100 Good Things About Losing 230 Pounds

In April, 2002 I underwent gastric bypass surgery. I was 47 years old and I weighed 396 on the day of surgery. I am not advocating this process as a method of losing weight to anyone else. We all have to make our own decisions about our own bodies. During an office appointment my GP took my hand in his, looked in my eyes, and said, "Vicky if you don't consider having this surgery, you won't be here in five years." I told him I would think about it and tell him in a month at my next appointment. During that month I researched gastric bypass surgery on the Internet. We've all heard of Carnie Wilson's experiences, but I didn't know very much about it. I found a Yahoo group called OSSG - Obesity Surgery Support Group. I talked to women who had had the surgery and had both good and not so good outcomes. I decided I had to try it. I told my doctor at my next appointment that I was ready to pursue the surgery. He started the wheels in motion for me. That was in October 2001. Between October and April I underwent several evaluations by the gastric bypass surgeon, appointments with a nutritionist, and appointments with a psychiatrist. Finally I was ready for surgery.

The surgery itself was laproscopic. I had three incisions, the largest about 4 inches long. I was in the hospital for three days after surgery. The biggest concern after a surgery of this type is blood clotting in the legs because of the size and condition of the patients who have the surgery, and leakage from the partitioned stomach into the stomach cavity, which can be fatal. I was kept in massage boots to my knees and given several barium swallow tests. I passed them with no problem and got to go home.

At home I started out on a liquid and semi-liquid diet. I could eat about an ounce ( the size of a Nyquil cup ) of pudding or broth at a time. As time went on I could eat more food and it could be more solid. Today I can eat anything I want, I just have to be careful not to overeat and get too full. Foods that seem to "swell" once they are inside my stomach can be a problem. They include white fluffy bread and noodles. I still eat those things, I'm just very careful about how much I indulge.