gbenz671
My name is Gene. I am 57 and live in Shawnee, Kansas with my wife Kathy, and sons Chris, Tim and Brian. I have two daughters living in Colorado, Trisha and Amy. Amy is a member of this forum (HockeyMom15) and had a very successful RNY on 9/11/2006. I also have 7 wonderful grandkids, 4 boys and 3 girls. I work at Harley-Davidson plant in Kansas City and ride a 2007 Electra Glide Classic.
I started on my journey long ago at age 15 when a doctor put me on diet pills and told me to drink this horrible stuff called Metrecal. I have been struggling with my weight ever since. For a brief time I was at normal weight early in my Navy career but began to gain weight again. I have been a mostly off and on member of Weight Watchers since about 1978. I have tried just about every other diet known to man including the more popular ones right now. I was on several medically supervised diets over the years including one that included Meridia. That drug landed me in the emergency room 4 years ago. Over the years my weight kept creeping up and up until a month ago I weighed 446 lbs. I have several co-morbidities: Diabetes, Venous Statis Disease in my lower legs, Diabetic Neuroapathy in my feet, Sleep Apnea, hypertension and high BP and cholesterol. I have everything under good control but I have to take 12 medications and use a CPAP at night.
I considered a LapBand back three years ago and was even approved twice my my insurance company. Before I could get to the table, both surgeons abruptly quit the practice and walked out, leaving me holding the bag. I then went to The Bariatric Center of Kansas City. In retrospect, that is where I should have gone first. Wonderful people! I have a great team and a great surgeon, Dr. Hitchcock. I have been approved for an RNY. Why the change? Two reasons: My daughter's successful outcome and I want to get my weight down as close to a normal range as I can get. My long term goals: No particular weight but just be as healthy as a 57 year old can be.
