My Surgery: Referral to Now

In December of 2007, at a routine doctors visit my doctor asked me what I have done about my weight. I told him of the different exercise programs, routines and eating habit changes I have tried. He asked me if I had every considered gastric bypass surgery. I was almost offended, I mean, that's for fat people! Then I realized, that's the point. I am fat. When he made this suggestion, I was 316 lbs.

I had two responses, one, does kaiser cover that? yes, if you are deemed overweight enough to be considered a health risk.

Two, do I qualify? Unfortunately, yes, and then some.

So now what? Well, the next step was to take a class and learn more about the procedure. I took the class the first week of February 2008. I learned a lot, not just about the surgery potential but about how to eat better and be healthier. I stopped drinking soda because I learned it is the #1 cause if stomach size increase and hunger. (By the way, when I say I stopped drinking soda, Jack & Cokes don't count!)

So after the class, I started exercising daily, eating better and said "I don;t need that surgery, I can lose this weight." And I did, 6 pounds. I kept working out, for awhile, and I ate better, for awhile, but cared less and tried less when all I could get down to was 310.

Kaiser makes you go through a long series of courses with nurses, Doctors and dietitians to even get to a surgeons office for a consult. So, they kept having me come to SF for classes and appointments after February, and I kept going "just in-case" I decided to do the surgery.

Fast forward to 2009. I've taken all the classes I have to before I can talk to a pre-surgery doctor (not even the surgeon) and I decide "no". I can do this on my own. No success, even with true effort. February 2009 roles around, its been a year and I weigh about the same as I did a year ago. Something has to change, I decide to accept an appointment with the pre-surgery doctor once my play was over (that's another story if you don't know it). So in late March 2009 I meet with a very nice nurse practitioner (like a Doctor, but don't get paid as much :) ). He was great. He did a full physical on me, reviewed all the bloodwork I had done and tests and said,"Brian, part of my job is to tell people when or if they should have this surgery. You need this surgery, and you need it now." His reasoning? I'm young(ish), in great health beyond my weight and am not losing the weight. He basically said "You already lost your 20's to obesity, don't lose your 30's". Then he really hit home when he said "And the rest... well they may not even be an option if you have a heart attack and die". Good point. I am anti-dying. It may be a controversial stance, but I'm willing to stand by it. He said doing the surgery now will add twenty years to my life. Doing it in five years, only five. That's a 15 year loss. I have two beautiful girls who I want to see grow up more than anything in the world, I want those twenty years. I said okay, let's do this. Since then, I have not looked back and have progressed.

He gave me a goal weight of 298 pounds (I had naturally gotten myself down to 310 by this time, all the stress of the play I guess, but it was worth it). Yes, they make you loose weight to qualify for surgery. Ironic isn't it? They put you on a version of the diet you will be on after the surgery (not as extreme, but helps give you the idea). The diet is designed to show commitment to the changes, and help you get ready. I had to be at 298 by the time I met with the surgeon, otherwise, no surgery. I hit 296. That was about a month ago. he gave me my surgery date, June 8th. Now, here we are, only three days away.