[yotlyolqualli]

Diabetes runs through my family tree, like watered down sap. It comes from both sides, and so, it was no surprise to me to be diagnosed with it when I was 31 years old. My eldest sister, ten years older than I, had been fighting the disease for about seven years before I was diagnosed. By that time, her diabetes had affected her eyes and had begun to affect her feet and legs. By the time I was 37, she had lost one foot, several toes and her eyesight to the disease. My diabetes was more out of control and took much larger doses of insulin, than she did. She is now 52, and in total renal failure, needing dialysis, three times a week. I was also on medicine for high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

So, knowing, by my sister's example, what was in store for me, I began looking into what options I had. My doctor began pushing me towards gastric bypass. Insulin, while controlling diabetes, also damages your kidneys. He told me that I was too young to be on so much insulin. Anyway, after prayer, alot of back and forth self arguing, I finally decided to go with the bypass, but on my terms. I refused to use the bariatric center he wanted to refer me too, and took it upon myself to find the best doctor and the best medical center. After searching, I settled on the bariatric weightloss center at Hershey Medical center in Hershey, Pa.

I went through a 6 month program, learning about the different procedures that could be done and learning about what would happen after surgery, what and how to eat after surgery. (I lost 91 pounds on my own, 31 of them, during this 6 month period)

I lucked out, was referred to the head bariatric surgeon, and on 12/10/07 I underwent a roux-en-y laproscopic gastric bypass. My pre-surgical weight was 268 and my lowet weight after surgery, was 135. I gained weight back, due to several things, and want to lose about 20 pounds now.

This is not the easiest path to take. The bypass caused me to have my gall bladder removed, to have a bowel obstruction and was, in part, responsible for a massive internal bleed in the spring of 2011.

Now, I am chronically anemic (to the point of needing IV infusions of iron, at times) I am considered chronically mal-nourished and my hemoglobin has a tendency to drop, causing the need for blood transfusions.

I am back to walking 3-5 miles daily but am not allowed to push myself. Anemia=dizziness= a high rish of falls. A high risk of falling + my bloods slowness to clot could = bad bad stuff, so I am limited to 5 miles a day.

In the end, the surgery, though having caused and still causing alot of problems, my daibetes has been completely resolved. All of my A1C's have been normal and I can eat pretty much, a normal diet. I am also off ALL midications, except for vitamin and nutritional supplements. I am cautious about what I eat, and can't tolerate any trans fat, but other than that, I'm doing alright.

This, again, was/is not the easy way to weight loss. It's just a tool that I used/use to reach and maintain a much healthier weight and lifestyle.

My motto, throughout all of this was and is... if I screw up today..I'll start over again in the morning. Like, if I eat a candy bar (it makes me sick to do so.. literally, but damn it... monthly homoromal changes DEMAND chocolate..lol) or I choose to stay in bed instead of walking; instead of allowing that to mess with my head and compound the damage, I simply wipe the slate clean and start over in the morning.

It can be done, no matter what tool you use, all you have to do is resolve to do it.

Also, when I look in the mirror, I still see that 359 pound woman staring back at me. I still look at chairs speculatively, to see if they will hold my weight. I still hold up a new shirt in the store and think, "no way in hell!" but I am slowly beginning to shed that "skin" as well.

Just learn to believe in yourself and it will happen.

Take care and God bless.