by Amy Fletcher

Created on: May 01, 2009

My Experience with Gastric Bypass Surgery

I was a normal kid growing up in a normal family. All of the members have at least one common link, our struggle with our weight. Up and down the scales have gone. I always thought that this problem I have was genetic and my love of food. Ever since I turned twelve my weight has gone up so much more than it ever went down. Then I found love and marriage and then gave birth to four children. Each one outweighing the one before, 8# 11oz, 9#11oz, 9#15oz, and then 11#14oz. My highest weight without being pregnant was 375#, at 5'7". It really broke my heart when my doctor wrote on my chart that I was morbidly obese, but it was the truth. My head knew all of the problems that the excess weight causes, but the rest of me was in denial. I knew there was a problem and I just didn't know what to do about it. So I just lived everyday taking care of my little boys and doing what needed to be done and keeping the focus on everything but myself.

Then two years ago my closest friend was preparing for weight loss surgery. She filled me in on everything that she was being taught and I listened carefully. Around that same time my doctor recommended gastric bypass for me. I left that office with a lot to think about and I did for 3 months. I couldn't bring myself to have surgery. I was terrified of going under the knife and forever changing the way my body worked. It would only be the second surgery in my life, the first one being the c-section necessary to give birth to my last child. But ultimately I decided to give it a shot. Then I couldn't convince my insurance to pay for the procedure. So I began to wonder if maybe I wasn't supposed to have this done to my body so I pondered for a couple more months. Then I realized I had to do it and I was in a fortunate situation. I was able to change my insurance plan. So I researched and questioned and found a plan that would allow me to have this major surgery.

I was on track. So I started the necessary paperwork and got going. My surgeon required a program and many steps before proceeding with the surgery. I am so thankful he did. I learned so much about myself. I finally had a name to go with what I was going through. I was diagnosed with depression and started on medication and therapy. This diagnosis coupled with the nutrition counseling helped so much that by surgery day I had lost 38#. Many questioned if I could lose that much on my own couldn't I just keep going and get it all off by myself. I didn't feel that I could. It was just too long of a road, I needed to lose 225#. These people that ask are always overweight themselves. So I question them back with "How's that working for you?".
My surgery was on April 8th, 2009. I am well on my way to recovery and have lost a total of 71# so far. I feel so much better and love having to buy new clothes because everything I own is falling off of me. I still have a long way to go and then when I get there I will have the challenge of keeping it off. I am determined not to be one of those people that "oh 'so and so' had gastric bypass and gained it all back". I am very blessed to have a lot of supportive people in my life, especially and including my husband, who has stuck by me, literally, through thick and thin.

This is major surgery and I did not jump into it lightly. It has been a choice of last resort. It has been just what I needed and I have a great surgeon, and hospital. I do not regret what I did and am thankful to all of the many people that have helped me a long the way. I am also fortunate that my closest friend has been down this same road and we can be there to support each other. This is a very important part of the process.

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