Kathy H.
I had a VBG 22 years ago, and lost 135 pounds. Over the course of the following 8 years, I regained nearly every pound I lost. I finally said to myself "ENOUGH!" I'd done something as drastic as WLS and *still* I was fat. I finally "forgave myself" for being fat and just lived my life. I maintained my weight at about 270 for a very long time, and traveled the world at that weight. I didn't let it stop me.
Then a few things happened, and all within the last three years. First, my knees began to show the wear of a life of walking around as a morbidly obese person. Then, my mom died of lung cancer at age 69. She and I both come from VERY strong stock. Most of the women in my family live into their 90s, but here was my mom ... gone before she was 70 ... because of her life choices. That got me thinking. My mom defeated her strong genes with smoking, and I was doing the same with my weight.
So... the thought was sort of hanging there for a while. And then, about four months ago, I thought I was having a heart attack. I seriously did. It turned out to be arthritis in my neck, and all my chest muscles were tensing up to protect against the pain. But it dawned on me, then, that at age 47 and at a weight of about 300 pounds, it easily COULD have been a heart attack.
That's when I seriously started considering a revision, and agressively researching it as an option. I began thinking that the RNY was my only choice. Then someone ... and I wish I could remember who, because I'd love to thank them... posted in one of my inquiries, "hey, Kathy, have you considered the DS?"
I hadn't even heard of it, but once I started doing my research, it became very evident very quickly that *that* was the surgery that was going to give me the very best chance for long-term success with the highest quality of life, post-op. I would not feel as deprived with the DS as I would with the RNY, and I know myself well enough to know how *key* that is to my success, long-term.
I am now gathering all my tests and paperwork for submission for a revision to a DS with Dr Gagner in Miami. I'm fortunate that my insurance covers revision WLS and the DS. Now, it's just a matter of doing the work to get the surgery, and then doing the work to make it successful!
Wish me luck, please!
