cjtich
10/15/01 My advice to anyone considering WLS is to prepare yourself for a VERY tough first week. My sister came and stayed with me and was truly a Godsend. I lost seventeen pounds the first week, but was so miserable & weak that I could've cared less. It still seems unreal to me. Each day is a little better; I am now 2 weeks post-op and can eat soft foods. Chamomile tea is wonderfully soothing when you cannot sleep. And prayer is KEY -- Ask everyone you know to pray for you; I had such a feeling of safety and support from the knowledge that so many people were lifting me in prayer.
8/11/2002 Almost a year out -- hard to believe! I've lost 138 pounds and gone from a 26/28 to a 12/14! I RUN upstairs now! I have energy, am in the best health of my life, and savor every moment like I once savored food. The first four months were TOUGH, but then suddenly everything seemed to click and it's been WELL WORTH EVERY TEAR ever since! No more seatbelt extenders, no more being "stair speed monitor," no more shame! God bless you all! So glad you're here -- Your prayers, advice, and support got me to this point.
9/28/2002 ONE YEAR OUT!! ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN POUNDS GONE!! YES, IT'S WORTH EVERY BIT OF PAIN, NAUSEA, EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT -- IT'S A HARD JOURNEY, BUT IT IS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE!!!
July 11, 2003 - I've lost a total of 156 pounds. Lord only knows how many inches! Gone from a 26/28 to a 6/8. Still hard to believe that slim person reflection is ME. Great to just throw on clothes and KNOW I'll look good. No more drenching sweats from just one flight of stairs either. I'm still the same person I was when I was fat, just MUCH healthier and happier. God bless you with your own journey!
September 28, 2003: TWO YEARS OUT. WOW - The time has flown by, overall. The first four months were HELL ON EARTH, but then something "clicked" and life became first tolerable and then and now AWESOME. It's still life, of course, with peaks and valleys, wins and losses, but I'm much better equipped to handle the valleys and the losses without ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX EXCESS POUNDS hanging on my heart, liver, lungs, legs, joints, etc! My blood pressure is 120/60, down from 190/85. The only health problem that's developed is reactive hypoglycemia. Almost two years without sugar and I began adding it to my diet and BAM! So I must watch my blood sugar levels and eat RATIONALLY. Which is a GOOD thing -- Blood sugars spikes are what cause the major damage to one's body, not consistent highs or lows. My doctors (psych, internist, surgeon, and endocrinologist) are ALL delighted with my health, stamina, and resilience. This is a VERY VERY HARD JOURNEY -- Anyone who considers WLS the "easy way" is completely out of touch with reality. WLS WORKS and that's why I would recommend it. But only to those who have tried everything and failed to get their health back. Nothing else worked for me. If I can help any of you in any way, please don't hesitate to email me. So many people supported me; I enjoy extending a helping hand to others. Comfort, advice - Feel free. Lord knows I asked for lots of both. And still do sometimes! God bless you, whatever you decide. I don't regret my decision; I regret that I could not regain my health without surgery. I would not go back though -- I am slim, energetic, and stronger than ever.
