I have struggled with obesity from childhood, through my teens and today I am morbidly obese. I’ve suffered the embarrassment of extended seatbelts on planes, and not being able to fit into regular arm chairs. I’ve learned to deal with the indignities, the prejudice and the ridicule. I’ve got a fantastic wife and we’ve raised 5 amazing sons. Financially, I am able to retire in my early 50’s. We’ve purchased an older home with a huge lot backing onto the Grand River.  My passions are gardening and renovating but I am unable to “live my dream” because of my weight. My knees are throbbing. My back is aching. I can’t climb ladders or stairs. I am winded and exhausted with minimal exertion.  I can’t play on the floor with my grand children.

 

I’ve lost massive amounts of weight on various diets. In 1979 I lost 70 pounds at weight watchers.  Over the next 25 years I returned to Weight Watchers at least 20 times, sometimes loosing only 20 lbs, sometimes as much as 80.  I’ve read every book and tried every diet, some with better results than others, but I’ve always gained the weight back.

 

Approximately 10 years ago, I researched Gastric Bypass Surgery.  My wife is a triage nurse in Emergency and she was very against the surgery. She mentioned that many very obese patients, report gastric bypass in their list of surgeries.  I learned that it is NOT guaranteed permanent weight loss. My family doctor did not support the surgery telling me how invasive it is.  I was also turned off by post surgery reports of vomiting and diarrhoea. Instead I attended a very expensive medically supervised weight loss clinic.  I used the appetite suppressant Ionamin and a very low carb diet and lost 100 pounds in approximately 1 year.

 

I gained all of the weight back and more.  Diet attempts in the past 10 years have been very frustrating. It seems my body does not want to shed weight like it used to.  Mostly it’s hard to muster up the willpower needed to sustain a weight loss in excess of 100 lbs. when I know that it will all come back on in a very short period of time.


 

Most of my prior weight loss efforts have been for vanity reasons. I wanted to look better, to be able to purchase regular clothes etc. Now I am concerned about my health. Although I’ve never been into sports, I’ve always been fairly active: chasing 5 children, renovating several homes etc. I am fortunate to be a fairly healthy person but realize that I can not carry around this weight much longer. I desperately need to loose weight and keep it off, or I won’t be around to enjoy my retirement or see my grand children grow up.

 

Expectations of surgery:

 

FULL: One of the biggest problems for me is that I am NEVER full. I understand from speaking with bypass surgery patients, that pushing the “full feeling” can result in uncomfortable results. I expect to recognize and stop eating when I experience this new phenomena called FULL

FOOD CHOICES: I understand that foods high in sugar or fat, can cause you to feel sick (dumping) .  Some patients I’ve talked to suggest that their food tastes change. They now desire fruits or vegetables, rather than fries and snack foods.  I’m hoping that my body will have a negative reaction to the richer fatter foods, and that this will condition me to choose leaner more appropriate foods without feeling deprived.  It is specifically this side effect caused by the changes in absorption that I am hoping will “help” me avoid the foods that I crave.

LOOSE WEIGHT: I expect the weight loss to be dramatic and fairly quick. The immediate reward of significant weight loss is exactly what I have not been able to achieve through any other of the many diets I’ve tried in the past years.

RELIEF FROM JOINT PAIN: I expect to not require ibuprofen to function and relieve pain. I expect to be able to stand from a kneeling position without the aide of something to haul myself up with.   I expect to be able to walk, stand or squat for longer periods without causing back pain.

I have a good life in every aspect except my weight. It is the one part of my life that I've never been able to control. I'd work like mad to battle the weight down, only to have it come right back.. My surgery is in 3 days.. I'm soooo ready for this!!


About Me
Cambridge,
Location
25.5
BMI
RNY
Surgery
04/30/2010
Surgery Date
Apr 09, 2010
Member Since

Friends 37

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