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Surgeon: Dr. W. Christian Oakley, Boise, Idaho
Surgery date: November 13, 2001
Pre-op weight/BMI: 330/60.4
Current weight: 145-150 (as of January 27, 2004)

Latest update: January 27, 2004

 
Left: Pre-op; Right: March 4, 2001 (255lb.)

 
Left: September 2002 (195lb.); Right: January 2003 (172lb.)

Above (all): January 2004 (145-150lb.)

by Diane:

My story is similar to many of these I've read on this site and the AMOS site. It has been thought-provoking and encouraging to know how many of us there are that have struggled with our weight and the related issues. In my profile on the AMOS site I went into great detail about all of my attempts and failures in the past. I won't repeat them here.

I do remember, however in grade school, one of my classmates called me "Diane rubber mountains". I grew up in a small mining camp in Montana, and my peer group was quite small, so this was a devastating comment. When I look back at my pictures of that time, I was a little chunky, but certainly not fat, and not deserving of that comment, or others like "fatty, fatty, 2x4....or here comes the bride, big fat and wide, see how she wobbles from side to side". As an adult, I have chosen to forgive those who made those cruel comments, but they certainly laid a foundation for how I felt about myself and my body when I was growing up. As part of my preparation for this surgery, I have been working on a website and scanning old pictures of myself to help me come to terms with how I feel about myself. What I see with the perspective of time is that until I started birth control pills before my marriage I was able to keep my weight to within 20-30# of my ideal weight. But at that time I still felt unattractive and fat. I am working hard to see and accept myself for the person I am, not the outward shell. However, I would really like my outward shell to move more easily, and to do things that I haven't been able to do for years, such as go to the fair, arts in the park, the zoo with my grand kids, and go to the mall.(or anyplace that doesn't have shopping carts).

It has been healing to read others' comments that their doctors have told them that current research shows that we are genetically predisposed to obesity. That does not remove our responsibility to make healthy food choices, but helps remove some of the stigma of "you just don't have any willpower" or "your face is so pretty, if you'd just loose weight.......".

The research I've done about this procedure has given me hope that there IS a way for me to get this weight off, and keep it off. And that is something I thought I was stuck with forever. Now there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I will actively pursue approval for this procedure, so that my new lease on life can begin ASAP.

12/22/01: I had an open DS on 11/13/01. Because of the huge hernia along the old incision I had some complications, and was taken back in to surgery before I ever left the recovery room. Consequently, I didn't even get to my room till 8 PM that night.

My recovery has been rocky and slow. Two weeks after surgery, I began leaking copious amounts of drainage from an area about 9 staples up from the bottom. When my surgeon removed the bottom staples, the area opened up, and I now have the lower part of my incision open, and being packed twice a day. Fortunately, I have a very adept daughter who is able to do this, or I would have to have a visiting nurse, as I can't reach the area. My doctor says this will not be entirely closed for "months" rather than "weeks". It is not painful, and is not infected.

In addition, I have had problems with asthma, and my PCP has finally found the right combination to get this under control. I am in addition having a hard time eating, having dry heaves in the AM. But through it all, I believe that I have made the right decision, and know that when this bump in the road is over, things will not be such a struggle. My doctor has told me that I got a "double whammy" because of the second surgery, and that it will just take a little longer for my body to recover.

The week before surgery, my weight at my surgeon's office was 330. On 12/12/01, my weight at his office was 288, making a loss of 42# in one month!!

Keep checking my profile on the AMOS site for more frequent updates.

1/26/02: There has been so much that happened to me that I hardly know where to begin. I am one of the few that has had complications after this surgery. But, as I understand from my surgeon, they were more from the large hernia than from the DS itself. Starting about Christmas time I went downhill slowly. Eating became even more difficult. I had dry heaves and started vomiting. I didn't feel good, but really didn't know what was going on. I knew that I had appointments with my PCP and surgeon after New Years, and so just slogged through.

I started having a "pinch" that went from my breastbone through to my back. It mad the ribs on my right side spasm, and so I thought that I had done something to my back, and so did my PCP. However, that night when I was at home, the open part of my incision started pouring out purulent, foul-smelling drainage. When I contacted my surgeon, he met me at the ER the following morning. He took one look at the drainage and admitted me. He later told me I looked "pretty scary" when he saw me. My WBC(white blood count was over 19000-normal is under 10000). He wanted to do tests to make sure that the stomach and intestines were working right, so ordered an upper gi and small bowel x-rays for the am. He met me in x-ray and took me from there to surgery where he explored the incision and found several large abscesses which he cleaned out. Fortunately for me, the abscesses had not invaded the abdominal cavity or I would have really been in trouble. One of the abscesses was tunneling towards the stomach, though, and would have soon invaded the abdominal cavity. Praise God that He was watching over me, and that didn't happen!

