Dragonfire
I've been overweight for a large part of my life, and had gotten to the point of not caring if I lost the weight or not, until I started having chest pains that would make me lose my breath, and make the room spin. That's when I decided that I needed to do something or I wasn't going to make it much longer. I started looking into the process in January of 2004. That's when I had my consultation with Dr. Hunter. I had already filled out all my family history info, and when he saw everything that I had going against me, he told me immediately that I was eligible. I was at the time probably about 440 or so, gaining by the day practically, and I had a history of cancer, heart failure, diabetes, and a whole list of other things in my family. It was decided right then and there that a letter was going to be sent to my insurance. I waited about a month, and then started trying to find out the status of that letter. It was a big hassle, with the insurance saying they hadn't gotten it, and telling me that the doctor's office hadn't sent it. So I had to jump back and forth with them to make sure it was received. March 15th, 2004, I got a call from the insurance saying that I was approved, and they would be sending that information to the doctor's office. Then I received a call from the doctor's office, and they said they could have me in surgery on the 26th! I was amazed it would be that fast! I kind of wanted to wait until after my 25th birthday, but I decided that if I waited, I might chicken out. My partner called that last week "Dead Man's Week" (LOL), and he made sure I had anything and everything I wanted. I probably gained 5lbs just in that last week. But I went through with it. That day before the surgery was a nightmare, having to drink a laxitive to cleanse my system out and all that.
Got up early the next morning, it was insane. I lived in Tacoma at the time, my parents were at a hotel in Federal Way, and we were doing the surgery in Seattle. Lots of driving. I was scared the entire time. Got checked in at Virginia Mason, and got all set. I was told at first that I couldn't have anything with me during the surgery. I had brought my little sister's med-alert bracelet (she had passed on several years ago), and something from each of my great-grandmothers, as something to help me through. I was allowed to have them while I was getting prepped, and all that though. The anesthesiologist was awesome. He made me feel better when he noticed that I was so scared I was shivering. He held my hand and gave me a little pep talk. He got the I.V. ran, and he laughed and asked me if I did any drugs. I told him no, but I do drink like a fish. So he laughed even more, and added something to my IV, and said that he had just given me the equivalent of several shots of Gentleman Jack. He stuck around and held my hand, comforting me, even after his supervisor came through to check on him. I wish I knew his name. He was probably the best anesthesiologist I have ever encountered. So, then they wheeled me into the o.r., and I found out that I would be able to hold onto my medallions of hope and love, and I really calmed down after that. I remember them putting the mask on me and all that, and counting, and then I was out.
When I woke up, I was so thirsty it wasn't even funny. But I was awake. They drew blood every 2 hours, but other than that, everything went fine after the surgery. The staff was awesome. I had to wait until the next day to take the barium test, so I couldn't have anything to drink, and I think that was the worst thing out of all of it. My parents were around to see me out of surgery, but they couldn't stay, so they went back to southern OR, trusting my partner and others to make sure I came out of the Hospital ok.
Within 2 weeks, I had already lost 20 pounds, and was ready to travel down to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where my mom was waiting to have me nearby so she could make sure I was okay. I couldn't wait to see my friends and family, and celebrate my b-day, even though there would be no cake. LOL.
Things kind of went downhill from there. During the time that I was away, the spot where they had attached the intestines to the stomach pouch had decided to scar shut, and I was just barely getting water through, but food wasn't going through. (BTW - I had already progressed to solid foods, but I was taking it easy and not eating anything to hard on my system.) I had to go through a process where they shoved a tube down my throat and popped the hole back open. This happened 3 times total. It sucked. Not to mention, the second time around I got a doctor that I swear took a perverted pleasure in fighting against my gag reflex. The other 2 times the doc I had knocked me out so that wouldn't happen. So anyway, that's the majority of the news. I started out around 445 right before surgery, and I made it to 265, which is almost 200 pounds! After a couple of years, I have regressed a bit, and regained about 90lbs. I found that there were quite a few things that I didn't learn from the nutritionist, and that has kind of sabotaged me. I've done the 5 Day Pouch Test, and that has helped a bit, and I'm about to get into a gym setting, so we'll see what happens. All in all, despite the drawbacks of having to eat Sugar Free, I think I've done ok, and I'm still alive, something I didn't think would happen when I started this process. I'm 32, and I've lived to see a lot happen in my life, like my baby sister getting married, and many other things. So I think I made the right choice, because at the beginning willpower was nonexistent. The problem I have now is that I'm back to where willpower is involved, and that's not a good place for me. So we'll see what happens. Love and light to all!
Jeff
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
