Hi, I've been overweight most of my life. I've been up and down the scales so many times I lost and gained hundreds over the years. Oh, if I could only have the money back I've spent on clothes and weight loss schemes. I had surgery on 10-2-06 its the best thing I've ever done in my life. I've lost 54.9 lbs so far and still loosing. I had quite a time getting surgery approvals. I started on a quest to get surgery about 5 years ago. I have genetic depression problems , I'm bipolar and suffer from panic attacks on occassion and getting to a surgeon that understood was my first hurdle. For those of you who don't know about bipolar disorders, I'll try to describe this to you by telling you to think of yourself in a constant PMS state for weeks on end, depressed and irritable. Then change moods, without reason to an elated state, like when something extremely exciting happens and you can't release from the high, fast and rapid energy it causes, for weeks on end, no sleep, rapid speech. Like being high without drugs. It kinda swings back and forth between these states like a pendalum. The first surgeon I went to, advised me not to get surgery due to my medical condition. Instead he sent me to my psychiatrist for a "pill" I could take to loose weight. We'll the magic pill was found, it was called Topomax. I lost about 90 lbs, and most of my short term memory. This med has a side effect of memory loss and I struggled desperately for about 2 years with problems from the meds. Eventually, it stopped working and I started gaining my weight back. I gained it all back + about another 45lbs. Determined to conquer my weight issues, I went with a friend to a lap-band semiar, and started on this road. When they ran my EKG something wasn't right, although the Dr. said, she thought it might just be something wrong with the machine, because I had no heart problem history, and wasn't showing any signs of problems. I went for a 2nd opinion and the same thing happened again, with the same results. A few months later, I was being treated for bronchitis and after the 3rd visit to the Dr. I was sent for an X-ray that showed and enlarged heart and fluid in my lungs. So, then I was referred to a ENT specialist, who diagnoised me with weight related congestive heart failure. He referred me to a heart specialist. Meanwhile, I had started to persue surgery with SW Bariatric when the ENT put a hold on any surgeries until they cleared my heart condition. I went on heart meds and lasix. My mental condition worsened so badly that I quite my job of 18 years. I could not take all of the stress associated with my physical and emotional problems. I could not get through orders on the phone without extreme coughing. I couldn't walk from my car to the office door without complete exhaustion. My boss was constantly urging me to go back to the dr. The emotional and physical aspects of these conditions were completely cripling to me. My depression problems were severe and recurrent and the CHF just magnified it. My husband and I made the decision that I should quit my job, and try to get my health straightened out, then we decided to move. To make matters worse,I threw out my back shortly after moving and couldn't move without screaming for months. The pain was so severe I couldn't lie flat in bed or get up and down from a chair. Standing was next to impossible. My husband had to build ramps for me to get into the house. I was using a cane and walker to get around at one point. We sold our living room set and I purchased a couch/recliner to sleep on. It helped with the coughing from the CHF and was much easier on my low back. The MRI showed problems with my 5th vertebrae. We'll the Dr that was seeing me for my back, strongly urged me to persue weight loss sugery, since I have had previous back issues , a knee and hip problem and a cervical disk surgery in the past. So, I started to check out the weight loss surgeons again and called SW Bariatric to restart post op surgical procedures. They had previously seen me before my CHF and new back problem, they filed ins. I got turned down. The ins co said I had to have 5 years of BMI over 40 and I didn't , due to the weight loss drug I took, dropping my bmi below 40. I appealed, and won. I sent in documented proof of a over 40 BMI before the medication I took to help with weight loss. I sent in 10 years of records, all signed and documented with a physician. I also, sent in my CHF and back problem update. This all took alot of time, and delayed my surgery. Finally on 10-2-06 I had RNY at St Davids'. If only this could have been done sooner. This entire procedure from the first Dr to surgery took me almost 5 years. Once I started back with SW Bariatric, they were very quick to get me to surgery, about 5 months total. Too bad I didn't go their 5 years ago. I feel so much