UPDATE 1/30/2005 My weight continued to drop until people were telling me I looked "gaunt." I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia and put on Glyset once a day. Helps tremendously BUT I have gained 30 pounds in a year. This time last year I weighed 166; now I am at 196. I had developed a habit of eating 3-4 sugar free fudgsicles instead of and then as well as my dinner meal. BIG WAKE-UP!!! While I was indeed too thin at 166, 176 would be great and I'm 20 pounds over that. I write this to assure all WLS people that I, at least, need to remain vigilant about my propensity to eat when bored or stressed. (Or awake?? smile)
Anyway, I have increased my exercise and no more fudgesicles in the house, period. The gain has stopped and I feel it will begin to go down again, but I do have moments of panic when I fear it will not. So, Lesson Learned! WLS is NOT magic; eating to live must be the philosophy I follow EVERY DAY, regardless of what foods may "go down well" that day. (I must mention that during this past year I have changed jobs, my beloved pug died unexpectedly, and a host of family problems occurred and continue to occur.) Hope this helps someone! God bless you and yours on the Journey! CJ
9/29/2009 WOW - so hard to believe it has been eight years. I return to update my status for those who wish to know how it gets as the years pass. Well, I do NOT regret WLS but I wish I could have lost the weight some other way. I COULD NOT, and I have come to terms with that. I developed hypoglycemia (the opposite of diabetes) about four years ago. My doctor sent me to a specialist and he prescribed Glycet which I have been taking once daily ever since and it greatly controls the symptoms. Also, I have learned to carry glucose tablets with me 24/7 just in case as stress or exercise or who knows what can bring on my blood sugar dropping. I have also learned that WLS does NOT mean no more dieting. I can pretty much eat whatever I want now which has brought my weight up but I am still at a healthy weight and certainly MUCH HEALTHIER than when I was obese. WLS doesn't change you; you must do that YOURSELF. Exercise, eat right -- We know more about eating right than anyone, I bet, but sugar still beckons me like an addiction at times! I never pass a fat person without thanking God that I had WLS and also praying for them to survive and prevail against the fat, whatever works for that individual. My husband started drinking when he lost his job even though our surgeon had told us never to drink again since it goes immediately to the liver once the gall bladder is gone. He is back on diabetes medicine but is doing very well. I continue to take my vitamins, protein, and water religiously -- He continues to do whatever he feels like, and our quarterly bloodwork is always the same! He really is the poster child for WLS. Has kept his weight off, although it did creep up for a while, that scared him into cutting back and he is at his lowest weight and maintains it. Since he chose NOT to have plastic surgery, he has a huge roll of skin which makes him look much heavier than he is. We just could not FACE any more surgery so he did not get any plastic surgery. My own skin pretty much came back into place. We both are happy with our WLS and would recommend it to anyone who cannot lose the weight any other way. IT IS NOT A MAGIC CURE and you are NOT FREE of the fat fight. If you exercise and eat right, you will do wonderfully well. Be prepared for the pull of the food addiction -- You must deal with those issues -- THEY DO NOT COME OFF WITH THE FAT, unfortunately. Find a support group, get regular exercise, see a good therapist -- Whatever it takes to bring your mind into rhythm with your "new" body. One of my mother's friends had WLS and tons of plastic surgery and then GAINED IT ALL BACK AND MORE. So it CAN happen -- you are responsible and accountable, no one else. I pray for each and every one who reads these words - Sure hope it helps. I am very happy I am not fat any more, but I am even happier with the spiritual and emotional evolution my weight loss empowered me to begin and accomplish. God bless us, every one!
Hospital Reviews
- (Fairfax, VA) - Inova Fair Oaks Hospital
- (Falls Church, VA) - Inova Fairfax
Product Reviews
- Balance - Balance Gold Bars
- Next Proteins - Detour
Weight Loss Survey Responses
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Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: William E. Roll, Jr. M.D.
Very kind and calm, extremely knowledgeable, a "no nonsense" and straightforward kind of guy. His office staff, Anita, Barbara, and Sally R.D., are absolutely the most empathetic, helpful, reassuring, and efficient women with whom I've had the pleasure of working. Very much a TEAM that includes ME. Dr. Roll is very focussed and that can be offputting until you spend more time with him and see how very kind he is. He will NOT operate on smokers. He emphasizes that this is a LIFE CHANGE; and his aftercare is very structured. He went over the surgery with diagrams and answered all my questions without any impatience. He has never lost a patient but he covers the risks involved thoroughly. I rate him an excellent surgeon (judging from my husband's fast recovery and super success) and his bedside manner was wonderful when I was so terrified that my husband would not do well. He's GREAT!
Insurer Info:
BC/BS, PPO
Barbara, in Dr. Roll's office, deals with the insurance company. She works magic -- I switched to BC/BS on 9/1; received my approval letters on 9/6! Very excited!!!