was very painful. With watching my food again, I was down to

220 lbs. when I went back to work in September, 2002. I stayed between 220 lbs.

and 230 lbs., until my next plastic procedure on February 14, 2002. I had a

panneculectomy and a breast reduction - from 56DDD to 44C. Again recovery was

not easy. I wound up being re-admitted to the hospital another two more times.

On the first re-admission I had lost 5 units of blood. But I did recover and

went back to work in 8 weeks. I was now at 220 lbs. I continued swimming

faithfully, but still overeating. Weight stayed at 220 lbs. through swimming.

In July 2002, they closed the swim club. I hate any other type of exercise, so

I did none. I do walk, but not enough to maintain 220 lbs. So today, I am 245

lbs. and scared to death. The pool did re-open in January of 2003, and I did

re-join. However, I am not as motivated as before and I don't go as often as I

need to. I am having a very hard time with my eating. I tried Atkins for 3

days and couldn't stand all that meat and fat. I ordered a 2 week supply of

Medifast and it arrived today. Not cheap - $107.00. I thought it might be

easier, if I didn't eat at all. I just don't seem to be willing or able to

get back into the swing of things

I do attend my surgeon's monthly support group and I have attended another

support group. That group is most VB patients and fairly recent

post-ops. There is a Pittsburgh WLS support group and it is great. However, I

find all of these groups seemed to be geared to interested, pre-ops and

post-ops. The sites and groups are great, but I don't feel they address the

challenges of long-term post-ops and problems some of us might be having.

Today, I was sharing my discouragement with a new friend I met through the

Pittsburgh support group. She is a wealth of knowledge about nutrition,

vitamins and supplements for WLS patients. She later e-mailed me and told me

about your site.

I hope you will consider my joining this group and being able to post and share.

I desperately need help. I can't believe that after all I've been

through, I am doing this to myself again. I can't let it happen. I must stop

it now.

Kathy Simon

700 Penn Center Blvd., Apt 511

Pittsburgh, Pa. 15235

(work - daytime Mon - Fri.)

(home - evenings and week-ends)

I don't have a computer at home, but my boss generously lets me use our

company's. Our e-mail address is neftpaper@.... I am the only person

with access to the e-mail, so it's very safe.

March 7, 2003