Surgeon Testimonial John J. Feng, M.D. I was so nervous to meet with Dr. Feng for my consultation because of past interactions with doctors. When I stepped on that scale and saw what I weighed before Dr. Feng came in the room I just wanted to run out. To my surprise and delight, he didn’t bat an eye at that huge number. He didn’t berate me, or belittle me. Dr. Feng was concerned for me with such a high BMI but wasn’t judgmental. He talked with me for over 2 hours about the different WLS that were available and answered every one of my questions. I felt totally as ease with him. I decided to have the VSG. My surgery took an hour and went smoothly. Dr. Feng spoke with my family right after the surgery and made them all feel at ease and comfortable. His bedside manner in the hospital was wonderful and I felt taken care of. Dr. Feng really stresses aftercare. I can see him every month for an office visit if I wanted to and he runs the monthly support group I attend. He is always available to answer questions through email and phone calls. He certainly makes me feel like I am important and that makes all the difference in the world. I would highly recommend Dr. Feng to anyone I know! Member Interests
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Welcom to my profile. I had my VSG on Nov. 21, 2005 and I love it!   My Story    <>
The Beginning of My Story I have been overweight since the age of 6 or 7. I was always the biggest in my entire family (my sister was always tiny, my mother was always slim and my father was always a normal weight) No one in my extended family was overweight including aunts, uncles, and cousins. So I always knew I was different. I knew that anytime we sat down to eat at a family gathering I was being watched. My family just didnt understand what kind of hold food had over me, even at a young age. I remember not wanting to eat in front of people because I could feel their eyes on me with every fork or spoonful. For the most part my extended family was kind, once in a while a cousin would make comment, but they were my peers and you know how children/teenagers can be. My mom, dad and sister were always good to me and tried hard to make me feel normal. I spent a lot of my adolescent years trying any and all diets that came my way. I would loss weight for a while and then gain it all back plus more. Jr. High was horrible and traumatic because of a few bullies. It's in Jr. High that I figured out that if I used humor and made people laugh some of these bullies would leave me alone. High School was fun once I stood up for myself and wouldn't allow others to make me feel like less of a person. I hovered around a size 18-22. My family moved once I was out of High School and I started Jr. College in a new town without any friends. I became depressed and my weight ballooned even more out of control. I started a liquid diet (you know, like the one Oprah did when she lost all that weight in the late 80's early 90's) I lost a lot of weight, probably about 80 to 90 lbs. I felt great and started to like school. I met my best friend Christine and started dating a guy that became my boyfriend (who I stayed with for 4 years~ which was 3 and ½ years tooooo long!). I thought all was great.....but because the diet was a liquid one, and eventually I had to start eating "real" food again the weight came back with a vengeance. When I finally broke up with the college boyfriend I was depressed again and gained even more weight. I met the man that is now my husband and we were just friends for a couple of years. We finally realized that we loved each other and began a relationship. At the time I told him that I was a big girl and that I didn't think I would ever be skinny. I asked him if he would have a problem with that and he told me no, that although he thought that I was beautiful, he loved me for the person I was inside. We became engaged after 2 years and I decided that I wanted to lose weight before my wedding. I joined Weight Watchers and I did fantastic! I lost about 100Lbs, in about 16 months and walked down the aisle feeling great! But once married life started, so did the pounds. I consistently put on weight over the next 6 years to the point of weighting 372lbs at my highest. I had back pain all the time. I could hardly walk without huffing and puffing. I couldn't keep up with my family and friends anymore. I was having chest pains all the time. I didn't want to go out any more. I was starting to feel like a shut in. The start of my Weigh Loss Surgery Journey One morning my mother called me to tell be about a segment she saw on theToday show about the Lab-band WLS. I missed the show so I emailed the Today show and asked them to send me some information about the segment. To my surprise they were very accommodating and the producer of the piece personally emailed me the info. I was so excited to get the info, that I immediately began researching the Lab-Band. I found the Doctors that the Today show interviewed and looked into their program. They were in a different state so I decided to look in my own area for a Doctor that did this procedure. I found Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco and made an appointment with Dr. Feng. I went in for my first consult in early