Lance G
I served as a US Marine for 5 years before becoming a pacifist, continuing my doctoral education, a law degree, now serving as an adjunct university professor, and stay-at-home dad. I am in my mid 40's, 310+ pounds, 49 BMI, have a wonderful spouse of 19 years, and 3 children (Aged 4, 5, and deceased but still in my heart). My professional life has been largely devoted to serving the legal needs of the poor. As a legal aid attorney, I am one of the few that can honestly say that I have never charged a client, nor charged for even court or litigation fees. I started out doing divorces for women meeting three requirements: 1) living below the federal poverty guidelines, 2) with children, and 3) currently being subjected to physical and psychological abuse. Our goal was to help remove the abuser from the family unit. I later helped to develop low-income housing and prevent (or at least delay) evictions. Lastly, I chaired a statewide organization to provide free legal assistance to those with HIV.
I wasn't considered morbidly obese until I gained weight after the death of my daughter, Laurel. I have tried almost every medically supervised diet on the market, losing between 60 - 100 pounds each time, only to gain the weight back yet again. I know that WLS is not an easy fix, but I believe it will aid me in making the life long changes I need to make so that I can stay healthy.
I look at myself and can't believe what I see! I do not know how to put into words the sadness I feel over what I have become and the ways my weight has changed my life. Further, while I am relatively healthy, my weight makes it difficult to enjoy a high quality life. My spouse does not support the surgery, yet will not veto WLS if she believes that I understanding the risks and life long changes that will be required of me. To this end, I have read the member profiles regarding death and complications; I still believe that WLS is the answer for me. I do not fear death, but rather fear leaving behind my family that needs me to be there for them. This is my single greatest fear.
In Peace and Justice,
Lance
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Pre-Op Report
I had an appointment with my PCP (“Primary Care Physician”) to discuss WLS and hopefully obtain a referral to a surgeon. To my surprise the physician was very open to the idea. My physician agreed to submit the referral to my insurance provider and said that I should receive notification within two weeks. However to my surprise, it only took a few days for Blue Shield of California (HMO) to authorize my referral to see David Oliak M.D., a bariatric surgeon, with the Coastal Center for Obesity at Chapman Medical Center. In addition, within only a few additional days Blue Shield approved my Lap RNY with a surgery date of May 27, 2004.
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1 Month Post-Op Report
Today marks the one-month anniversary of my Lap RNY surgery. I was a great candidate for WLS because I was relatively healthy at 310 pounds. However, I am sorry to share that as a married person with children, I regret having had WLS due to my continuing WLS complications and the effect my complications have had upon my family.
While I knew and accepted the risk of WLS complications, I never really believed that I would be one of the few to almost die – having experienced two blood clots, life threatening massive internal bleeding, a life threatening whole body blood infection, bowl obstruction, developed an ulcer, and came very close to passing away on two occasions (including one interesting near death experience in which my deceased daughter, Laurel, met me in a tunnel with light at the end and told me to go back to my living family, now was not my time). Despite all of the complications I have experienced, I have been very pleased with the quality of care I have received from my surgeon, his support team, and the hospital.
My complications required three weeks hospitalization and one week of home health care due to my need for continuing skilled nursing. Even now, one month after surgery, I am still so weak I cannot walk half the length on my block, nor I am only able to be out of bed for more than a few hours at a time. Further, my blood count is still low (even with the transfusions I received after having almost bled to death), I am vitamin deficient, and I throw up at least once a day as my pouch is very delicate and has yet to fully recover from the required life saving second surgical procedure.
While I would never discourage anyone from having WLS, I would neither recommend it to anyone. The decision is a very personal one and should not be taken lightly. If I were single, I would probable take the risk of WLS in order to gain the benefits. Yet as a married person with children, there is no way I would ever risk putting my family through an ordeal like WLS ever again. However, I acknowledge that others can weigh the risk / benefit scales differently.
My surgeon and other physicians believe it will take at least one or two more months for me to recover to the point of living a normal life. Further, it looks like I will have one more surgical procedure in a few weeks to help resolve a few of my continuing complications – if so my recovery will be further delayed. Right now I am just taking it day by day and doing my best to show my family how much I love them.
