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Surgeon: Dr. Michel Gagner, New York, NY
by Marc: I came onto this world a normal size infant. I guess I always felt chubby and slower than the other kids. I had bronchial asthma and spent time in a hospital humidity tent. My allergies prevented me from being athletic, and having these problems offered me a comfort in the more inactive things like tv and music. My parents sent me to camp for a week to get me active, and I saw how far behind I was compared to the others. Once, I remember when 10 years old, seeing a “Diet Pepsi” ad on tv and thought that drinking it would make me slim and active. HA! The truth was I really was a quite normal-sized person. I was normal outside but felt unfit and fat at best. I knew that others were more muscular and capable than I was in athletics.
My life changed when my wife became pregnant. I became a “stay-at-home dad”, and my son joined our family. He is truly the driving force in my life today. I want to be in his life and be active in it. My ability to do this had been so limited by my weight that I sometimes would just sit and play with him. Health issues: heart, cholesterol level, joint pain and breathing problems. I also envisioned that my professional life would suffer due to my inability to control my weight and difficulty in just getting around and “fitting in” with others in the workplace. I saw a surgeon for male breast pain and had the normal tests and biopsy that some women must endure and found that I had fatty/fiber cysts that were benign. The surgeon recommended that I consult with a bariatric surgeon to consider WLS. I was stunned and felt somewhat insulted, however, at 405 pounds, I really had no basis for complaint. Through months of research and discussions in chat rooms, I came to the acceptance that a surgical procedure could be the answer to my dilemma. I had a consult with a surgeon who offered me the RNY procedure. As far as I knew, my work here was done until my post-op period. I decided that I need help and went for it. My date was January 31, 2000. Then came the day I heard the phrase “duodenal switch”. I asked questions and researched it some and went crazy. WHAT TO DO! I had less than two months before my surgery date. The more I researched this DS procedure, I realized that this should be my personal choice. I took a leap of faith and cancelled my RNY. I called two surgeons offices that offered the DS procedure, and my journey began anew. I chose Dr. Michel Gagner and the lap DS. The drive from the Boston area to New York City was tough, but now I will be going much less often for check ups. Overall, I have never once looked back despite minor problems in the first weeks -- a port site infection. I eat more now than I had hoped to, but at eight months out I am feeling great. If I eat poorly, I pay at the bowl of discontent. I try to eat a varied diet, and I do have all the things I love to eat. I am now eight months post-op, and have lost about 150 pounds. I have gone from a size 6X to 3X and feel great. I am very active and walking is a joy again. My pains from obesity have all but disappeared. I honestly am alive again. The choices I make now are based on personal preference. I have truly been blessed. The people I have met along the way are an important part of this journey. I proudly stand for the open and free discussion of all types of WLS and hope that all who need this life-saving care, research ALL of the options available. I urge surgeons, nurses, staff and patients alike to consider offering full and honest information about ALL these options. There ought not be patients having WLS without the knowledge and information about these options. Money, time, distance and politics should not cloud our openness to these options, nor should we dissuade others from the freedom of information and choice that may fill their needs, wants and/or desires. Life is far too short for that.
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I joined the US Navy at 17 years old (175#) and was not obese, but felt still uncomfortable not being buff. I would work out but not seriously enough to gain results. I was flabby but not obese. I finished my enlistment at 21 years old, returned to Massachusetts (195#) and began working for the US Postal Service. Walking mail routes kept my weight down and left working there when I was 25 years old (205#), and never thought of myself as obese. As my weight went up with age, I lost more of my life. Although I began a college career at 33 years old (240#), I found it difficult to find seating and to get around campus. By the time I finished my graduate work (Clinical Social Worker) at 40 years old, I had gained 100+ pounds to about 350 pounds.