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Surgeon: Dr. Donald Booth, Ocean Springs, MS
Surgery Date: June 14, 2001
Starting Weight/BMI: 286/46
Current Weight: 153 lbs (as of October 29, 2006)

Most recent update: October 29, 2006

 
Left: Pre-op, March 2001; Center: Two months post-op; Right: December 2001, with my husband

 
Left: In January, with my girlfriend; Center: One-year surgery anniversary; Right: 13 months post-op

 
Above (both): October 2006 (153lb.)

by Kari:

My story is typical…I’ve been overweight most of my life. It’s so funny though looking back at pictures, because I don’t see a “fat” child. I was tall and thin until my early teens. Then puberty hit and the weight started piling on. Needless to say, being a fat girl in high school wasn’t exactly easy. By the time I got into my 20’s, I was wearing a size 18-20 and started the roller coaster ride of up’s and down’s in my weight. I got married in 99, when I was just shy of 29 years old, and was so proud that I had gotten myself back down to a size 18. After being married though, the weight started creeping back into my life and with a vengeance. By our first anniversary I was back into a size 24 and those were getting tight. That was when I saw the People magazine with Carnie Wilson, and she was telling about her weight loss surgery. I got so excited about that, and went running to my husband to tell him that I think I found the way to become thin.

My husband was supportive and told me to start researching it. He didn’t need to twist my arm! I went straight to the computer and started reading everything I could find on the surgery. That is when I started getting discouraged. I wanted the surgery to improve my quality of life, not to limit myself. Being overweight restricted me. I didn’t want a different set of restrictions in my life. I wanted to live a normal life, and because of that, I stopped doing my research. I was giving up on the idea of surgery. A couple of months later, I again saw Carnie Wilson in an interview, and again, I was inspired and started looking in search engines for weight loss surgeries. This time I found a site I hadn’t seen before. The website www.duodenalswitch.com changed my life!! I started reading the patient pages, and one after another people were relating their stories and the common factor is that they lead a normal lifestyle. They can eat and drink what they want, when they want. I knew right then that I had found what I was looking for. I immediately set out to find a surgeon, and made an appointment with Dr. Smith, in Atlanta. His waiting list was several months out, but I was able to slide in on a cancellation. About 3 days before my appointment, I heard about Dr. Booth in Mississippi. He is about 3 hours closer to me than Dr. Smith, and after calling his office and talking with Diana (his nurse at the time) I made an appointment for that weekend. Everything was falling right into place. My biggest concern involved the use or need for blood transfusions. I am a Jehovah’s Witness and cannot and will not take a blood transfusion, and when I brought this up to Dr. Booth, he put all my concerns to rest by telling me that he has a lot of experience with Jehovah’s Witnesses, and doing bloodless surgery. I knew then that he was the surgeon for me. I had my pre-op testing done, got insurance approval with no problem and 2 months later headed for Biloxi, Mississippi.

I had a lot of support, and I needed it as nervous as I was. My husband was there and my mom came from S. Florida to be with me, as well as my father-in-law and mother-in-law. With that many people there, I was feeling very comforted and loved.

My surgery took about 4 hours, and when I woke up all I remember was that I really questioned why I did this to myself. I was in so much pain. After a few days in the hospital with no problems, I was released to go home. My recovery period was difficult, but I made it through it.

Here it is 8 months later, and I’ve lost 86 lbs, but I’ve gained a new perspective on life. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. I want to thank everyone out there that has helped me, answered questions for me and supported me. You all are wonderful!!!

If you are reading this and thinking about having this surgery, and have any questions, please feel free to email me. I will do all I can to help.

Update August 20, 2002:
I am finding it to be so difficult to sit down and write this update. Only because I am so busy enjoying life! I've got a new, wonderful job now, and work with some amazing people, as opposed to the horrid person I worked for before!!! However, without that job, I wouldn't have been able to have this surgery, as they provided the insurance that I needed. Every bad situation has something good that comes from it!!

I am daily amazed at life. As a pre-op, I wanted to lose weight, but I didn't want to change as far as who I am. Now that I've lost over 100 lbs, I really do see the changes in me, but I'd like to think that my changes are for the better. I am so much stronger now. I don't get afraid to speak my mind about matters. I don't let people walk all over me now. I see myself as a person of value. I still have some issues to work out, but everything is moving in the right direction.

People contact me all the time and ask me what is the down side to having this surgery. I usually sit here stumped, because there hasn't been a down side. Yes, I get gas. No, I can't eat alot. But I knew that before I had my surgery. The trade off is so wonderful! I have about 20-25 more lbs to lose, and I will be at my goal weight. Of course, now I face another challange...THE GYM!! I have some serious toning to do! That is my next hurdle. I'll let you know how it is coming along in my next update!

October 29, 2006 update:

This has  really been a long time coming!  I haven't updated for 4 years, but wow how things have changed.  I am currently at 153 lbs, which is a total of 133 lb weight loss! 

Let's see...since my last update in 2002 I have moved, switched jobs, quit working outside of the home and had a baby!  The move was nice, the job was great and my baby is the joy of my life.  It took forever to get pregnant. she is 13 weeks old so it's a pretty recent addition.  As a result of weight loss surgery I had a really difficult time gaining weight while pregnant, and only gained 7 lbs!  After I had our daughter though, I came home from the hospital 26 lbs lighter!!!  I didn't have one article of clothing that fit, so yet again I had to buy all new clothes.  I am finding that to be a true challenge though because of all of my excess skin, but I do the best that I can. 

I guess that's it for now.  That's my update!  Hope everyone else is doing as well with their results as I have!

send email to Kari

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