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Surgeon: Dr. Robert Rabkin, San Francisco, CA
Surgery date: April 12, 1999
Pre-op weight/BMI: 391
Current weight/BMI: 175 (as of July 31, 2004)

Latest update: July 10, 2005 (new picture)

 
Left: Pre-op (391lb.); Right: Brachioplasty (arm lift) pictures

 
Left: Down 150 pounds! (241lb.); Right: 17 months post-op (165lb.)

 
Left: August 2001; Right: July 2004

Above: July 2005

by Kim:

Starting in 1997, I began to do exhaustive research into Weight Loss Surgery as a solution to a lifelong struggle with severe obesity. This culminated in DS surgery on 4/12/99 when I was at an all-time high of 391 pounds. But I’m jumping ahead of myself. I’ll start at the beginning…

When I was born, I weighed around nine lbs. A big baby, but I never really developed a weight problem until around eight or nine years old. My parents were divorced when I was nine, and this was extremely stressful to me as a child. I was chubby, and in Junior High feeling really big, though in reality I wasn't severely overweight. It was a very awkward period of my life.

When I was a junior in High School my Dad really pushed me to join what was called “The Weight Loss Clinic” in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I was raised. It was very expensive, and he paid for it, and also called them every day to confirm my weight after my daily counseling and weigh-in. I started this program at 195 pounds, in the fall of 1983. The program was very low-calorie, 500 calories a day. It was my first formal diet. I lost 35 pounds by the following summer. Then I continued going, supposedly on maintenance, but gained back a bit, finishing my senior year in high school around 165 pounds.

I graduated from high school in 1984. The following fall I went to college at Brigham Young University, and put on the freshman 15 -- finishing the year weighing 180 lbs. In 1985, I moved in with a good friend and we gave up any foods with refined sugar and exercised at least four mornings a week, playing racquetball. I lost back down again. In the next several years I joined Weight Watchers over and over again, losing some and then always gaining it back, plus some.

In the meantime, I lived abroad in Hong Kong, graduated from college, and moved to San Francisco, marrying in 1991. I enrolled in Weight Watchers again a few more times, but the Herculean effort to lose only a few pounds every week left me discouraged, and after an initial weight loss of 10-20 pounds I would resign myself to “doing it on my own” and fail again.

Ironically, my career as a stockbroker was thriving and I was earning tons of money, but the same diligence and determination of my professional life never seemed to work on my weight. I was so ambitious and driven, and I couldn’t control my weight, I kept getting larger. This caused great frustration and despair for me, and I began seeing a series of therapists. I became fascinated with the idea that maybe my weight problem was a result of unresolved psychological issues or just a loss of my own self-control. I was convinced that if I could work through those problems I would solve the weight problem and eating issues. I saw five people over as many years in San Francisco, got nowhere concrete after six months, and gave up to join other diet plans. I kept trying, I knew that there had to be a solution.

I joined the YMCA in SF and worked out at least three times a week with the rowing machine, swimming laps, and riding the bike. I didn’t lose much weight, but felt a little better, with more energy. The exercise always has helped my energy level and general sense of well being, but not my weight to any discernable degree. In July of 1993, still frustrated about my weight I decided to see a nutritionist. Many hours later and much poorer, I quit seeing her and saw the professional personal trainer that she recommended. To date, this was the most aggressive I feel I’d been with this problem. I saw my doctor throughout, to make it a physician-supervised program. No expense was spared. In one year we paid over $15,000 for training, cooking, and shopping fees, just like Oprah. I worked out every day at 7 a.m. for one hour with this trainer. I started this program in July of 1993 at 300 pounds and ended it a year later at the same weight but with a few less inches and a lower resting heart rate. I was a little fitter, but STILL 300 pounds. My trainer and I were both totally discouraged. I found soon thereafter that I was pregnant with my first child, and quit.

That pregnancy was problematic, and I delivered a stillborn son in February of 1995, though my son David arrived in December of 1995. He was premature, and his first months were rough, so I concentrated on his survival. My OB/GYN had mentioned many times how worried she was about my weight, and so after David was about three months old I got a prescription for Phen/Fen. At the time I weighed around 360. I loved the drugs -- I lost ten pounds a month and loved not feeling hungry, but had to go off because there was starting to be bad press and my heart raced. Of course, as soon as I got off the drugs, the weight came back.

I joined gyms, spent more time at endless Weight Watcher meetings, and became a serial dropout of each. As time went on I got more discouraged even quicker than the time before. In February of 1998, I became pregnant with my daughter Katie. After I delivered her in November of 1998, I was already sure that I wanted to have surgery for weight loss. I knew that it was the only solution for me.

As you can clearly see, I tried nearly every method imaginable to lose my excess weight, and I always ended up regaining what I’ve lost, plus some more. I decided on weight loss surgery during my last pregnancy when I found the OSSG list online. I went through a lot of research, and decided that for me the DS surgery was the clear winner. I found Dr. Rabkin through many of his dedicated and devoted patients online, and worked through the insurance hoopla to get the surgery covered by my HMO, Health Net. The key was that I switched medical groups to Brown and Toland in San Francisco, and had a very swift approval of my surgery by them.

On April 12, 1999 I had the distal gastric bypass with the duodenal switch with Dr. Rabkin in SF. I’m exercising regularly, and am thrilled with my new changes. I would do it again, in a minute. Please e-mail me with any questions -- I’d be glad to help.

