New Hope
The actual name of the procedure is "Open Distal Roux En-Y Gastric Bypass." Until
earlier that year, I had never even considered that I would take such "drastic"
measures to lose weight...but when I started having trouble walking up a simple flight of
stairs, I knew I needed to do something. I started researching information on the web,
and then I found a primary care physician who was willing to refer me to a surgeon. I
thought that would be the hard part...but OY! Was I wrong!
Starting in March of 2001, I was referred for test after test: sleep studies, a battery of
blood tests, an upper GI (barium swallow), gall bladder ultrasound, and a cardiac stress
test. I had already been under treatment for hypertension for several years, but now I
discovered I was also diabetic and had sleep apnea. In addition, my cholesterol and
triglycerides were critically high. The surgeon sent a letter to the insurance company
and, after a fashion, I was approved for the surgery.
Finally, on October 12, 2001, I had the life-changing surgery. A few minor complications
kept me in the hospital for 6 days. (Not to mention the horrible allergic reaction I had to
the surgical tape!) On the day of the surgery, I had weighed 298 pounds (although 311
was my starting weight--I lost 13 pounds prior to surgery on the pre-op liquid diet!). On
the day I was discharged, I was already down to 288.
After a few days at my apartment, with my Mom staying to help me with even the
simplest of tasks, I went to my parents' home in Indiana to convalesce. A week from my
hospital discharge date, they drove me back to Louisville for a follow-up appointment
with my wonderful surgeon, Dr. Edwin (Earl) Gaar. He removed my staples, even
though I was terribly afraid I was going to pop open the incision that ran from the base
of my breastbone to my bellybutton. I had been on a "pureed" diet for a week, and I
was glad when he informed me that I could advance my diet as tolerated. Easier said
than done!!
After several incidents of "over-eating" (which, when you have a gastric pouch that
holds only about 2 ounces of food, is very easy to do!), I began learning what and how
much I could eat. I quickly learned about a phenomenon that is referred to as "head
hunger". This is different from actual hunger, in that it is more related to old eating
habits and has little or nothing to do with the hunger signals that are normally sent to the
brain by the body. "Head hunger" makes you think you will absolutely perish if you
don't eat {fill in the blank} right this minute. Of course, the reality is that when you try
to eat whatever you are craving, it either A) doesn't satisfy your craving or B) makes
you sick. (Anytime you overeat, it causes vomitting/spitting up and a great deal of
discomfort.) Consequently, after a while, I became better at recognizing "head hunger"
and succumbed to it less often. As I said, though, it has more to do with long-established
eating patterns, and those are not easily changed, as any dieter will tell you.
As of the date of this writing, I am about 4 1/2 months out from the surgery, and I've lost
73 pounds!! Within just a few weeks after the surgery, my diabetes was completely
controlled. Even my eyesight--which had deteriorated dramatically in the months prior to
surgery--improved. Three weeks after surgery, I began walking for exercise, and now I
can do 1 1/2 miles without any difficulties. My sleep apnea seems to have disappeared,
along with all of its annoying symptoms. My recent blood tests showed that my
cholesterol has dropped 45 points to 242, and my triglycerides went from 467 (pre-op) to
174!! My doc has also lowered my blood pressure medicine (my goal is to be completely
off meds in the next 6 months). I've even found a new job, working on a hospital
med-surg unit, because I now feel physically capable of handling the demands of floor
nursing.
I plan to update this section as I continue to change in appearance and as my life
changes as a result. I'm posting some links that will be helpful to anyone who has
questions about this surgery for themselves or someone else, and if I can answer any
questions, please email me.
taken the
morning of
surgery,
Oct.12, 2001.
298 lbs.
almost 80 lbs. lighter!! I'm
feeling great! My diabetes
is GONE, sleep apnea
GONE, blood pressure is
down and even my vision
has improved!! A few
weeks ago, I started a new
job that I NEVER could
have thought about 6
months ago, working as a
nurse on a busy med-surg
floor in a hospital (the same
hospital where I had my
surgery, by the way!!)
last a few lbs. At this point, though, even if I never lost another pound, I would
still be thrilled to have gotten my life back! I recently purchased a Gazelle
Freestyle Elite, and I LOVE IT! I'm hoping it will help me break this plateau and
improve my appearance and health even MORE!
This weekend, I'm doing something I never thought I'd be able to do...I'm
competing (with my dog) in our first Agility trial! While our first 2 runs yesterday
were disappointing, (which is one way to say that she refused to take even ONE
jump!!), I still consider it a victory to have been able to even run the course with
her! I've been plateau'ing a lot over recent months, but I somehow got the
courage to step on the scales yesterday, and to my delight, I am now down 93
pounds!!! Excited doesn't really begin to describe how I'm feeling!! I don't have
newer pics, but I hope to hit that 100-pound mark soon, and I'll be sure to get pics
then! ...Hmmm...I remember when our old Chevy station wagon turned over
100,000 miles many years ago, and my dad took a picture of the car....
been hoping for finally came up on the scale last weekend, but
211 pounds means I've now hit the century mark--100 pounds
lost!!! As of today, I'm actually -102, but who's counting. (I
AM!! DUH!!) I had some pics taken a few weeks ago, and I'll
post them ASAP. I finally feel like a success!!
While others live without a thought,
Never giving notice of where they stand,
Moving among us simply as they ought,
They do not think like the Giants in the land.
A Giant moves with vigilant care,
Minding the space on the path to wend,
Hoping to go unnoticed, at best--
Careful, at worst, to not offend.
Children aren't afraid to point or scoff,
(Nor child-like minds that heed no sense)
But Giants bear a heavy shell
To use as cloak or futile defense.
Neither mysterious nor frightening beast,
Giants are different merely by size--
With hearts as soft and minds as quick
As those who regard them with unkind eyes.
Gentle Giants pass among us,
Wishing no ill, only love or reception.
Size is deceiving--especially for Giants--
Who are easily felled with your careless rejection.
Dec 5, 2001
L. Greye