My experience
Hi my name is Bree, I'm 46 years old, and I have been fat my whole life. I was six months old the first time a doctor put my on a diet. My mother swore she did not know how cause all I did was vomit my formula. (everyone in my family has milk allergies, but in 1963 they did not have soy formula. By 6 I was 100. At 11 I was 311. I remember that because my mothers boss felt so bad for me she paid for me to see a hypontist. That worked some. I lost 80 pounds that summer. When I went back to school, the kids still made fun of me. Soon I gained all the weight back plus. I just continued to gain at a ridulous rate. I have to add, both sides of my family are extrememly over weight. Three of my first cousins and I have all had the surgery.
I just passed the 10th anniversary of my gastric bi-pass. I have met very many people who are talking about Gastric bi-pass. Usually they are suggesting to me that I should get why. How insulting to tell that to a stranger. I know they think they are being helpful, but it hurts.
Ten years ago I weighed 547. No kidding! I ended up talking to a doctor after my cousin got his done. I didnt go through all the basic mental health programs they do today. This doctor told me flat out, "you'll be dead in less than five years if you don't do this surgery."
I was working more than full time as a nurse then, raising a pre-teen daughter and taking care of my disabled mother, who by the way was so much work I got more experience taking care of her, then my 12 years of nursing.
I couldnt die, I had so much to do yet! I couldn't let my family down. Who would take care of them? I went ahead and decided to have the surgery.
What a nightmare. I went into the pre-surgery room from a birthday party. Where of course I gorge myself. I figured it was goning to be my last meal, I bet I gained atleast thirty pounds from the day I was told I was having the surgery till surgery day. I can't tell you for sure because there were no scales I could be weighed on, except for at the surgeons office.
I wait for the team to take me. I can hardly breath, not cause im axnious but thats my life now at 547. Even working I had to sit down in each patients room. I had to buy expensive shoes so my feet wouldn't hurt. My knees ached terbbily. At 36 I felt like I was 70. They start putting in iv's and then I get the news that the doctor has changed his mind about a swan's cather and now I was getting one. For antone who doesnt know what that is...they thread a iv type gadget into your neck and go down the veins into your heart. They put a chucks over my head to keep it sterile. (Im clasthrofobic and I already have a hard time breathing) I freaked! I kept trying to get up and told them I changed my mind. They told me it was to late. I begged for drugs to put me out. I guess you have to be awake while they do this, thats what I was told. It took three hours!!!!
Off the the operating room and then to recover. I can't tell you much about this. They kept me drugged the whole time. EEver heard doctors and nurses make terrible patients? I'm here to tell you it's true. I was on pain medicine and ativan because I continued to pull out tubes. The things I do remember, well let's put it this way, I will never go to a teaching hospital again. NEVER! I ended up with a half dollar bed sore because they wouldnt roll me off my back. They decide my swan's was loose and had an intern sitch it.
Thats enough about that. So in about 6 months I lost 150 pounds. I was under 400 pounds for the first time in years. For the next 7 years I gained forty pounds I lose 40. In 2006, when I was diagnosed with Congested Heart failure I was back up to 436. Thanks to my obesity and family history, I have many health problem. Gerd, Asthma, Arthritis,high blood pressure, high cholestrol. The funniest part of the weight loss? I ended up with panic attacks was I was not able to medicate myself with food. That is so crazy!
My mother died in 2007, from then till now I loss another 110 pounds. How? One I lost my eating buddy. Two I statred smoking. I know this is not good for me. I hadn't smoked for 19 1/2 years and I started again! I have tried to quit smoking many times. It is easy for me. When I see the scale start going back up, I go out and buy smokes. I wish I could find a replacement, but so far have been unsuccessful.
The main thing I want people to know is Gastric Bi-pass is not a magic wand. You have to change your whole life to lose and kept it off. My cousins and I have all gained weight after the first year. You can get back to eating more, eating sugar, and fats. I had tons of diarrhea the first couple of years, but I guess I got my body used to having it. I still can not eat like I did before the surgery. Those first couple of years I had to make myself throw up, because I was to full. There is alot of pain if you eat to much or drink too fast. Most people can not drink soda afterward. I can, but I have to be careful.
Heres something no one will ever tell you. I never had so much gas. Gas that stinks so bad you can clear a hall. I am not trying to be funny. This was a big thing for me. I would never pass gas ever. Now if I dont I get chest pain. Go ahead laugh it's funny. I think the smell comes from the fact, in the surgery they bi-passed all but a few inches of my small intestines. I am not 100% possitive, but I think a lap band would not cause this problem.
Anything I forgot you might what to know email me Auntiebree401@aol.com
Obesity Action Coalition
•OAC - Obesity Action Coalition
The mission of the Obesity Action Coalition is to elevate and empower those affected by obesity through education, advocacy and support.
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