I was in the hospital for 7 days--with a central IV line and TPN(total parenteral nutrition). I was in starvation state, and my labs were all off. I was also dehydrated. I was exhausted. The day after the surgery I was almost euphoric.The abscesses had placed an incredible amount of pressure in my abdomen. No wonder I couldn't eat!!! I didn't really hurt, but felt awful. On the second day past the surgery, I hit bottom. And from there I could begin to rest and heal. And that is what I am continuing to do at home.

Home health nurses come in twice a day to pack my incision, which is now open the full length of the incision. It will heal from the inside out, which is certainly better than having more abscesses. The nurses all tell me it is healing well.

I saw Dr. O. this Wednesday (1/23) and he was really pleased with the way the wound is filling in. He is starting to remove the drain, and inch a week until it is out. My weight was 266#. That makes a total of 64 # in 9 weeks. My goals now are to get in my protein and vitamins, and just to allow my body the time to heal.

Even through the difficulties I am absolutely certain that I would make the decision to have the surgery again. Before I had no life quality. Now I have a full and active life to look forward to, and it gets a little closer every pound I loose!

9/28/02: Well, I really hit a milestone this month. I am under 200# for the first time since I was a Navy Nurse, in 1970. Can't begin to tell you how great that makes me feel!!!Regrets? Yes, I wish I had done this years ago, but then this procedure wouldn't have been available, so I am still trusting in God that His timing is always the right time. I am trying to redo my web site and will post the link when it is up and running. It's a good way for me to start working through my feelings and attitudes about the new me. I find that I am still thinking of myself as "fat". My brain knows that I have lost 138#, but my attitudes about me need some work. I am thinking of asking my PCP for a referral for some short term counseling to help me in this area. When you've been morbidly obese for many years, those attitudes don't change in an instant. I must admit that I am really enjoying being able to do such things as cut my toenails, be more active, fit in an airline seat, buy size 18 clothing, and on and on. I met a close friend for lunch last week who hadn't seen me since the first of the summer. She walked by me and did a double take saying "Diane? I didn't even recognize you!" It was music to my ears!

My goal is to get down to 125# after the tummy tuck I will need. My surgeon will not do the revision surgery to take out the mesh which was used in the hernia repair until I get down to 150#, which is getting closer all the time. I'm hoping to get approved for a tummy tuck at the same time, so I don't have to have 2 separate surgeries. Life is good, and getting better.

1/26/03: My current wt. is now 172#. I have survived my double knee replacement and am doing well with my new knees. It's hard work to make sure that they have the range of motion that I want, but will be worth it in the end.

At this weight, I am 22# from going for approval for my tummy tuck and removal of the mesh from the hernia repair. I can hardly believe that I am this close. And I have been told that Medicare does pay for the tummy tuck if you have lost at least 75% of your excess wt., so I am a happy camper.

I have been learning a lot about myself and my food habits. I have to admit that I had a bad attitude when I started out, because I wanted to be able to eat anything and everything I wanted when I wanted, and how much I wanted!! I expected the surgery to solve all my problems( unrealistic, I know, but unfortunately an honest revelation). When I was in the hospital for the knee surgery I decided that I would really watch what I was eating, in terms of limiting the fat and carbs. I made an amazing discovery for myself(I had read it, just not accepted its truth). When I cut down on the fat and the carbs, my poops don't smell so bad, and I don't have so much gas. Wow!!! Then when I got home, I had a McDonald's attack. And because I had been eating so healthy, my system just about killed me. I was nauseated, bloated, groggy and had the worst abdominal pain, gas and smelly poops that you can imagine. They had been basically absent till then. (My poor suffering family has validated this observation too!). So now I am dealing with the issue of emotional eating. I know from experience now that when I eat junk, I will feel lousy for a couple of days until it clears out of my system. Does it mean that I'll never eat any junk again? Probably not, but at least now when I choose to eat the junk, I know that I am choosing to embrace the lousy feeling too.

It is such a wonderful miracle to be here, looking at where I was just a little over a year ago. I wish you all can have such success.

1/27/04:

In November 2003 I had surgery to remove the mesh from my abdomen. The incision became infected and is still open a little. It has been packed with gauze since around Thanksgiving. I was a little discouraged when this happened, but realized that when it all heals I will have no artificial stuff in my tummy, and should be much healthier with my body not fighting against the mesh all the time.

When my 2 year lab results came back, they showed a mild vitamin deficiency, and I have added ADEK vitamins to my supplements. Otherwise no changes in my food or supplements.

My weight fluctuates between 145-150# now, and I really enjoy life so much more. I just had my first date in over 30 years, and had a really good time. New pictures added to my profile. Pictures were taken January 2004.

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