Before and After RNY with Bonnie, down 179 pounds!
August 2, 2022Why I decided to have WLS
Before and After RNY with Bonnie, down 179 pounds! I am a mother of four girls and a wife for 54 years. At the age of 43, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I underwent surgery and the long journey of chemo. My weight drastically changed. I gained 60 pounds in just a few short months. I also went into menopause, which contributed to more weight gain. A lot of medical problems started to pile up; thyroid issues, high blood pressure, and Afib. My physical movement deteriorated at a steady pace and my weight steadily grew over the next 30 years. I gained 212 pounds, to be exact.
My oldest granddaughter's wedding was coming up, and I had to find a dress. What a reality check that was! I was going from the bedroom to the den every day and using a cane, not driving or going to the market, sending my husband on all the errands, and I did a lot of shopping online. I could no longer do the housework and I even hired a house cleaner to come in. I didn’t want my husband to have to do it.
I missed out on going to my grandchildren's band concerts, as I was fearful that the chairs and I might not be a good FIT. I would stand in waiting rooms for appointments so as not to make a scene trying to get up. I don't think that I had my picture taken in about 10 years. I missed out on a lot of the things I used to enjoy. Believe it or not, I used to swim all summer long as we had a pool. I rode a bike and enjoyed ice skating. I missed all the things I did years before the weight gain. I truly thought my life was close to the end as I went nowhere and saw only family when they came to visit. My children missed their "OLD" mother. I wanted to enjoy my grandchildren and visit my family in England. However, a plane trip was truly out of the question. I would have had to ask for a maternity extender seat belt. I missed my family even though they were with me because all I could watch was and not join in.
Something had to change. I wanted to make sure I was here for all the new great-grandbabies and the rest of my six grandchildren growing up.
Before and After RNY with Bonnie
Name: Bonnie Powers
Total Weight Loss: 179 lbs
Surgery Type: Roux-en-Y
Surgeon: Dmitri Baranov
My Surgery and Post-Op Life
Dr. Abess, my General Practitioner, recommended Dr. Dmitri Baranov. My daughter took me to the introductory meeting. I knew immediately that this was what I needed to do to survive. Dr. Baranov and his great staff had everything planned out to a T. I just did everything I was advised to do, and all went perfectly. I weighed in at 381 pounds in August 2019. I followed all the steps for bariatric by-pass surgery, including a diet in which I lost 40 pounds in three months. I was ready! Surgery was not scary or stressful as they talked me through the whole procedure. I felt really good post surgery. After returning home, Dr. Baranov phoned me to check on how I was doing.
Special Milestones
My blood pressure was down to a normal range in a few days with no meds, and my weight steadily dropped. I lost a total of 179 pounds by my two-year anniversary weigh-in.
I have gone back to doing all the things that I used to do. I even bought a bathing suit for our summer vacation, something I haven’t done in 20 years. I’m driving again and shopping again. (Well, not during Covid!) I even care for my two great-grandchildren. A girl two and a boy four months old and I am enjoying every moment.
The best thing that ever happened was having the surgery. I am a new person, enjoying life to the fullest. Just last week I was out at 6am pruning my roses and weeding my flower garden and today I am making vacation plans for a lovely trip to Maine to walk on the beach and be thankful that I am healthy enough to do so. I really owe everything to Dr. Baranov and my family for all of their support.
For my 30th anniversary of being cancer-free on February 12th, 2022, I got a tattoo across my breastless chest of a pink ribbon. It says Prevention instead of a Cure!
Celebrate your own Before & After WLS Success, milestones, non-scale victories, and inspire others! The OH team wants to hear from you to share your weight loss surgery journey. Visit our Before & After Submission page for details.
