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A time to change.

I guess the beginning of the story comes about three years ago. After a major change in my life, I returned to school and earned two Associates degrees. The first was in medical assisting and the second in a medical office administration. Following a series of jobs to hold while finishing school, employment was found with the sisters of St. Francis out of Michigan city, Indiana. The job was as a medical assistant with a company named Working Well. These clinics specialized in occupational medicine and I was hired as a floating medical assistant to work between the companies five clinics in Northwest Indiana. This was definitely a change of pace compared to what I had previously been used to working within the cable television industry.

It was a cold fall morning in late October when driving to work, it became increasingly harder and harder to breath. A cold which had been caught was becoming increasingly worse and worse. Driving became a task that was more difficult than usual. A decision was made to go to the emergency department of St. Anthony hospital. The results from that trip was a diagnosis of bronchitis and I was sent on my way back to work. Within the next week. The symptoms became increasingly worse, leading to a visit to my new Dr. for the hospital health insurance. The doctor was booked but they got me in to see his nurse practitioner, Ms. Nicolette Alexander. During a visit with Alexander took some precautionary tests and a chest x-ray gave me some medicine and said she would follow up with me. Less than a day later I received a phone call at work from Ms. Alexander's office. Not tracking me down was no easy task because I have been bouncing around from office to office for the last few weeks. Needless to say the message from the doctor was. I need to see you now! Gary my whole life I have never had a doctor track me down and use that phrase. So I knew was urgent. You have come of that meeting has stayed with me to this day. She stated. My heart was enlarged and my symptoms were indicating a need to see a cardiac specialist. It was at that point I was introduced to Dr.Sammie Dali. He informed me of a diagnosis of congestive heart failure and a ejection factor of 24%. In layman's terms that meant my heart was operating at only 24% capacity. After that Dr. Dali began a regime of medications, cardiac rehab and lifestyle changes to correct this condition. Within a few months. My overall health improved, but not enough to make a satisfactory change. My weight, but still an issue and the doctor and I began discussing bariatric surgery as an option.

After being referred to above Midwest Bariatric Institute, it was decided that I was a good candidate for bariatric surgery but there were conditions. It was necessary for me to demonstrate that I could live the program and walked the walk. So with that began a series of nutrition classes, medical appointments, support group meetings, evaluations and lifestyle changes. Physically I was beginning to improve. But emotionally it was a roller coaster. One day the motions would be highly because everything was going alright and others because a reverse to rock-bottom when things went wrong. Six months later, after various evaluations, another cardiac scare and various doctors discussing my situation, it was decided that surgery was a go. In my corner was Ms. Alexander and Dr. Dali in the opposing corner was Dr. Gerald Cahill and his team off specialist. Dr. Cahill was concerned of possible cardiac issues, but finally agreed after Dr. Dali went to bat and hit a home run.

Going into the surgery was a scary proposition. I remember thinking please hurry up and get this over with so I can continue on with my life. Papers have been filed, a medical leave. Approved and most of all a long heart-to-heart talk with my wife. The date of the surgery, after a comforting visit from my pastor, and imposing on one of my good friends to stay with Kathy, my wife, it began. I remember being wheeled into the cold operating room being given medication to relax and almost choking as a breathing tube was placed then blackness came signaling the true beginning of my new life.

It is now 2 years later, I have lost over 150 pounds and feel great. Now has come the time for me to get serious. Time to exercise and watch the diet. It will be a challenge.

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You are not alone on this journey we all have our resons for WLS and all are good one for it. Welcome .

2 years and 150 lbs way to go I'm 11 weeks post have lost 45 lb post op and a total of 62 lbs and only 60 lbs to go till target weight.

It's nice to hear from people that are 2 years or more post op and doing great. Hope your health is doing better stay strong

Surgery Anniversary 7/30/12

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Sounds like you are on the right road to health. Keep up the good work and hopefully your doctors will clear you for exercise. Feeling and being healthy is the best ever. As my grandmother would say.... "if you have your health you have everyting" and she is soooooo right and she lived to be 96 and was mowing her lawn 6 months before she passed.

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Sounds like you are on the right road to health. Keep up the good work and hopefully your doctors will clear you for exercise. Feeling and being healthy is the best ever. As my grandmother would say.... "if you have your health you have everyting" and she is soooooo right and she lived to be 96 and was mowing her lawn 6 months before she passed.

Welcome and thanks for sharing.

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Welcome to the group. Thanks for sharing your story.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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