Douglas S.
Well just to update my story..its January 22, 2010
I have had almost no problems with my BPD/DS Lap....I currently weight 180 lbs...from a total loss of 323 lbs.....I love my life.....Im 56 and 2 1/2 years ago my wife and I had a baby girl....she is so beautiful....Wow, we have a 27 year old son 26 year old daughter and a 22yr old daughter. Every morning I wake up I thank God and Dr. Gagner for keeping me around....I have stayed away from this website for a long time..I wish I kept in better contact with some friends I made......Bill, you are my brother and will always be....your friendship is so appreciated even if we dont talk as often as I would like (my Fault).
THE BEGINNING OF MY NEW LIFE...ONE OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS
I have had a weight problem almost all my life. At 500 lbs there is not alot a person can do physcially. I had trouble just climbing up stairs. I couldn't walk or stand on my feet for my than a hour. Even though I am in good general health I was beginning to get tired of not being able to do anything. I had no energy at all. Work, come home and watch tv and sleep and of course eat. I was tired of restaurants that had booths and no chairs except the ones with arms. I was tired of breaking the drivers seat of all my new cars. I was tired of not being able to coach baseball anymore. I was tired of going to the movies very early to beat the crowd so I wouldn't have to climb over anybody for a seat. I was tired of walking around and having people making remarks about my size within ear shot of my family. I know it hurts them. Well I finally did something about it. I was referred to Dr. Gagner of Manhattan and he gave me back my life. I had a BPD/DS laproscopic operation on 9/13/99. All went well, didn't expect the amount of pain but I guess that passed after seeing my first weight loss results. I just want to thank my family for all their support. My mom came up from Florida to be with me and it was greatly appreciated, thanks mom. Dad thanks so much for always being there. Brother Darren you are the man, such a fine compassionate and loving person that you are. I wish there were more people in this world like you. Mary, Thank you for being there. You are a very special person too. Diane, my guardian angel, who came in from Rhode Island, if it weren't for you I dont know if I could have done this. Thanks so much for helping me get my life back. And to My wife Lori, whose love and understanding of me goes far above my expectations, I thank you for putting up with all my nonsense. You are my life. I love you. I could not have ever done this without you. You have made it all possible. We can now grow old together. To our children Chris, Jenni, and Danielle, you guys are the best. Sorry I've been a grouch. Well I'm on my way to a new life, one of which I finally have control. I know i will be a success because I have all the support anyone could have.....My fantastic family.
2/13/00--5 months post-op--everything is going well and I've dropped a total of 170 lbs
2/29/00--5 months and 2 weeks post-op I can't believe it but another 20 lbs dropped down 190 lbs to 310 lbs---I wonder if something is wrong and I'm losing to much to fast.
3/8/00--almost 6 months post-op and now weigh 300 lbs. everything is ok. I need a whole new wardrobe. Oh what a price to pay.
4/26/00--7 months and 2 weeks post-op. Im feeling great. A couple of bad days but hey that was all my fault, I ate to fast, But all is well. Updated photo--279 lbs. Unbelievable !!
5/9/00--just about 8 months- still losing pretty fast, down to 266-when will it stop- passed out two times, drs don't know why so i have to see a cardiologist 5/10. I know everything will be fine.wearing size 40 pants from a 60-62.
5/24/00--today is my first birthday of my new life. I have so far lost a total of 243 lbs. Unreal........No problems with passing out. Cardiologist believes it is because of the drastic loss and when I level it will be fine. All test results came back fine. Still losing at a fast pace from 279 to 257 in the last month. 22 lbs. I went to the theater on broadway with my beautiful wife, lori. We had a great time and I had plenty of room in the seat and actually climbed over people, something i would never do before.
6/29/00--weight has slowed down-I am now down to 250 lbs--half of my starting weight. Even if I dont lose anymore lbs I will be perfectly happy with the results. I can't believe the clothes that is now available to me. Normal sizes. All is well. Thank You Dr. Gagner
7/13/00--another 5 lbs-10 month anniversary and I feel fantastic My BMI was 69.1 (morbidly obese) and now I'm 34.2 and I'm just very overweight--no longer obese.
8/13/00-- Its my 11 month aniversary and now weigh 240 lbs--Dr Gagner said i would level off at 250 lbs in about 1 year to 18 months but i'm there already. So my goal weight of 225 lbs seems to be right around the corner. I am able to eat any type of food with no problem, but nothing like the quanity i used to eat. I have so much to be thankful for. The love and support from, my wife, Lori, and my children Chris, Jenn and Danielle. They are all the best. The miracle of weight loss surgery !!!!!