September. I brought my mother with me because I was nervous and needed someone to be with me. I hadn't been on a scale in a couple of years so I had no idea what I weighted. When I got on that scale and saw 372.....I thought I was going to have a heart attack right there. I told Dr. Feng that I wanted the Lab-Band surgery, because it was something that could be reversed if need be, and nothing was done to my intestines. He was very polite about my choice but told me he wanted to explain the 4 different surgeries they do for weight loss. He told me I was super super morbidly obese. SUPER SUPER?!?!? I had never heard of super super morbidly obese. I was still reeling from finding out what I really weighed and then hearing the super super morbidly obsess classification, I was mortified! We talked for over 2 hours about weight loss surgeries and he went over each one: the D.S, RNY, Lab-Band, and the newest one the VSG. I decided the VSG was what I wanted. I didn't feel the Lab-Band would give me the help I needed and I didn't want the other surgeries because I didn't want to mess around with my intestines. The data on the VSG was so encouraging and I felt so at ease with Dr. Feng that I wanted to have the surgery the next day!!!!! I remember him saying that he knew of patients that had lost 150lbs in 6 months. Can you believe that? 150lbs........in 6 months?!?! I left his office knowing that I would have this surgery and it would change my life. In the next few weeks, I steamrolled my way through pre-op appointments. I got them all done with-in three weeks. I had never been to the doctor so much in my life. My insurance wouldn't cover the VSG because they said it was still experimental so we decided to self-pay (thanks to my mom and dad!!) I scheduled my surgery for November 21, 2005, yes, the week of Thanksgiving. Within 6 weeks of my first consult I was going to have WLS! November 21,2005 I don't think I will ever forget this day! The drive to S.F. from my home is about 2 hours. I remember thinking that this is the last time I will be driving in a car and feeling so uncomfortable, that this is the last day I will be super super morbidly obese. My husband, mother, father, sister, brother-in-law, and my beloved niece all came with me. They were all so supportive of this decision (although my husband and father were so nervous and scared that something was going to happen to me during surgery) They all got hotel rooms so they could stay in the city while I was in the hospital. I was so excited to be having this surgery that I never really felt panicky or worried. I feel anxious ever now and then because I had never been admitted into a hospital, never had surgery before so I just didn't know what to expect. I was clam until I had to walk into the operating room. Dr. Feng wants his patients to walk into surgery because it helps with blood clots in the legs. I remember coming close to tears at this point because it was so real and I felt so alone. I had been so fearless about this whole surgery and now I felt like a little girl that just wanted her mommy to hold her hand. Maybe it was because I knew there was no turning back. And I was right, there was no turning back I had to do this. This moment of fear went away quickly when the nurse put her arm around me and told me that I was going to be so happy with my life after this surgery. Her daughter had WLS and it was the best thing to ever happen to her. My surgery lasted 1 hour and all went perfectly. Dr. Feng told my family that the surgery went smoothly and he was so happy I had lost about 10lbs before so my liver was smaller. He said everything looked great. I remember waking up and felling like I had done 1 million sit ups. I was wheeled into my room and my amazing family were all there waiting for me. I was so happy to see all of their smiling faces (although I could tell they were all putting on a brave face for me. My Mom told me I looked white as a ghost.) The anesthetic made me sick so I began throwing up pretty quickly after waking up from surgery; I ended up having to stay an extra day to make sure it was out of my system. I couldn't say enough about the hospital, the nurses and my doctor. They were all fabulous, kind, and respectful. At Home and Starting a New Life The first couple of days at home were mostly sleeping, trying to drink water, and trying to get protein in. I remember walking up and down my hallway to help relieve the gas buildup and the nausea. It really did help. My husband was a complete angel. . I couldn't sleep in my bed yet and slept in my comfy chair out in the living room. He would get up in the middle of the night and get my meds, rub my back and hold my hand. He would go on walks with me that would only last half a block and never complained at all. And as I said before, I had my surgery the week of Thanksgiving, so he went to my mother and father's house for Thanksgiving dinner for about an hour and came right home. He didn't want me to be alone on Thanksgiving. To be honest I couldn't have cared less that it was Thanksgiving but I sure did appreciate my husband wanting to take care of me. I spent a lot of time with my Mom who also would walk with me, rub my back, drive me where ever I needed to go, and just generally take care