I started at about 510 pounds (but I'm 6'3" and I never tucked in a shirt so I'm sure most people only thought I was 490). I dropped 100 pounds in less than 6 weeks, 127 pounds in 3 months, 154 pounds in 4 months, 177 pounds in 5 months, 190 pounds in 6 months and 224 pounds in my first 8 months. By 9 months out, I was finally down to a size 42 for pants (I started at size 70) and an XL for shirts (down from a 6x/7x). At my tenth month, I had lost about 247 pounds and at the start of my eleventh month since surgery I had finally gotten below my original goal weight of 250. Originally, my goal was to get down to wearing a 44 pants and weigh 250 (that's where I was in 1989 when I graduated from law school and was a size at which I was very comfortable).
By the middle of my 12th month out, I had lost 260 pounds (more than half of my originally starting weight). I never imagined that having the RNY would have facilitated such a fast weight loss-- at times I don't recognize myself. And, by staying vigilent, I have been able to avoid the dreaded "bounce" from re-gaining what I've lost. Sure, I still get a little nervous when I start to feel hungry, but I suppose that it certainly beats the alternative where I used to feel anxious after I had satisfied that hunger.

Dr. Crum gave me an opportunity for a long and healthy life.

By my 13th post-operative month, I surpassed the goal that I had originally set for myself and was able to comfortably fit into size 40 pants and am just a plain old XL for shirts; those pants and shirts are now noticeably too big on me. This is quite a change from where I was the day of surgery as I then wore a size 70 pants and a 6x-7x shirt.

Since about my 15 post-operative month, I have started to try to maintain my weight(as opposed to losing); although this second summer has seen my dropping another 5-10 pounds just from leading a much more active lifestyle. I now wear between a size 36 & 38-- the same size I was at high school graduation. I am quite comfortable at my present size and still marvel that the NIH BMI charts finally list me as "normal" (if only they knew me)-- of course, a few pounds ago when I was still carrying a BMI of slightly more than 25 (and in that "overweight" category), I still woke up every morning thankful for my health and happy to be the same size I had been in college. Most importantly, I know that I am at a sustainable and healthy weight (particularly given my height).
It is odd, but my total shape has changed-- although I recognize that it would be difficult to have a wide and protruding buttocks, sagging manboobs and almost distended lower gut while wearing a size 38 pants, I still marvel that I seemed to have flattened out all around. So the challenge now is to maintain my weight, find inexpensive clothes (I haven't been this size since college) and try to resolve the sagging, hanging, chafing "excess" skin issues (along with having some painful vericose veins removed).

