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Surgeon TestimonialMatthew Martin M.D., F.A.C.S.Dr. Martin was very friendly & answered every question I had during each visit with him. When I had concerns after surgery, he always had comforting words of advice or answers. Be sure to ask the questions you want answers for.
My DS surgery was Jan 22nd. My laproscopic surgery turned out to be Open due to a malfunctioning staple gun. I was in the hospital 5 days then released, but re-admitted with a high fever/ infection inside the drain site. Lots of antibiotics then released again.
Remember you are in a training/educational medical facility, so you can/will have teams of doctors coming around, and may not see Dr. Martin much, as he is busy with surgeries.
The office wait can be long, as most larger military Medical centers.
Over all, my care was good and Dr. Martin is very knowledgable in Bariatric surgery. |
I am a Christian, and it seems God has opened the right doors for me to go through to have the DS surgery because I had a previously scheduled RNY surgery date of Dec 8th, and canceled it within 2 weeks when I was able to get a scheduled DS date! (My insurance would not pay for the DS)
I know there will be many changes for my family also, during this process as my husband is deploying for a year to Iraq.
Finally have a date for the surgery I hoped for; Jan 22nd, 2010. One day closer... one step at a time.
I am proud of my husband who has been in the military for 23 years. We have 3 children; our daughter is 17, and a son that is 12, and our youngest son is 4.
We are blessed. Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
A Year & 1/2 post Op on August 12, 2012 11:35 pm
Wow, we are staying busy! We lived in New Jersey when I traveled across the country to have my DS surgery in WA state Jan 22nd, 2010. Then after my husband came home from his unaccompanied tour/ deployment we recieved orders to move to WA state. While at Fort Lewis only 1 year - I was able to go back to my WL surgeon Dr. Matthew Martin & have my tummy tuck/Anchor done when he fixed an incisional hernia. My husband will be officially retired from serving honorably for 26 yrs in the US Army, and he is currently following up on a tenative DOD job offer at Quantico marine base in Virginia. We moved back to the East coast in July & I will be following up with a WL surgeon at Bethesda w/ referral to nutrition for routine lab work.
This surgery has allowed me to be rid of all co-morbidities; sleep apnea/machine, high bp, ect. I can play with & keep up with my kids activities, fit in an airplane seat, tie my shoes, get up out of the floor easily & without losing my breath, enjoy warm weather, can wear a swim suit, enjoy out door activities & historical sites by walking/hiking, enjoy food without guilt, and can enjoy wearing size 7-9 women's clothing! Plus many more things like crossing my legs in church,
I am blessed to be at a place where my DS surgery was a part of my life, and I am not consumed by how weight or my surgery defines who I am, along with I get to enjoy living life more now...
Yes, we were active duty with Tricare Prime when I had my sugery at a Military medical center. Tricare would not pay for a non-military doctor to do the DS surgery - I could have had the Rou-N-Y, or lap band, but after all the research I did - I felt the DS was the surgery that worked best long term for me.
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Joined Century Club officially on December 13, 2010 3:06 am
I lost 100 lbs by 6 mos post-Op by my orig at home weight of 258.
I am 11 mos out from my DS surgery, & now weight 148.8 & fit into a size 8 comfortably.
I do have a hernia on the left side of my incision scar, but no pain from it at this time.
I hope to have it fixed with a tummy tuck eventually.
My life has been so much more enjoyable with out carrying around the extra 100 lbs!
And I can fit into some of my 18 yr old daughter's clothing!
Now trying to balence out my eating and figure where I want to maintain my weight at.
This has been a long and challenging - even dark road at times, but over all I am so blessed to have the life of health and activity I have now for myself & my family.
So thankful God has brought me through to this side of health.
~Tina
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3 Months Post-Op on April 30, 2010 5:30 am
I am down over 70 lbs at 3 months after surgery. I have not had any troubles with loose bowels, and can eat a variety of foods, but try to choose protein first.
It is wonderful to be able to fit into a size 16, when I was a 22-24 before surgery! I love that I don't have food stains on my shirts, can buckle my seatbealt without it cutting into my neck - it stays in place! I can tye my shoes without any huffing & puffing. I can ride a bike at the gym for 4 miles with out my lungs being crushed by my tummy, and I am not exhausted.
Those little things I want to remember, so I know where I came from, and keep focused on being healthy.
I'm still in the dating faze with my surgery, as I am trying to balence out adding extra protein through shakes and don't like the gassy effect they have. I'm enjoying my health one day at a time...
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6 1/2 weeks Post-Op on March 11, 2010 8:21 pm
I have lost 50 lbs, and mostly I am excited about 'feeling emotionally better'. I was a mess after the surgery; Jan 22nd. Since there were complications; My Journey has been a roller-coaster ride!
