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Surgeon: Dr. Robert Rabkin, San Francisco, CA Latest update: June 2003
by Vicki: My Pre-Surgery History…… August 2, 2000 The Diet History of Vicki Diavatis Booros, starting at age 4 (1974) From an early age I have struggled with my weight, fighting obesity from the age of 4. Although my mother’s family did not suffer from obesity or any weight-related issues, my father’s whole family is severely obese. He and his two brothers are easily 100+ pounds overweight, as well as their father and other immediate relatives. My sister also suffers from obesity. Diets I have tried succeeded and failed… Everyday we suffer… Nutrition….. Could I teach you some things! Is there something wrong with me? To have or not to have… I would not be seeking this type of surgery had I not truly tried everything else. I have tried everything I can possibly imagine, my parents and I have spent thousand of dollars of our own money to fight obesity, they have supported me every step of the way. Now, my husband and I fight this battle together, thank God, I have his complete support in every way possible. I have my family’s support. I have researched every option open to me, I have spent months researching DS/RNY surgery, I know that the DS surgery done Laproscopically is the safest surgery with the least amount of complications and the best option to live a normal life. I have studied and know the diet and exercise restrictions in my future; I look forward to a healthy life. I look forward to a solution and I thank you for your help in the rest of my life, I would like to live this life, not battle a long slow death from Severe Morbid Obesity at 432 lbs. September 5, 2001 Life is like a box of Chocolates… You never know what you’re going to get! Lately, my box of chocolates has been full of those ones as Sees Candies… the caramel on the bottom, marshmallow on the top, covered with dark chocolate (my favorite)… Life is good… No, it’s GREAT! Getting used to having the surgery and the change in my body has been a road… first of happiness and relief, secondly of resentment and lastly, of peace. I did have 1 major complication which I will tell you of, because it is only fair to know all! (April 21st… I was driving home from dropping off all of my cousins kids from a slumber party at my house the night before, my daughter was spending the night with my cousin and I had my son with me, my husband was at work. On the way home, I started having an immediate stabbing pain right above my belly button… I knew something was terribly wrong. By the time I got home, I was in tears, I called my husband to drive home quickly, called my cousin to come and pick up my son and called 911. They took me to the hospital and put me on Morphine (God’s gift to those in pain) I spent 6 hours being tested and nothing was showing in any x-rays… I was transferred to Sutter General in Sac, where an ass of a Dr. said he didn’t find anything so he was sending me home… Not a chance in hell I told him! The nurse suggested I stay as well and the jerk backed down…. Still high on the morphine, it became Sunday morning somehow and this beautiful man Named Dr. J.C. Owens walked in and told me not to worry he would take care of everything, we went to x-ray again, I had a whole in my bowel… we went back to the hospital room, they put an NG tube down my nose to clean out my stomach of the Bile and I went to surgery… I spent 1 week in the hospital! I was lucky! I LISTENED to my body and to my pain and became my own advocate…. Which is very necessary! Dr. Owens reassured me that although the whole in my bowel was from my intestine kinking on the scar tissue and rubbing a whole in my bowel… it was and wasn’t because of the weight loss surgery… I just happened to have scar tissue in this area… It could have been any other surgery as well in that area, so although it was directly involved, it was in an indirect way… Got It!?) I’M HEALTHY! Happiness and relief…. I fit in an airplane seat! I fit in a theatre seat to see the Play Mama Mia in Chicago. I walk down the street and no one notices me for being fat, I walk down a narrow aisle, I run with my children, I slide with my children, My husband and I took our kids on the tea cup ride, I fit! I went to the State Fair with my husband and we rode roller coasters, I fit! I fit! Resentment…. It’s so awkward that you’re whole personality can stay exactly the same, and all of a sudden all these people you’ve known for years pay attention to you! Coming to terms with my new acceptance has been the most difficult. It was as if I was an outcast and now I am not…. I understand it a little I guess, I mean I was so embarrassed of myself, why wouldn’t others be embarrassed of me, but the difference is… there were people who loved me as I was! And I will cherish their loyalty above and beyond anyone else’s. Peace! I’m living a normal life, I’m active with my kids and husband and life in general… I’m involved in life again and it feels really, really good… I wish all of you luck who are where I was… I understand, truly and hope that you have a safe journey to a new and wonderful life! July 12, 2002 Update:
As of July 12, 2002... I have lost 201lbs. I am healthy and happy! This picture is after my husband and I went skiing....(TRIED that is) in December of 2001.... A newer one is coming soon. I guess expectations at this point are kind of awkward. I CAN lose another 30 to 40 lbs if I exercise. I, unfortunately do not have the time. I hope to in the future and know it will make a difference at that time as well. So, here I am... still over 200lbs and done losing. It feels weird to say it, because to some people, being 230lbs is a starting point and it is looked at as failure, but, to a woman who weighed 432lbs and couldn't fit in 34/36's, being a size 18 pants and an XL top and being able to do ANYTHING at all that I want to is such a great success. I have been fortunate to have a very realistic view during this whole process and I knew that my weight would not reach below 200lbs.... I am blessed... I hope those of you that weigh over 400lbs have a healthy and realistic goal for yourself. You may not weigh 130lbs when you are done... but, you will be healthy and active and beautiful!!! It has been well worth the journey to stand where I stand! Good luck and feel free to email... Peaceful! Crazy! Happy!
Crazy! My kids are now 6 ¾ and 4 ¼ … They were 4 and 1 ½ when I had the surgery. They are so active, we are so active, we stay very, very busy with swimming, playing, life in general. I wouldn’t think that they’d know the “old” mom, the one who weighed 432lbs… but, the other day we were looking at pictures and my mom said to me “look how much you have changed!” My daughter said, “I’m the one who’s changed”, look how much bigger I have gotten Yia Yia (grandma in Greek) They just don’t see the weight, it’s just part of who I was… I enjoy my kids and husband so much more now. I am not filled with guilt of not being able to play with them or go out with them. I know they all enjoy me being active. Happy!
Where is the girl who weighed 432lbs just under 3 years ago? If you look really hard, you’ll find that she never left, she is just celebrating with me! She really, really is!
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Hi There all....
In September I will be 3 years Post op… I had a tummy tuck (ouch) and hernia repair in October of 2002, I weigh 220lbs and am sticking at a size 18 pant and an XL or 14/16 top. I started at barely fitting into a 34/36 anything. I was well above 4 or 5x. I feel really good and am very at ease in my body now. I can’t believe it and at times I am scared that it seems I have never been anywhere different… then I see a large person, as large as I was, over 400lbs and it feels like salt is poured in the wound. I want to run and tell them their option in life, that they too can be free. It is not the answer for everyone, but, for some, it is a lifesaving opportunity. I am peaceful within myself, I am content, thank you God.
June 24th 2003, my husband and I celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. I wouldn’t have made it this far without him. He has grounded me and I believe that the fact that his love for me never changed, the way he acted, the way he treated me didn’t suddenly get better… it was always good. So, there was no resentment to build, there was nothing but the continuous relationship we have always had. I went through many emotional changes on the path to where I am now, I spent a lot of time in la la land, absorbing myself, absorbing that the family picture looks so normal. Why am I so comfortable to be on the mantle now… for years I wouldn’t even allow a picture to be taken. There is so much more involved than just a surgery to cure obesity. This surgery reshapes our body, our mind and our soul.