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Surgeon: Dr. Douglas Hess, Bowling Green, Ohio
Surgery date: July 9, 2001
Pre-op weight/BMI: 400/58
Current weight: 272 (as of January 31, 2002)

by Tony:

My name is Tony Graber, friends call me Dusty (the alias Dusty Trails ... horseman, rural philosopher, kindred spirit). I'm almost 43 and headed for DS surgery July 9, 2001 with Dr. Douglas Hess in Bowling Green, Ohio. I live west of Chicago, in the country, married 23 years, one adored daughter, Danielle, 19, my five adored horses, 2 rotties, 2 labs, and 6 kitties ... it's my happy spot, the place I want to be.

I work as a financial professional, and am someone with lots of questions and a fair ability to sort things out. With WLS I spent the better part of 2 years coming to this point. To me, the DS procedure offers many advantages, and the best quality of life following surgery, and weight loss, of any I've seen. I just don't think pure restrictive gets it, nor do I want a hole to plug up and/or dumping syndrome, so for me this makes the most sense.

After looking at all the options, I'm going to Dr. Hess, who is in the area I grew up in, Bowling Green, Ohio. My mom, grandma, and others have gone to Dr. Hess for other reasons, my aunt and several people I know have been to him for WLS. I've got my family there, a place to stay for a few days after, and follow up will be doable and combined with a visit. It's 5 hours from where I live, but no one in Illinois does DS. So in all this makes the most sense for me, not to mention, I'll be going to Dr. Hess, who began doing the BPD/DS and has done lots of them.

For now, July 2, with surgery only a few days away, I'm kind of nervous about having surgery on July 9. I know Dr. Hess is very good at this, and he's been good about taking time to talk with me. I went to school with a gal at his office. I've got a good support group of people. While I'm near 400 (BMI 58) I'm still fairly active, taking care of horses, riding my bigger mare lightly for her sake, running a business, so I'm hardly inactive (but am slowed down from what I used to be at this weight). I know that if I don't do this I'm headed for problems that I don't want. There's plenty of good reasons for me to do this. I am however human, and the potential for complications concerns me, even though I'm in good hands, and God's hands. I very much want to come home, be healthier, live long and well, and be there for my daughter, family, horses, the whole bunch I love and care for so much.

I've really appreciated all the help I've found on this site, and some of the really good and generous people I've met on here. They know I've had lots of questions and have been very considerate and kind. At this point, I would ask for your support, your thoughts, prayers, keeping your fingers crossed, so that I have a smooth complication-free and successful procedure, and that I come home soon and well to Danielle, my family, and my darling horses, pups and kitties ... if you pray for me, please pray for them too.

Thanks again to each one of you, you know who you are, who have been so supportive, and those who will be. It's greatly appreciated and I look forward to offering a good report.

January 28, 2002:
It's been more than 6 months since my surgery. I've lost over 135 lb., and still losing. No more blood pressure medicine, my labs all look great and eating is going well.

For those who are contemplating surgery, I want to say that the first couple of months aren't easy, but they pass, and everything gets better as you go. I mention this because I don't feel I was quite as prepared for that, and if you'd have asked me at 4-6 weeks, I'd have told you I wasn't real happy ... but it passes, and I'm certainly glad I did it now.

I researched thoroughly for two years prior to surgery. Now that I've had it and have come this far, I'm very thankful I chose DS. I was not a happy camper about not being able to eat much the first few months, but thankfully, I knew it would get better. I thought thank God I didn't have a RNY or dumping syndrome or a hole to plug up, because had I done so and felt the way I did, I'd have been very unhappy.

By Thanksgiving I could eat pretty decently, better by Christmas. For example breakfast: this morning I had two eggs over, about half the home fries with sausage gravy, one piece of raisin toast with butter, and three cups of coffee with cream and a little sugar ... it's less than I used to eat, but not by that much, and it seems pretty normal to be able to eat like people who haven't had surgery, and better, we don't absorb the fat, so I lose and later will maintain.

Remember those people that are easy to dislike, they eat good and don't gain weight, well, lol ... I'm one them now at last. Now other times I seem to fill up quicker, it just depends on the day. I don't have nearly the appetite for sweets, but every so often I do, and I have some. Pre-op, toll house cookies would be a big downfall for me ... 2-3 at a time ... a whole batch in a couple of days (I'd never have eaten junk food much, only really good stuff). Now I may eat one, but two or three, would just be too rich, and while it wouldn't make me sick, it just seems too rich and I don't enjoy that feeling, but hey, that's great.

I went to Maggiano's Little Italy (awesome place), ate one onion roll (they're the best there), a house salad, and a moderate portion of Riggatoni'D with chicken, mushroom, and marsala sauce, followed by coffee and a couple bites of Tiaramisu (food of the Gods). I ate about the same as my 19 year old 125 lb. dance major daughter, not a big meal, but a nice one (and I've lost more than she weighs).

In all, it's been a journey, I'm glad to be past those first few months, feeling great, wearing size 44 instead of 58 jeans, etc. Last, one of the funny things is getting dressed ... I finally bought some new underwear (the others were so big), but I look at them and think 'these can't be mine they're so small', then they fit ... it's just funny to me, the things you realize like that along the way.

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