• Username: NanceB
  • Location: WV, USA
  • Member Since: 2/11/2012
  • BMI: 21.8
  • Post Op
  • Surgery Type: RNY (02/15/11)
  • Surgeon: Daniel Gagne
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Surgeon Testimonial

Daniel Gagne
I would Highly recommend Dr Gagne, and his staff. They provided a very professional attitude but also allowing patients a sense of comfort and compassion. From my first visit to now, I had confidence Dr Gagne and his staff, understood my needs and what would need to be done to help correct my condition. You can talk and ask any question and they are more than willing to help you understand the answers, and what to expect. I had issues with my insurance not wanting to cover my revision, I am sure the staff spent a good amount of time reviewing my case with my insurance company, and thanks to them I was able to cut some of my wait time off. I know you hear all the good and nothing bad about a lot of things, but I can honestly tell you, If I had to do this all over again, Dr Gagne would be my choice.
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My Story

My story may become rather long. I have 12 years of post op history to tell you, but I will try to keep if brief.

To begin I will give you a little history of myself, I was a skinny, straggly haired child until about the age of 7.
Then the weight started to come on and fast. As a child I did not realize is was too heavy, and by the third grade I was over 100 pounds, i dont recall my actual weight at that time. (years later my mother told my the school nurse had called her back then with concerns for my health and weight). By 6th grade I was the girl the boys would pick on and girls would talk behind my back. Laughed at, picked on, and sometimes bullied. So for most of my childhood, I felt alone and unwanted.
My parents would try to get me to be more active and tried to help with me weight, but i was not very co-operative.
I loved food and would eat anything I wanted and as much of it as I felt like eatting. I know now that it is a good possiblity that I was eatting because of depression, Like many other people I saw food as my friend and took comfort in it.
By high school my weight was out of control, at least in my eyes I was up to 250 pounds and still sw nothing wrong with my size, call it denial. I met a young man in high school who did not see me for my size, but saw me for who I was.
after high school we lost contact for a few years, during that time my weight was still increasing but slower. I had met someone else and had a child, but he wanted to be with someone else, so again I was alone. After some time I wasable to reconnect with the guy i met in high school and we married shortly after. My weight was not a concern to him, he loved me for being me. Through the next years my weight was still increasing. by the age of 30, I was 300 pounds. I was a shamed of my size, I would go to my daughters school for a school function and see all the skinny moms with their children, I was embarassed for my daughter, and I became with drawn and depressed. This only caused me to eat more.
My daughter never judged me for my size, she loved me, I was her mom. Then one year it hit me like a brick, as some of you may have heard of or experianced for yourself, my family had convienced me to go to the amusement park.
And yes I was the lady that had to get off the ride because the safety belt would not fit around me. People staring and pointing and laughing at me once again, my nightmare was coming true. Later that night I decided I had to loss weight.
That began my years of unsucessfully  trying to loss weight, my doctor ran all the test an could find no known cause as to why i could not loss the weight, I tried every program out there, and even tried with medication, but my weight would not come down.  During these years my marriage fell apart, and my daughter decided she would rather live with her step-dad. another blow to the gut, alone and even my child did not want to be near me. Now i need to add this was not due to my size, this was because I had become a major (b*tch). I was trying to loss weight and I had unknown to me and my doctor started into menopause, my mood would swing faster than flipping the light on and off.  by the age of 35 my weight was at 310 I was able to get some of the weight off but not enough, I was able to stop the weight gain thankfully for a short time, but it was starting to creep upwards again.  I had heard about the weight loss surgery from a co-worker  who had it done.
I watched him for a year, during this time he would tell me Nance you should look into it. And he tried to give me the business card for his surgeon. I told him no I wasn't ready but to hang on to that card, when I was ready i would ask him for it. He placed it in his wallet an said its here just let me know when you want it.
I watched him for a year, his weight loss was amazing, one day with tears in my eyes, I walked up to him and ask Joe do you still have that card. He opened his wallet and handed me the card, right from where he placed the year before. I called the surgeon that evening and tried to schedule an appointment, but the surgeon didn't accept my insurance company.
I felt defeated. I made an appointment with my PCP, at the appointment I told him I wanted to have the surgery, he let out what sounded like a sigh of relief. i looked at him puzzled, it was then, that he explained. Nance i am very happy you brought it up first, because I had to tell you today thats your last shot, he asked me if I was sure, and waited for me to reply. Yes thats what I want to do. He then told me "good because I have to tell you if you don't you'll be dead in a year, your weight is increasing and and you body is crushing your own organs."  I told him I didn't plan on dying anytime soon.
I explained about the surgeon of my co-worker not taking my insurance, he told me he would be right back and left the room, returning a few minutes later, he handed me the name and number of a surgeon,that would accept my insurance , he also told me he had spoken to him, and had explained my history, the surgeon agreed to see me and my appointment was in 2 weeks.  I don't know what he told him to get me an appointment so fast, but I was very thankful that he did. My appointment with my PCP was on Sept 13, the appointment with the surgeon was on the 29th, I was thrilled that things seemed to be working out. I met the surgeon on the 29th I told him I wanted the gastric bypass, he told me he stopped doing the bypass on patients and was doing the Lapband only, he explained the procedure and I was all for it.
When can we do it, i had to have ll the pre-op testing done, and i know some of this can take some time, then there was getting insurance to approve the surgery, In the next 2 weeks time I had test after test, by the 13th of October my tests where done, someone up above was smiling down on me, the surgeon said all we need now is insurance to approve.
I saw the surgeon for all the results and signed all the request paperwork that day the 13th of October. He told me they would submit the paperwork to my insurance and to wait 3 days then call the insurance company to make sure they received it. ( Insurance companies are known for lossing or not receiving paperwork). I waited the 3 days and called to check. I woman I spoke to came back on the line and said oh yes your surgery is cleared and scheduled for the 29th of November. I was dumb-founded and she could tell,and asked if that was ok, I told her yes its great, I then explained I was calling to confirm the papers were received I had not expected an approval already. She said your surgeon has not told you yet ? I said no the papers were only sent 3 days ago, she looked at the date on the forms and said oh wow I have never heard anyone getting an approval that fast, this is a first. I was thrilled. The 6 week wait was tough, days seemed to drag on forever.  I had not told my family what I was planning, I knew, I would not get the support I needed, and they would try to talk me out of it. 2 weeks out, I told my parents and my favorite uncle my plan, and as expected my parents tried to talk me out of it. Your not that big, you don't need to do that. You see I never told anyone what my PCP told me that day in his office.But as I explained to my family that I had already made up my mind and my surgery was already scheduled for the 29th,I could hear his voice echo, "dead in a year". I stuck to my guns, I am having it done just thought you should know. Lots of questions later and the days got closer, they didn't agree but had stopped trying to talk me out of it. My favorite uncle, Uncle Jack was very supportive, and interested in know more, as I explained things, I could see the understanding in his eyes. I asked him if he would come see me in the hospital after it was over, of curse I'll be there, he hugged me and said your gonna be ok kiddo. The morning of surgery had arrived, I had a friend take me to the hospital to  drop me off, but he insisted he was staying til they took me into surgery. My life was about to change and i was ready. In to surgery I went, as I woke I could see a man standing by my bed holding my hand, It was my Unclle Jack, wake up kiddo your ok, I smiled and began to cry, with relief and happiness. My family did not visit, just my uncle, so he has always had a special place in my heart.
When I was a child, I would joke saying I wish I had a zipper and the real me could step out. I had the Lapband done the surgery was not laproscopic but an open procedure. when I was able to remove the binder and the gauze to clean the incision I saw the staples and their it was my zipper and yes my scare looks like a zipper track, its faded but I know its there.

