reva
I have been overweight since I was little. Even though I grew up on a farm and spent a lot of time outside, I was still heavy. My first two years in college I was on the track team and was able to maintain my weight at 200 lbs.
I started work at a 4-H conference center and going to Kansas State University and my weight started to rise. Where I met my husband and was married in 1988. I was not as active as I use to be. In the early 90's I decided I have enough. I weight around 270. I worked with a dietitian on campus and was able to lose 70 lbs. Then summer came and I was out of school. I started not eating right and not being active.
As I got older my weight would go up and down. I never really cared what other people thought about my weight because I was happy with the way I was. When I was about 30, I was starting to see the medical problems that came with being obese. I had high blood pressure and high cholestoral. My PCP said I was too young to have these problems. Clothing never fit right, so I wore mostly t-shirts and jeans. I could never wear women's jeans so I bought men's jean.
In 1999, I started working in foodservice at the conference center. I found out I loved to bake and cook. I also loved to eat what I made. I made cookies, cakes, brownies, and rolls for 100's of people. I would constantly eat thoughout the day. It is hard not to being around food all day. My weight went up to around 270.
My husband changed job in 1999 and went to work at Fort Riley. This allow us to have better insurance. I also heard about the LivLite program at Geary Community Hospital in Junction City. Never thought much about have WLS.
In early 2005, a good friend of mine had gastric bypass surgery in Virginia. She would call and tell me how much weight she had lost. I was starting to have problems with my knees. Anytime I got on the floor to clean out counter at work or home It was hard for me to get back up. I did not want to ride my horse anymore because it was hard for me to get up into the saddle. I love to ride and use to ride a lot.
In May 2005, I went to an information meeting at the hospital. I was thinking about having WLS. I talked to my PCP and he thought it was a good idea. He said that I was pre diabetic. I filled out the paper work to be summitted to the insurance. Pam at LivLite told me that my insurance company Federal Blue Cross, Blue Shield would cover the surgery. I filled out the information and got my approval in one week. I had my psych evaluation done in Oct and all my pre op done in Nov. Surgery was set for Dec. 5.
We did a large banquet at the conference center on Dec.4. I glad to work on the day before my surgery, because I was getting nervous. Work kept my mind off of the surgery.
Morning of the BIG DAY, I was to report to the hospital around 9:00. Around 8:00 the hospital called and said the surgeon was wanting to come in early. I arrive about 8:30. My mom and dad was there with me. When it came time to go to the OR, I almost said no. I was so scared. Several hours later I was in ICU and feeling very sleepy. Around 7:00 that night the nurse wanted to get up. Very, very painfully I got up and walked a short distance. Two days later I was cruising the hallway with little trouble. And 4 days after surgery I was able to home. I am 1 year out and 121 lbs lighter!
My surgeon Dr. Narciso is a very wonderful person. He has been with me though the whole journey. The biggest suprise that I got was when he told me that I was his first gastric bypass patient. People ask me if I was okay with this and I said yes because both surgeon at the hospital was there at the surgery.
Well it is Dec. 5 2007. Wow I am 2 years post op. Had some minor problems this that I ended up in surgery twice. The first time Dr. Narciso reopened my insicion and removed two stitches that did not dissolve. The second time was the Monday before Thanksgiving. My surgeon removed some abhesions that were giving me some problems. Hope they don't reform. My surgeon gave me a clean bill of health at my last appointment with him.
I still don't believe has been 2 years!