9/13/00--Its been 1 year already---I'M NORMAL what ever that means. I can eat like a normal person, smaller portions but thats fine. Anyone who is looking into having this surgery I would give it a big thumbs up. It has worked for me. 265 lbs gone forever. 10 more lbs before i reach my goal. never in my life did I ever think I could be 235 lbs, a size 36 pants (from 62) and fit into a LARGE shirt (instead of 7xL). Thank you all for your support and help. Everyone from the chat room and everyone who writes. thanks to my great family for there love and support. Doc Gagner You are the MAN. Thank you for saving my life. Good bye Bernadette--good luck and thanks for everything. I'll miss you.
1/1/2001--Happy New Year----15 1/2 months post-op and I have passed my goal and any expectation of this surgery.....once again I'll say it..its a life changer and a life saver. From not being able to tie my shoelaces to ice skating and jet skiing and riding my bike sometimes 25 miles a day, I have surpassed my expectations. From being a 500 lb mound of pain to no discomfort at all..no knee problems..no back pain..no pain in the chest from not being able to breathe. On the mental side of the surgery my wife says that I have become very "cocky". Confident is more like it. I dont let anyone push me around anymore. More confident that I can do anything now. Impatient, my wife says, i guess she's right, (but dont tell her that i said that)its cause I want to get up and go places and do things, because I CAN NOW. My New Years resolution in the year 2001 will be to continue help others who are interested in having the surgery, to be there for them.. I presently 220 lbs, thats a loss of 280 lbs lost forever.
5/01/01.....Finally enjoying my life...I am "normal"...I'm just maintaining my weight of 219 lbs..exercising---riding my bike and walking and now I'm also doing something that I had a passion for all my life since high school and thats umpiring school baseball..running around the bases and squating down behind home plate both something i never thought I could do again before I had my surgery. I'm eating very well. If you didnt know i had the surgery you couldnt tell by the way I eat.
Any kind of food is ok with me, not in the volume for which I ate before but don't need the volume...Blood work-up is not to bad..low cholesterol..93..and the need for additional vitamin "d"...I never was good with taking my supplements, but it is a must...It can lead to so many problems..Thank you,nicole Thank you for your help and knowledge of Nutristion.Thank you Doc Gagner and with my great love and appreciation to my wife and children and family for all their support and love...It makes the recovery from the surgery so much easier..Life is worth living once again....
10/5/01--Well its been awhile since I have last updated. Its now 2 years since my lifesaving surgery and what more can I say. IT WORKS FOR ME.. 2 years ago I was just sitting around, wasteing time and waiting to DIE. Now there is not enough time in the day for me to do the things that I want to now..new things..scuba diving..horseback riding, without the horse passing out...backpacking and hiking again..and possibly taking dancing lessons since I now will be around to dance at my daughters weddings..No longer am I waiting to DIE..I WANT TO LIVE LIFE the way it suppose to be lived..with fun and enjoyment. Now when I go somewhere and try new things and people laugh at me, I know its because I did something stupid or funny NOT BECAUSE OF THE WAY I LOOKED.
Dont forget exercise is very important..I have been exercising alot to maintain my weight and it is so much easier now. Im at 209 lbs and just a few more pounds and I will lose a total of 300 lbs and will weigh under 200 lbs..
I have reached the ultimate goal of weight loss surgery, and its not the numbers its GOOD HEALTH AND GOOD LIVING..Good luck to all and keep the faith and may God Bless you..
GOD BLESS AMERICA TOO
5/05/02
Cost of BPD/DS Lap surgery..................$20,000
Best Doc in the world, Dr Gagner............$11,000
Cost of whole new wardrode..................$2,000
A whole new Life of health and happiness.....PRICELESS
9/13/02--------3RD ANNIVERSARY....Happy rebirthday
What more can i say then i am so thankful.....i'm full of life.
i can eat normally and my lifestyle hasnt changed to much in my eating category...i still have some junk food and go to resturants and can eat a full meal with no doggie bag..i have upped some supplements and increased my exercise...bike riding...50 mile bike-a-thons....i even had my first and hopefully last bike accident..broke my elbow in two places...laid up for 6-8 weeks of no exercise...i feel like i gained 20 lbs but i havent....
my only concern is that i am so active now...if i cant do something cause of an injury or rain, i get very impatient and take it out on my wife and kids....i use to look forward to sitting on the sofa all day when i was 500 lbs..now i can't sit still....i got to do something..........
2/23/2003
Almost 3 1/2 years post and very happy to report NO COMPLICATIONS or setbacks...I consider myself as one of the BLESSED post-ops with very little concerns..One little concern is I feel like I am eating way to much...I have been eating carbs for quite sometime now and just cant seem to gain weight. If I cut down on the amount of food I still will lose a few pounds....What a problem, hahaha.......