Make sure that you thoroughly research the different types
of surgeries available. Make sure that you have a complete
understanding of what is expected before and after the
surgery. Understand that in order for the surgery to be a
success you will have to make a lot of changes for life. The
surgery is just a tool to help you with your goal.
Surgery is a life long commitment. Discuss it with your
family and gain their support. Realize that surgery is just
a few hours, it takes time for your body to heal and more
time for your mind to understand and accept the surgery.
To be successful, follow the doctor’s instructions and
recommendations, all of them, not just the easy ones.
Realize that surgery is to improve your overall health, not
to make you look perfect. There is a good chance that you
will have excess skin after the weight loss so be prepared
for that. Understand the risks involved, ask a lot of
questions so you can make an informed decision.
Procedure:
Distal RNY gastric bypass
Surgeon: Ki Oh, MD
Date of surgery: March, 2003
Height: 6’ 5”
Weight before surgery: 474 lbs.
Total weight loss: 275 lbs
At the age of 25 I was told that I had less than a
year to live… I had several co-morbidities such as sleep apnea,
hypertension, type two diabetes, and cardiomyopathy. My liver
function was horrible and my kidneys were beginning to shut
down. It was only a matter of time before my body 'gave out' due
to my extreme obesity.
My biggest post-surgery challenge has been
adjusting to eating smaller quantities of food, and not relying
on food as a 'reward.' I used to eat excessively when I was
happy, or sad, so finding a new avenue for emotional venting has
been something new for me to learn.
Life is GREAT
now! I love being able to do anything, and everything that I’ve
missed out on while I was overweight. All of my co-morbidities
have disappeared and I now have a normal life span.
Be sure to do your research when
selecting a surgeon. Definitely get into a support group for
bypass patients before and after surgery, and most importantly
take all of your vitamins and protein supplements that your
surgeon recommends.
Teheresa
Procedure: Distal gastric bypass
Surgeon: Dr. Ki Oh
Date of surgery: November 2004
Height: 5’ 6”
Weight before surgery: 282 lbs.
Total weight loss: 147 lbs
I was always the chubby child growing up. I was not motivated
and was your typical couch potato. I tried all of the popular
diets and tried to go it alone. I suffered from fatigue and had
a lot of aching joints from my extra weight.
I have a young daughter and in
addition take care of some other children so being laid up after
surgery was difficult. The protein shakes took some getting used
to but now I am used to them. It is all part of a new life that
is so much better.
The biggest change for me has been
the amount of energy I have. Previously I was just a couch
potato and was always tired. Now I run circles around others -
including my daughter. She tells me - You're a princess mommy! I
always wanted to be the princess - not the chubby kid in the
corner.
You really have to plan out how you are going to handle your new
life. It is possible to gain the weight back if you think you
can just wing it. Of course, learn all you can. A great way to
do this is to attend the support groups. I still go to the group
that meets at St. Francis.
Sallie
Procedure: Medial gastric bypass
Surgeon: Dr. Ki Oh
Date of surgery: August 2004
Height: 5’ 9”
Weight before surgery: 363 lbs.
Total weight loss:Total
weight loss: 204lbs
I just didn’t have much of a life. I just worked
and slept 10-12 hours a night. Being morbidly obese—a lot of
it is emotional. I would drive around forever to find the
closest spot so I didn’t have to walk. If my friends wanted
to sit outside to eat in those little plastic chairs, the
whole time I would worry that the chair might break. There
are so many limitations. Little, teeny things that a normal
sized person would never even think of.
Making sure I exercise and take all my vitamins. That’s a
LOT of vitamins. The weight just comes off, but after about
a year—you HAVE to make good exercise choices, you HAVE to
make good food choices.
The surgery and weight loss give you more control of your
life. It allows you to set boundaries. It gives you
confidence—in relationships, in activities, everything. You
realize, if you can do this, you can do anything you set
your mind to.
The most important thing is:
don’t think surgery will change your life on its own. It
will at first but you have to take control. Understand all
the rules, and stick to them. Don’t try to see what you can
get away with. I’ve seen a counselor throughout and I find
it helpful. You still don’t want to get up in the morning to
go exercise. It IS easier as a thinner person than as an
obese person, but it’s still hard.
Rochelle
Procedure: Gastric bypass
Surgeon: Dr. Ki Oh
Date of surgery: August 2003
Height: 5’ 5”
Weight before surgery: 242 lbs.
Total weight loss:Total weight
loss:
113 lbs
I was focused on eating all of the time. I would get rashes in
the heat and got tired from walking just short distances. I
hated to shop for clothes. My family is obese. My weight was
constantly increasing as I got older. My blood pressure was
rising as well. I had issues with stroke, diabetes and blood
pressure. My father’s health scared me and I knew I had to make
a life change.
It is difficult to get in all of the protein shakes on a regular
basis as well as the vitamins. I have had a hard time with
anemia.
Wow! People are so much nicer to me now. I love to shop for
clothes and have so many more options. I can wear summer clothes
comfortably.
Do your
homework. Be as informed as you can be. Make sure that it is
your decision and not anybody else’s. Utilize your resources.
Obesityhelp.com has a wealth of information. Married couples
need to seek out counseling and therapy. The non affected spouse
can have their own issues and it can cause a lot of strife that
may lead to divorce. Confronting these issues before surgery is
critical to the relationship.
