Penny (Brooks) Shaw
My Journey
I had the Lap RNY (Gastric Bypass Surgery) on April 30, 2003 at Holly Cross Hospital. Thanks to the considerable skills of Dr. Barry Greene, and a lot of preparation, it was an easy, uneventful recovery. I left the hospital the second day and was back to work within 12 days, full of energy and ready to get on with my life.
I took my vitamins and medications faithfully. Within the first month post-op I began to feel the positive benefits of the surgery - I no longer suffered with my co-morbidities. I had difficulty standing, and in doing any kind of exercise, even walking more than a short distance. I had difficulty performing any daily activities. I was severely depressed just going to BJ’s or Wal-Mart, I was riding around in a motorized cart. I suffered from severe sleep apnea, high cholesterol, fatty liver, chronic lower back pain, chronic knee pain from arthritis and was facing yet another knee surgery. Thats when I hit my lowest of low’s. After 20 years of trying to conceive a child I was told I was infertile due to being super morbidly obese, which from all the testing I ended up having a Lap Hysterectomy because of Endrometrial Hyperplasmia with Atypia, sadly I was never able to have a child to call my own.
For those of you contemplating surgery you might be asking: Would I go through the RouxNY again? Yes. Every co-morbidity I had is gone... with the exception of some minor knee problems, which I was told; “To much water under the bridge.” arthritis is here to stay. The best advice I can give to anyone considering RouxNY or any other gastric bypass surgery is to follow the doctors orders to a TEE, take ALL of the prescribed medication, be faithful with taking your vitamins, do a LOT of research about this surgery, and attend support group meetings faithfully... and eat/drink your protein!
I started out at 5’ 11” a whopping 447 lbs with a BMI of 60.0 and within 12 months I've lost 200 lbs. I have gone from a snug size 30-32 to a size 20-22. I am happier and healthier and more active than I have been in 30 years and everyone says it shows in everything I do. I still hope to lose another 50 lbs, but if I never lost another, this journey would is still incredible, and worth all the effort it took to get there.
A continuous praise to the almighty God for the strength and knowledge to pursue this journey. Also, a big hug to my friends and family whom have totally watched me melt away. And of course a special thank you to Dr. Greene….you gave me my life back and I really do feel like I need to do something worthwhile to give back and help show others how successful this venture can be. I remember being bombarded by everyone for information about my sudden weight loss, I found myself sounding like a recording, I remember going into my local Wal-Mart and having a circle of friends around me soaking up the info. I had people’s telephone numbers written everywhere to call. I thought, I have to do something, so I decided eight months after my surgery to start my own Support Group in the Southern Maryland area, since driving to Silver Spring/Rockville was way too far. We are called the, “Lexington Park Losers” and I am thrilled to say the group has begun to shrink beautifully, of course I am sending all interested to Dr. Barry Greene . (The group closed in 2006)
To my wonderful boyfriend/now husband of 8 years,...who loves me at any weight; the one who has put up with my many, many mood swings, my happy days, sad days…and everything in-between. Our life has truly, truly improved, mentally, physically and sexually…ooops, I won’t go there ;-o We can enjoy walking the beach holding hands, window-shopping in the mall. It’s just so exciting with him being 9 years younger than myself! To top it off, I am now for the first time ever a lower weight than the man I'm with! I am finding it so satisfying to be able to toss on one of his t-shirts if I so choose even if I wouldn't wear them as a fashion statement it certainly feels good to be smaller than my partner. It feels sooooo good! Oh oh oh and also! He is able to put his arms around me and lift me! Not that I am a tiny little thing yet! But he can lift me off the ground! Ok I'm done raving bout how good I'm feeling right now. :-) Oh, did I mention I can now fit into any booth? The list just goes on and on of what I’m capable of doing, good and bad! I do hope all you out there are feeling fabulous! I'm certainly not saying all my problems have disappeared but my future looks pretty darned good!
