Dr. Vance R.

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

Always a battle, but when I applied myself, I could keep my weight reasonable. After a best friend with HIV killed himself, a lover died of AIDS and my mother dying shortly after, I kind of put the self control on the back burner and self-medicated with food.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

No question - worrying about chairs with arms, whether it was flying coach, sitting in a restaurant or going to the movies or the theater. I never fit. I even broke a plastic lawn chair at a friend's birthday party. As a chiropractor, I think it has also negatively influenced my practice and professional image.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

Sitting in a booth in a restaurant is the biggest change. And not using a CPAP machine anymore is also nice.

How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

I have had patients go through it, but when I had a good friend go through it in 1999. I watched her and decided she did fine, wasn't missing large portions and seemed very happy. I initially thought it was too drastic and thought my friend was nuts to have it done. I certainly came around.

Describe your experience with getting insurance approval for surgery. What advice, if any, do you have for other people in this stage?

I had BCBS of Minnesota. Judy Schwartz, my surgeon's wife and also an RN, did the application for me and it was a piece of cake.

What was your first visit with your surgeon like? How can people get the most out of this meeting?

I enjoyed meeting the surgeon, though I was disappointed the lap surgery had to be put off until I lost some weight to make it easier for him. The surgeon was exceptionally helpful.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of losing the battle of the bulge and at 386, I was desperate. Also, that BCBS of Minnesota was picking up the tab was no small amount of the decision process.

What aftercare support group/program do you have? How helpful/important is this?

This website is it for me, but I have several friends and patients who have had this done and they have been immensely helpful.

What is your scar like? Is this what you expected?

6 small abdominal lap scars and a two inch scar on the lateral left thigh where a piece of the tensor fascia lata muscle was removed to make a new sphincter (some patients have a platic straw instead). Over time, the scars have gotten smaller and lightened up a bit. It is largely what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

4 months after I stayed the same weight for two weeks and got worried it was all over, but then it started to go down again. I'm 5 months post-op and I've slowed from 10 pounds a week initially to 10 pounds a month.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

They're invariable thrilled with the change. I'm getting invited out more, but maybe it's my willingess to go out in public more and not be embarrassed about my appearance.
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