Lap Band On 5/25/2010---down 143lbs So Far...!

[happynebrguy 0]

My surgery and My Life:

• Procedure: Lap Band Surgery
  
• Weight at time of surgery: 308 pounds (My heaviest was 364 pounds, 5 years before surgery)
  
• Date of surgery: May 25,2010
  
• Pounds lost thus far: 143 pounds
  

Before my surgery:

I have been overweight most of my life. In high school I was “chunky” but kept the weight under control for the most part. During my first marriage I spent much of that time as a hired man on a farm. The physical demands of a hired man masked the problems that were lurking below the surface. In 2000 I joined the Health and Human Services world. I had always wanted to help others and now I was working directly with kids and making an impact on their lives.

Unfortunately, my new job required little if any physical exertion. The idea of “exercising at the gym” was hilarious to me. I focused on my job, raising my children, and dating. I was completely oblivious to what was happening to me. When I left the farm in 2000, I weighed 268lbs. By 2003, I weighed 325lbs. I knew my weight was becoming a problem, however at this point I was unwilling to make lifestyle changes. On December 1^st, 2005, my doctor informed me that I weighed 364lbs!! I was stunned, embarrassed, and humiliated. How could this happen to me? I mean in the winter of 2005 I was running and playing in a flag football league. I also played in a sand volleyball league. I had tricked myself into thinking that once a week exercise for 90 minutes was healthy. Over the next 7 months I dropped 42lbs. I stopped going to fast food places and began walking every night. It felt great to lose the weight, but it was discouraging to still be around 320.

By June, 2008, my weight was back up to 343lbs. I was so angry at myself. You know how the vicious cycle goes. I re-committed to losing weight and dropped 65lbs over the next 6 months. This time I went to the gym 4 times a week and ran at the local track. I got to my lowest weight since high school. I reached 288lbs. In January, 2009, I accepted a supervisory position within the organization I work for. The position was everything I had wanted and I loved it! However, like any supervisor position, it came with a great deal of stress. By February, 2010, I was back up to 335lbs and completely frustrated with my lack of ability to cope with stress, and effectively lose weight. By now, I had had sleep apnea for over 17 years with a pressure setting of 17. My sleep apnea was very bad. I also had many family members who had heart problems, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep problems, and other issues related to weight. I didn’t want to be a part of that. I was completely inept at dealing with the stress in my life and food had become my comfort tool. I knew it and was unable to break the cycle. I had always been a sports fanatic and had played sports……..but now due to my health, I was no longer able to. Now I was angry at myself and knew I needed to do something about it---right away.

My journey:

In March, 2010, a wonderful thing happened to me. I was hired as a Foster Care Specialist within the organization I worked for (Epworth Village). In the span of two months, I had graduated from college with a bachelors and been hired at the job I had hoped for. My next big goal was to address my weight situation. I knew that tackling this issue would also involve not just “making changes” but emotionally and mentally committing to changing the way I approached how I responded to stressful situations.

I spoke to my personal physician about the lap band procedure. He endorsed the idea. When I told him I had done research and had discovered that Dr. Benjamin Hung at Surgical Associates in Lincoln, Ne performed the surgery, he recommended I make an appointment. I was very impressed with Dr. Hung’s resume, especially his qualification as a surgeon for the BLISS insurance program. I knew I would be a self-pay patient as my insurance carrier did cover the lap band procedure. BLISS provides insurance against complications for patients after the surgery. Doctors who are able to provide this insurance have less than a 2% complication rate. I do value quality! I visited Dr. Hung’s office in April, 2010. All of the staff were very polite and nice. I soon made appointments to see a dietician, psychologist, and pulmologist for evaluations for the surgery. I think it was clear to everyone right away just how committed I was to this goal. I read three books on bariatric surgery prior to the surgery. On May 10^th, 2010 I started the Medi-fast liquid program. I dropped 12 lbs over the next two weeks. I weighed 308lbs on May 25^th when I had the lap band procedure done. Before I had the surgery, I sat down and made a list of all the reasons I wanted to have the surgery. I preferred the lap band procedure because of its less invasive approach. I also made a weight goal and weight tracker documents so I could track my progress against my projected goals. I developed small weight goals attached to timelines spread over 18 months before I had the surgery. Achieving these small goals would keep me motivated and prevent me from focusing just on the final target weight. Dr Hung and the books I read helped me realize some important details. The lap band procedure is simply a tool to aid in the weight loss process, it is not the final answer to weight management. Dr. Hung helped me realize that lifestyle changes are a part of weight management success. Once I realized this, I was totally on board---although I think I drove Dr. Hung and Lisa crazy with all of my questions.

After my surgery:

The results of my surgery have been amazing! I can run up a flight of stairs without being winded, I can fit in an airplane seat, ride a rollercoaster, and sit in a booth at a restaurant! I also love to exercise! I play basketball with co-workers on Saturday mornings and participated in the York Summer Games in July. I bought a bike and enjoy biking. I have ran in three 5 K’s this summer and plan on running in 2 more. I recently ran 6 miles for the first time! I have always been an extremely outgoing and happy person trapped in an obese body. Now I am in a thin body an am truly happy about it. Oh yes, I have noticed a big difference in how others treat me now that I have dropped 168lbs (including 27 prior to surgery). In March , 2011 I was taken off of my CPAP machine! I had been on it for 19 years. Kind of interesting that my insurance doesn’t cover lap band but I am no longer on a CPAP machine…hmmm. Prior to the Lap band, I wore a size 54 waist. Now I wear a size 32! I haven’t wore a size 32 since I was a sophomore in high school!

What I have learned:

I am so inspired by the changes this has made in my life that I took Shelly Holman’s advice and joined the OAC in the hopes to help others see the benefits of WLS and how it can help their lives as well. From my personal experience, if a person is committed physically, mentally, and emotionally to the WLS program they can achieve success. I may be somewhat obsessive in my approach, but I still weigh my food and follow the program. I drink a minimum of 60 oz of Water daily and make sure I get the required supplements and Protein daily.

Here are the tools that I use:

• Positive Thinking
  
• EXERCISE!
  
• Permanent Lifestyle changes
  
• Effective stress reduction techniques
  
• Discipline
  

I always considered myself a good person. I just didn’t like my physical shape. Even at 165lbs I am amazed when I look in the mirror sometimes. I will never go back to the person I was before, there is too much life and fun to have!

[Tams45 2]

This is a great story...thanks for sharing and congrats on your success

[KhadijahRose 66]

You're AMAZING! Your story is absolutely inspiring! Congratulation on your achievements

[happynebrguy 0]

Miaa1007--I don't think of myself as amazing. I think of myself as committed. Committed to myself enough to follow the lap band's daily regiment and stick to the new life style (and begin exercising). It is exciting to know that there are others who have been through what I have....I just want people out there to know that they can achieve their dreams....IT CAN HAPPEN!!