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Surgeon Testimonial

Raeann Capehart, M.D.
First impression... awesome. Her right hand woman, Linda, was professional and very kind. I waited for just a few seconds before Dr. Capehart entered the room. She shook my hand and introduced herself, and proceeded to sit down across from me and describe everything about how she performs the surgery. It was awesome. I know that many of us are afraid of doctors, or at least uncomfortable around them, because their lives are being doctors and they don't seem to understand conversational courtesy. I've had a RNY consultation with another doctor before, and I afterwards asked myself, "Would I put my life in this doctor's hands TODAY?" and the answer was NO. I would put my life in Dr. Capehart's hands, though, no problem. Hey, she even helped me understand why my feet hurt all the time (I followed her direction, and my feet feel 90% better!)! Hopefully I will be approved, and I will continue with my surgeon aftercare opinion then.

Update - Linda called me two days after I submitted my paperwork with an approval! Even though their office is closed on Wednesdays, she still called me to let me know! So considerate...thanks, Linda!
Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Black Beauti on 12/3/05 3:20 pm
    I wish you a journey that is safe, and uneventful. I commend you on having the courage to take your own health and happiness into your own hands. Be Blessed!! Stay Strong in teh struggle, and remember you never walk alone *smile* You'll be in my prayers!! *smoochies* ~T~ NEVER SURRENDER
  • Comment by piperkc on 11/28/05 7:06 am
    "It's never too late to be who you might have been." ~George Eliot “The Greatest healing therapy is friendship and Love.” ~ Hubert Humphrey "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, any one can start from now and make a brand new ending" " The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, but in what direction we are moving." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes "There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow." ~ O. S. Marden "Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil." ~ James Allen "I asked God to give me happiness. God said, "No. I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you." ~ Author Unknown "Goals give you more than a reason to get up in the morning; they are an incentive to keep you going all day. Goals tend to tap the deeper resources and draw the best out of life. "Put yourself in a state of mind where you say to yourself, 'Here is an opportunity for me to celebrate like never before, my own power, my own ability to get myself to do whatever is necessary." ~ Anthony Robbins " ~ Harvey Mackay "Life is a challenge, but if you don't stand and risk you will never know if you were able to win or lose. Challenges are not a thing of winning or losing; they are a way of learning from them to become a better person every day! ~ Alexsander Rodriguez, P.R "Don't ask for it to be easy, ask for it to be worth it." Dan Kuschell "The most important question to ask is not 'What am I getting?' The most important question to ask on the job is 'What am I becoming?'"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however." - Richard Bach "In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins; not through strength, but through persistence." ~ Jackson Brown "I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning." ~ J.B. Priestly "Each of us has an inner dream that we can unfold if we will just have the courage to admit what it is. And the faith to trust our own admission. The admitting is often very difficult." ~ Julia Cameron "The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong. That block of granite is often nothing more than a decision." ~ Thomas Carlyle "Being yourself is not remaining what you were, or being satisfied with what you are. It is the point of departure." ~ Sydney Harris "Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth." ~ Katherine Mansfield "Too often we are scared. Scared of what we might not be able to do. Scared of what people might think if we tried. We let fears stand in the way of our hopes. We say no when we want to say yes. We sit quietly when we want to scream. And we shout with the others, when we should keep our mouths shut. Why? After all, we do only go around once. There's really no time to be afraid. JUST DO IT." ~ Nike advertising campaign "I am convinced that attitude is the key to success or failure in almost any of life's endeavors. Your attitude - your perspective, your outlook, how you feel about yourself, how you feel about other people - determines your priorities, your actions, your values. Your attitude determines how you interact with other people and how you interact with yourself." ~ Carolyn Warner "Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives." ~ Author Unknown "It's never too late to be what you might have been." ~ George Eliot "For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it." ~ Author Unknown "Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson A wish changes NOTHING; A decision, changes EVERYTHING "So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will,they soon become inevitable." Christopher Reeves "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:2-3 Everyone has beauty but not everyone sees it. "If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much." ~ Jim Rohn May you always have an Angel by your side. Watching out for you in all the things you do. Reminding you to keep believing in brighter days. Have a speedy recovery Angela in Corpus Christi 291lbs BMI 45.60 -234lbs Dr Michael Grace Open RNY Life began May 16, 2002 I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. Surely..I will heal you." 2 Kings 20:5
  • Comment by Cyndi M. on 10/7/05 6:46 pm
    *******CONGRATULATIO NS ON YOUR UPCOMING SURGERY. ******* ~~~~~"Everything in our lives happens for a purpose and that purpose is to prepare us~~~~~~~~~~~ May God give you courage, strength and guidance throughout your new journey. Your big day is almost here, this is the day, your new life will begin, I cant promise it will be easy, cant say it will be hard, I can say that with all the complications and everything I had to go through, It was well worth it. I have never felt better in yearsss, I’m off all medications, have sooooo much more energy. So if you hit a bump in the road, hang in there and remember it will alll be worth it in the long run. Sending Prayers your way that the Lord will guide your surgeon’s hands. May the guardian angels wrap their loving arms of protection around you during your surgery and recovery . Remember your not alone in this journey, many of us have been down this road, we are here to offer love and support. Looking forward to hearing from you on the loosing side. Huggs and Prayers Link to my profile http://www.obesityhe lp.com/morbidobesity /profile.phtml?N=M10 87435160 8-19-04 surgery date 297.5 5f 2 -107.5 weight losss
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My Story