Update November 6,2000:

Today I weigh 165 pounds, and I’m 5’ 9 ½" . My BMI is 25. My weight has pretty much stabilized here and I feel really good. I wear a size 10-12 and can find clothes in any store. I’ve lost 226 pounds. I honestly have had minimal problems from this surgery. I do believe that I was able to lose such a larger percentage of my weight because I have become quite athletic. I work out at least 3-4 times a week at the gym, and have since my surgery. I continue to do so, and love it. I never thought that I’d feel that way about exercise, but I love the Stairmaster, the bike, the rowing machine, the elliptical trainer, lifting weights, doing aerobic and spinning classes, I love it all. Even when I don’t feel like going it makes such a difference after I’ve gone, to feel the energy exercise supplies me. I feel not only thinner, but also fit. I’m planning to run races in the future, maybe even do a mini-triathlon. Hiking, sailing, and particularly downhill skiing are activities that I love to do. I love to move, and it’s so much easier in my body now.

I have had reconstructive surgery. I had my arms done (brachioplasty, see pictures on this page) in April of 2000 and a breast lift and a tummy tuck in June of 2000. Since so many people ask, the only thing covered by insurance was the abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, and the other two surgeries cost me about $12,000. I know that everyone cannot afford that, but for me I feel lucky that I could have them done.

At eighteen months out I still can’t eat a lot of food, but I can eat much more than right after the surgery. I’m satisfied with what I do eat, and there really isn’t any food that I can’t tolerate. I know that I’m slightly lactose intolerant, but it doesn’t completely keep me away from ice cream. I just may have more side effects the next day, and that’s acceptable to me. Truth be told, food has become much less important to me. I don’t think about it like I used to. I eat to live, and I really don’t live to eat anymore. I know that’s an overused cliché, but it works well here, that’s my reality now.

If you are considering surgery, go for it. It was by far the best decision I’ve ever made. I was terrified going into it, I really thought that I’d die. But I didn’t want to go on living my life as a morbidly obese person. It held me back and it wasn’t really ME. At this weight I feel like myself, like I’m not hidden by the fat anymore.

Update August 16, 2001:

I still weigh 160-165 lbs, at 5' 9". I vary within the range. I actually rarely get on a scale, and go more by how my clothes feel. I wear a size 10 or 12, and shopping for clothes is amazing, a pure joy-there is such a selection and so many cute things out there! It's been 2 1/2 years since my surgery. I rarely have any side effects. I am still very active-I take kickboxing classes 3-4 times a week. I love downhill and water skiing. I've taken up horseback riding. I have plans to go ocean kayaking and I'm getting scuba certified. I go hiking, biking, I love the outdoors. Not only have I lost a lot of weight, I have become an active, athletic person. I am happier. I dropped the "fat girl" persona that I used to have, I'm more confident and resilient, and less sensitive. I'm also a lot less moody. My husband told me it's like I'm getting younger every year. I feel younger. I feel great. I wholeheartedly recommend this surgery. I eat whatever I want, no restrictions, and I have had no weight gained back. That's one of the biggest endorsements of the DS surgery that you'll find. I feel great.

Update January 17, 2003:

Well, it's been awhile since my last update, so all I have to say is that everything is still great. I am keeping the weight off, and I am actually 8 months pregnant with my third child right now. I have only gained 15 pounds, and the pregnancy has gone without a hitch. It has been close to 4 years since my DS surgery. I feel so liberated from being labeled a "fat person." That was my goal in the beginning. I just wanted to be "normal." And now I am! I plan on taking off whatever pregnancy weight I've put on after I have the baby in a month or so, and will continue the regular exercise. I really believe that is the key to my success. Best of luck to everyone. This surgery is a lifesaver!

Update December 30, 2003

I had my baby, Jack Andrew, on 2/25/03. In the pregnancy I gained 25 pounds. I lost 15 immediately, and then was working on the last 15 pounds, when lo and behold I got pregnant with baby #4! With an IUD in place. All I have to say is that weight loss really increases your fertility as well. After this baby I am doing something permanent and having my tubes tied! Again, I am 6 months along and have only gained 10 pounds or so, and am quite confident that I’ll be able to get back down to my goal weight after having this baby. I will admit to not having a lot of energy to exercise while pregnant, but I was able to jump right back on the exercise track after Jack and until I got pregnant again, and I will again. I really know that that is the secret to success here. Don’t be frightened to get pregnant after this surgery though. My blood levels are fine, I feel tired, but good, and my babies are healthy. Jack was 9 lbs. 4 oz!

Update July 31, 2004

I had my fourth baby, Sam, on 3/18/04. He was 8 lb 12 oz. and is a sweetheart. I actually lost more than I gained in the pregnancy, afterwards. I gained 25 pounds again but lost 30, so I now weigh 175, only 10 pounds away from my lowest weight, and that’s after TWO babies. I feel great, and am getting back to the gym again, so I’m sure that I will get the weight off soon, I’m not worried, and running around after 4 kids is keeping me busy. I had two children while morbidly obese and two while “normal” and I highly recommend having the surgery first, it’s so much easier to carry a child while you are in shape. It’s now been 5 ½ years since my surgery and again, it was the best decision that I ever made to have the DS.

send email to Kim B.

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