Reason for having gastric bypass for me. My story

Apr 06, 2009

     In 1964 I was the first girl in Rhode Island to be born with dislocated hips.  As a result, the first four years of my life were spent in the hospital in a full body cast.  The doctors were uncertain if I would ever walk.  When the cast finally came off, I did learn to walk but my hips would force me to make a life changing decision forty years later. 

     It wasn’t easy for me growing up.  Because of the pain in my hips I was always slower than the other kids and as a result I would always be the last one picked to be on any teams during gym class or recess.  The chronic pain also made it very difficult for me to exercise.  That, along with eating the wrong kinds of food, caused me to gain weight.  As the weight gain continued over the years it became difficult to be around my family, especially during the holidays, when I would become the butt of  jokes and not-so-nice comments.  Not just by certain family members but by people who I thought were my friends.  What they didn’t know was that making fun of a person’s weight will not get them to try to diet but just the opposite.  By the time I was forty I was more than 100 pounds overweight and it was getting very difficult to move around like I used to.  When my husband brought me home after our first date, I thought I would never hear from him again because of my obesity.  Imagine my surprise when he called for a second date   When he told me he had asthma, I quit smoking.  This made my eating habit even worse.  I gained almost another 100 pounds.  By the time we were married in August of 2004, I weighed well more than 300.  Walking was becoming unbearable.  At the time I  was working on the road as a CNA for Roger Williams Hospital in Providence.  I loved the job, especially the people I took care of.  After twenty years the hip pain and obesity forced me to give it up.  I was fortunate enough to get an office position with the same hospital but my weight made even a desk job a difficult task.  I could no longer bend over to tie my own shoes.  I was now in pain 24/7.  Here I was; 43 years old, married to the man of my dreams, living in a nice house in a nice community.  I should have been happy.  Instead, I was crying myself to sleep every night having visions of being confined to a wheelchair for the rest of my life, fearful of becoming a burden to the people I love.  When I spoke to a doctor about a hip replacement, he told me no surgeon would touch me unless I lost a minimum of 70 pounds.  This was in January of 2008.  I weighed 345 pounds.  That’s when I learned about Dr. Pohl.

     Dr. Dieter Pohl is one of the top gastric bypass surgeons in the country and worked at the same hospital I did.  When I attended his seminar I had never felt so hopeful in my life.  I completed all of the pre-operative testing and on April 22, 2008 Dr. Pohl successfully performed surgery on me.  While I was recovering I truly felt like it was the first day of the rest of my life.  What was important for me to remember was that this procedure was not a cure for my obesity but a tool to get my life back on track.  It has not, and never will be, easy.  I have to watch what I eat and drink for the rest of my life or there is the very real possibility that I can gain all the weight back.  I have promised myself that will never happen.  I have been attending support groups which play a vital role in dealing with the weight loss and, more importantly, keeping it off.  To date, I have lost 182 pounds.  I have gone from a size 37 to a size 16.  I am no longer taking prescription medication of any kind.  I had my right hip replaced last September and for the first time in my life I am virtually pain free.  I have a great husband, a great family and great friends.  I am loving life more than I ever have.  When I sleep, I no longer dream of that wheelchair.  On April 11 I will be participating in my first 5k road race with members of my support group.  My parents plan on being there to cheer me on.

I know I will complete this race.

I know when I cross the finish line I will be crying.

I know they will not be tears of pain.

They will be tears of joy.
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RAINY DAYS ALWAYS MAKE ME THINK.

Oct 27, 2008

 I got up this morning ready to go walking.  That idea is shot for it is raining.  I don't like days like today because I become lazy.  I still can't drive so I am stuck at home.  My house can only be cleaned so much.  I came online this morning looking at old picture I have . OMG I am feeling somewhat better even the rain can't get me down. I have come so far in the past 6 months.  I lost 147lbs. I had my hip replaced.  I am doing things I have not done in over 5 years due to the hip and being heavy.  I am breathing so much better.  I have met some of the best people in the world , I think right here.  Some that I am sure I will call my friends forever.  You know I am truely bless. So who care that it is raining.  LOL maybe I will go for that walk in the rain.  lmao NOT.....

cook a meal tonight mmmm was good

Aug 07, 2008

I made a meal out of the diet book I bought.  It was chicken with low fat him and low fat swiss cheese.  was it good.  came out of my book that is eating after bypass surgery.  It was good.  still can eat a lot but it was enough for me.  My husband loved it.  Think  I will be doing more meals from that book. 
Went to the RIH support group last night.  I really like it.  learn so much and met a few people there that I think are going to become great friends.
The bonus from having this surgery.  I get Healthy that is # 1.  I loose the wt. and look better.  now for the bonus I have met some real great people and really made some friends too.  Never can not have to many friends. 