I’d like to say however the operation was on my stomach and not my brain and I have to constantly deal with the fact that the weight loss surgery was only a tool. Dr. Greene would do the physical stuff and the emotional stuff was up to me. Little did I know how much was up to me. I found out early on I was an emotional eater. I am still addicted to food and my ability to control the addiction sometimes waivers. I think what scares me is how easy it is to fall back into the addictive patterns of behavior. Things like eating the wrong foods, sneaking food, obsessing about food, eating to repress feelings, and willing to suffer the dreaded “Dumping syndrome”. These things do scare me. But its one day at a time and I hope to never eat like I did before, I refuse to “Live to Eat”, but to “Eat to live”
This surgery has freed me to do things I never felt comfortable enough to do. When you have the surgery, you will change also. Just remember that it will make you more of what you already are.
More than 200 pounds gone but not forgotten!
Posting now 8-17-08
UPDATE: My hubby had the same surgery as myself with Dr. Greene and he has lost 125lbs in a year. I am no longer lighter than him...darnnit..hehe!! I have gained 75lbs back since my surgery in 2003. In 2006 my life took a turn for the worse and I have been learning to live with cronic back pain due to two herniated disc in my Thoracic spine. T-6 and T-8 are pressing on my spinal cord causing it to pinch. I will have surgery in the summer of 2009 to try and relieve some of the pain. The surgry is very tricky with no guarantee. I have been told I need to loose the extra weight to help with the issues. I weigh 325 and am back again on the loosing path...its hard to control the mind when all I want to do is eat. Yes, I am an emotional eater. I have been raised that eating is the comfort of all that is wrong with the world. I still have a lot to learn.
9-11-08
I joined Weight Watchers today. This is my last draw. If no sucess with the program I will at least have my 6-month documentation for insurance to prepair for the new surgery called ROSE (Restorative Obesity Surgery, Endoscopic). Dr. Greene wishes to put myself along with eight others for a "New Study". Before the ROSE incisionless procedure, patients who regained weight after gastric bypass generally had few treatment options. I will post some information I found.
Why would I gain weight after gastric bypass?
A number of studies suggest that patients regain weight due to the gradual enlargement of the surgically altered small stomach pouch and stoma, (connection between the stomach and small intestine). When the Roux-en-Y procedure is performed, the stomach and stoma are made very small, which slows the passage of food and creates a feeling of fullness after just a small volume of food is eaten. It is believed that when the stomach pouch and stoma gradually enlarge, the feeling of fullness is no longer present, patients can eat larger meals, and weight regain occurs.
How do I find out if I’m eligible for this new incisionless, restorative ROSE procedure?
Patients who had a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass more than 2 years ago, lost over 50% of their excess weight and have now regained 15% or more of this weight are ideal candidates for this procedure. After an initial screening, you will undergo a series of evaluations including nutritional and dietary counseling, a full medical exam and endoscopy to determine if you are a good candidate.
How long will I need to stay in the hospital?
Typically, patients stay less than 23 hours. You may be discharged the same day if the procedure was done early in the morning, or you may stay overnight. Your surgeon will make the determination following your procedure. Typically patients return to normal activity within a few days of their procedure.
Will it be covered by insurance?
As with gastric bypass surgery, coverage will vary depending upon the insurance provider.
Help yourself to do your own research.
Health Update: In doing my UGI for Dr. Greene to check my pouch. He found I have 2-Gallstones, one of which he states is HUGE. Like OMG....could this be the reason for my cronic pain? If so, why hasn't anyone else even thought to check my Gall Blatter. I am livid in thinking that I've gone through all the back injections, gone to see umpteen doctors to only be told to live with "Chronic Pain"...............errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! I go have an Adominal Ultrasound on the 16th and will let you know when Dr. G calls me with the results. If its the Gallstone's he said I will be having my Gall Blatter removed by him.
About Me
Before & After
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