Hi everyone, my name is Lucy Touhey and I am a 42 y.o. single mom (20 y.o. daughter).  My journey started in December 2010 when I experienced severe pain in my abdomen (just below my breast on the right hand side shooting through to my shoulder) in the middle of the night lasting for several hours.  I went to the ER knowing it was my gallbladder because my daughter had the exact pain 9 months before and had her gallbladder removed.  An ultrasound later and they confirmed gallstones and were going to remove the gallbladder - but when the surgeon saw me just before going into the ER, he decided the instruments were to short - I was too FAT to have laproscopic gallbladder surgery.   He said he really didn't want to do it open - it would be too hard on me.  He suggested I go to St. Agnes in Baltimore where they had the special extra long instraments that could do it lapriscopically.  Then he looked me in the eye and said - you know you are young, healthy, and pretty - but your weight is going to kill you.  Why don't you kill two birds with one stone and have WLS at the same time?  He gave me the name of two physicians - the best bariatric surgeons in MD in his opinion - and asked me to consider it.

I went home relieved that he wouldn't do the surgery with the risk that it would need to be open.  I was unsure if WLS was right for me so when I went to my PCP for follow-up I had the conversation with her - she felt i was a great candidate.  I trust her - she is an unbelievably caring woman - so called to go to the seminar.  The very next night was the St. A's seminar and there was Dr. Averbach.  He spelled out his 3 surgical choises - banding, RNY, and VSG.  He went thru the the different procedures.  RNY = rerouting - not for me! Banding = equipment in my stomach, fills, less weight loss, slower weight loss... not for me either!  VSG = makes my stomach smaller - I like that, removes the part that produces the hunger hormone - thats awesome, weightloss similar to the RNY - sold!  I went home and talked with my mom and daughter.  They were nervous - but happy with my decision - well - when are you gonna call the dr?  I didn't have to - his office called me the next day to see if I wanted an appointment.  I couldn't get one until 1/20/2011 - my daughters birthday.  She said perfect - that will be my birthday present mom! (tears in my eyes - I love her so much!) 

So in January I met with Dr. A and got my first weigh in - 330 - OMG its that bad!  He asked which procedure I chose - VSG, if you think
I would be a good candidate - he said I'd be perfect.  I needed to complete 6 mo supv diet... (his scheduler said no - Aetna is 4 mo - perfect).  Told about gallbladder - he said that it would probably need to come out before - boo.  I told him I thought I could make it...  We'll see... Made appt with the nutritionist - this was scarier than talking to the surgeon for me!  It wasn't bad or painful at all!  Baby steps approach - 1st cut out "sugar water".  New goal each month - you'll do great!  Well - the supervised diet flew by - I survived the 3 gallbladder attacks that I had, and on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 I had my VSG and my gallbladder removed!  My journey is much shorter then many - but it's mine. 

I am greatful to my family, coworkers, Dr. Merchant (the surgeon who wouldn't remove my gallbladder and pushed me in the right direction), Dr. Rosenstock (my PCP who is AWESOME), and Dr. Averbach (and his team).  Without all of them, I would not have made this decision and given myself the gift of a healthier and happier life!

Thanks also to the OH VSG forum peeps who have provided so much valuable information, support, and love!