Kay W.
My Story starts back a few years ago when out of the blue I found myself with so many health Issues. I went to the hospital for what I thought was a urinary infection and they were more concerned about the amount of sugar in my urine. I followed up with that issue and was diagonosed with Diabetes and after not listening to my Doctor about watching my diet I continued my bad habits. A bag of M&M almost everyday. I guess bottom line I didn't take things serious and continued my chocoholic addiction. I'm one that really hates shots so I figured if it ever got to where I was gonna have to take a shot then I would consider not eating the chocolate or sugars. As I look back now that was really a dumb choice I made. I continued struggling with my weight. My Dr. put me on Glucotrol and then later Actos to help control my bloodsugar level. Some how I managed to keep the numbers where they should be and I still ate my sweets. Other health issues that deveveloped was high blood pressure, asthma, thyroid (long time struggle with this one), arthritis and well thats enough. My Dr. and Health Insurance Nurse Partners incurraged me to check out weight loss surgery. I looked into lap banding about a year ago (2005). Just researched it online. I continued to try different diets thinking I could do this on my own. $$$ later I was at my wits end. Everything I was trying wasn't working for me I just got heavier. In September 2006, I spoke with a guest that comes into Cracker Barrel where I work and he told me about his surgery. He was a big man and I noticed his weight loss and decided to ask him what he was doing. Steve told me about the gastric bypass surgery and the surgeon he had used. This conversation is what pushed me over the edge to pursue this life style change. I made an appoint to see Dr. Garner on October 16th 2006. Previous to this I went and attentted two seminairs of local surgeons on both type of surgery and both times I felt like a number. It was after talking to Steve and Tris that I decided on Dr. Garner. Dr. Garner took his time with me and explained everything to me a great detail. I walked away from that appointment feeling like I had always known him. I got intouch with someone I had talked to 2 yrs ago that worked as a Health Nurse Partner with my Insurance through Cracker Barrel. I can't say enough about Cracker Barrel, its one fantastic company and all the benefits. I'm ten (10) year employee. John and I got the ball rollling. He had already told me my insurance would cover the surgery. As soon as the approval came though and I had another appointment with Dr. Garner on November 28 2006 to answer all questions and set a date. That was a Tuesday and he asked me when I wanted to do the surgery I said tomorrow. He actually said he thought that could be done. I laugh and said no way I had to get all my ducks in a row at work and then we would do it. So I waited one week. I had my surgery on Wednesday, December 6th, 2006. I went into the hospital around 10:30am weighing in at 227.5 lbs and they finally took me back about 1pm. Dr. Garner had a bad case before me with complications, oh and he wasn't doing the gastric bypass on this other patient...lol. When I returned from recovery, well thats anther story by it's self, WINK ;) I went in on Wednesday and came home on Sunday weighing 216.4. Everyday gets better and better. I had my staples out Tuesday, Dec 12th ,2006. I have a beautiful 14 mon. granddaughter, Maggie Kay and she along with God, my family & friends continue to inspire me that everything I went through and what's to come will be worth the end result.
