“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.” (Bob Moawad)

I had Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery on May 24, 2006.  I was one of the few people who had a couple of complications.  I spent 3 nights in ICU after my surgery, due to a bad reaction to medication.  I was re-hospitalized twice during the month following my surgery, due to a leak which formed a gastrogastric fistula.  I had pneumonia.  I spent close to 30 days in the hospital, I had to have a chest tube inserted to drain fluid, and I was fed intravenously for a time, while the fistula healed.

On the day of my surgery, I weighed 302 pounds.  My highest weight was in 2004 ... I weighed close to 335 pounds then.  It took just over 12 months to reach my surgeon's goal of 178 pounds.  (I'm still working toward my personal goal of 160.)  While I still have pain in my side (drain and chest tube area) and while I struggle daily with food addiction, today I am happy with my choice to follow this path.  I was obese for close to 20 years.  Being "normal" feels better.  I only hope the long-term effects of nutrient malabsorption don't bite me in the ass.

If you are considering this surgery, please do your research and decide what's right for YOU.  It's major, and it's life-altering.

Height: 5'10"
Highest Weight: 333 lbs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
02/28/06: 323 lbs. (enrollment in surgery program)
05/24/06: 302 lbs. (Surgery Day)        -21
06/22/06: 282 lbs. (1 month post-op)    -41   (-20 since surgery)
07/24/06: 265 lbs. (2 months post-op)  - 58  (-37 since surgery)
08/24/06: 251 lbs. (3 months post-op)   -72   (-51  since surgery)
09/24/06: 239 lbs. (4 months post-op)   -84   (-63 since surgery)
10/24/06:  229 lbs. (5 months post-op)   -94   (-73 since surgery)
11/24/06:  217 lbs.  (6 months post-op)  -106   (-85 since surgery)
12/24/06  210 lbs.  (7 months post-op)   -113   (-92 since surgery) 
01/24/07  197 lbs.  (8 months post-op)   -126   (-105 since surgery)
02/24/07  188 lbs.  (9 months post-op)  -135    (-114 since surgery)
03/24/07  185 lbs.  (10 months post-op) -138    (-117 since surgery)
04/24/07  184 lbs.  (11 months post-op)  -139   (-118 since surgery)
05/24/07  179 lbs.  (12 months post-op)  -144   (-123 since surgery)
06/24/07  176 lbs.  (13 months post-op)  -147   (-126 since surgery)
07/24/07  171 lbs.  (14 months post-op)  -152    (-131 since surgery)
11/24/07   170 lbs.  (18 months post-op)  -153    (-132 since surgery)