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Surgeon: Dr. Daniel Herron, New York, NY
by Sue: April 2000: My name is Sue. I'm 48 years old and live in Kalamazoo, MI. I have worked as a surgical technologist for the last 14 yrs. Life would be pretty good if it weren't for my declining health problems. I have struggled with my excessive weight problems since I was 10 or 11 years old. For more than 35 years, I have tried every “diet”, “health plan”, “eating philosophy”, and “life change” suggested by doctors, books and health professionals. I would start a plan, follow it through for a few months, I would always loose weight, but I would reach a point when I would start gaining again. More often than not, I would gain back all the weight I lost, and usually a little more. About 10 years ago, this became a pattern that I could see and I was determined to change the pattern that had terrorized me my entire adult life. I ate right, I exercised, I read the books, I meditated. I lost weight, but never could break the pattern of regaining the weight. My motivation to lose the weight was always to get healthy and prevent medical problems. Now, I am 48 and those health problems are creeping into my life. My ankles and feet are always hurt. When I walk up stairs, I have to “double step” each step because of my excess weight. I have varicose veins in my legs. I can't walk a block without being extremely out of breath. I have high blood pressure, asthma, shortness of breath and cardiac ischemia . As I sit here typing, my legs are going numb from the weight. I have anxiety attacks, which I am told are common with obese people. I suffer from depression. I am on medication for high blood pressure, medication for depression and anxiety. As old as I am, and to have tried to lose weight and get healthy as many times, and for as many years as I have, I am devastated that, at this point, I weigh 354 pounds. Not only am I tired of all the ridicule and prejudice I take from this society on a daily basis, but I also feel shame. It's a because of this shame, that about eight years ago, I began to completely withdraw. I stopped going out socially. About two years ago my PCP mentioned gastric bypass, and at the time I was not interested. Then about 3 months ago he mentioned it again. He gave me the name of a man who had this surgery and had great success, I talked to him and started my research. I started checking out the different surgery options and the different surgeons across the country. I also began to research obesity and began to learn and understand this disease that I have. After looking at my 35-year diet history, surgery is the only permanent solution to save my life. I've been told by my PCP, my OB/GYN and my surgeon that surgery could improve and eliminate all my co-morbidities and eliminate the need for other surgeries and medications. MAKING THE DECISION It's 3/19/2000 and I have made the decision to have the surgery. I have been thinking about this for some time. At my last physical my Dr. told me about someone he knew who had a gastric bypass and I could call him with my questions. I did talk to this man and he answered many of my questions. Now comes the decision on whether to have done open or w/laproscope. I plan on going to New York to see Dr. Herron at Mt Sinai Hospital very soon. (He does it through the laparoscope.) Also plan on going to see someome who does it open. Then I will decide. I talked to people at work who had it done and they had it open and had no problems. 3/25/00: Going to see Dr. Herron on April 6th in NY. Flying in on the 4th and also seeing Dr. Drooker for Pych. evaluation. Hope also to see nutritionist. Hope I can get a surgery date at that time. 4/12/00: Just got back from NY and my first consult with Dr. Herron I liked him also saw the nutritionist and had the psych. evaluation all went fine. Date for surgery set for July 10th. I will be having the lap BPD/DS. I will have all my pre-op tests done at home and send reports to Dr. Herron. 7/25/00: Well surgery is over and I am home. So far no problems. I was in surgery for 8 hrs and spent the night in recovery. My care after surgery on the floor was not good. I was very happy to get out of there. 10/21/00: Up til now I have had few problems but the last few weeks I have not been able to eat much and have the dry heaves. No interest in food at all. 10/29/00: The dry heaves are getting worse and I can't keep anything down, Also getting dehydrated. Had some tests done (blood work, ultasound of the gall bladded and liver and an endoscopy. All that can back OK except that there is a little irritation in the stomach, It may be the cause for dry heaves . They gave me Raglan 4 X a day. Hope this helps. 11/21-25: Well, the reglan is working. I am eating and keeping down food and am no longer dehydrated. I am eating small portions of anything I want. Even pie. I had a little of everything on Thanksgiving and was satisfied. I will be adding more as it happens.
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