4/27/04 (pre-surgery) to 9/12/05 (over a year out)

May 19, 2009

 I am a teacher and the father of 6 kids.

I am extremely overweight and view this decision as a life saving choice. I need to be here for my family, especially my 7-1/2 year old severely autistic son who would be lost without me.


PRE-APPOINTMENT:

4/27/2004: I am 42 years old, 6'1, 348 lbs., and have a BMI of 48.

My wife has been bugging me to do this for years. My doctor has approached me to do it twice. Still I hesitated.

My dad had this surgery approximately 15 years ago. He lost his weight, had his sagging skin removed, and was thin for approximately another year. Today he is larger than he was before. I feel his health has declined a notch since his surgeries and due to his surgeries. I have felt that this was not something to believe in.

CURRENTLY: I am bigger than I have ever been. I am approaching 350 lbs. I am extremely unhappy with myself--I mask it by appearing to be comfortable with my weight and even laughing about it.

I was transferred in my job as a teacher from being an eighth grade language arts teacher to being a fourth grade teacher(this was perhaps the Hand of God putting me in the right place). At my new school, I met a very pleasant teacher named MaRee who had this surgery some years ago. A couple of months ago, we were talking in the lunchroom and she asked me why I hadn't had the surgery. After discussing it several times over several days/weeks, I decided to look into it more.

I made an appointment with MaRee's surgeon Dr. Cooper (after checking things out and finding him highly recommended). My appointment is:
Thursday, May 4th.

I am very nervous about it--more about ending my love affair with food than anything else.


1ST APPOINTMENT:

5/5/2004: My wife and I had a joint consultation appointment yesterday. Dr. Cooper was very professional in manner, but more like a back-woods duck hunter in appearance. Very methodical in his approach, but with a good sense of humor.

He has lost 2 patients and has done over 1,000 surgeries. He does not do laps, because he doesn't want to put patients at risk long enough to become expert. He says that the complications rate goes up significantly for the first 100 lap surgeries. He said if he were to do it he would make sure the lap surgeon had over 100 surgeries under his belt.

His staff says that Blue Cross pays for about 80% for non-provider surgeons. I should have approval in 4-10 days. I can get in for surgery around the end of June.

My wife will have her surgery 4 weeks later.


SURGERY SCHEDULED!!:

5/17/2004: My wife and I got the good news that we have been approved by our insurance. I called Dr. Cooper's office today and scheduled both of our surgeries!! I AM SCHEDULED FOR 6/22/04 AND MY WIFE IS SCHEDULED FOR 7/19/04! This will hopefully allow me to be healed up enough to help her 4 weeks later.

The only negative is the money. We have to come up with $1,800.00 each for a deposit because he is an out-of-network provider.


PRE-OP::

6/19/2004: My surgery is in 3 days. I am nervous and a bit high-strung. I have created a menu of several of my favorite meals: Chicken-Pea Pod Salad, Steak, Tacos, Nachos, Heavenly Cheese Potatoes, and so on in case I cannot tolerate them when I am done. I worry that I am just "feeding the monster." I am already mourning food. I guess my food problem is obvious: it rules me. I am looking forward to a decrease in over-eating. I know it will be tough, but I am determined to make it. I know I will die without this surgery--I have felt my body giving out this past 6 months. I have to get fit so that I can be around for my kids.

I have gained weight: I am 363 lbs.


POST-OP::

7/4/2004: I had my surgery on 6/22/04. I am still very week, but have lost 29 lbs. in 12 days. My weight on the morning of surgery was 350 lbs.--I am now 321 lbs.

It has been a genuine pain to only drink 3 oz. of liquid a day. Thank goodness I am off clear liquids and at least into my full liquid diet. I am, however, having a hard time drinking enough water. It fills me up too quick and takes too long to pass.

Oh well --> at least I am now losing lbs. and adding years to my life.


8/8/2004: I am nearly 7 weeks out. I have now lost 71 lbs. since my pre-op appointment and 59 lbs. since the actual surgery. I am on my mechanically soft diet and still struggle with what to eat.

My wife had her surgery on 7/19, is on full liquids, and has lost 32 lbs. 


8/18/04: Boy am I tired. I'm a teacher and school started today. I didn't realize that going back to work would be so tiring.

I am now 285 --> that's 78 lbs. lost in just over 8 weeks. Yeah!


9/8/04: My plateaus seem to last longer than they used to. I am now 282, and have only lost 3 lbs. in 3 weeks. It is frustrating.

My wife, meanwhile, has lost 42 lbs. total in 7 weeks--she looks good!

I also have been having severe gout attacks due to the changes in what I am eating.

Gotta go! (I'm tired.)


10/25/04: 100 lbs!!! I have lost 100 lbs. in 4 months. I am so pleased! My wife has lost 57 lbs. We have 157 less lbs. between us--boy is that good for a relationship!

Unfortunately, I am still having severe feet problems (going to a Dr. tomorrow again. I haven't been able to walk. I am getting impatient: I was up to 3 miles a day 6 weeks ago.

Oh well. I am just thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with this surgery. It has saved my life.


1/7/05: Over six months out. I am wavering back and forth across the 250 lbs. line. That means I have lost around 113 lbs.!!! Pretty cool.

My wife had surgery one month after me and is around 187. She has lost somewhere around 75-85 lbs. She is looking so hot! She has always been beautiful, but she is becoming 'stunning' once again.

I feel great. My wife and I were talking about last year's New Year's Resolutions, and we realized that we had met them!! We both wanted to be more fit. We were not considering WLS at that point, but look at us: we are tons more fit!!

What pleases me most (in addition to the health benefits) is the energy I feel now. I walk quickly with a bounce in my step. It feels good to be where I honestly thought I would never be again.


OVER A YEAR OUT:

9/12/05: I had my surgery nearly 15 months ago (6/22/04). I weigh between 232-235. I have lost around 135 lbs!!!

My wife had her surgery a month after I did and has lost around 100 lbs!! It has been so good for us to have done this together. I heard that there is a lot of relationship problems after WLS--we didn't have any!!!! We have been able to support each other and encourage each other. Our relationship (emotional and physical) was great before, but even better now due to an extra dose of self confidence... and the sex is greater than ever!! 

We have lost a combined total of 235 lbs. That's the equivilant of getting rid of some overweight person who has been hanging out between us.

Life is good: no meds, more self-confidence, and better loving. 

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