Here is my story (very long) by: Lara Akin

[Guest guest]

Hello fellow MGB'ers,

I wanted to start off by saying I am really looking forward to the Christmas

Party and meeting some new people. Second I want to congratulate all who

have danced since I did. My computer is down at home so I do not read as

often as I would like too. Okay here it goes. For those of you who already

know me you will know the first part of my story, but for those who do not,

it is well worth hearing it.

On March 31, 2000 I married my husband (Danny) and we headed to Florida for

a glorious honeymoon. My husband is tall and not an ounce overweight so he

had all the energy in the world. I tried my best to keep up with him and

put on a good show, but I failed. I could not walk for long distances so I

ended up renting a motorized scooter to get me through the theme parks we

went to. I was so humiliated. My husband and I would go to bed at night

and after he fell asleep I would cry and cry because I felt unworthy of his

love. I was so depressed because I had to be on a scooter. One day my

husband finally asked me what was wrong, and I reluctantly told him. A

great big smile came onto his face and he said to me " Honey I do not care if

you have to rent those scooters, the important thing is that I am with you

and I love you no matter what. " Well, that is when I decided my life was in

need of a big change. My husband deserved a wife who could take care of him

and do things with him. Also, my son deserved to have a mother that could

play with him and do the things a young mother should. I began to think

about surgery. I was soooo scared because I had heard about the open RNY's

and I was scared of pain. One day I was just playing around on the internet

and found Dr. Rutledges site. I was THRILLED!!!!!!!!! I was so happy I was

crying. Then as I read my heart sank into my throat. He had a weight limit

of 350-400 pounds. OMG I had no idea how much I weighed because most

doctors scales only go to 350. I decided to bite the bullet and go weigh.

And to my udder horror and shock the only place in town that could weigh me

was the laundry facility across the street from the hospital. I went in

with my head down low and asked the gentleman if I could use the scales. He

was wonderful, he let me save face because he said he had to weigh there too

because the doctors scales could not weigh him either. I held my breath as

the numbers grew higher and higher and stopped. I weighed a WHOPPING 417

pounds. It took a while for me to digest that, then I realized I needed to

lose 17 pounds and I could have the surgery assuming I had insurance

approval etc. I started my patient letter and all the things Dr. Rutledge

requires on May 1, 2000. I went on a slim fast diet and thought I was going

to die from starvation LOL. Two weeks later I went to weigh and check my

progress. To my dismay the dam scales said 440 pounds???? What???? How

could I have gained 23 pounds in 2 short weeks. Apparently when I had gone

to weigh, the gentleman and I were chatting and he forgot to calibrate the

scale. So I had no idea how much I originally weighed. I left there crying

and shacking my head. Now what was I going to do? I had 40 pounds to lose

and I already sent in my packet and had a clinic date with Dr. Rutledge on

July 11th which was the next week?? I decided to try to lose weight another

way and went on the Atkins diet. Barbara weighed me and I lost 17 pounds.

Still not enough, but a huge improvement. I went to clinc and knew that I

would be leaving without a surgery date. It came my time to meet with Dr.

Rutledge and my heart sank. He and I discussed what had happened with the

scale calibration and he said to go home and try to lose the weight. And

know that this would be the last diet I would EVER have to go on, so fight

the good fight. Once I got to the point where I plateaud or could not go

on, I was to call him and he would do the surgery. I went back to the motel

and cried and cried. Dr. Rutledge is a wonderful surgeon and I was not in

the least bit angry with him I was furious with myself because of my lack of

will power that got me into this mess to begin with. The next day I started

fresh. I WAS going to lose the weight and have this surgery by the end of

the year if it killed me. I started back on the Atkins diet and lost a

total of 10 pounds in 2 weeks. I was overrun with depression. All I ever

did was cry and feel sorry for myself and just had given up on everything.

I decided I needed to see my counselor to up my dosage of Prozac to 40 mg.

I was back and better than ever once it hit my system. I continued to try

to lose the weight. I decided to come to the MGB picnic and there I met a

lot of wonderful peple that offered alot of love and support. Dr. Rutledge

and I spoke for a while and he told me to go ahead and schedule my surgery.

