Julius White ~ Radio Talk Show Host of "Talk Back Live" 10:00 p.m. - 12 p.m., Sundays, on 98.7 KISS FM in Birmingham, Alabama
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
A NEW ERA
At 41 years old, I have made an executive decision regarding my health. I am having bariatric (weight loss) surgery. My type surgery will be the gastric bypass. I decided to have the gastric bypass because of my type 2 diabetes. After 6 years of dealing with this disease and years of obesity, maxed out on my current meds and facing insulin, this surgery is my answer to a better quality of life. Over the years, I have tried several attempts to lose weight---appetite suppressants, fad diets, weight watchers, bariatric diets (twice), gym memberships. Lacking in all of those, will power, frustration, weight loss plateau, stress and anything else that would contribute to failure.
Over the past ten years, three doctors, at three separate hospitals, in two different cities have suggested that I have weight loss surgery. Each time, I balked. "I would NEVER have the surgery unless something is threatening my life," I said. Well, now, something is threatening my life. My diabetes doctor (endocrinologist) says that I am maxed out on my current oral medications, has prescribed an injectable medcation (non-insulin) and that If I don't have the surgery, my next order of treatment to control my diabetes would be insulin. My fear is---if I get on insulin, I will never get off.
At 5' 11 1/2", and 336 lbs., I have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 47, which puts me in the morbidly obese category. Think about that for a minute. Not just fat, overweight or portly---but MORBIDLY obese! I know that we are born to die, but I am not trying to give an unnecessary assist. I want a better quality of life. I want control over my life. This is for my health and well being, not cosmetics.
There are several tests and criteria that must be met before onbe is given the green light for bariatric surgery.
Doctors determine whether you are a candidate for the surgery, you decide on what you think is best for you (lap band, gastric bypass, gastric sleeve). There's the EKG, the H. Pylori Bacteria biopsy, the psychological evaluation and if necessary as was in my case--a nuclear stress test. The nuclear stress is given if your EKG report comes back abnormal and your surgeon wants to make sure your heart is healthy enough for the surgery
So far, I have cleared all of my tests. Now, it's up to the insurance company to decide if I have me their criteria to go under the knife. I have been to the doctor this year, probably more than most men have in their entire life. I have had a prostate exam, regular visits with my primary care physician , endocrinologist and of course the nuclear stress test. But the point is, I go to the doctor. I learned this year that my vitamin D level was almost non-existent and no take 2000 units a day of the supplement. As men, we don't go to the doctor as we need to. As a result, men die too young and un-necessarily so because of false bravado; believing we are invincible. Tragic, poor decision making. We leave our families to grieve for a loss that could have been prevented or treated. We will talk about all of this on this blog. Please feel free to share your stories, comments here. I feel if we talk more, honestly and openly, we can do a lot of good. I look forward to sharing my journey with you.
Over the past ten years, three doctors, at three separate hospitals, in two different cities have suggested that I have weight loss surgery. Each time, I balked. "I would NEVER have the surgery unless something is threatening my life," I said. Well, now, something is threatening my life. My diabetes doctor (endocrinologist) says that I am maxed out on my current oral medications, has prescribed an injectable medcation (non-insulin) and that If I don't have the surgery, my next order of treatment to control my diabetes would be insulin. My fear is---if I get on insulin, I will never get off.
At 5' 11 1/2", and 336 lbs., I have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 47, which puts me in the morbidly obese category. Think about that for a minute. Not just fat, overweight or portly---but MORBIDLY obese! I know that we are born to die, but I am not trying to give an unnecessary assist. I want a better quality of life. I want control over my life. This is for my health and well being, not cosmetics.
There are several tests and criteria that must be met before onbe is given the green light for bariatric surgery.
Doctors determine whether you are a candidate for the surgery, you decide on what you think is best for you (lap band, gastric bypass, gastric sleeve). There's the EKG, the H. Pylori Bacteria biopsy, the psychological evaluation and if necessary as was in my case--a nuclear stress test. The nuclear stress is given if your EKG report comes back abnormal and your surgeon wants to make sure your heart is healthy enough for the surgery
So far, I have cleared all of my tests. Now, it's up to the insurance company to decide if I have me their criteria to go under the knife. I have been to the doctor this year, probably more than most men have in their entire life. I have had a prostate exam, regular visits with my primary care physician , endocrinologist and of course the nuclear stress test. But the point is, I go to the doctor. I learned this year that my vitamin D level was almost non-existent and no take 2000 units a day of the supplement. As men, we don't go to the doctor as we need to. As a result, men die too young and un-necessarily so because of false bravado; believing we are invincible. Tragic, poor decision making. We leave our families to grieve for a loss that could have been prevented or treated. We will talk about all of this on this blog. Please feel free to share your stories, comments here. I feel if we talk more, honestly and openly, we can do a lot of good. I look forward to sharing my journey with you.
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