Kim Davis

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

-125 pounds, maintained 1 year

Problems:   still have to watch bread and dairy products; low iron

Eating habits:   Small portions / spaced throughout day

Concerns:        Closet space  :)

A Year passes.....

Over the course of the past year I lost a total of 125 pounds.  It's hard to imagine, but I felt I got a little too thin and deliberately put 10 pounds back on.  Now I hover around the 125 mark and have stabilized my weight there for the last 4 months.   (Jan - April)
 

I eat fairly normal.  I've struggled with breads, pasta and rice, so I learned to leave them alone.  I'll nibble here and there, but it's not worth the "feeling like I ate cement sensation"  to eat them.  Sugar doesn't bother me, but I  try to be cautious since it does spike my blood sugar.  I'm a cheap drunk - one drink and I'm ready for a nap.

Portions are notably smaller than pre-surgery, but my options are wide open.   I can eat small to moderate amounts of about anything.   In fact, I haven't found anything I can't at least have a bite or two of!!

New Dimensions - Weight Loss Center
Dr. John Pilcher - San Antonio, Texas

The Day Before the BIG DAY

I took this day off work and had my nails done, a pedicure AND had my hair cut.   Keith and I took the kids out to dinner where I had a steak and a baked sweet potato with cinnamon and brown sugar.   Yummm!!!   I had no feelings of nervousness or dread.  Just a peaceful anxiousness.

The BIG DAY

Lori, Keith and I checked in the hospital about 8:00 AM.   I completed all the paperwork, including a living will and permission to donate my organs.  That was a little bit discomforting!!

They took my official weight, 239, and I got into a hospital gown and started the wait.   A minister from our church stopped by and I got a little misty eyed.  

About 10:00 they took me to the surgery prep area, got the IVs started.  Dr. P came out and talked to me, met my husband and daughter and I was completely calmed down.   The anesthesiologist came out and gave me a "cocktail" that tasted like a really bad bloody mary.   I put on my pretty hairnet and my booties and I was ready to go!!   I remember being wheeled into the OR, looking at the lights that said "DO NOT STERILIZE", glancing to see where the CD player was, remembered I forgot to give Dr. P my CDs and my next memory was waking up in recovery.

I had to wait a couple of hours to get a room.   I still had a lot of drugs in my system, so I slept a lot.   I remember feeling like I had been kicked in the ribs, but the pain was bearable.  I was bound up with an elastic bandage that I learned to LOVE!!

When I got to my room, I had the morphine pump.  They gave me a shot of Toradol, which is an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever.   The pain wasn't bad, so I didn't use the morphine.   My daughter helped me get up and walk.  I was nauseated when I first sat up and felt like I was gagging.  I think it was the NG tube down my nose, I could feel it with the back of my tongue.

I slept pretty rocky that night, but I felt OK.  I hit the morphine pump twice because I wanted to sleep and the nurses station was right outside the door, plus they kept bothering me!!  The next morning Lori helped me take a shower and shampoo my hair and walk some more.   Dr. P came and took out the NG tube and started me on oral pain meds, Tylenol 3 with codeine.   I took 2 and they knocked me out.   I figured out 1 every 2-3 hours maintained my pain and didn't knock me for a loop. 

I ended up staying until Sunday morning, an extra day because I have a "bashful" bladder.   My surgery was done laparoscopically so my incisions were small.   There is a picture of my tummy 4 days post op in my album. The bruise is due to blood pooling during surgery and rising to the surface.  

My highest non-pregnancy weight has been 249 and with trying to diet, my last weigh in was 240.  (12/26/00)

I saw the Dr. in March, 2000 because I had self-diagnosed myself with depression.  I was (am) obsessed with my weight.  The more I try to lose, the more I gain.  I had received a rejection letter after donating blood that my liver enzymes were out of range and took that to my appointment.

My PCP was more concerned with the liver enzymes than with my mental health, and started a series of tests.  I was eventually referred to a gastrointerologist who performed even more tests, including a liver biopsy.  The diagnosis:  severe FATTY liver....well SURPRISE!!  So is the REST of me!!   Seriously though, your liver is your body's filter and when it is clogged and sluggish, it doesn't function properly.  After all this, I was recommended to LOSE WEIGHT!   Ahhhh....full circle!!   An explanation for my runaway weight problems.  With a defective liver, traditional methods of weight loss are ineffective.  Medications don't metabolize properly, fat stores itself.   Not an excuse, I am well aware my eating habits aren't ideal, but at least I had a logical explanation for my lack of success in my dieting efforts.   After several years of failed diets and exercise, several medically documented and supervised, I needed to look at my other options.

I was given the go-ahead to pursue weight loss surgery.   I researched both the gastric banding technique and the RNY.  Because of my issues with sugar and the seeming overwhelming higher success rate, I chose RNY.  After attending several support group meetings, I know my decision is the right one for me.

My surgeon for the RNY will be Dr. John Pilcher.   I am pleased to say he is not only a nice guy, but sincerely interested in what his patients think and feel.  Our conversations have been relaxed and I asked him as many questions as he asked me!  

My BMI is 41 and my medical co-morbidities are fatty liver, borderline diabetes, tendonitis (knees and elbows), chronic fatigue, and mild sleep apnea.  My insurance company, Cigna POS, approved my surgery the same day the request was received. 

The Beginning

Where to start???  Well, I'll begin by saying that I have always felt fat.  Looking back at pictures when I was young, I see a little girl that didn't get a lot of exercise and seems a little chubby.  Definitely not fat though.   Negative body image and self-perception is a demon that starts early.

 In High School, I was busty and self-conscious.  Today, I am shocked that even then I felt fat - what I would give for that figure!!

 My diet roller coaster started in college; I wanted to lose weight before starting a family.  I had gained a few pounds after getting married and was unhappy with my appearance.  I did the prescript diet pills complete with the associated all day cleaning binges and sleepless nights. 

 I started my family and after 2 children I had added a couple of sizes to my wardrobe.  I divorced after 10 years of marriage to my HS sweetheart and had a surge of confidence.  My weight still concerned me, but I felt OK with my re-entry to the dating scene. 

I met the man of my dreams and we started a whirlwind life together, promoting in our jobs and moving around the country.  When we started trying to have a baby, the pounds started creeping on.   With the hormonal fertility meds and the ups and downs of monthly disappointment, I sort of gave up on the diet battle.   We adopted a child and miraculously at the age of 40, I got pregnant with our youngest child. 

I've done all the fad diets, eaten bizarre things, joined gyms, bought books, attended the meetings, and have felt like an all around failure.   I now realize there is much more at issue than my ability to control my weight and I've made the choice to take charge of my health once and for all.

Now my family is complete and it is time to turn my attention back to ME for a bit and do what it takes to get healthy and fit so I can enjoy this family I've worked so hard to create.

 (2001) I am now a happily married mother of 4 children.  My oldest is 23, my youngest is 3 and my granddaughter Kali is due in March.   I've had a very successful career with FedEx for 17 years, and I am resigning to reduce the stress and increase my focus on the priorities in my life.

The Year 2001 is MY year to make profound changes in my life.   More than another "New Year's Resolution", I am focusing on the things that bring me joy and eliminating as many stresses as possible.

My new "birthday" will be March 1, 2001.  That is my kickoff to a whole new life.  Stay tuned and....HANG ON!!