My letter

I'm not sure if anyone cares to read this or not, but it's my letter to the doctor. We basically needed to tell him why we think we got the way we are and show him that we've done our research, we know the risks, and that we take the surgery seriously. It was a little harder to write than I thought.

Now for my ten paragraphs.

My name is Elizabeth Hoadley. I'm a part-time rehab technician at the Independence Manor Care Facility, a full-time" wanna-be Artist." I am also 22/23 years old and I've been overweight for as long as I can remember. I've lived a relatively sedentary lifestyle and I was never really into sports. I also didn't have the healthiest of eating habits, growing up. My older brother was in and out of the hospital a lot and there's only so much running around one can do in the ER. A lot of meals either came from the hospital cafeteria, a quick trip through the nearest drive-through, or easy to fix frozen meals.

I've tried many different weight loss options over the years, my mother was really into weight watchers for awhile (which helped everyone for a period of time), I've visited a dietrician, I've gone to a "Fat Boot Camp," and even invested in the metabolife pills. But my most successful weight loss attempt was when I was off to college, I joined a local Curves and would swing by "the gym" on my way home from my classes. Through Curves I managed to go from 236 to 205 and was doing great until I graduated in September of '08. That was a depressing fall and a hard winter of not being able to find a job in the field I had gone to school for. I worked overnight at a Target restocking clothing and chugging down caffeine filled sodas to just make it through my shift, when I'd get home I would be too tired to make anything so I often had food delivered or I'd pick something up on the way home. When Chicago became too expensive I returned to KC and moved into my parent's basement. I was back in the environment where I learned most of my bad eating habits, it was just a few short months before I was back to 236 and growing, and I adopted the grim philosophy of "It doesn't matter anymore, no matter how hard I work the weight will just keep on coming back." I saw my inability to get an art job, my weight gain, my move back to KC, and my continued bad luck in the art field as failures. The straw that broke the camel's back was when I went clothes shopping for a friend's wedding and nothing in the store fit.

It was during this fit of hopelessness that my mother suggested I look into a weight loss surgery. I was not very keen of the idea at first, for the longest time I saw it as the "easy way out" but I figured it was worth looking into. The first thing I found was a video web journal by a lady named Taunia (http://www.youtube.com/user/divataunia). She'd had the RNY surgery March '08 and discussed, in depth, what to do to prepare yourself pre-op. Everything from what doctors and insurance companies would require to the various different tests I should anticipate on taking. Her journals also cover the more personal things of what to expect during the first year after the surgery. I realize that I will need to relearn how to eat and that if I'm not careful with how I eat or what I eat I can expect pain and discomfort. She also explained that in the weight loss experience one will hit plateaus, or that even after the surgery my weight will fluctuate. From her I learned that it isn't an easy fix.

I have also spoken with Alicia B at work, she had the MGB surgery a little under a year ago and was more than happy to educate me on the ways of MGB and life after it. She especially focused on that after the procedure I will be able to live a normal functioning life and that I shall not spend the rest of eternity on a diet of broth and mashed potatoes but even so I there will be foods that just won't agree with me. She also told me about hair loss and even showed me that after awhile it will grow back. Her best advice was to take a few bites, wait a few minutes and see how I feel.

Those two ladies have been a fountain of advice and encouragement for the procedure to come, but my strongest source of support has come from my mother, who has decided to have the surgery with me. Her words rang something along the lines of "Misery loves company." In all honesty, I'm very impressed with her for deciding to join me. While all I shall be giving up is 22 years of bad eating habits, she must not only give her's up, but she also decided to go the long haul and gave up smoking as well. Together we've been comparing notes and concerns.

I've skimmed through various websites to read up on the vitamin cocktail I shall be taking for the rest of my life. I've started stocking up on citracil, multivitamins, broth, and gatorade.

I selected the MGB over the RNY mainly for the recovery time. Both procedures have high success rates and both are fairly similar as far as the actual procedure goes, but my research shows that the MGB has a shorter recovery time and seems to be an simpler procedure.

I also realize that the surgery itself contains risks. I know this is a bit mellow dramatic, but I do realize that I could die. In these kinds of surgeries a whole slew of things could go wrong both during and after the procedure, the one that worries me the most is blood clots. I also realize that I could be one of those poor unfortunate souls who has to have the procedure reversed for one reason or another. I have come to terms with all of these matters and I still believe that having the MGB is the best thing I could do for myself.

The surgery is not a magic fix all, I will be giving up a lot of things I used to enjoy, but as I've heard many times: "Nothing tastes better than skinny feels," and I cannot help but feel that this procedure is the tool needed to help me successfully master my weight.

Thank you.