of me during the day and never complain. What a wonderful family! I started losing weight immediately, and it was coming off fast!!!! I was shocked when at my 2 week appointment with Dr. Feng I realized that I had lost 20lbs! 20lbs in 2 weeks? I couldn't believe it. And losing all that weight without feeling hungry was unbelievable. Food wasn't important anymore, at least not now. What a new way of life. I wasn't thinking about what I was going to eat for dinner at 7:00 a.m. I wasn't obsessing about eating, and wasn't feeling hungry. I wondered if this is what "normal" weighing people felt like. After the 4th week I did however begin to morn food. I got cranky about not being able to eat whatever I wanted, even though I couldn't and didn't want to eat those foods. I felt like my social life, my fun, my comfort, my celebrations were all taken away from me. This lasted for a couple of weeks and I had been warned that these feelings would pop up. I made myself go to dinner with friends and family even though I couldn't eat anything because I wanted to prove to myself that food wouldn't have the hold over me anymore. I learned that going out to dinner was more about being with my friends and family instead of eating. I have had to focus on finding other things to entertain me. Food and eating needs to be my second thought when planning a fun outing instead of my first thought. And that took some getting use to. Shopping for clothes has been one heck of an experience. At my highest weight I was fitting into a 5X and some 30-32's. I knew it wouldn't be long before I couldn't fit into the 30-32's and then I would have to buy all my clothes in catalogs or on-line, and that really freaked me out. I love to shop and couldn't imagine not being able to do it anymore. Well, within the first couple of weeks I needed new clothes. I was flying through sizes. I remember buying some pants in a 26-28 and being so excited that I wasn't in the biggest size the store sold. I recently got rid of all the clothes that don't fit me anymore and as most of us know, that is a hard thing to do. In all my years of dieting, I hardly got rid of clothes that were to big because I knew that I would need them again someday. Not this time! I ended up having only a laundry basket full of clothes that fit. So I have been buying clothes at Wal-mart (I never bought clothes from them before and they have some cute stuff) Target, Ross, DD's, and clearance items at LaneBryant, and Avenue. When I see something cute and cheap in a smaller size I buy it because I know that I will fit it soon. I still pick up and look at sizes that are too big, but quickly put it back ( I guess it's just a habit). Sometimes my clothes and the way I look in them make me feel better then what my scale says!
My niece and I getting ready for a Ren Faire.
Here is a picture in my renaissance costume.
My Doxie Bandit......isn't he the cutest!?!?!
At the beach for my family renunion. Wow I can't believe I'm wearing pink!
Here we are playing in the sand. I forgot what fun it is!
Well ladies and gentlemen it’s now been 10 months since my VSG. I am now down 160 lbs. I still can’t believe that I can say that…………….. down 160 lbs. I’m still trying to deal with my “fat” brain. I’m feeling like I’m a size 26-28. I just realized the other day that I might be able to buy clothing at regular stores, so I ventured into Old Navy. It was strange to be walking around that store looking for clothing for ME!!!! What was fascinating was the feeling I had that people were looking at me like I shouldn’t be in that store, like “what does she think she’s doing in here?” I know, in fact, that no one was probably even giving me a second look. I didn’t end up buying anything. Still had some doubts about being able to fit things and I didn’t have the time to try them on. I will go back and see, maybe during this week, when I have the time to try the clothes on. I will need some cute new clothes since I’m going on Vacation for the first time since I’ve had this surgery……………………We’re going to Disneyland and Magic Mountain during the week of Oct 9th. Oh I can’t wait to get on those rollercoasters . I keep asking my husband if he thinks that I will fit on all the rides, and he just shakes his head at me. He can’t believe that I would have this fear. Like I said before, my “fat” brain still gets in the way. I’ll make sure to take pictures to share with all of you. I also had my 10 month check-up with my doctor and he was so pleased with my weight loss. I talked to him about when he thought my husband and I could start to try and have a baby. We had been trying for close to 5 years before my surgery. When the doctor finally told me that she thought our infertility was due to my weight, I knew I would never get pregnant unless some miracle happened. (I think the miracle is VSG!!) He told me that he prefers 16 months out from surgery and at goal for a month or two. I’m hoping to be at goal before 16 months so we don’t have to wait any longer. He said that during pregnancy I would/should only gain 20 lbs and it would be a healthier pregnancy now since I have dropped so much weight. Oh the goals are so close and in sight now. It’s still so exciting to see the changes and feel the WOWs with each pound gone.