My decision to have WLS is written about by me at http://steverevere.tripod.com

LIFE AFTER THE FIRST YEAR
Late in September of 2003, on a lark, I submitted my resume to a head-hunter, something that I had done without success for years (while heavier); as in the past, I was called in for an interview. However, unlike my past experiences, I was sent out for an interview that day and hired on the spot (I'm an attorney). Now, I guess I could have been upset that I was being judged differently now that I have lost my weight. However, my father helped put the experience in perspective when he asked me if maybe, just maybe, the interviewers were better able to focus on my qualifications because I was not huffing and puffing while being interviewed, I did not have an uncomfortable look on my (as I actually fit in the chair), I wasn't nervous as I didn't fear my suit ripping or my shirt buttons popping and because I was just a lot more confident and comfortable in my own skin (which many people tend to read as honesty). I think my dad was right.
THE GALL BLADDER: Like about 20% of us, I had been experiencing gallbladder pain for several months but believed that it was just some sort of cramping due to the foods I ate. Although I preach to the propsective patients at our new patient support group meetings how they need to listen to their bodes, I kind of ignored the symptoms until I could barely stand and was so overcome with nausea that I couldn't eat (which, oddly enough, hit me while I was leading a new patient support group meeting the first week of November, 2003). After all, in my six years of being a Mr. Mom and fourteen years of being a lawyer, I must have picked up enough medical knowledge to appreciate that I could not be suffering from a gallbladder attack, right? I called my surgeon the next morning (after all, why seek medical help in the hospital where I was leading the meeting the night before when I could prove my refusal to take my own advice). He saw me right away, immediately diagnosed me as having gallbladder disease and sent me that same day to an imaging center to confirm the diagnosis. The next day, I was at Norwalk Hospital having the gallbladder removed. Once again, I was simply astounded by the care my surgeon provided me, the atttentiveness of his staff in making sure that I would be operated on the next day and the high level of care I received at Norwalk Hospital. The moral from this story: recognize that the pain you feel might not always be the "typical" symptoms of the classic problems many of us experience post-op (and don't diagnose yourself).
Now in addition to the attentive care I received at Norwalk Hospital (particularly because I was on the floor where the gastric bypass patients are taken and the nursing staff there is well-educated about our post-operative needs), I was also amazed at how much easier recovery is from surgery when you go in not being morbidly obese. From being able to get out of bed easier, to not being plagued with lots of aches and pains that can mask other symptoms, I was very blessed to have gotten sick with my gallbladder when I was otherwise healthy (oh, you know what I mean).
And once again, Dr. Crum demonstrated that he is not just a skilled surgeon, but an attentive and caring physician.
WANTING TO EXPERIENCE ALL I DISCUSS AS A SUPPORT GROUP FACILITATOR. For months, in talking about the risks and benefits of gastric bypass, I would discuss the slight risk of internal hernias and blockages. I had read about those complications, had talked to Dr. Crum about how they are repaired and had spoken with several peers who had needed surgery to repair their blockages. But, really, can you really speak convincingly about anything without experiencing it firsthand? So, in September of 2004, after feeling a strange tightenning in my midsection that was accompanied by the strongest wave of nauseua and pain, I knew it was time to get myself back to Dr. Crum. I would soon be checked back into my suite at the Norwalk Hospital where the internal hernia was repaired. The tough part was that I had to return to liquids for a few days and then soft food for a few more days after that. It was in those days of transition that I appreciated the hold some of my old food demons held. You see, it was different when I was choosing to control my eating, when I didn't eat by my choice. But, when confronted with a physical impediment to eating, I found myself back to those pre-RNY days when, while dieting, I would long for foods I never really liked. Fortunately, a good counsellor and great advice from friends guided me through this troubling phase. It was a learning experience-- one that made me appreciate that our recoveries are truly life-long and that the journey we are on does not end at our goal weight.
THE MINOR ANNOYANCES:
Because of my extreme weight, I developed serious varicose veins on both legs. As my life became more active, they became a source of constant discomfort-- burning and tingling, making exercise very uncomfortable-- and a source of some worry (they're large size and the thickness of the clusters along the length of each leg put me at some greater risk for blood clots). I had my right leg done in a nearly 4 hour operation (Dr. Crum had to reconstruct my upper thigh given the large number of clusters that were removed and had to remove an aneurysm that had formed around my ankle) and my left leg will soon follow. Being in the hospital for the varicose vein surgery and living with the discomfort that follows surgery, I have had to relive the anguish that comes from knowing that I had done permanent damage to my body as a result of my food addiction. It has actually been tougher than I thought--- the physical pain is minor compared to the angst of recognizing that I had done this to myself. I guess it was a good wake-up call for me as I had avoided permanent hypertension (although uncontrollable before surgery, my blood pressure has been normal and unmedicated for over a year now) and had avoided having loads of sagging skin despite my rapid weight loss.
And, yes, the longstanding pain in my lower abdomen ultimately required surgical repair, that was done in conjunction with repair of an inguenal hernia. So, once again, it was fall and I was back at Norwalk Hospital having surgery (close to the anniversary of my RNY).
STAYING FOCUSED:
The support groups which my surgeon emphasizes have helped tremendously in maintaining the focus that is necessary for long-term weight loss. Being given the opportunity to help as the facilitator for the new patient meetings makes me re-visit my decision to have gastric bypass surgery every single month-- and serves to reinforce the remarkable changes in my life that the surgery has made possible. Being surrounded by supportive peers makes all the difference in the world-- let's be serious, it's not easy giving up your coping mechanism of choice and completely re-tooling your life, but with great friends and caring peers the road to this new life is the path worth taking.
SUPPORT GROUP LIFE:
Being given the opportunity to facilitate support group meetings has been a blessing-- planning for them keeps me mindful that maintaining health requires constant vigilence and standing before my peers every month helps to keep me honest in my eating.
MAINTAINING:
Passing my second anniversary presented challenges I never quite imagined. First, there is the balance between the thrill of being able to buy inexpensive clothes at stores like Wal-Mart and Old Navy (which are great, don't get me wrong) and the desire to want to wear all those higher-labels items that had been out of reach for so long. Secondly, there remains a constant battle betweeen self-awareness and vanity-- between wanting to stay healthy and wanting (needing) to look my best. And with those challenges, there always comes the ease with which I know I could slip back into my old ways--- disguising my lack of motivation for health (through weight control) with my avowed disdain for vanity. But, I guess the biggest issue has been just trying to find a little balance between making up for lost time and living each day to the fullest without constantly looking over my shoulder to see if the old food demons were catching up on me. Is post-operative life a little more stressful than I had imagined? Yep. But, is it worth being able to avoid the guilt and shame that were my constant companions as I struggled with obesity? Absolutley. So, as I look back on my past 30 months of post-operative life, I must admit without hesitation that it has all been well worth the effort-- after all, in the investment I always wanted to make in my long term health, I finally put in the sweat equity I deserved, and the return has been fabulous.

About Me
Norwalk, CT
Location
RNY
Surgery
10/09/2002
Surgery Date
Feb 06, 2003
Member Since

Before & After
rollover to see after photo
60 days before RNY and at my heaviest
500lbs
After 21 months, my body decided to start losing again-- here I am after dropping my 300th pound.
203lbs

Friends 33

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