For those of you who may be new to my blog, in November of 2014 I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. This diagnoses came as quite a shock because I was never warned of being pre-diabetic and I had just lost over 25 pounds. For the last 18 months I have struggled to keep my diabetic numbers down and my doctors have been frustrated. I exercise regularly and try my best to eat a healthy diet but with medication my numbers were not coming down.
Back
in September I was seeing the nutritionist who works with my diabetes
specialist she was talking about diet options and she asked if I had
ever consider Bariatric Surgery. I kind of chuckled a bit and asked if I
even qualified as a candidate? She didn't even hesitate with an answer
and said "yes". Between my weight, slow metabolism and my type 2
diabetes I am a perfect candidate.
At the time the nutritionist suggested this option I shook it off and
disregarded what she said. Then two months later I met with my Diabetes
specialist and she brought it up too. The only difference she didn't ask
me if I have ever considered it, she asked me to consider it. She
explained to me that she never recommends her patients to the program
but feels I would be a great candidate and a success. The process of
even thinking about having the surgery is pretty intense but I decided
to look into it.
I
had my first appointment with the surgeon on January 4th. I followed
that appointment up with several blood tests, video x-rays of my
esophagus & stomach, an endoscopy and a meeting with a psychologist.
When I met with the psychologist he suggested I have more appointments
because of my emotional relationship with food. It was a concern I had
too. I could have the surgery but still have a problem with food and
binge eating. The surgery can't fix that relationship.
I
saw the surgeon again in February but I wasn't ready to make a
commitment. He suggested I go to one of the support groups they have and
talk with some of the other patients and then he rescheduled me for
another appointment on April 4th.
I
did go to the support group.They understood my concerns and gave me
their feed back. When I told them my feelings about the surgery being
the easy way out and that people will judge me. They told me not to
worry about other people that this is all about me. And that there is
nothing easy about this surgery. One woman said that for years she
always took the easy way out when she would give up on her diets. She
let me know that there is nothing easy regarding the post surgery
lifestyle. I was glad that I went to the support group because I learned
so much. Also during my research I have met other patients who have had
nothing but great feedback about their experience and never questioning
their decision to have the surgery.
I
have had lots of support from my diabetes specialist, my primary care
physician, friends and my family. When I met with the surgeon in April I made the decision to have the surgery. He explained to me that the surgery was
more than just weight loss it is about my diabetes and the fact that my
metabolism is shot. After he said that I asked if he could make me a
faster runner?!?! He laughed and said I would be a faster runner!!
Following this meeting I decided to go ahead with the surgery (and it
had nothing to do with being a faster runner).
So tomorrow, Tuesday, July 26th I start out on a new journey and this is where my story begins.