What????? Excuse me?? Did you say go ahead and schedule my surgery???? I

swallowed hard and told him I would go home and try for one more month to

get the rest of the weight off and that I would see him then. I scheduled

my surgery for November 8th and quietly went to Durham because I was so

scared he would turn me down. To my wonderful elation, he did not and I

danced on November 8, 2000. My surgery took 57 minutes. When I woke up I

was in some severe pain. I hit the pain pump and went back to sleep for 2

hours. Woke up again hit the pump and was out for another 2 hours. I

finally decided to get up and go to the bathroom and walk. I was VERY

surprised at the distance I was able to go because before the surgery I

could not walk 5 feet without being in pain. The more I walked the better I

felt. After that I was up every 20-30 minutes going to the bathroom. I had

many visitors, Barbara from the office came, Rikki, Gloria Dean, Gwen,

Christy. And of course my Mom and husband were there. I want to thank each

and every one of my visitors again. It meant a lot to me. I also want to

extend an invitation to any pre-op out there who needs a contact. I would

be honored to be a contact for you but please contact me privately and I

will let you know how I have been since my surgery.

With Love,

Lara Akin

Post-op (grin)

November 8, 2000

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[Guest guest]

Lara

what a wonderful story. You are an insperation!

Best of luck to you and your new hubby. I too am a newlywed of 1 1/2 years.

Who would have believed this overweight over 50 yr old would beat the odds

and find a wonderful man who would want to marry me and spoil me rotten. Am

still waiting to hear from DR. R on my packet. A few prayers might help.

I remain:

Joni

" Sleepless in Seattle "

[Guest guest]

What a wonderful story Lara!! I am so proud of you and all your

determination. Thanks for sharing. I can't wait for my surgery (I am

still in the " process " ) and a time when turnstiles and amusement rides do

not scare me!!

Keep up al great work everyone!!!

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[Guest guest]

Lara, I have read alot of your posts and I can tell ya I know how you felt, I

was so happy to meet you at clinic and hear you were having surgery. I think

alot of us can relate to your story. All of ours are so similar. Keep me

posted on your progress and keep posting I miss seeing your great posts. hugs

marg

[Guest guest]

Wonderful, beautiful, absolutely superb.

Congratulations,

Kim Price

pre-op 12-06-00 (1 week to go)

--- Lara Maxine Akin

wrote:

>

> Hello fellow MGB'ers,

> I wanted to start off by saying I am really looking

> forward to the Christmas

> Party and meeting some new people. Second I want to

> congratulate all who

> have danced since I did. My computer is down at

> home so I do not read as

> often as I would like too. Okay here it goes. For

> those of you who already

> know me you will know the first part of my story,

> but for those who do not,

> it is well worth hearing it.

> On March 31, 2000 I married my husband (Danny) and

> we headed to Florida for

> a glorious honeymoon. My husband is tall and not an

> ounce overweight so he

> had all the energy in the world. I tried my best to

> keep up with him and

> put on a good show, but I failed. I could not walk

> for long distances so I

> ended up renting a motorized scooter to get me

> through the theme parks we

> went to. I was so humiliated. My husband and I

> would go to bed at night

> and after he fell asleep I would cry and cry because

> I felt unworthy of his

> love. I was so depressed because I had to be on a

> scooter. One day my

> husband finally asked me what was wrong, and I

> reluctantly told him. A

> great big smile came onto his face and he said to me

> " Honey I do not care if

> you have to rent those scooters, the important thing

> is that I am with you

> and I love you no matter what. " Well, that is when

> I decided my life was in

> need of a big change. My husband deserved a wife

> who could take care of him

> and do things with him. Also, my son deserved to

> have a mother that could

> play with him and do the things a young mother

> should. I began to think

> about surgery. I was soooo scared because I had

> heard about the open RNY's

> and I was scared of pain. One day I was just

> playing around on the internet

> and found Dr. Rutledges site. I was

> THRILLED!!!!!!!!! I was so happy I was

> crying. Then as I read my heart sank into my

> throat. He had a weight limit

> of 350-400 pounds. OMG I had no idea how much I

> weighed because most

> doctors scales only go to 350. I decided to bite

> the bullet and go weigh.