Back home, I will have to assume my Uncle Jack had told my family off, because the attitude of all was very different.
Everyone was supportive and caring and helpful, wow things had already changed. The words heard most was that they never saw me as big, I was just Nance. Really people? not that big, I was wearing a womans size 30 -32 and still gaining, not that big give me a break. I don't know what he said, but I was glad he did. Weight loss can quickly, lost 35 pound by the time the staples came out. I was on my way. Over the next year I had dropped over 100 pounds, at 18ths post-op I was down to 175 pounds.My health had improved almost immediately, after surgery blood pressure came down to normal range without meds, arthritis gone, all tests revealed my organs were in great shape, and no damage. life was great, I returned to school got my degree, In automotive and Diesel Technologies, at a school were 300 students and only 6 are women, lol never could have done that before the surgery. After grad, I was offered a job in another state, to move away from my home town, to an area were no one know me from pre-surgery days. What an opportunity, a fresh start at my new life, I was packed and gone. A new life, no one knowing anything unless I chose to tell them. I found myself in uncharted waters, I was skinny, and attractive, and in the automotive field, guys were every I turned, this they can't teach you, or give you any advise. I can say to you, nothing other than, go slow and be careful.

Fast forward to 2004, the regain starts and the depression returns,Uncle Jack is I'll and in the hospital, and it does not look good, I plan to come home to see him. Before I can make arrangements, I am told by one of his daughter not to come, they do't want to scare him, and if he sees me he will know its not good, because they didn't tell him how bad he was. I am hurt and pissed because he passes away on a Friday, and I am not told until the following Monday, visitation is done funeral was that morning. I never got to say goodbye, I love you, see ya on the other side.