One year out from surgery and I look back and think WOW!!!!!!!! My life is so different now. There are so many things that I can do now that were physically impossible for me to do last year. There are so many things that I can do now that were mentally impossible for me to do last year also! It really is so connected. I’m sure you all would like some examples of what I mean, so physically I can walk and keep up with my family and friends (sometimes I even pass them up!) I can fit comfortably in any car and fit any seat belt without an extender! I can move so much easier, I don’t knock things over all the time, or bump into everything. I can sit on my parents porch swing and not worry about it breaking. I can cross my legs when I sit. I can fit into a booth….ANY BOOTH!!! I can hike up a hill without stopping. I can sleep through the night without waking up in pain or gasping for air. I can sit on my husbands lap and not crush him! Oh yeah, my husband and family can hug me and get their arms all the way around me! There are so many more to list. Now mentally I can walk into public and not feel like every eye is on the huge fat girl. I WANT to take pictures now. I WANT to show people the pictures that were taken of me. I WANT to go out and see people and been seen myself. I choose clothes that don’t hang off me and are more formfitting. I don’t wear black all the time (although I still love to wear black, it’s just not the only thing in my wardrobe) I don’t want to just sit in my house and hide and eat. I discovered a new life and new world. My life isn’t a dark hole. It’s full of light now. And I want to be out in it. Instead of dreaming about doing things I am doing them. What a difference a year makes. What a difference 170 lbs makes, not just to my body, but to my brain, and to my soul. Thanks for reading ~ Aliece December 3, 2006 372/ 202/ 150 Pre-op/current/ goal
I’m now 13 months out from this life changing surgery. This time my milestone is fitting into *regular* sized clothing. I’m able to buy things in the normal size department instead of the “woman’s” section. It’s weird and wonderful all at once! I feel overwhelmed at the choices I can now make, and I also feel like I have no business being there. After all, I have shopped in the large sized clothing stores almost my whole life. I feel like I am a spy sneaking around seeing what skinny people wear! My husband Ron looked at me the other day while we were out shopping and did a double take. He said he really looked at me and couldn’t believe how skinny I looked. He watched me walk and said I move so different now. I loved hearing that. I have been having stalls now. I will stall for a week or two, then bam! Weight will suddenly fall off, then back to the stall again. I have found out that some of this is due to medication I am taking. I try not to be a slave to the scale and feel my weight loss through the clothes I can wear, and the energy I expend now! I know that without this surgery, I would be in such a different place in my life right now. Most likely hiding in my house, depressed about how huge I am. Not facing the fact that I could die from all this weigh. Not wanting to venture out into the world and have fun. Only wanting to eat and eat and eat. Now I just want to go, go, go!!!!! I want to have all the fun I couldn’t have for the last couple of years. I’m really catching up on life! Next huge step for Ron and me will be trying to have a baby. I can’t wait! What beauty and light has entered my life now. I know it’s sounds so corny and like a greeting card, but I can’t help it! Life is good! Thanks for reading~ Aliece January 7,2007 372 / 198 / 150 Pre-op/current/goal
Biggest at 372lbs Now 198lbs.....feeling so much better!
14 months already! Wow moments keep happening and they haven’t lost their affect on me yet! From shopping in smaller sizes, to fitting in an airplane seat and seatbelt with ease, to the realization that the people I meet now never even think that I was super super morbidly obese 14 months ago. The biggest thing in my life post-op is being an active part of support groups. I think it’s so important to acknowledge the struggles I still have with food. Boy it’s such an emotionally driven thing! When times get rough, I still want to grab a bag of chips, or a candy bar. When at a party, I still want to eat eat eat! But I now realize what is going on and am able to figure out what the heck is triggering these reactions. And a HUGE part of this fight is being in touch with others going through the same thing. Either here on the OH board or at my monthly support group meeting, I always want to remember where I came from and where I am going. I think it keeps me grounded in the moments of life that can spiral out of control. Thanks for reading ~Aliece February 6, 2007 372 /192 /150 Pre-op/current/goal
WOW I let people take pictures of me now!
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