My DS "Leap of Faith"Journey

All of my life I battled with being overweight, chubby or obese. Always being the chubby, fat, or obese child or adult.

In the summer of 2005 I began researching weight loss surgeries on line. I read profiles, spoke with people, studied research papers and documents. The Obesity Help web site was extremely helpful to me and lead me to the Dr. Marchesini.

I did apply to SK Health for funding approval to go out of country for my surgery. However, I was declined, even though it wasn't available in Canada.

My decision was made in June, 2006 and then I was on my way to Curitiba, Brazil to have surgery on July 6 with the most amazing surgeon/man I had ever encountered in any health care setting in my entire life. He was the most, kind, genuine, caring, understanding, compassionate, skilled, knowledgeable person anyone could have wished for and more!! Having had performed hundreds of BPDS surgeries gave me great comfort. The staff at the hospital were very friendly, competent, and professional too. The hospital was extremely clean.

The 90 minute Duodenal Switch surgery also included a hernia repair. I had surgery on a Thursday, JUly 6, 2006. and I was out of the hospital on the following Monday evening. No pain meds needed by Tuesday even with being up and doing some sight seeing.

I lost ¾ of my weight in the first year and have now pretty much stabilized. No bounce back at all, in fact still lost a few this past year.

I no longer require my high blood pressure medication. Fibromyalgia is still not very good, so I haven't been able to withdraw the med for that.

 I'm very diligent in taking all of my vitamins and getting my lab work done. Getting my protein has been easy with the help of protein drinks daily. The first year my B1 level got very low,but was brought back up with monthly injections which I still do. At the end of year 3, I had some osteopenia in one arm, but by the fourth year I eliminated that with taking more D and calcium in.  As well as doing some weight resistance exercise and using a Vibration exercise machine a few times a week. 

It's fun shopping for clothes now, especially in the "small" section.

Having the DS surgery was the best decision I ever made. Certainly Living Life to the Fullest!

 At  140 lbs. I'm not embarrased to say what I weigh now....nor am I worried what people will say when they see me eating a chocolage bar.