Before & After RNY with MLC45, losing 175 lbs!
September 24, 2019Why I Decided to Have WLS
I had a rough start in life involving my weight. I was born with damage done to the right side of my face. This injury caused me to suck very little at one time and required feeding almost on an hourly basis for several months. After that, my doctor had custom-made pacifiers for me to use. My mother was encouraged to have me use them 24/7 so the consistent sucking would help strengthen the muscles in my face. I finally stopped using the pacifiers between the ages of 6-7. I believe this consistent feeling of having something in my mouth contributed to my grazing and being overweight.
When I was in 6th grade, I started the school year overweight at 110 lbs. A few months later, I developed several health problems and because of inactivity, by the end of the school year, I weighed 160. Like most kids, I was teased and my family, though they tried to be supportive, would make comments like, “You don’t need seconds” or “Don’t eat so much.” However, I was always told I needed to clean my plate and not waste food.
In my early 20’s, I weighed 250 and was involved in a church mission program. I received daily exercise and over the next 1 ½ years I lost 80 lbs. I kept it off for a few years, got married, went on birth control and gained 30 lbs in 2 months. The doctor blamed me for the weight gain and said birth control doesn’t do that to people. My meds were switched and I continued to gain 7 lbs. a month until I went off of it a couple of years later. I weighed 340 when my child was born and I maintained that weight for a few years. I started looking into having bariatric surgery in 2001.
Before & After RNY with MLC45
OH Username: MLC45
Total Weight Loss: 175 lbs.
Surgery Type: RNY
Date of Surgery: May 2002
Surgery Facility: Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
Having Surgery and Life as a Post-Op
I didn’t have insurance, so in 2002, I took a second mortgage out on my home and scheduled surgery. I traveled to Utah to have Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians perform the RNY and five days later I was riding in the car back to Oklahoma.
The weight came off fast at first. Like most people, the further out from my surgery I got, the weight came off much slower. However, I was able to maintain between 165-175 for many years. This weight put me at a small size 10, so I was happy. As the years went by, I discovered I could eat more things that were restricted. More or less, I maintained control and never went over 195 or a size 12.
In 2009, I was exercising with a personal trainer when I blew out one of my already damaged knees. This was the beginning of a process of four knee surgeries that occurred from 2009-2013. After each surgery, I gained roughly 20 lbs and by the time it was over I had ballooned to 260 lbs.
I had the thought “out of sight, out of mind.”
As long as I could avoid the camera at social gatherings I believed my weight wasn’t that bad. Then one day it happened. Not only was my picture taken, but it was also lovingly placed on Facebook by a cousin that was excited to share the wonderful trip we had spent together. I was horrified! That was a huge “water in the face” moment for me. I had used my health as an excuse to eat whatever I wanted, and that picture showed it to the entire world. I was determined to get it off.
I had to go to a different bariatric surgeon to see if I could have another surgery. He showed me some tough love and basically told me to stop drinking diet soda, stop eating sugar and carbs, and to get off my fat butt and exercise daily. I told him that wasn’t possible since I was wearing a boot because of stress fractures in my left foot, and it hurt to even walk. He told me to suck it up and see him in six weeks. I was so mad at him!
I decided I was going to do exactly as he said and when I returned for my follow up appointment I was going to tell him how wrong he was about me and I that I couldn’t lose the weight on my own. I started mall walking in the evenings. I was slow and some days I was about to cry. My anger at the doctor kept me going and I did it every night. Six weeks later, I faced the doctor again. Instead of telling him off, I had to swallow my pride as I weighed 18 lbs. lighter from following his instructions.
I already had everything I needed to lose the weight. I just needed to put forth the effort and actually do it.
A Special Milestone / Non-Scale Victory
As of today, I weigh 165 and plan on dropping another 30 lbs. It hasn’t been easy for me. I still battle with the demons in my head especially during my stressful times, and I can hear a brownie calling me a mile away. But I’ve made a schedule that I follow that involves diet and daily exercise. All I see ahead of me is a bright future of health and happiness.
Share Your Before & After Success!
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