Fast forward again to January 2006, Dad is rushed to the hospital and i am told to fly home, I am home for a week, Hospis has brought dad home, at this point, I had no idea what hospis was or meant, I do not have a medical back-round so at this point I am clueless, I thought ok cool he's home. My boss at a different job that I had taken is calling daily for an update as to when I will be back. So not understanding I fly back home. I have a lay-over and as I get off the plane, turning my phone back on it starts to go crazy constant ringing and beeping with missed calls and messages. Standing in the middle of the airport surrounded by hundreds of strangers I am told my daddy passed away while I was in the air. january 26th,  I continue to fly home, and make arrangements to fly back the next day. Funeral was tough, I was a daddy's girl.
Back home and at work again, giving my boss proof that my father passed away. Depression is high its been less than 10 days, I get the call mom is rushed to the hospital, boss doesn't believe me, but I fly home again, mom passes away February 13th, everyday my boss is calling wanting an update, as to when I will be back. Like I said he didn't believe me, so he snaps and demands proof. No sympathy no compassion nothing.  Depression is full blown, and I am eatting like there is no tomorrow, weight naturally increases fast. Between the loss of my parents and my boss was an a**hole, I quit my job and return home, problem now, no job too, more depression eatting.

Fast forward to 2009 weight is up back to 225, depression eatting still going strong, lost the motivation to do anything to stop it. You can see a picture of me Christmas 2009 weight 240 pic of me in the yellow sweatshirt, you can tell by the look on my face I'm not happy.    Ok February 2010 finally got a job, starting to smile, Move in with my best friend, to help him and me, smiling more, weight is coming down 220.  May 2010 doctor puts me on high blood pressure meds, not happy but ok with it, my health is important. Oh no hospital visit for me, blood pressure meds were too strong and my blood pressure drops dangerously low, my best friend had to keep yelling at me to breath and keeping me awake until the parametics arrive. Hospital stay was 5 days and my blood pressure is fine with a lower dose of meds, but I have a new problem. New problem I can eat or keep food down,nothing will stay, not even liquids. Doctor checks me over and advises me to contact my Lapband surgeon. He is no longer around, but I contact a new surgeon from the same hospital that did my Lapband.  The new surgeon agrees to see me, and at the first visit has me go for an immediate x-ray of the stomach and then an endoscopic examine, the test is stopped because the scope will not pass through to my stomach pouch, the band has slipped and tighted around the passage to my stomach, the opening is small the same size as a coffee stirrer  or the tube inside an ink pen, just to give you an idea of the size. No food can pass through and not may liquids. The surgeon says I need a revision surgery right away, and is talking about doing the sleeve surgery.
I have to drink fluids constantly and I am drinking my calories anything to get nutrition in to my body, I am scheduled for surgery, finally its been 2 months, and my body is starting to run down. It is the day before surgery I get a call from the hospital finance department, my insurance will not cover the surgery, they say it is a pre-existing condition because the band was done 10 years before, I have to wait the mandatory 1 year waiting time from the time I got my insurance. That means April 2011. My surgeon is pissed tells them it is medically nessicary, They are willing to drop 2 mths off the wait taking it to February, it is now November, I have already fought with the insurance and all I can do is wait, and drink anything that will give me nutrients, the doctors keep monitoring my levels for malnutrition, I am on all liquids at this point and trying to hold my own, knowing February will come. Its December I get a call for the hospital my surgeon has left and refered me to a new surgeon. This new surgeon is Dr Gagne, I have a consult with him and we get everything set and paper work in ordered, we agree, I should have the surgery as soon as insurance approval will allow. We also agree to do the RYN revision this means he will resize the stomach and do a bypass, the portion of the stomach that has the band will be re-routed and the band will be left were it is, since that area will no longer be used. Surgery scheduled February 15th 2011, the day before surgery was very nerve racking, everytime the phone rang I would get sick to my stomach, waiting for them to say no again. The hospital called everything is in order and I am to arrive a 6 am. What a relief, surgery goes as planned, and as told by Dr Gagne the weighty heavy feeling in my chest is gone, after surgery I am still on liquids, but this time its because of the surgery. With in a few weeks, I will be eatting soft foods and a few weeks from that I can progress to more. My weight the day of surgery was 220 pounds.
 
Moving forward again, coming up on my one year surgery annivarsary in a few days, I am happy to tell you. I am 135 -140 pounds. I have gone from the size of 18-20 at surgery to a size 6. This is the smallest size I have reached in my adult life, maybe ever I don't remember ever being this small. I don't know if I have reached the level were my weight loss stops or if I have reached a platue, I keep bouncing around with this 5 pounds back and forth between 135 and 140. Maybe its because its winter time and my body is trying to stay warm, if you have any advise I will listen. Also anyone with advise about exercises would help. This is my story up to today 2-11-12.  thanks for reading, and I wish you happiness, luck and love in your journey.