The Physical Toll of Obesity Before Weight Loss Surgery, VSG
September 6, 2017My struggle and toll of obesity started early in my life. I started to gain my weight as a kid around the age of eight years old. I was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome. The medication I was prescribed to help caused me to gain weight. The toll of obesity in my life started with the medication and grew from that time.
The Toll of Obesity on My Health
I was always the “big kid” in school so I got picked on by most of my classmates all the way up till my senior year of high school. By this time, I was considered in the obese category for my BMI. While being in the obese category, I had major health problems arise. I had high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, acid reflux, and gynecomastia. I also had pain in my back and knees.
While having high blood pressure, I was put on many different medications to try to control it, but most of them didn't work. They finally found the right medication and after a few years, my blood pressure was finally normal.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in my late teens. My thyroid wasn’t working at all. The symptoms I had with hypothyroidism were trouble losing weight, and I was very tired, had brittle nails and experienced hair loss. The highest dosage of Synthroid they put me on to get my thyroid in a normal range was 450mcg. I was on this dosage for several years. I would have to get countless blood work to make sure my thyroid was working properly.
To this day, since having Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, I now take 250mcg of Synthroid and my thyroid is working properly.
Another physical issue was being diagnosed with acid reflux. I was diagnosed with acid reflux in my adult years. I was also on medication for it twice a day, one in the morning and one at bedtime. It would get so bad that I would always have the taste of the acid coming up from my stomach lining. The doctors were concerned that I would have acid erosion in my esophagus from all the acid build up.
Since having WLS, I no longer take any meds for acid reflux and have not had any issues since my surgery.
I was diagnosed with gynecomastia in my mid-thirties. The doctor that treated me advised that I would eventually have to have the surgery to remove the breast tissue. After I had my VSG, I was approved by my insurance to have a double mastectomy to remove the breast tissue, fat, and some of the excess skin I had on my chest. I recently went for another mammogram and there still shows moderate gymacomastia. I was denied twice already by my insurance so now I am waiting to have a hearing to see if they will approve the revision to remove the remaining breast tissue.
While running and walking on the treadmill, I noticed I was having a lot of pain in my left knee. I went to see my PCP about the pain and she referred me to see an orthopedic doctor. I have been seeing him for the last six months. I have had numerous physical therapy sessions and to this day, I still have pain. I even tried a cortisone shot to relieve the pain but only lasted about two weeks. He sent me for an MRI and the test shows that I have degenerative arthritis with loss of cartilage. I will need a knee replacement within the next five to ten years.
My Health After The Toll of Obesity & After My VSG
The awesome thing about having weight loss surgery is that I no longer need medications for high blood pressure and acid reflux. I am now on a lower dosage of medication for hypothyroidism. The only issue I still have since my weight loss is the knee pain. It’s more prominent now being much thinner. I still attend physical therapy twice a week to see if the pain will subside.
Before I had weight loss surgery, I didn’t realize the physical toll of obesity on my body beyond my size. Thanks to having surgery, my health is substantially better and I’m able to live a fuller life.
 | ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dennis Veneigh struggled with his weight, and he knew that he needed medical help to lose weight. Dennis decided that he was worth taking care of and wanted to lose the weight not just for himself, but for the quality of life he wanted for his family. In 2014, after much research, Dennis underwent the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG). On his one-year surgiversary, he reached his goal weight of 196 pounds! |
