HKT53
I have been over weight all my life. If anyone believes in obesity being hereditary, its me. My Mother, my Grandmother, my Great Grandmother and all my cousins on my Mother's side. You name the diet, and I have been on it. Fighting my way through and finally in 1989, I found a surgeon that could help me. I had a Gastric Stapling - Vertical banded gastroplasty. I weighed in at the hospital at 327 lbs. I followed all the guidelines and in a year and nine months later, I was down to 159 lbs. Wow, I was in heaven but could not loose another pound. I exercised, ate small portions, stayed away from breads, pastas and sugar. No more loss and I seemed to become anemic and weak. I decided to allow myself to regain to a comfort level. I allowed myself to go up to 180 lbs. Within five years and maintaining my weight, I developed acid reflux. having to sleep in a sit-up position so I would not choke in my sleep. Lots of pain, distal valve dysfunction, lots of medication. My weight crept up as I drank more milk and foods that coated my stomach. I returned to the surgeon to investigate what has happened to my stomach. After a grastoscopy, he consulted with me and made me believe my symptoms were all psychological. I had not been successful in training my brain. I was a failure and my taste for foods changed from digesting certain meats, like pork. Fruits became a problem as most were too acidic. I searched and searched from 2000 to 2013 for an answer to my problems. I developed HPylori and was treated for it. Suddenly in November of 2013, I had a month of not being able to eat any solids and vomitting with everything I swallowed. I was sure the HPylori was back and took some tests. It had not come back. I felt as if my stomach was collapsing close to my esophagus. Then in December, not entirely back to normal but certain foods were staying down. Then "crash" to my system on January 17, 2014. Unable to intake anything except some vegetable juices...celery...carrots...cucumber...and only pear or apple. I was able to drink maybe one ensure a day but the vomitting got more frequent to 8 times a day. By February, I found myself in the Emergency, anemic and exhausted. The Gastric Specialist told me I should be drinking at least 6 ensures a day and that he could not help me but he knew of a surgeon that may want to see my CT scan and comment how to go forward with surgery. From February until April, I lost 50 lbs. The surgeon took until August of 2014. By that time, I found a surgeon Dr. John Hagen. He happened to be in the same office as the other surgeon but I was able to see Dr. Hagen sooner. The sooner, the better. Still vomitting 6 to 8 times a day, still raw vegan juicing but 4 ensures a day put the weight back on. Now another hurtle to overcome...I had to be 6 months free from smoking. The good Dr. Hagen advised that since I was now weighing 210 lbs, that a gastric bypass RNY was the best solution to my problem. So from August until the following April, I was smoke free and staying alive on ensure. After several inquiries of where I stood with insurance and scheduling, alas, my files were lost briefly. The files found and insurance approval registered since August, I was able to study hard and long at this RNY as a revision. I was scheduled and had the surgery July 10, 2015. Over two and half years of only liquids and vomiting everyday. The scar tissue and problems inside and around my stomach made for a difficult surgery. Almost 2 1/2 hours of prying my stomach from attaching itself to my liver and pancreas. All organs put back in their rightful place and my stomach bypassed, a success. An amazing Dr. and his team. Immediately upon waking up, I was asked "How does it feel not to be nauseous and no acid reflux?" I responded "Amazing". I should have done this 10 years earlier. Now my work has begun. I shall not stretch this pouch to proportions that will make me sick again. I hope to lose weight to about 150 lbs and maintain that weight throughout the rest of my life.
