Bariatric Consult

Well, 7 years after hitting my goal, I'm now 12 pounds over my original starting weight. I'm now sitting at 264 lbs. With a BMI of 45. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a couple of years ago after symptoms started after my breast reduction in 2014 and subsequent car accident that Christmas. Since then, I haven't been able to exercise the way I did, depression and anxiety took a hard hold on me, and every year, 10-15 pounds piled back on. I have started many weight loss programs over the last few years, with numerous attempts at weight watchers, but it just didn't click anymore. I'm older, just turned 41, and those pesky things that I "don't really need to worry about that yet" have turned into medications and monitoring. I started Crestor for cholesterol a few months ago, mostly because of a strong family history of heart disease and stroke. Today I was started on Ramipril as my borderline blood pressure has skyrocketed to worry some.

This wasn't meant to be a sad post. I wanted to update any followers on where I am, and to start chronicalizing my next steps. Today, I was referred to the Guelph Centre for Bariatric Excellence for bariatric surgery. In Ontario, we are lucky to have a fully funded obesity network where people who meet certain criteria can have surgery, with a thorough and lengthly pre and post surgery multidisciplinary program.

I had spoken to my family doctor about 6 months ago about surgery briefly and he suggested we wait on it. Today I went in with my BP high and spoke with him again about it and he agreed it was worth a referral and he would support me however he was needed. One thing to mention about my family doctor, he has watched and managed my mom through 25 years of decline due to heart and blood vessel disease. And has seen these same things starting in me. The only difference between my mum and I, I have 100 pounds on my mum. And I have the luxury of time and hindsight. I don't need to follow in her footsteps.