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Surgeon: Dr. Robert Rabkin, San Francisco, CA
by B.:
I am similar to most of us who have stories of being fat for many years. Dieting. Losing weight. Gaining it - plus more - back. I have had periods in my life when I was able to lose weight and keep it off for maybe a year or so. I enjoyed those times, but they never seemed to last. Each one was harder to achieve and required more restriction than the previous success. Interestingly enough, I still had the same low self-esteem issues when I was thin(ner) as when I was fat. It took some years of therapy to work out these issues. My involvement in the fat acceptance movement was extremely helpful in building my self-esteem apart from my body size. I knew that dieting didn't work and I swore it off. For the past 10 or so years I have had pretty good self-esteem and have accepted by fat body. I knew I wouldn't mind being smaller, but I wasn't willing to abuse my body through dieting. Then the severe health problems hit. Most of the problems I have had in the past, they just got much worse. I was hospitalized in 1999 two times (for 7 - 10 days each time) with severe asthma. This led me to be on prednisone for nearly two years, causing me to gain more than 50 pounds. I tried going off the prednisone, but my asthma would flare up. I became unable to work and severe depression took over. It took a total of 3 anti-depressants to get me barely functional. My joints hurt, my feet hurt, my back hurt. Everything seemed hopeless. It took all my energy to take care of my young son; forget about playing with him. I felt hopeless. I had hit bottom, and knew that if I didn't do something drastic, I wouldn't be around to see my son grow up. Remembering a late night infomercial on some weight loss surgical procedure (Fobi pouch) I had seen, I started searching the Internet. I spent hours on the net investigating wls and came across www.duodenalswitch.com. The more I read, the more I knew that this was for me. Once I decided, there was no turning back. My procedure was performed on November 27, 2000, by Drs. Rabkin and Jossart in San Francisco. Due to my prednisone use, it was performed open and not lap. It was touch-and-go right up the morning of my surgery whether it would happen at all, as my breathing was not stable and the surgeons were taking a significant risk on me even though I had reduced my prednisone dosage significantly. I spent the first night in ICU on a respirator as a precaution. Gratefully, my hospital recovery went smoothly and I was up and walking on Tuesday afternoon. The docs had figured on a 7 - 10 day hospital stay for me, but in on Monday and out on Friday - my new life had begun! Now at three months out, I am happy to relate that my asthma is totally under control and I am walking and swimming regularly. No more prednisone. I am off of 2 of the 3 anti-depressants and am working at getting off the last one. I have insignificant joint pain. I have energy. I am sleeping well. I play with my 4-year-old son - on the floor, outside, at the playground, even under the kitchen table! I have HOPE for my future. I look forward to may more years with my life partner and our son. These are the health improvements that have made this surgery such a miracle for me. The fact that I have already lost 82 pounds is icing on the cake. Update 8/7/01: Wow! I haven’t looked at my pre-op pics and 3 month pics for ages, and I barely recognize myself! I have lost “a whole person” weight wise and now, at 8.5 months post-op, am almost half of my former self. Life continues to get better and better. So far this summer I have been camping and hiking, swimming, river rafting, and walking (and even some running, mostly after my kid), and enjoying my new body. For this first time in years I can fly and drive without a seatbelt extender. I can sit in a booth comfortably. I can sit in outdoor chairs and fit! I feel like I can do almost anything. I have the energy to live life to the fullest. Life after the DS has its challenges, too. My digestive system still has some kinks to work out. I can still clear a room with an ever so small, yet potent, pass of the gas. Also, some days my relationship with the porcelain throne seems to never end. Sometimes it is something I have eaten. Sometimes, I know not what the problem is. I also have developed a hernia, which makes me appear pregnant (at least I think it does). Although it currently is not giving me any problem, it will need to be repaired. I am meeting with Dr. Rabkin in October to discuss the repair and a “tummy tuck.” I imagine this dual surgical procedure will take place some time after my 1 year anniversary, or when I am pretty much done losing. Not that I am looking forward to more surgery! In spite of these challenges, never, never, never have I regretted my decision to have the DS. Other challenges, which I find more enjoyable than the aforementioned ones, include clearing my closet out of clothes that are WAY too big, trying on clothes in smaller and smaller sizes and people calling me “skinny. . .” My thanks to all those who have emailed me to offer congratulations. I wish all the best for those who are seeking a new lease on life. |
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February 27, 2001