when i decided that WLS was something i should consider, i began a year of intense research....i started to put together a large binder of all the info i could find (online, from the surgical program i was enrolled in, or from magazines.)
this was in 2000-2001, when the carnie wilson media frenzy was in full force. everyone was talking about WLS and all sorts of online message boards popped up.
as you can see, this binder was packed full of info. i researched the surgery itself, how to get insurance approval, post-surgery tips, diet and vitamin info, info from the surgical program, anything info i could get my hands on.my mom recently dug out the old binder (and snapped these photos for me) and i was blown away when i saw it. i know during the interview on camera and on this blog i've discussed how much time i spent researching this surgery. but seeing the binder reminded me just how hard i worked, so that the surgery would work for me.
any lingering doubts that i've had about my "screwing things up" are gone. i really did do my best! all i can hope for now is that someone else building up a binder of info, can maybe have a section for "lessons learned" from people like me.
what are those lessons? very simply this: be prepared for the downside of losing so much weight so fast. be ready for spouses, friends and family to have a hard time with the new skinny you. be aware of the signs of depression, and have a plan in place for knowing when to ask for help. be very careful with addiction transfer (going from compulsive eating to compulsive shopping, gambling, drinking, etc...)
it feels amazing to lose all that weight, physically and emotionally, it's heady stuff. but there are bumps in the road and struggles you'd never imagine. so be ready for anything!
5 comments:
To quote Piper Laurie from the smash hit horror film Carrie, "They're all gonna laugh at you!"
No, I'm just kidding, I was around when you had that surgery and you really did give it your all and you did the best you could do. You researched, you followed all the rules, and the problem was that the unexpected was truly not foreseen, so I think you went above and beyond what most people would do and you still had a hard time. I think it's great that you're coming "out" with the struggles you had and warning people of the unexpected twists and turns in the road that no one seems to be talking about.
I saw a guy TV the other day real mad that they won't allow him to have WLS because he's 700 pounds and it's too dangerous. So he's still laying in bed eating moon pies and 5 pounds of bacon every day, just being real mad that he can't have the surgery. It really takes a lot of hard work on the person having the surgery and I know from your surgery--and the ensuing problems--it was definitely not an "easy way out" for you... you had the surgery and you lost (imho) too much weight too fast, then all the other craziness you dealt with, and still are dealing with, but I still think you're doing much better having had the surgery than if you had never gone through with it in the first place!
thanks renny!
god knows you sort of lived through that whole WLS experience with me! you listened to me talk about it non-stop for almost a year, then were living with me when i had it.
i remember when i got home from surgery, you helped make me dinners i could eat post-surgery, and always kept me laughing.
it's funny, my coming "out of the closet' with my WLS experience, i've noticed that my close friends and family have been able to talk about what they saw, and how it affected them.
the impact on close friends and family of folks having the surgery is something that should be discussed pre-surgery too!
but yeah, i tried my very best, went through hell, and i can say i am better off having had the surgery.
so, no regrets, which is nice to be able to day and mean it.
:)
my surgery was 8/21 and a few short weeks 9/11 happpened. i'll never forget hearing on the news the night of 9/11 that depression of events like this could effect the very young, the old and the sick....well at the point i was still laying around on mom's couch watching t.v. in between trying to drink protein shakes, water, trying to figure out to take my vitamins or walking the driveway a million times a day. i remember my mom yelling at me on 9/13 "you've gotta get off that couch!" i was devistated at what i saw and how i felt during that time. not to mention a freind of mine was in icu at st.v's with complications, i was terrified! not a great way to start....
David L. Reynolds ---you have prompted me to ask my family about what they thought during my first few months after wls....and now.i'd like to hear more of your thoughts while jen recovered.
oh yeah, have you seen carnie wildon on the new reality show on the cmt chanel "gone country"? i know she's had her share of issues after wls. any idea if she stil has an active website.hmmm.
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