Oh and the best news of all  I hit  100lbs  loss  

Missed my last Support Group meeting

Jul 28, 2008

I had to miss my last support group meeting. That really sucked. I wanted to go but,, I have a problem with my right hip. About a month ago I popped my hip out and broke a peace of the bone off and now it is like a loss tooth and pop out off and on.  On Thur. the day of the support group I did this again. HURT, like no other pain . I am going on Sept 3rd for a hip replacement.  Now the doctor has me out of work until then. Not fun but thank god for the Gastric surgery for  loosing over 75lbs they can do the hip.  I am now at 95lbs loss  I would have never believe I could do this but , I am  and I have to say the support group is a big help.  To have someone that knows what you are going through help so much. To have someone to talk to when you have ??? and they have the answers is great.  I really hated I could not go to the last meeting but I will be in Aug meeting even if  the hubby has to w/c me in.  lol

Scared.

Jul 11, 2008

When I was getting realy for gastric I was so excited and now I am getting ready for a total hip replacement and I am scared to death.  Thank god for the 1st surgery for I have now lost 80lbs since april and they told me in order to fix the hip I needed to get rid of 75lbs.  I go see the Doctor the 25th.  My hip is in so much pain I just want to get this done and over with.  I am down 3 sizes in clothes.  I put on my fat  pants the other day and they fell to the floor how cool is that.  I am still not eating a lot but, that is ok.  I did order some of them walfer bar that someone was talking about in the last support meeting I went too.  I can't wait to get them.  They been telling me I need to up my protien so maybe with the bars I will do better.  I will know more after the 25th when I will be  out of it for a few with the hip.  Still hope I can keep in touch with what everyone here is doing so if I need some back up I have it. To keep me on that road to loosing.  I don't want to get down because I am laid up.  I am scared but I am trying to keep strong.

Today was my father-n-law birthday dinner

Jun 29, 2008

Today we went to dinner over the inlaw's house.  Boy can my  Mother-n-law cook. I did very well.  I didn't eat a lot at all , took my time.  They had icecream cake for my father-n-law.  Now  I know I  am focus on loosing for I didn't have something that before the surgery I would have never said no too. Then tonight we had  fish with  tomatoes and cucumbers for dinner.  I had about 2 oz of  fish and  slice of tomatoes and  3 slices of  cucumbers.  Oh yeah I got 7 glasses of  8 oz of water in me today.  SO all and all I handle this day well. 

A Friday night cookout

Jun 27, 2008

Last night was the 1st time I got together at a friends house where they had not seen me since before surgery.   She could not get over the change in 2 months.  I had a really good time and I found it was not to hard with all the food there. She made thin pizza (vegi pizza)  on the grill.  I had one small slice.   It was so good.  1 slice was all I needed and I was full.  I could not had anything else.  So I didn't .  
 This part of me is doing well.  I have a bad hip I wish I could get that part to feel better.  They say with me loosing the wt so fast I am loosing muscle too and this does not help.  I know I am gonna have to go for the hip replacement soon.  I think once I get this done I will feel my age and not 90.  Being over wt and the hip problem has slow me down a great deal. I am slowly getting my life back.   what a long road. 

1st Support Group.

Jun 27, 2008

I wert to my 1st support group last night at RW.  I learn so much.  I was not gonna go you know long day tired just want to go home and hang out, but, I told my husband I would give it a try. I am glad I did.  The people there where so friendly and understanding.  Nice to know your not in this alone.  I think I will be going to a lot more of the support groups.  What is even better I think I might find some really good friends here too.  One can always use more friends.  I had my surgary in april and I am down 70lbs so far.  I still can not get over that. I have so much support with my husband and family and work and now with this support group.  I believe that this is a big key roll into going the right direction.  Just wanted to say again Thanks and will keep up a blog.

About Me
Coventry, RI
Location
25.0
BMI
Mar 13, 2008
Member Since

Friends 58

Latest Blog 8
RAINY DAYS ALWAYS MAKE ME THINK.
cook a meal tonight mmmm was good
Missed my last Support Group meeting
Scared.
Today was my father-n-law birthday dinner
A Friday night cookout
1st Support Group.

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