My weight issues began at a very young age. When I was in the fifth grade, I weighed 109 pounds. Most of my family was overweight as well as a result of a lot of eating in this “finish everything on your plate” era. By the time I was in high school I was already struggling with weight issues and had been on numerous diets. I was married when I was 22 and I weighed 162 pounds.
I broke my ankle and ballooned up to over 200 pounds. I can remember thinking “What the heck, if I weigh more than 200 pounds who cares anyway?” I did not care about my weight anymore. As time went on, I kept eating and weighed 240 pounds or more. Who really knows? I certainly was not going to get on a scale. What for?
That feeling of giving up and not caring is the way I felt and what I lived with on a daily basis. As time went on, however, I realized that I could not continue to live in this torture anymore. People made fun of me and I was discriminated against nearly everywhere I went because of the way I looked. I remember once in college, I stopped and asked for directions to a classroom and people mooed at me. It made me cry. One night I was at a night club with a girlfriend and we had the misfortune to run into a drunken cowboy who told us "they do not let fat girls in here." It broke my heart. In the summer of 2002, I started researching weight loss surgery.
I read about the gastric bypass procedure and decided this may be a great option for me. I called New Dimensions Weight Loss Surgery, which was then called Surgical Consultants of San Antonio. I think divine intervention played a major role because when I called, the practice had a long waiting list for new patients interested in weight loss surgery. However, the receptionist informed me someone had just cancelled their appointment for a seminar in December of 2002. That seemed like forever, but she said that was only a few months away and most people had to wait years. I told her to put me on the seminar list as an attendee.
The next gift from above was Dr. John Pilcher, who presented at the informational seminar I attended. Also attending the seminar were several ladies that had undergone surgery and were doing very well with their weight loss. I filled out some paperwork and I was on my way. In January 2003 I learned that my surgery date would be March 27, 2003. Wow! I was excited. I met with Dr. Pilcher in his office before surgery to discuss questions that I had or my family had. He and his staff were very helpful. He was very straightforward and thoroughly discussed all the procedure’s risks and possibilities with me. I was not blindly going into surgery.
I showed up bright and early on March 27, 2003 at Methodist Hospital. My surgery was done on a laparoscopic basis, which means it was done via several small incisions. The procedure was over quickly and I was on my way to my room. Post-op, I was monitored very closely. When I got up that evening I became very lightheaded and my blood pressure was not stable. In the middle of the night I had to go back into surgery because I was bleeding internally. I needed four units of blood and this second surgery was performed via an open incision.
Dr. Pilcher was very sweet and sat at my bedside to explain what happened, and what needed to be done. I was able to go home about four days after my surgery, at which point I developed a wound infection. Once again I saw Dr. Pilcher and he explained what had happed and informed me I would have to have home health care come to my home and dress my wound. He also informed me that I would probably develop a hernia because of the weakness that was now in my abdominal wall.
About a year after the surgery I started to have pain in that area. It was my gallbladder and I had indeed developed a hernia. Fortunately Dr. Pilcher discovered both and I was able to get both of these issues taken care of at the same time. Being an overweight person for most of my life, I had become dependent on pain killers for the pain I was suffering throughout most of my body. I addressed this issue with Dr. Pilcher and checked myself into the hospital to detox off these drugs. Today, I am a healthy, active, person who is so grateful for this surgery. Dr. Pilcher has continually helped throughout my struggles and transition to becoming a healthier person. I know that I could not have made it where I am today had it not been for him. I weigh about 135 to 140 pounds and I am so happy that I made the decision to have weight loss surgery.
I regularly attend the support groups offered by New Dimensions Weight Loss Surgery and I feel this is a very important part of the weight loss surgery experience. Everything in your life changes because of this surgery. I feel you find the true you. After 17 years of marriage I am going through a divorce that I previously didn’t have the strength to pursue. I felt no one would want me. I can stand alone now for the first time in my life and take on life on its terms instead of mine. I could not be happier than I am right now.
I now work out regularly and follow an exercise schedule. I found that it was important to find a form of exercise that I enjoy. If I cannot get to the gym to do water aerobics, then I walk around the block. Working out has become part of my life like eating previously was.
In losing weight I wanted to help others struggling with this issue, particularly with regards to what they can cook for themselves and family members. The New Dimensions WLS nutritionist recommended that I write down all the recipes. So, I did and I published “My Gastric Bypass Cookbook & Experience.” The response has been extremely positive. To this day, I go into stores and people know who I am from the Texas Weight Loss Surgery Summit where I cooked recipes and sold books. I felt like a star of sorts. I was even asked for my autograph!
I am treated totally differently now. My groceries are delivered to my car without having to beg for help. It is easier to find clothing. I know that I can go just about anywhere and find something that I love whereas being overweight you are limited in what you can wear or what you feel comfortable wearing.
Every year I go to the coast for my birthday. Now I hold my head high. I put on my bathing suit and get a lot of attention and it feels great. People notice me and comment on my figure almost daily. The only drawback is when people go overboard and say “you need to eat more” or “do not lose any more weight because you look frail.” I am fine where I am and I rely on Dr. Pilcher’s expertise to let me know if that changes.
Almost daily now that I am thin I can see and overhear the discrimination that overweight people face. Men especially. I was recently at the Guadalupe River and I overheard some men saying, ”There should be a law against that.” Of course, they were referring to an overweight girl in a bathing suit. It is sad but it is true.
I had weight loss surgery primarily for my health, with my physical appearance being secondary. I would not change a thing. I just would have done it a lot sooner. I did not think I could ever feel healthy, or look as good as I do now. I have confidence now that I did not have before. With change comes change and I am grateful for this change.
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