rashmi
Hello,
I am confused as to who can view what profile so I am rewriting my profile again.
I have stuggled with weight issues my entire life. My mother was over weight, both my siblings were skinny. Throughout school I was teased and during adolescence I gained 50-60 pounds. I had a flash of weight loss as a young adult but wasn't able to sustain it. At the time of my surgery I was at my highest weight ever and completely out of control in regards to food. My sugar levels were high my BP meds were increased. I felt I was reaching a point of no return when I decided something had to be done.
I have spent the much of the last 15 years living in India managing an orphanage. It is my lifes passion but I wasn't able to control my weight in India. I tried so many different systems including avoiding the issue. Nothing worked. Several years ago a friend had the VSG with Dr. Cirangle. I met Dr. C in a public forum but wasn't ready for such a big decision. I exercised a lot and lost around 60 lbs. I was also concerned about sustaining the VSG program in India. So I returned to India and promptly gained all the weight back and more. For another 2 years I avoided the issues until but finally I realized that my years in India would be limited unless I dealt with my weight issues. So this year, when I returned to America for my yearly visit, I announced I wasn't returning until I dealt with my health issues. Believe me, I shed many tears.
I wasn't sure what I would do but I knew I had to do something. Finally I had a consultation with Dr. C and decided to go ahead with the VSG. Once I decided I never backed away from my decision (OK, there was a blip on surgery day). I quickly did all my preop tests which I gratefully passed and had surgery one month and 4 days after my consultation. My insurance offere to pay for the RNY but I opted to self pay for the VSG instead.
During my consultation Dr. C said I had to stay home from India for one year. I immediately tried to negotiate with him but he isn't the negotiating type. He stood firm and said he wouldn't operate unless I stayed in America for one year. That was a tough decision but I promised myself that if I had surgery I wouldn't compromise myself. I would do the surgery I wanted, with the surgeon I wanted in the hospital I wanted. If my surgeon felt it was best for me to stay home then I wouldn't compromise that either. I cried and cried but have stuck to my decision.
Surgery day was rough. There was a complication in the surgery before mine and my surgery was delay EIGHT hours. I wanted to postpone the surgery and Dr. C and I squared off in the operating room. Finally I realized I just couldn't go backwards and jumped on the operating table. All went well and I was so relieved to have the surgery over and done with.
My recovery was going great until day 13 when I restarted my BP med. I started feeling nauseas and by the end of the week wasn't able to get down the required water. We finally realized the BP med had a diuretic in it and that I was dehydrated. After a trip to the ER for IV fluids and discontinuing the medication I felt perfect. Since then it has been smooth sailing.
I am now 4 1/2 months post op and have lost 86 pounds. I am thrilled and stunned. I miss India all the time but I don't regret my decision for a moment.
