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Surgeon: Dr. James Ritchie, Sydney, Australia, North Shore Private Hospital
Surgery date: November 5, 2001
Pre-op weight: 270.6
Current weight: 140 (as of February 18, 2002)
Personal web page: http://loopljwlsjourney.homestead.com

Latest update: February 18, 2003

 
Left: Pre-op (258lb.) March ‘01; Right: On holiday with my friend Josephine

 
Above Left: Pre-op and August 2002 (160lb.); Right: Partying 12 months after surgery with Josephine (there is no comparison to the photo taken whilst on holiday 6 months before surgery)

Please read my full story at my website: http://loopljwlsjourney.homestead.com.

Six Month Update:

Last Sunday 5 May 2002 it was 6 months from my BPD/DS surgery. And can I just say WOW I am doing so well and feeling terrific.

I have a completely new wardrobe - and have even stopped wearing some of the new purchases as they have become too big!!! (Who would have thought this would ever happen to me!) I am currently in a size 12 pants ~ 16 tops and love being able to pretty much buy anything I want.

I started out at 270.6llb on 5 November 2001 and here I am on 10 May 2002 at 176llb, I still have doubts and hard days where I cannot believe that I will make it to my goal of hopefully somewhere around 135llb ~ it is incredibly easy when you first do your research into this surgery to forget how much of a mind game we play with ourselves and just how easy it is to sabotage ourselves with doubts and fears ~ and that is where the DuodenalSwitch Site helps me out ~ it keeps me focussed and lets me know that I am not the only one in this position.

I am able to do absolutely everything, and just love being able to squeeze past a couple of people in the corridors at work, without touching or bumping them (a small thing that means so much when you have been hugely overweight).

I have good and bad food days and still struggle to make protein my first choice, I have cravings for sugar and fat and still have to battle to make good choices. I have been through plateaus where my weight has stayed the same for 3 weeks in a row and I have just had to grit my teeth and keep the faith ~ before those cursed scales that I love and hate have moved. I am still a compulsive weigher and weigh myself each morning!

This surgery has given me the freedom to feel in control of weight for the first time in 15 years and that is a very empowering feeling.

Fifteen Month Update (February 2003):

It is now 15 months since my Duodenal Switch operation and my life is amazing, my best friend has casually mentioned some of the humiliating things that used to make life such a misery when I was overweight, I have come such a long way that it is hard to imagine that I ever had those problems, there is no more chaffing, no more almost wetting yourself every time you cough or sneeze, getting on a plane and fitting into the airline seats, the movie theatre seats, going to the hairdresser and having to squeeze into a chair wondering if it will hold you up! I shop like a mad thing, and have had to buy a complete new wardrobe twice now!!!

If I'm having a day which in the past would have driven me to food, I allow myself the shopping splurge, yes still an addictive reaction to a situation, but at least I have something new to show, that isn't a few more pounds to permanently add to my body.

I hear a lot of you saying that you don't want to go back to dieting to keep on track with your weight loss or maintenance, but for myself I need the structure of knowing that whilst I have a tool that has helped me shed weight, I am always going to have to be vigilant when it comes to eating more protein, taking my vitamins and keeping sugar and carbs to a minimum (I attended Weight Watchers meetings every week for a year). I have not exercised very much, but as I don't have a car I tend to walk to the shops and get in a bit more exercise than if I drove. I have started belly dancing once a week which is very enjoyable and a great work out without feeling like I am exercising. I know that I am fooling myself if I believe that I don't have to keep my eating in check.

Keep up the good work everyone, it is the best thing you will ever do for yourself!!!

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