better already I never thought a mere 54.9 lbs could make this kind of difference. My back problems are not nearly as severe. I am much more mobile and have cut my heart meds in about 1/2 already. I went to a yoga class mid Nov. and was able to get through most of the exercises without difficulty. I'm able to lift more now, and can stand for at least 30 min without having to sit. I'm hoping to eventually get off heart meds completely. Finding Dr Faulkenberry was a blessing. He didn't judge me or try to persuade me to try other options due to my Bipolar condition. He realized my obesity was making my Bipolar condition worse and he ordered all testing to make sure I was ready for surgery. I went into my operation feeling like I was in very good hands. So far I have not had any complications. I'm looking forward to the holidays with my family this year for the first time in a long time. I actually have some hope that I may spend a long life with my husband. I thought I was headed for a wheelchair, a hospital bed and a life on oxygen and instead I'm getting so much better. This surgery is the best thing I have ever done for myself . To those who are on appeal, don't give up, jump all the hoops. I thank God everyday for winning my appeal and having the courage to go through with the surgery. I still have another 90+ lbs to loose and look toward the upcoming months as challenging. My moods are still fluctuating, due to med changes and weight loss. However, I am working with a good psychiatrist and have a wonderful husband and good family support to help me. Life as I see it is just a rollar coaster ride, a journey we all make. Right or wrong choices are made daily and I must learn to live with the consequences. As I continue on my journey, I'm glad positive people have surrounded me, and given me the support and help I need, and I'm thankful for finding a surgeon that understood.
Update on condition 1/20/97:
I've now lost 68 lbs. Yesterday, I went to Matt's El Rancho for lunch, had about 3/4 of a cheese enchilada and a bite of guacamole, rice and beans, without complications. Then on to the Spring home and garden show in Austin . This was my first time, to go out to such a large event, in over 18 months, I was a little nervous. I actually walked from the parking garage to the event the entire way, without holding on to anything. I got quit tired once we got their and had to lean on my husband awhile, due to the pain, that started, I took a tylenol. This was a vast improvement from the cane, walker and pain killers I had to lean on such a short time ago. I stopped at 3 chiropractor booths to get info for my back, I lit up their machines like a christmas tree, however the fact that I was able to walk this distance really motivated me. This was the first time, I've walked any real distance, without help from a shopping cart, cane, walker, pain killers or taking frequent breaks. The tests I took at the chiropractors stations found I still have quite a bit of problems, I'm working on it, its so much better. If I can get insurance, since I"ve now been deemed uninsurable. I plan to persue chiropractic care for the pain and problems still existing. This surgery is 90% of the reason I'm mobile again. I have not had any undesirable complications to speak of, my lab has been normal and my outlook much more realistic. I would recommend this surgery to anyone who has medical issues that need intervention.
<> 4-2-07 update
I am finding myself so much healthier and happier, I'm down to 189 and in a sz 18 loosly, and moving toward a sz 16. I do find myself hungrier than I was a few months ago. I keep protein drinks, cheese, and lightly or no salted cashews around to snack on. I also keep SF hard candies and popsicles around. I've learned to "eat to live, not live to eat" as others have put it on OH. I plan to post a new picture when I reach 175. Here at the ranch, I'm now able to work in my garden, paint, move small rocks and work with my animals. I still have occassional problems with my back, however, I just take it easy for a few days when it acts up. I can get by with just taking a tylenol instead of pain killers. I'm controlling my CHF problems with diet and limited salt rather than medications. My acid reflux has not returned since surgery. I still find myself slipping into old habits once in awhile, so thats when I pull out the scale and start measuring, rather than eyeballing my food and going on soups for a few days to get me back on track. I'm happy with my surgery. My family is excited about the weight loss and proud of me that I'm finally able to understand my food addiction, and what caused this problem in the first place. I do recommend this surgery to anyone with health issues, that have altered their lives and caused a good deal of depression. For me it seems to be working. Kat