> And to my udder horror and shock the only place in

> town that could weigh me

> was the laundry facility across the street from the

> hospital. I went in

> with my head down low and asked the gentleman if I

> could use the scales. He

> was wonderful, he let me save face because he said

> he had to weigh there too

> because the doctors scales could not weigh him

> either. I held my breath as

> the numbers grew higher and higher and stopped. I

> weighed a WHOPPING 417

> pounds. It took a while for me to digest that, then

> I realized I needed to

> lose 17 pounds and I could have the surgery assuming

> I had insurance

> approval etc. I started my patient letter and all

> the things Dr. Rutledge

> requires on May 1, 2000. I went on a slim fast diet

> and thought I was going

> to die from starvation LOL. Two weeks later I went

> to weigh and check my

> progress. To my dismay the dam scales said 440

> pounds???? What???? How

> could I have gained 23 pounds in 2 short weeks.

> Apparently when I had gone

> to weigh, the gentleman and I were chatting and he

> forgot to calibrate the

> scale. So I had no idea how much I originally

> weighed. I left there crying

> and shacking my head. Now what was I going to do?

> I had 40 pounds to lose

> and I already sent in my packet and had a clinic

> date with Dr. Rutledge on

> July 11th which was the next week?? I decided to

> try to lose weight another

> way and went on the Atkins diet. Barbara weighed me

> and I lost 17 pounds.

> Still not enough, but a huge improvement. I went to

> clinc and knew that I

> would be leaving without a surgery date. It came my

> time to meet with Dr.

> Rutledge and my heart sank. He and I discussed what

> had happened with the

> scale calibration and he said to go home and try to

> lose the weight. And

> know that this would be the last diet I would EVER

> have to go on, so fight

> the good fight. Once I got to the point where I

> plateaud or could not go

> on, I was to call him and he would do the surgery.

> I went back to the motel

> and cried and cried. Dr. Rutledge is a wonderful

> surgeon and I was not in

> the least bit angry with him I was furious with

> myself because of my lack of

> will power that got me into this mess to begin with.

> The next day I started

> fresh. I WAS going to lose the weight and have this

> surgery by the end of

> the year if it killed me. I started back on the

> Atkins diet and lost a

> total of 10 pounds in 2 weeks. I was overrun with

> depression. All I ever

> did was cry and feel sorry for myself and just had

> given up on everything.

> I decided I needed to see my counselor to up my

> dosage of Prozac to 40 mg.

> I was back and better than ever once it hit my

> system. I continued to try

> to lose the weight. I decided to come to the MGB

> picnic and there I met a

> lot of wonderful peple that offered alot of love and

> support. Dr. Rutledge

> and I spoke for a while and he told me to go ahead

> and schedule my surgery.

> What????? Excuse me?? Did you say go ahead and

> schedule my surgery???? I

> swallowed hard and told him I would go home and try

> for one more month to

> get the rest of the weight off and that I would see

> him then. I scheduled

> my surgery for November 8th and quietly went to

> Durham because I was so

> scared he would turn me down. To my wonderful

> elation, he did not and I

> danced on November 8, 2000. My surgery took 57

> minutes. When I woke up I

> was in some severe pain. I hit the pain pump and

> went back to sleep for 2

> hours. Woke up again hit the pump and was out for

> another 2 hours. I

> finally decided to get up and go to the bathroom and

> walk. I was VERY

> surprised at the distance I was able to go because

> before the surgery I

> could not walk 5 feet without being in pain. The

> more I walked the better I

> felt. After that I was up every 20-30 minutes going

> to the bathroom. I had

> many visitors, Barbara from the office came, Rikki,

> Gloria Dean, Gwen,

> Christy. And of course my Mom and husband were

> there. I want to thank each

> and every one of my visitors again. It meant a lot

> to me. I also want to

> extend an invitation to any pre-op out there who

> needs a contact. I would

> be honored to be a contact for you but please

> contact me privately and I

> will let you know how I have been since my surgery.

> With Love,

> Lara Akin

> Post-op (grin)

> November 8, 2000

>

>

>

>

>

>

_______________________________________________________

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> http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html

>

>

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