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Surgeon: Dr Leon Cohen - Western Australia
Surgery Date: February 3, 2004
Pre-op Weight/BMI: 319/53 (145kg)
Current weight: 187 (as of October 13, 2004)

Most recent update: November 2005

Above: October 2004 (187lb.)

 
Above: November 2005

by Linda:

Hi Everyone,

I am 35 years old and have had a weight problem for as long as I can remember. I was born 9 lbs 5 oz and remained a "chubby" baby. I was always more solid than all the other kids my age, but I put it down to being just like my Nonna in Italy as my mum said, "you're just like Nonna, beautiful and big". Well not sure if that was when I started having a complex about my size, but by the time I turned 12 years old, my mum had me on my first weight loss diet, I was in a size 12 ladies at that age.

Then came puberty. I developed a whole lot more than normal at that age, I mean I was spreading out fast. I was not sure whether it was an "Italian" thing, coz I couldn't compare it to my Aussie friends as they stayed skinny and flat. So I joined another weight loss programme and yes I did lose 22 lbs (10kg), but by the time I reached 18 I was at 220 lbs (100kg). So, once again I joined another weight loss programme and lost 44 lbs (20kg), met my first hubby, had my first child, separated, divorced, met my second hubby and I was 213 lbs (97kg). Had my second child and then decided no more children for me, so had the contraception injection every 3 months, I put on 88 lbs (40kg) as a bad side affect over 9 months. Back to another weight loss programme for me. Lost 44 lbs (20kg) and then decided we wanted to try for a third child. It took 10 months to fall pregnant at that size I was, then as soon as I visited the Doctor they referred me to a "specialist" maternity hospital as general hospitals weren't "equipped" for the pregnant obese as I was high risk. I'm sure this is when I started to feel like an "outcast" for being obese. Had the child, lost about 22 lbs (10kg) over the pregnancy and all was looking good. But slowly the weight came back up to 264 lbs (120kg). Another weight loss programme, lost 44 lbs (20kg), got down to 220 lbs (100kg) again and thought that was it for the roller coaster for me. Had liposuction on my thighs, spent thousands of dollars as they had to do it over two visits. Finally felt normal. Then slowly the weight crept back on and now my thighs look deformed *sigh*.

And now here I am at 319 lbs (145kg) with a BMI of 53 and have no more diets left in me. I have heart pulpatations, shortness of breath, I'm very lethargic, have major stress incontinence, swollen joints, bad acne, sleep apnea, bad circulation and my feet are too big for women's shoes and where I live if you want size 12 plus shoes, you have to pay hundreds of dollars!! I can't even wear my wedding ring as it has been re-sized three times already.

I have now been approved to have the BPD/DS surgery which I will have in about 3 months time. I am now on the way to become a much healthier person with a new lifestyle.

I will update this page as soon as I know the surgery date and any other progress.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to my ever struggling weight problem.

Update March 2, 2004:

Well slowly but surely 4 weeks has gone by since my surgery and so far I have lost 16 kgs (35 lbs). I am still not eating much and can't tolerate many proteins right now. Chicken is being very unkind to me as whenever I eat it I vomit it back up, no matter if it is 1 bite or 3 bites. I have not tried steak as the smell just turns me off and I am unable to eat bread for some reason also. Lately I have been eating king prawns for my protein source and they have been going down well. Other than that I have been having protein shakes to try to get some energy into me. I am still very lethargic.

I haven't started any exercising yet, but plan on starting indoor volleyball very soon again and walking the block. I am already starting to fit into clothes that have been in the drawer for many years, which is a bonus.

My surgery was very uneventful and I recovered very quickly. I went home after 7 days.

I would like to thank everyone that has given me their support over the last few weeks, I have needed it, especially since I felt there was something wrong as I'm not eating much, but now find out it is totally normal until a couple months post-op. I am hoping to eat "normally" again very soon.

Best wishes to all pre-op patients and I hope your dreams come true for an uneventful surgery like mine was.

Hugs to all my WLS sisters & brothers and I hope for wonderful results for all of you.

August 17, 2004:

Current weight: 209 pounds (95kg)
Weight Loss: 110 pounds
Clothes: 26/28 to 16/18

Wow I just can't believe that 6 months has gone by already. I am feeling absolutely FANTASTIC, I am now in a size 16/18 and shopping in regular clothes shops at last!!

I am going to the gym 5 days a week and doing an hour workout on the equipment. Prior to this surgery I found walking for 20 minutes very hard, so I am absolutely tickled pink that I am able to work out for an hour and sometimes longer!!

My experience with the surgery itself was very undramatic, everything went smoothly, and I had no complications. I still have quite a considerable restriction in my eating capacity which I really don't mind, it is to my advantage. My scar is very healed and is now quite faint in colour. I am intolerant to only some foods and I still watch my fat intake (by habit) even though I know I have malabsorption. I take my supplements routinely as I know the consequences if I don't, as my mother is living proof of this as back when she had her operation there wasn't enough research and she was not informed of any vitamin supplementation.

I really want to thank Dr Cohen for giving me another chance in life, he truly is a wonderful Surgeon with a fantastic bedside manner. If you are considering gastric bypass surgery, this is the Surgeon for you. I hope you have enjoyed viewing my pictures, as when I was doing my research, pictures gave me the inspiration to go through with the surgery.

So happy research fellow MO's and one day soon you will be on the other side and living your life to a much longer, healthier & energetic way like me

October 13, 2004

Hi Everyone,

Well it has now been 8 months since my surgery and I've dropped another dress size, I am now a size 14/16 and 85kg (187lbs) that is a loss of 60kg (132lbs) and I'm feeling wonderful!

Not much more has happened since my last update, I'm still going to my local gym and hanging out in the second-hand clothes shops.

My blood work came back normal except I am lacking in Vitamin A, so I need to get some additional supplements as lack in Vitamin A means I will eventually suffer with night blindness so I don't want that to occur. I have uploaded some recent pics, I am wearing a size 16 fitted shirt and size 14 denim overalls.

Take care all and I will give you another update around Xmas time.

NOTE: Fellow Aussies, please join my Yahoo! Australian_DSers Group by clicking on this link: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Australian_DSers/

November 2005

Wow I didn’t realise how long ago since my last update, over a year ago. So much has happened since that last post. I have now got a full-time job in a Petroleum company in Merchandising which has kept me very busy.

I am now 72kg (158lbs) so in total I have lost 74kg (162lbs) and in a European size 10/12.

My weight has now stabilised and fluctuates between 72kg & 74kg, but I must get back to the gym as I’m starting to get flabby again, working full-time doesn’t help with that!

I feel fit and I feel absolutely wonderful, I do not regret my decision to have this surgery AT ALL. One day I will have a tummy tuck, but it is not urgent as my tummy isn’t that bad at all. In fact I would love a full body lift but I’m not that brave to undergo that type of pain for a very long time, the WLS was my first operation and I’m not quite ready to go under the knife again unless I absolutely have to.

God Bless.

Linda of Western Australia

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