Hello Wilkes Countians and Everyone to the Wilkes County, NC Bariatric and Weight Loss Group!  My name is Parker H., and I am founding member of this group.  

First off, let me share my weight loss journey with you.  2 years ago, I was in a meeting at Lowe's Compainies when it hit me that I was terribly overweight.  My doctor had been saying for years how my weight would become a problem the older I was (I am 24) and that I needed to get it under control.  I always put it off, and never paid any attention to my doctor, who had my best interests in mind.  I didn't care.  I just kept on eating!  

One day last year, however, after failing and restarting many diets, I decided weight-loss (bariatric) surgery may be right for me.  After checking with my insurance (BCBSNC State Health Plan) I decided to contact Frye Regional Medical Center and go to one of their informational sessions in Blowing Rock.  After attending this session, I was quite impressed with the entire team from staff nurses to surgeons.  However, because my insurance required a 6 month primary care physician supervised diet, it would be 6 months until I spoke with the Surgical Weight Loss Team at Frye Regional again...

Now March, 2014 my 6 month supervised diet was complete, I started on the fast track.  I had 3 more informational sessions with the Frye staff (to ensure you are ready for such changes to your body) as well as a meeting with a psychologist (ensures you are mentally ready).  Then I recieved the green light!

Ring! Ring!  Hickory Surgical Clinic (that provides the surgeons to Frye) called up, asking for one last pre-op meeting on May 8th, 2014 and a surgery date was set for May 20th, 2014.  My excitement was beyond words.  I knew this was right for me!

After pre-op (mostly blood work, EKGs, etc...) then I was placed on a 10 day liquid diet to shrink my liver before they'd do Gastric Bypass.  Let me tell you, THAT was rough!  Many days I thought I may have made the wrong decision, but I powered through.

Day of surgery, May 20th, 2014 was upon me.  Being my first surgery, I was very nervous, and the way everyone treated me there was exceptional, especially when I went to OR Staging.  After being wheeled into the OR, the people inside were friendly, joking around with me, making me feel at ease, then... Nothing...

I woke up in recovery, pretty sure I yelled at someone "you can't tell me what to do" and was in and out of a dream state for 2-3 hours.  After I somewhat recovered, I was put on a pain drip (mmm... Morphine) and I was up and walking around almost immediately.  I asked for my catheter to be removed (by far most painful part) and rested.  

Next day, they discharged me at 4pm.  The pain pump was off, and pain started setting in.  There started "Hell Week", where there is forced eating, lots of pain, and no joy.  Here I am in Day 3 of "Hell Week", and although the pain is still there, and I have to force myself to eat, I don't regret a moment of my Gastric Bypass.