Joyce A.

Obesity & Me

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

I have always been heavy and on some kind of diet since Jr. High School. I never had a boyfriend in high school and went to the prom alone. I went to work in Washington DC right after graduation (in 1965) and my weight would go up and down, up and down. After my daughter was born in 1968, I lost about 56 lbs, however my boss told me if I'd turn around, I'd find it! But I soon gained it back and my boss told people I was having my living room let out and that he'd found a sign for the back of my chair that said "Heavy Load"!! I've always been able to laugh at myself and my weight. I used to tell people that I was the only baby in the nursery with a 36" diaper and that I wasn't fat, I was actually twins that didn't separate at birth! I've been to Weight Watchers 3 times; been on the Atkins diet a number of times; been on the soup diet; been on the fat-free diet; went on a water diet once and lost 5 gallons!! I always lost 20-30 lbs, but it always came back. When my daughter was married in 1990, I had dieted and gotten down to 180 and was so proud, but later had to start on Prednisone and blew up to 270 lbs by the time I saw Dr. Quioco April 27th, 2004. By the time I had my surgery Sept 2, 2004, I had lost 35 lbs and stopped the Prednisone completely. I just dealt with the pain. I was diabetic with hypertension and Polymyalgia Rheumatica. I was taking 16 pills a day; now I take about 6 a day. I had this surgery for my health, to help my diabetes and blood pressure and arthritis. I feel like a different person today. I have more energy. I've lost 63 lbs since April 27th; 29 lbs 2 months post-op. I can't wait till this time next year to see a new me.

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

The worst thing about being overweight was always being tired; not wanting to go anywhere to do anything. When I got past 230, I didn't even want to go out to eat. Now that was bad. I didn't want to go out with my friends for anything. I had a hard time walking. Had a hard time breathing. I had to sell my mobile home because I could not mow the patch of grass I had, couldn't rake leaves. I had a hard time getting up and down the stairs to my porch. I moved into an apartment with no steps anywhere. People are rude to you too when you are overweight.

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

Go for walks with, and doing things with my granddaughter.

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

I found out about bariatric surgery because several friends have had it. I wanted to do this several years ago but my ex-husband now didn't want me to. He said he liked overweight women. Anyhow, my first impression was that why have it when you just gain it back, like my friend Sherry, and Mary, and a nurse I worked with, and a few others I know. But I felt like if I didn't have it, I wouldn't live that long. I talked to my PCP and he referred me to Dr. Quioco. I'll never regret having this surgery.

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

Dr. Quioco's office handled getting approval from Blue Cross (Trigon) and it was approved I believe with a week or so.

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

I was scared and ashamed that I weighed so much. However, Dr. Quioco quickly made those feelings disappear. He is just the most wonderful doctor I've ever met. He explained everything in detail, showing diagrams and made sure I knew what I was doing. People need to LISTEN to the doctor and take in everything he tells them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I'm a diabetic with hypertension and I have arthritis in every joint of my body, including C-spine and lower back and hips. I was taking so many pills a day and it was expensive. I actually logged on to this web site and was reading how people were coming off their medications and feeling so much better and had so much more energy and that made me make my final decision to have the surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr. Quioco, I believe, only likes to do the laproscopic procedure and I wanted that. I'd already had three surgeries in the same incision starting at my belly button down about 10 inches. I really didn't want to be cut open again, anywhere.

What fears did you have about having complications or even dying from from the surgery, and what would you tell other people having the same fears now?

With my faith in God, I had no fears whatsoever. Dying never crossed my mind. I also did not worry about having complications from the surgery. My sister in law came to stay with me for a week after surgery and I felt bad because I was up and about (in the house) all the time. I did everything for myself because I felt like it. I would tell people to put their faith in God and their doctor if they are having fears.

How did your family and friends react to your decision? Would you have communicated anything differently if you could now? How supportive were they after your surgery?

Some of my family and friends did not want me to have this surgery. My daughter called me like the day before and tried to talk me out of it, and my other son-in-law called also to try and talk me out of it. My best friend was very upsset that I was having the surgery. But, hey, it's my life. My decision. I would not have communicated anything differently. Everybody I know was so supportive after my surgery. Everybody wanted to do something for me and they visited me in the hospital and at home.

How did your employer/supervisor react to your decision? What did you tell him/her? How long were you out of work?

I am retired with over 30 years with the Fed. Govt. I don't work.

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

I have two friends (husband and wife) that had this surgery in April 2004 and we talk back and forth. I have all my friends and family for support. I want to get to the meetings for Bariatric Surgery. I've talked via email to many who have had this surgery. I think a support group would be very helpful. It's not that important to me, but I do plan to join a support group.

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

I have three small scars, about 3" apart, across the top of my stomach, just under my breasts, one small scar just above the belly button, and a smaller scar to the left of the navel where the drainage tube came out. Totally what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yeah, men actually talk to me when I'm out. Of course, I've lost a total of 64 lbs!!
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