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Surgeon: Dr. Gary Furman, Los Angeles, CA by Allison: I am 2 years and almost 6 months post op. I had the gastric bypass with the biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch. My surgery was patterned after Dr. Anthone's surgery in Los Angeles. In retrospect, it seems as though I lost my weight very very quickly, but as I was losing this was not the feeling. It felt like it was taking forever, and I only weighed in at the doctors office. I had Dr. Gary Furman in Los Angeles do my surgery. He was FANTASTIC!!! I was told at 25 that I would die within 10 years if I didn't quit smoking and lose my weight. The doc really scared me, so I tried to diet and quit smoking at the same time. BIG MISTAKE!!! I quit smoking 4 years ago last April 12th. I started about 6 months later researching the surgery. I had 5 consults with 5 different surgeons, from Dr. Fobi with the Fobi pouch, to UCLA's Dr. Livingston to a few others. I checked each procedure thoroughly!! I examined my eating habits and realized I was a huge volume eater who ate mostly fat and that I would probably have busted a staple or been in the bathroom throwing up with any other surgery!! So on Jan 9, 1997 into Cedars Sinai I went. I was petrified. Telling my family and my parents was hard, but they supported me even though they were petrified!!!!! My surgery took 5 hours, longer than a triple bypass! I was convinced the night before I went in that I might die in surgery. I decided that was ok, because the life I was living was not like living at all!! I was soooooo limited in so many ways at 358 lbs. I was in the hospital 9 days. The first 3 days I wanted to know why I did it!! I had made a huge mistake!! I was very positive I had done something REALLY stupid. I didn't want any visitors, and I slept most of the time. After that 3rd day I started to feel a little better, but I was tired and weak!! I walked the hospital halls 4-5 times per day for exercise. I committed to myself and my doc, that I was going to be a compliant patient. AND I WAS!! The first 3 weeks my doc had me on pureed foods. Then I was able to start soft foods and experiment. I went back to work after 7 weeks. I lost 100 lbs in the first 6 months. 40 lbs in the second 6 months, and 50 lbs over the next 6 months. I lost about 3 lbs after that. Total 193 lbs lost!!! I now maintain between 165 and 170 depending on water retention. I didn't push mY food boundaries until about 6-8 months ago, I do now and that scares me a bit, but I am maintaining my weight steadily. I pay if I eat high fat, but I try to make healthy choices!!!! I AM FAR FROM PERFECT!! Some days I am downright compulsive. I always say the doc didn't operate on my head only my stomach. But I would do it again 1000 times over. I went from a size 32 to 14. My ring size from 11 - 6. I can do anything now!! I am considered NORMAL!! WHAT A CONCEPT!! My 2 cents is this is a MAJOR SURGERY. IT DOES CHANGE YOUR LIFE. IT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. BUT IT IS WORTH IT IF IT IS YOUR LAST ATTEMPT!!! I do have a lot more of a life now as a post op, but I didn't have all these wonderful Internet resources when I was researching, so take advantage, but make your own decision!! Good luck to all the NEWBIES. Feel free to call me if you have any questions. I love to talk on the phone! I am in La Quinta, CA. Please email me if you would like to talk on the phone! January 2002 Update: Well I just celebrated my 5 year anniversary of my surgery a few days ago. Wow what a milestone. To lose so much weight and stay at that weight for 5 years. This year has been rough though. I have experience some regain, about 35 lbs. I have been very nervous with this, but I am secure in knowing that if anymore weight comes on I will see a surgeon about a revision. I don't think it will be necessary though. I think it is a normal part of the process and it was explained to me in the begining that their would be this fluxuation. I am much healthier, happier and living a totally different life now than I would have ever had, had I not had the surgery. It has been a gift of immeasurable proportions. I would continue to stand by the fact that it is a tool not a cure, but it is a working tool, and I have grown more spiritually, physically and mentally as a result of the surgery, my weight loss and my new life. Much love to all. Feel free to write with questions. I try to answer them all as soon as I can, often times I just e-mail a phone number back, because I do not think e-mail can give the surgery justice. Much luck to you all...
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