I was scheduled to have RNY with Dr. Wasser in NJ on Dec 8th, 2009. I had done quite a bit of research & really wanted to have the DS surgery, but my military Insurance (Tri-Care) would not cover the DS. Out of desperation, I started calling military medical facilities to see who had Bariatric surgery, and if any military doctors did the DS. I received a call back from Dr. Martin from Madigan Army Medical center at Fort Lewis, WA. (That is where we were stationed before moving to NJ 3 yrs ago & where out 4 yr old was born).
I found out that Dr. Martin had introduced the DS surgery at Madigan aprox. 6 months prior, (May-ish 2009). After our conversation, he was willing to check his surgery schedule & I was given a surgery date for the 18th of Dec. which was eventually changed due to the OR holiday schedule to a new surgery date of; Jan 22nd. I canceled my RNY surgery & started planning for airfare & a home-care plan for our 3 children - as my husband is deployed to Iraq for a year. My mom was able to plan a flight out from Oregon to stay with our children while I went to WA state for surgery.
Long story..short, During my surgery the staple gun misfired - so my 4 hr laparoscopic went to an open 7 hr surgery. I also had an umbilical hernia repaired & my gall bladder taken out, along with fixing/suturing any leaks during the surgery. I was in the hospital 5 days, and after being released I ended up with a 104 temperature & a large red rash across my back down to my thighs. I was readmitted into the hospital with an infection inside the drain site. Given large/ huge doses of Antibiotics in the hospital and 2 days later was released with more large doses of Antibiotics.
It was very difficult being away from home & my family. I was in a depression and wondering why I had made the choice to have this surgery that had taken everything out of me (emotionally & physically) & taken me away from my family.
After another week on antibiotics I finally had the staples removed & the drain had cleared & was also removed. I had another swallow test & had to wait until my Dr. was done with his day of surgeries o read the x-rays to see if he would release me to fly home.
Finally I was on my way home!! It was a long flight - I had a starbucks protein smoothie in the transfer airport, but was blessed to have wheelchair escorts the whole way!
It took me a few weeks to get over being overwhelmed by the events that happened, and finally I am seeing hope and sunshine for the days ahead. I've been figuring out that God has a hope and a plan for my life & I get to use my experiences as my testimony in What God has done to get me through the obstacles in my life.
My scar is finally healed over & I am getting close to being under 200lbs. I’m still working to figure out the vitamins, and what foods if any bother me.
One day closer to being a healthier me!
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New changes, new surgery, new date! on December 28, 2009 8:46 pm
I have plane tickets! I truly feel blessed to have the doors open up for me to have the DS surgery. I canceled the previous RNY surgery when I found out I could have the DS. I have been saddened that the local Bariatric Specialists are not working very well with me for followup when I was so impressed and happy to be a part of their team/group. My insurance would not pay for the DS, and that is the surgery I felt would be best for my longterm lifestyle. Even my previous Doctor said that he felt I should get the surgery I felt most comfortable with.
So I begin a new adventure. I will be flying across the country to have my surgery. I am getting somewhat nervous because I don't want to be away from my children for two weeks. My mom is flying here to be with our 3 children since my husband is deploying to Iraq for a year. I have to stay there for 2 weeks for my post-op visit before I can fly home. So I am praying everything goes smoothly with no complications.
I have been reseraching protien drinks, and options to start my new eating plan. It will be a little different to be preparing things I need for after surgery in another state, then figuring out what I can take on the airplane for flying all day, to get me home
One day at a time, one step closer One step at a time, one day closer.
My happy New Year gift to me! haha
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My Story
During high school I had an athletic 'gymnast' type slim, yet buff body.
Then after college, in my 20's I noticed some weight gain during stressful times of my life.
When I had my first child in May 1992, I was exactly 200lbs the day I went in to deliver. I was finishing up my EMT I certification and driving an ambulance during my final months of pregnancy, along with after she was born. Then within about 3 months I gained stress weight as I moved and went back to college full time. I lost and regained weight after my 2nd child in Oct. 1997. Then regained excess weight with my 3rd child in 2005. I had all three c-sections for deliveries.
Now I am at my heaviest weight of 254lbs. I always found some diet or excercise program to get off between 30-60 lbs. From Atkins, Curves, low-fat, phen-phen, and many other 'over the counter' or new web weightloss products/pills, ect. This time when I started an excercise program with my husband at the gym, I ended up with very painful plantar fiscitus in the arches of my feet which took over 6 months to clear up with wearing high-arch supportive shoes during all awake hours.
At just over 40 yrs old, I had a full lab workup done to check my health - I was concerned that I had a thyroid problem. All the labs came back just under radar/high levels. With a gentle warning from my doctor that if I didn't start loosing weight and becoming more healthy that my levels would cause some major problems; diabetes, thyroid, ect. I have been having knee pain and really bad low back pain if I sleep more than 5 hours per night. I did get diagnosed with sleep apnea last year, and have been told by my primary care provider/doctor that I do qualify for Weight Loss Surgery.
I have been researching the surgery that would be best for me and my lifestyle long-term, and may change my choice as I continue along this journey. I am praying that God will open the doors I am to go through and firmly close the doors I am not to go through.
I am blessed.
Jer 29:11
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