RICK THORNTON

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Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I WAS GOING TO DIE SOON WITHOUT REAL HELP. BACK IN 1980 I MET A GUY WHO'S WIFE WAS GOING TO HAVE THE R N Y SURGERY. I TALKED TO HIS SISTER AND HER FRIEND THAT HAD IT. I WAS ON THE TABLE 3 WEEKS LATER. I WAS 550 LBS. HAD A REVISION IN 1991 . MY LOW WAS 187 LBS. MY WEIGHT THIS MORNING WAS 244 03-23-2013. ITS STILL A STRUGGLE. BUT I HAVE A CHANCE. FROM RICK THORNTON WINTER HAVEN FL

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

PAIN , ALL OF LIFE AS THE BIGGEST MAN IN TOWN WAS PAINFULL.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

LIVE LIFE. LEARNED TO DANCE AND EVEN TOUGHT IT FOR 12 YRS

How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

FROM SOMEONE WHO HAD IT DONE

What was your first visit with your surgeon like? How can people get the most out of this meeting?

I KNEW I WAS GOING TO LIVE 1

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO HE HELPED

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

ONLY HAD ONE BACK THEN

What fears did you have about having complications or even dying from from the surgery, and what would you tell other people having the same fears now?

IF I DIED FROM THE SURGERY . AT LEAST I WOULD HAVE DIED TRYING TO LIVE

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

MEETING PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WAS SO WONDERFUL. THEY LIVED IT.

What was your stay in the hospital like? How long where you there? What things are most important to bring?

4 OR 5 DAYS

Did you have any complications from the surgery? If so, how did you deal with them?

0

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

I HAD REAL HOPE FOR LIFE

What aftercare support group/program do you have? How helpful/important is this?

VERY HELPFUL

What is your scar like? Is this what you expected?

WHEN I WAS SO FAT EVERYONE COULD SEE MY SCAR

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

O YES LIFE AS A MORE NORMAL PERSON IS WONDERFUL.
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ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

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