I had the gastric bypass (RNY) surgery on December 19th, 2005. I woke up in the hospital, in a bit of pain and in a drug daze, and took my first walk. I felt like my guts were going to fall out on the floor. I made it about 25 feet and back.

A few hours later, I took another walk. A little further this time.

Next day, I took another walk. Didn't make it as far. Had to pee, but I couldn't. Doctor and nurses advised me to take a shower, which I did, but it didn't help. My back started hurting, so I moved from the bed to the chair.

I remember very little after that, until mid-January, when I woke with a tracheotomy tube in place, and very, very sick. It turned out I had been put into a drug coma because I had developed a massive staph infection in my surgical area, and had to undergo another surgery to remove the infected tissue. On Dec 29th (my 24th birthday), I was in surgery again, to re-seal my stomach's staple line that seemed to be leaking. I developed septic shock and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) and was placed on dialysis as my kidneys temporarily failed. Docs told my family to prepare themselves for my death.

However!... doctors can thankfully be wrong. I beat the extraordinary odds that were slated against me and pulled through. I had to learn how to walk, talk, and breath on my own again, but it was an experience that changed my life.

October 2006, I had only lost 80 pounds, and was holding fast. Surgery appeared to have failed, as food restriction was minimal. I could eat a hamburger with no problem.

April 2007, I hurt my shoulder and was put on oral steroids. This medication made the scar tissue around my pouch swell, and a stricture completely closed off the exit from my pouch to my small bowel. Didn't know it. Went from 255 to 210 April-June.

June 25, 2007, had hernia repair surgery. Eating problems continued, was vomiting nearly 10 times per day. Could not even drink thick liquids. Dropped to 190.

August 2007, had endoscopy and stricture stretched. Dropped to 180 (goal weight).

November 2007, had endoscopy and stricture stretched again. Hit 165.

Now, I'm at 160. I'm still vomiting between 4-5 times per day, and there is no rhyme or reason as to why. Some days I can eat cheese, some days I immediately vomit it up. Some days I can eat salad, some days I can't. Foods that are very hot or cold are always nearly impossible to digest, as are all meats (ground, boiled or otherwise), and breads. I am honestly getting my nutrition from Odwalla Superfood drinks and various candy (Reese's peanut butter cups, etc). Repeated CT scans reveal no problems. Apparently it's all in my head (something I read in my various doctor's faces).

I am a size 8-10 pant, 12 shirt.

My deepest desire in this entire world is to remove the 30+ pounds of skin and scars that disfigure my body. I cannot go out without a very tight foundation garment on my abdomen, because the pulling and weight of my scar tissue causes a lot of pain. Also, for some odd reason, not wearing it for extended periods sends me into months-at-a-time abdominal cramping.

I graduate from college in Dec. 2008. One more year, and I may be able to realize my plastic surgery goals! Unless Extreme Makeover starts accepting applications again....

Most of all, through all the crap I've gone through, I want to stress this: I gained respect for my life. I am finally GLAD to be alive. I believe in a Higher Power, and mostly, I KNOW now that I am LOVED.

Getting this surgery can change your life. The complications with my surgery are what changed me. Although I am much slimmer, I look in the mirror and still see the same old Sara I've been forever, 300+ pounds. If you've been big your whole life, most of you will not see a different person in the mirror. For this I recommend therapy that will help you MENTALLY separate from your old self, and allow you to start life anew.

Don't be that "fat friend" anymore! Be you! Be brave! Love yourself! And STUDY your hospital and doctor hard! :-)