My Gastric Bypass StoryJun 02 '03 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Gastric Bypass saved MY life, but it is not a good idea to have one for simply cosmetic reasons.
Here I sit today...15 months after my Gastric Bypass (RNY) surgery. The whole 15 months has been sureal! I am 225 lbs lighter and I have my life back! I would like to share my journey with you in hopes of giving you an idea of what the experience is like. January 2nd, 2002 I went to the Doctor and was told that because of my severe PCOS( Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)/insulin resistance that I would die within a year if we did not do something drastic. I was already on heavy duty meds and was wheel chair bound if I left the house. I was 400 lbs and MISERABLE! The Glucophage that I was taking was not touching my insulin resistance diabetes and I was getting sicker. My Dr had heard that Gastric Bypass was "Curing" the insulin resistance associated with PCOS in some cases. I prayed about it and decided to "go for it". I have three kids and dying was not in my short term plans.I has reached the point that I had to risk my life to save it. I applied to have the surgery in Mid January and was approved by the Surgeon and Insurance within a week. Most people do not get such a fast approval, but my health was SO bad that it was pretty much cut and dry. For the next 5 weeks I had a last meal for EVERY meal. I feared that I would never be able to eat again. I gained an addition 5 lbs and was of course mortified and embarrassed. I did find out though that almost every candidate for a Gastric Bypass does this while waiting for the surgery date. I went halfway across the country to have my surgery on March 6th. I spent the day before the operation getting pre-ops done and writing letters to my kids.."just in case". While most of the other people I know who had the GB were nervous wrecks..I was super calm. I just KNEW God had plans for me and my new body. I felt assurance in my prayers that it was going to be OK. I had my surgery on March 6th and was in surgery for 6-7 hours. They wanted to do Lap, but I ended up with open because they were unable to close me up internally . My incision is about a foot long. After surgery I have never been in SO much PAIN in MY LIFE! I was in ICU and I was MISERABLE. I think everyone thinks WHAT DID I DO TO MYSELF...those 1st few days. I was not allowed to even have a SIP of water until my leak test the next day and I was DRY. I laid in that bed and I would have cried but it hurt to bad to even shudder...so I just let the tears silently run down my cheeks. I had a morphine pump that I took full advantage of! The next day I had my leak test and of course I had a leak. A leak can be deadly and so of course I had to have another surgery. This time was an emergency. I was in the OR was 6 hours and then I was on a ventilator in ICU for some time afterward. Because of having a foot long incision 2 days in a row and the need for the vent..I did not get up and walk as I needed too. My lungs felt like they were full of fluid and I was SCARED! Eventually I was able to be moved to a regular room and although that afforded me more privacy I was still in unfathomable pain for the next 4 weeks. Eventually though i did get to start walking and my lungs began to clear up. Leaks only happen to about 1% of patients..LUCKY ME huh? My husband wiped my butt for me and when he wasn't there I used tongs. EVERYthing was a battle for those 1st few weeks. Eating was HARD. Sometimes broth would go down, sometimes it wouldn't. To complicate things, I got a pocket of infection on my staple line and it had to be opened up to heal from the inside out. I then sneezed and opened my whole incision. The wound leaked massive amounts of fluid and had to be packed for months. First I had home health, but later my husband and I had to pack the wound. It was very frightening! Eventually though, in October, it closed up. I now have a basketball sized hernia in the place of the wound. Going though all that seems pretty bad doesn't it? Funny to most, but I would do it again in a minute! Being 180 lbs is SO much different the 405! I can take care of my kids, run, play softball, get flirted with..cook a meal standing up..have sex without dying of embarrassment, drive a car..I was not fitting well in the drivers seat pre-op. My life is AMAZING! For a few months I had a hard time with food, but 15 months later...I can eat as I choose. Eggs bother me, and ice cream..but other then that I seem normal to strangers. I can eat a bowl of soup and 1/2 sandwich and a bit of fruit for lunches. I am no longer on meds for my insulin. I take protein supplements and vitamins. I do not have as much stamina as a regular person..but aside from that I am normal for the 1st time in YEARS! Having this surgery for cosmetic reasons is crazy..it is SUPER serious! BUT it can change your life when you have no other answers left. I love my life and my body with all of it's saggy baggy skin...That is MY story..If you are considering surgery and need a friend to talk to..just write me. I will be glad to answer any questions!  |
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