Age

50

About mbd

Sleeved or not sleeved:

I have had a gastric sleeve.

Biography:

Hello everyone! My name is Marna. I am a 38 year old mom of two teenage boys.

I was sleeved on August 30, 2011. I am barely out 2 weeks.

What lead to my decision to get sleeved?? Well, I have battled with my weight ever since I was a kid. I have always been overweight. My highest weight was 230 lbs. Mind you I am only 5'1" tall.

June, 2007 I decided to have the lapband surgery. I went through the battery of tests, and got approved by Oxford. I was so happy. I was finally going to lose weight Well I had a few adjustments, and I started dropping weight. I had less than 5 cc's of saline, but I had a hard time eating after a while. Needless to say, for some reason after about 2 yrs everything I ate mostly came up. I lived vomiting on and off because I was determined to lose the weight. I lost 70 lbs, but I started developing GERD. It was horrible. I would sleep and the acids would come through my nose when I slept. I realized that I could really cause damage to myself, so I went back to the doctor. I had gone about 9 months prior to have the upper gi test and the doctor said that there was only a very small opening, he asked if I was vomiting, and I never told them No.. Well December, 2010 came along and it was time. I went back to the doctor and told them what was happening. They removed the saline and said let's give it a few weeks and then we will slowly add more in. I was so afraid I would gain weight again. I never wanted to be big like I was before. Well, about a week later, I ate something and vomited again, and the band slipped. I was in so much pain for a few days I couldn't take it. I had my mom take me to the hospital. Needless to say, I was admitted, and the band then had to be removed the next morning.

I was so depressed. I knew I needed that tool to control my eating, and now it was gone. I had finally hit my lowest weight in a very long time. I was at 149.7 lbs. I had finally broke the 150 lb mark that I tried for so long to do. I finally got down to a size 10 pants, and I was wearing a M/L shirt. What a difference from size 2X and 18/20.

The doctor said we could go back in a few months and redo the banding. I knew the insurance wouldn't cover it.

So over the next several months I tried to watch what I ate, but my stomach was able to fit food, and food it fit. I watched as the size 10's didn't fit, then the 12 came out, and they got too tight, and onto the 14. I saw the vicious cycle happening over again. Before I knew it, I went from 149.7 to 197 lbs. From December to August.

At the end of July I knew I had to get control, and I couldn't do it on my own. I researched and researched, and tossed and turned with going for the Bypass or the newest Gastric Sleeve. I knew I definitely didn't want the lapband again. No more foreign objects in my body. Well I called up my surgeons office and told them what I wanted to do. I had spoken to the doctor in December and he mentioned that I could always try something else in time. Well it was time. I had the office send me all of the referrals, and I went to see all the different doctors for clearance. I almost finished seeing all the doctors before I even met with the surgeon again. I was not playing games.

It all went so quickly. I started seeing doctors the beginning of August starting with the GP, who wrote a letter for me stating that I required the surgery. I finished all my testing by August 15, saw the surgeon on the 16, the following Monday I went for pre-op testing and had to get clearance from my doctor.

I did the optifast liquid diet for a little less than 2 weeks prior to surgery to shrink the liver in preparation for surgery. Before I knew it, August 30 was here.

I was so scared. I was afraid of the surgery. I was afraid of not knowing. The day before surgery I questioned myself, but then I thought I know why I am doing it and I need it. I need to be restricted. I couldn't do it on my own.

So here we are tomorrow is 2 weeks out. The pain is getting better. I haven't returned to work. I was going to this morning, but I am still not ready just yet. Next week I will go back. The drain hurt a lot, and the first day I couldn't sleep or even sit still. I was up and down all day and night. Besides, the hospital never lets you sleep. The moment my eyes actually closed, they came in at 4 a.m. and said, "are you ready for your walk".

I went into surgery weighing 193 lbs, At the doctor on September 7, I weighed in at 181.5. As of today, I weighed myself at 179.

So, despite the pain and all the testing, I really know that this was the best decision for me. I am again on the losing side

Location:

South Hempstead, NY

Occupation:

Legal Secretary

Name:

Marna

Gastric Sleeve Surgeon:

Dr. Vohra

Surgery date:

2011-08-30