ObesityHelp.com: Making the Journey Together
 
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Mine (2)
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Goals

have an uneventful surgery!

Category: Health   
1 Person
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this

Get through the next week and make it to the OR w/o driving myself crazy

Category: Spiritual Wellbeing   
1 Person
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this
View The Goals Page
Surgeon Testimonial

David Fisher, M.D.
After being denied 3 times by my HMO and yelling loud enough, I had a consult with Dr. Fisher. He was very, very supportive and made a great impression on me and my wife. I tend to like physicians that are blunt, upfront and honest. He was all three. He was very professional and kind. He answered my questions, drew pictures in response to my questions and offered me an opportunity to lose weight without surgery as a last ditch effort. He has reservations about younger patients due to post-op compliancy, but he never made me feel like my decision was wrong, but he strongly encouraged me to try one last time to lose weight with his support and guidance. He strongly encouraged aftercare, addressed the surgical risks and was one of the nicest surgeons I've dealt with (I've worked with many surgeons who are less than friendly and eager to cut). I look forward to my continued care with Dr. Fisher. I recommend him highly!
Member Interests
  • Books & Literature - Love feminist literature of the former GDR
  • Musical Performance - Is there anything better than going to a live musical performance? Culture!
  • Teaching - Teaching is my passion. I teach at Berkeley and have taught at Stanford and HS
  • Parenting - Looking forward to our first baby in September!
  • Walking - Learning (by necessity) how much I miss when I drive by somewhere.
  • Horseback Riding
  • Mentoring - We need to make this place a better place to live and mentoring is a great way.
  • German - Lebte in Berlin und hab' meine Magisterarbeit in Germanistik geschrieben.
  • Married - Love my dear wife who is truly the wind beneath my wings.
  • WLS in your 20's - Looking forward to being 25 and slim!

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Miss Redd on 2/26/07 7:23 pm
    Hey Neighbor! Sending positive thoughts your way! By now you are TOTALLY on the losing side! CONGRATS!! Peace, Therese
  • Comment by MzFatNOmore on 2/26/07 11:19 am
    Good Luck on your surgery and for a speedy recovery!!! I hope to see you on the KP message boards!!
  • Comment by Cira S. on 2/25/07 6:43 pm
    Congratulations on your surgery tomorrow! Wishing you all the best an uneventful and speedy recovery.
Click here for the surgery support page
The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With a Single Step
imorgner's Blog



Back at home post-op
on February 27, 2007 9:27 pm
Surgery went very well. Bypassed 150cm of jejunum and stomach pouch looked great according to surgeon (but I think he's biased). LOL. The hospital was great and let my wife stay with me in the hospital and I was up and walking within an hour of coming out of recovery and walking every half hour. It made a world of difference and the surgeon discharged me after only about 12 hours in the hospital after sugery.

Some pain at home, but it is certainly bearable. Thanks everyone for your support and I'll keep in touch as things progress.

Cheers to all!!
1 comment | Click here to leave a comment.

Surgery will be done by this time tomorrow!
on February 25, 2007 8:56 pm
Bags are packed, nerves are fine and I'm ready to face the scalpel tomorrow. It is the closing of the door that opens the next door to the beginning of my new life. Assuming I am willing to walk through the door and keep going, who knows what awaits at the end of the trail. 

Thanks everyone for your support and kind wishes. I hope to be back home by Wednesday at this time, assuming there are no complications! :) 

Cheers to all,
Doug
1 comment | Click here to leave a comment.

Pre-Op Complete
on February 21, 2007 7:39 pm
Had my history and physical and met with the anesthesiologist today. I'm getting excited. Surgery in less than 5 days and I can hardly wait. Thanks for everyone's support!!

Cheers to all
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Surgery Date in 2.5 weeks
on February 7, 2007 6:53 pm
So, I went to the bariatric orientation course with about 30 other people who are just starting on the process yesterday. I was at goal weight and had been studying the binder for a while, so it was a lot of refreshing of information. I met with my case manager today and she set a surgery date of Monday, February 26th. I initially met with the surgeon on the 19th of January and started my 10% weight loss then and I'll be having surgery just a little over a month after my initial consult with the bariatric program. I realize that my case was abnormal, insofar as I met with the surgeon fast and I lost my weight super fast, but I am still amazed at how fast I will be in the OR. Between now and surgery I have another consult with the dietician, a history and physical, an appointment with both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist and a lifestlyes class. It's been a quick process and I have, as of today, went from 260 to 228 in less than 4 weeks. Yes, I've been eating! I have been eating an absolute max of 1000 cals/day and exercising 7 days a week. Hopefully all goes well and I will be in the OR in two and a half weeks!
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Weigh-In on Friday!
on January 29, 2007 4:24 pm

The official weigh-in is on Friday and I am 2 pounds below goal weight, so keep your fingers crossed. After the weigh-in, I get scheduled with the case manager for the following week and then I should get my surgery date for mid-March.

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Archive

My Story

Like many, I've been overweight my entire life. I have a strong family history of cardiovascular disease (mom had first heart attack at 38) and nearly everyone in the family is obese (many morbidly obese).

I have dieted numerous times (as many of us have) with no real sustained success. My wife (skinny little thing that she is) has been incredibly supportive and is concerned for my health and has been since we first met. I have hypertension, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, joint pain and the usual culprits that go along with obesity.

I finally decided last February that I was not going to take it anymore and I requested a referral from my PCP to the Bariatrics program. I was denied on Round 1 and tried to lose the weight again on my own. In November 2006 I finally decided that enough was enough and that I was going to appeal again. I was denied again. I appealed again to the regional level and they agreed that I should be seen by a surgeon. He agreed that I was a candidate for the surgery and now, just a few weeks after my initial consult I have a surgery date for the end of the month.

It has been a lifelong battle, but I am excited at the prospect of being healthy for once. I would like to see my 40th birthday and feel that this tool (surgery) will augment my efforts in a way that will see permanent weight loss.

 

 


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