DEE145

DEE’S STORY

Hi All,

Okay I have been posting here since Nov 2005. I found this site to be a great support to me, especially in those first few weeks Post OP. Just want to capture some of my story for those out there considering WLS.

Brief Background on Dee:
I am 38 years old and I’ve spent the last 11+ years being on the plus side. I did not grow up being over-weight and was really active during my 20’s and early 30’s in addition to going to college I also joined the US Marine Corps (so quite naturally the weight stayed off). When I left active duty for mother and wife hood, yep you guess it, the weight started creeping on. Still not a huge deal, I was one of those women that “hid” it well. So when I went from 145 to 165 not a huge difference, still I thought, I need to get this off, but just didn’t consistently stay in the gym, would take a few pounds off, and double would come back, then in August of 2000 I began a real tumulus time in my life, I went through a lot of personal issues, moved out on my own to a whole new geographical location and initially believe I was coping but in retrospect realized I did a lot of “social eating” to make up for some of my emptiness (after having left my husband of then 16 years). Even at this point, if I had of committed to a regular physical fitness program I would have done great, but in a nutshell I didn’t. Fast forward to April 2005 and now I’m weighing in at 247!!! (when did this happen moments ago I was like 200!) and feeling every-bit of it. Actually even at my heaviest, the weight was pretty well distributed, & most don’t realize I weigh this much (but I do), but now I’m borderline diabetic, I’m up to taking 4 different Blood Pressure medicines a day and going up a flight of stairs felt like I would die. It was at this point I realize I couldn’t do this on my own. I was exactly 100 pounds over my ideal weight and had a couple of commobidities. I needed to do something DRASTIC and QUICKLY.

I was still covered under military insurance and originally I was trying to get liposuction, this was not an option for non-active duty personnel at least in the area I live (NCR) National Capital Region/Washington DC. It was at this point, I found out about WLS. My doctor initially gave me a referral for the Lipo, but when he was told to have me check w/the surgery clinic, it turned out I was a good candidate for the WLS. In retrospect, I realize this was a blessing for me. I would not have been able to afford the surgery w/o being covered by my military insurance. I began the process July 15 of 2005, by August 19 2005 I had met all the prerequisite (seeing all the prescribe specialists) i.e. cardiologist, pulmonologist, physiatrist, etc… and by the end of August had my surgery date of Oct 24, 2005.

August through October, my surgeon and her clinical staff encouraged me to attend support group meetings; in fact, an attendance to at least one was mandatory prior to surgery. I was also encouraged to read as much as I could and went to a number of classes regarding nutrition, and the procedures involved in the Lap RYN surgery. Even armed w/all this information and having it reiterated to me time and time again that I was under going a major surgery, I underestimated the impact on my body w/the surgery. I had only one other surgery prior to my WLS and that was a C-Section and I was 20 at the time. I used this as a basis of how I would feel after WLS; WRONG of me to have done that, I was now 18 years older and not in my fittest. They say God takes care of babies and dummies. I was well taken care of!

Immediately after surgery once the pain meds wore off, I felt the PAIN, it was almost unbearable. I had to get out of bed and walk w/in hours of the operation; this was to decrease the chances of getting a blood clot. While I had good care and great pain medication during my stay in the hospital four in total, I still felt the pain of surgery.
I remember not being able to or wanting to eat until about 5 days after surgery, the doctors were most concerned about staying hydrated. True to what they said, about 2 weeks days after being home, I did become dehydrated and felt so bad, like a 10 ton had rolled over me, once I became hydrated again, I felt fine, it was a lesson of many to be learned the hard way (through pain and more pain).

As the weeks wore on I quickly realize that I had to watch and wait to see how everything was going to react w/my new stoma. It was at times a painful lesson. Having to basically relearn what you can and can’t eat. One day your tolerance for a food may be great and the next you may fall ill to that very same food. The good thing is you do learn, your body does heal and you do adjust to your new stomach.

January 2006, approximately 12 weeks out, today I now weigh in at 205 and the difference is dramatic. I forgot how good it felt to be lighter. Still about 58 pounds from my final goal, but feeling so so much better. Going shopping for smaller sizes every few weeks (only a few items at a time and usually on sale) is such a morale booster. I have always loved fashion clothes, and while I could fine tops reasonably okay, finding dresses, skirts and pants that I liked was a real problem; so now being able to go into stores like Macy’s, and Nordstrom’s and finding bottoms heck all types clothes, that fit and fit well is such a rush of adrenaline and joy for me.

So in retrospect I would have to say that all the pain I went through and the occasional uncomfortableness I still feel is all worth it; I wouldn’t/couldn’t have said this statement 6 weeks ago. The process is a journey and I’m still on it, but it’s true, things get so much better over time.

I am more than happy to talk to anyone who may have questions on the surgery. I can be IM or emailed at deemccoy2005@yahoo.com

Just wanted to share some of my experience to date w/my WLS.

Dee//
247/205/147