Again, it is not my place to recommend or discourage anyone from having WLS. However, OH is a clearinghouse of information and opinions - to which I hope to share my views while supporting the WLS decisions made by informed individuals attempting to live a more healthy life.
In continued friendship and support,
Lance
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3 Month Post-Op Report
I am pleased to say that most of my serious complications are now almost fully resolved. Further, I have now lost over 70 pounds. However, while I am pleased with my weight loss, I continue to be one of the few on OH with serious regrets for having undertaken weight loss surgery.
As I stated in my one month post-op report, I no longer want to recommend or discourage anyone from having WLS, rather I simply hope that everyone fully understands both the advantages and disadvantages associated with this complex procedure. To this end, I fully support and celebrate any WLS decision made by those with such an understanding.
The fact is that most people do very well with WLS, yet for those of us that experience one or more major complications, WLS is no longer just a tool to weight loss, but rather a painful and near deadly procedure with long-term physical/psychological/family consequences. I would never again visit such pain upon my family as when they thought I was going to die, in fact, the two times I almost died in the weeks following WLS. The benefits of weight loss simply are unable to be balanced against the pain WLS has caused my family.
Again, don't get me wrong, I am pleased with my weight loss and would have WLS again if I were single. However as a married person with minor children, WLS almost left my family without a father - such a price is too high for my personal need to be thin once again.
In Health,
Lance
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6 Month Post-Op Report
Last week I completed my six month post-op check-up and while I am pleased to report that I have lost over 120 pounds, I am sorry to also report that my battle with WLS related complications continues.
As many of you may recall, in addition to repeated life-threatening WLS complications, I have also been unable to consume most of the foods that my fellow 6-month cohort are able to digest. My surgeon now recommends that I have yet a another procedure, albeit a rather minor procedure, to correct what he believes to be a stricture. While a stricture is a minor complication and rather easy to correct – I am just saddened and depressed that I continue to be plagued by both life-threatening and non life-threatening complications.
I just don’t know how to express my pain and frustration associated with being the WLS patient that always seems to fall on the lower left hand of the bell curve. Yet, such is my fate!
While my surgeon recommended I have the procedure to correct the stricture as soon as possible, he agreed to allow me to postpone the procedure for another three months due to my history of life-threatening complications and my now well developed aversion to any further weight loss related procedures, corrective or otherwise.
The good news, other than continuing weight loss, is that my blood analysis showed that despite my having not consumed any significant quantity of solid foods, my panel was normal. It is amazing that I can continue to live almost exclusively on high quality protein drinks.
Anyway, while I am sorry that I can’t join all of you in your joys of WLS, I continue to celebrate your successes and thank you for all the support you have shown since I started this journey. Further, I hope to offer support to those about to embark on this WLS journey. It really does not matter what I think about WLS, what matters is that those that are pre-op know there is hope. To this end, I am hopeful, and share my hope with all of you as we join hands and attempt to help one another find a safe harbor in an otherwise tumultuous sea.
May peace and health be with all of you,
Lance
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1 Year Post-Op Report
A watershed moment – One Year Post-Op and 160 pounds gone forever!!!! Given my continuing battle with WLS related complications, the past year has held moments of great joy, as well as great sadness and physical pain. At the one year post-op mark, I am pleased to report that most of my complications have now been resolved. Further, I have started eating solid foods and enjoying life as a “normal” person. It still amazes me that I have lost so much weight in such a short span of time. Now comes the hard work of making sure I don’t gain weight back as I have done so many times in the past. However, I now have a tool to help me succeed, my pouch!!!! I am confident that I will be able to continue to use this tool as intended, thereby ensuring a healthy life for the foreseeable future.
As I embark on the second year of life after WLS, I hope to spend more time supporting those considering WLS. While I will not recommend WLS to anyone, nor will I discourage anyone considering this life changing procedure. I believe it is possible to walk the narrow line between offering support without making personal recommendations.
Lastly, I want to thank all of you in the AMOS community who have supported me and my family during the difficult moments experienced in the past year.
In Health,
Lance