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| Me nearly twice as heavy as my husband one month before my surgery. |
As the new year dawned in 2010 I had both the insurance and the determination to proceed. I chose Danbury Hospital's Department of Weight Loss Surgery for my care. I happen to work at the hospital as a registered nurse and was confident that the program was excellent.
Danbury Hospital
Center for Weight Loss Surgery
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| Laura H. Choi, MD |
My surgeon, Dr. Laura Choi is shown in the link below speaking about bariatric surgery.
There is much preparation for the surgery in order to make sure that a patient is physically and emotionally ready for the procedure. Medical evaluations by cardiology, pulmonary, psychiatric, gastrointestinal and endocrine physicians are required along with nutritional consults by a registered dietitian. There are several weight-loss surgery options available and the surgeon helps you decide which is right for you. The commitment for surgery involves not only changes in eating. Smokers must quit before their surgery. Women of child-bearing age must prevent pregnancy during the recovery period. Exercise is a must.
I chose the gastric bypass rather than the adjustable lap-band. The bypass offered the most rapid weight loss and optimum total loss. I wasn't fooling around. I needed the big guns!
I went through all the "hoops" required by the program. In April 2010 I was struggling at work. I was told by my cardiologist that I had chronic congestive heart failure and left ventricular hypertrophy. I asked if I could be assigned to less physically demanding tasks in my department. I was told that there were no "light duty" assignments possible and my working was a risk for the hospital. I was forced by this circumstance to go on temporary disability until after my surgery and subsequent weight loss. Home I went to continue to prepare myself and wait for my surgery date.
Finally on June 29th 2010 I had my surgery. I had a laparoscopic gastric bypass. There were only five tiny incision. Five years before, when I initially was evaluated for the surgery, the laparascopic procedure was not as common. I was told back then that I might be too big for the laparoscopic instruments. A large incision has more risks to the patient and I prayed that I might avoid one. These days a full incision is rarely done as the instruments have improved. My surgeon, Dr. Choi is recognized across the country for her surgical skill and success rate.
This blog is a continuing record of my experiences, observations, successesses and setbacks. Sometimes funny, sometimes not. I do this blog for myself and for others. It keeps me honest and helps me focus. I hope I can encourage others to make this choice for healthy living. .
Today in Janurary 2012 I am happier, stronger and 173 lbs lighter than I was two years ago. I don't claim to have all the answers to conquering obesity. The posts in this blog tell the story of my journey. I'm still working on losing at least 60 more pounds. Progress is slower now but that's ok. I feel healthier now than I ever remember being. The biggest challenge is accepting that there is no finish line. The goal is to keep working and not to stop trying.
Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan
I went through all the "hoops" required by the program. In April 2010 I was struggling at work. I was told by my cardiologist that I had chronic congestive heart failure and left ventricular hypertrophy. I asked if I could be assigned to less physically demanding tasks in my department. I was told that there were no "light duty" assignments possible and my working was a risk for the hospital. I was forced by this circumstance to go on temporary disability until after my surgery and subsequent weight loss. Home I went to continue to prepare myself and wait for my surgery date.
Finally on June 29th 2010 I had my surgery. I had a laparoscopic gastric bypass. There were only five tiny incision. Five years before, when I initially was evaluated for the surgery, the laparascopic procedure was not as common. I was told back then that I might be too big for the laparoscopic instruments. A large incision has more risks to the patient and I prayed that I might avoid one. These days a full incision is rarely done as the instruments have improved. My surgeon, Dr. Choi is recognized across the country for her surgical skill and success rate.
This blog is a continuing record of my experiences, observations, successesses and setbacks. Sometimes funny, sometimes not. I do this blog for myself and for others. It keeps me honest and helps me focus. I hope I can encourage others to make this choice for healthy living. .
Today in Janurary 2012 I am happier, stronger and 173 lbs lighter than I was two years ago. I don't claim to have all the answers to conquering obesity. The posts in this blog tell the story of my journey. I'm still working on losing at least 60 more pounds. Progress is slower now but that's ok. I feel healthier now than I ever remember being. The biggest challenge is accepting that there is no finish line. The goal is to keep working and not to stop trying.
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| 18 months post-op and 173 lbs. lighter. |
Marlena of Mohegan
