When I was a child, I always knew that I was different. I had a “big” loving family. Most of my favorite memories revolve around the dinner table. We sat down together every night and on Sundays, it was not unusual for the extended family to come over to eat. Family holidays revolved around massive dinner tables loaded with food and people sitting for hours to talk and eat!
Being heavy never really bothered me until I got into middle school. I had a teacher who made it her goal in life to tell me on a daily basis that I had such a pretty face and what a shame it was that I could not lose a few pounds.
By the time I graduated from high school, I tipped the scales at 225 pounds. Never went to the prom – never had a date. In college, I fell in love with the first boy who was nice to me. Unfortunately he went to Viet Nam and didn’t come back. I added another 25 pounds to my frame.
Later, I married the second boy who was nice to me. Had four fabulous sons and added another 75 pounds to my 5’2” frame. My hips were 66 inches around – four inches more than I was tall!
I was constantly on a diet – yo-yoing up and down and never really getting anywhere. I developed diabetes, high blood pressure, reflux, painfully aching joints and a very poor self image. I allowed myself to be taken advantage of because I didn’t think I deserved anything better.
When my marriage failed after 24˝ years, I decided that it was time to take hold of my life and make some changes. A couple of friends that I worked with had the gastric bypass surgery. They started feeling better and looking great. So, I started doing my homework and reading every available article I could find on the surgery. I talked with my primary care physician in great depth about the changes the surgery would have on my life.
He referred me to Dr. Marvin to discuss surgery. Dr. Marvin spent a couple of hours talking with me about the pros and cons of the surgery and the different procedures available to me. I decided to have the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure. I had provided Dr. Marvin’s office with a complete past medical history, cost analysis sheets for my medications to present to my insurance carrier and detailed diet history.
At the time, I had United Healthcare. When the letter of medical necessity was presented, I was approved in three weeks. That was the 15th of November. I told Dr. Marvin that I had waited 35 years to be healthy and I wanted surgery as soon as possible. The only day available was Friday the 13th in December, 2002. Without hesitation, I said “I’ll take it!!!”
My official pre-op weight was 306 pounds although I had been up to 325.
I have now settled in at 138 pounds!
I am still on insulin for my diabetes. Before surgery I took 168 units of insulin a day with nine different oral medications. Now I only take 25 to 30 units of insulin each day and no oral medications. My blood pressure is in the normal range and I have no arthritic aches and pains anymore.
Every night I thank God that he led me to Dr. Marvin. I found out after surgery that I was Dr. Marvin’s fifth patient – I am at the head of the line of the hundreds of patients on whom he has performed bariatric surgery. What an honor!
When patients and friends ask me if I would do it again, I give a resounding “Yes – without a moment’s hesitation.” Gastric bypass surgery has made a remarkable change in my life, it has given me the confidence I lacked to expect more out of life.
It’s amazing – I spent my whole life as an obese person and even now after four years, sometimes I step out of the way for the skinny person I see walking into stores…only to realize that it’s me!!!
- Kathleen
