Here’s my story:
I have struggled with my weight since I was in grade school. I came from a family that celebrated with food at every event. We had ravioli eating contests and I was a member of the clean plate club! In grade school and high school I wasn’t obese but I was never “thin” enough to meet other’s approvals. As a junior in high school I was selected to be a majorette and my band director called me aside and told me I was too fat and needed to lose weight (I was probably 10 pounds overweight). I was so humiliated that I starved myself and wound up in the hospital and missed 6 weeks of school. Thus began my “yo-yo” dieting lifestyle that continued until I met with Dr. Felix and decided to have a gastric by-pass in November 2013.
At my heaviest, I weighed 261 pounds that was mostly due to steroid shots/nerve blocks to try and alleviate my chronic back pain that came from a car accident and lifting my laptop briefcase the wrong way herniating a disc in my lower back. In 2007 I had back surgery that failed and wound up using a cane and a mobility scooter. I had type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetic neuropathy that left me dragging my right leg and foot around. I took 13 different medications and was miserable. I knew I had to do something or I thought I was going to lose my right foot and was going to wind up in a wheel chair all day. That’s when I asked my PCP about weight lose surgery and he recommended Hope Bariatrics.
Dr. Felix is my superhero and in my mind a miracle worker! Before the surgery, we spoke about the existing scar tissue I had from previous surgeries and he said he would try really hard to perform my bypass laproscopically (and he did). Dr. Felix won’t take credit for it, but 3 days after my surgery my right foot stood up and I could feel my toes! The first time in seven years my right foot began to work and the feeling started to return to the soles of my feet. That same day the endocrinologist said I was no longer diabetic! Each day it seemed something new and wonderful happened to improve my health. I went from 13 pills down to 3 (that really are optional). I’m no longer diabetic, no longer have high blood pressure, no longer have high cholesterol and after two months of rehab I no longer have to use my leg brace, no longer walk with a cane or use my mobility scooter. My pain level has gone way down and I have the feeling back in my foot and leg. I’m 5 months out from surgery and my weight is down to 175. I plan to lose another 30 by the end of the year so that I can finally be referred to as a “normal” weight.
Now that I can, I am “running” away from all the bad things when I was heavy to keep my brand new life healthy. I ran my first 5K on 4/12/2014 and finished in under an hour and I was 4th from the last (but not last!). I’m running in the Pittsburgh Superhero race (charity to help abused kids) this weekend and will attempt the Pittsburgh ½ marathon on May 4th (if I don’t make it this year there is always next year ). I am FOREVER thankful to Dr. Felix and his wonderful and caring staff for giving me my life back. If you’re on the fence about having the surgery, “just do it” as the Nike logo says, you’ll be so happy to have your life back it is soooo worth it!
If there is anyone who wants to talk to me I’d be happy to let them know my experience.
Sincerely,
Donna
