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Surgeon: Dr. Kenneth Welker, Portland, OR
Surgery date: September 15, 2000
Pre-op weight/BMI: 282
Current weight/BMI: 220.5 (as of February 1, 2001)

by Cindy M:

I am married (2nd time) and have two beautiful daughters - Kendra (13) and Laura (10). Currently I am a full time student at OSU pursuing my Ph.D. in industrial engineering. I am hoping to graduate the end of summer term in 2001. I have my own consulting company, Northwest Quality Systems, Inc., and consult in process improvement, team dynamics and quality systems. My hobbies include music (singing, bassoon, oboe, piano and now alto saxophone), art (watercolor painting, counted cross stitch), traveling and physical activities (walking, swimming).

In my younger years, I was very athletic. I was on the swim team and the track team in college. I used to run 10K races just for the t-shirts! At age 34 (160#) I had a total hysterectomy and at that point in time my weight gain snowballed. I've tried all the standard protocol - diets, exercise,... to no avail. I am now 42 and weigh 280#. I was beginning to believe that there was nothing I could do about the continuous weight gain. WLS gives me hope.

My surgery is this coming Friday (9/15/00) with Dr. Welker. I'm very nervous and frightened, but excited at the same time. I really want to become active again and not be embarrassed by my weight any longer.

9/24/00 (Sunday, Sept. 24) Update:
I'm now 1 week post-op. The surgery went OK. I was very nauseous following surgery primarily due to my adverse reaction to the narcotics for pain relief. I've had surgery several times before and the discomfort following surgery was equivalent or less to what I've experienced in the past. My surgeon, Dr. Welker, was excellent - followed up on me in the hospital several times a day. I had surgery on a Saturday and returned home on the following Wednesday afternoon. I ended up with a yeast infection in my mouth (from the antibiotics used during surgery) and some sort of rash on my back at the site of the epidural. The yeast infection has been treated and the rash is improving somewhat. The first couple of days at home I was uncomfortable and tired. By Saturday I felt a lot better - more energy and less pain with increased mobility. Food is beginning to have some "taste" again. While I had the yeast infection, everything kind of tasted the same - not good.

I weighed myself today at 268.5# (was 282# the day of my surgery). Tomorrow my staples will be removed - ouch! Fall term begins at OSU tomorrow as well, but I've decided to wait until Wednesday to attend classes. My parents have volunteered to come along and carry my books!

send email to Cindy M.

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