I started talking to my doctors about a RYGB in September 2006.  I was 480-490 (Clinically SUPER-Morbidly Obese) and sick and tired of being sick and tired.  Having been mostly active, overweight my entire adult life — I was diagnosed that past May, with the following:  Diabetes, Hypertension, Peripheral Artery Disease, Lower Extremity Cellulitus, Venuous Insufficiency Syndrome, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Cellulitic Abcesses with ulceration, Severe Sleep Apnea with hypertachypnea, Lymphatic type cellulitus, cellulitic sepsis, Venuous Stasis with Dermatitus  — is the picture becoming clear. 

Every disease that accompanied obesity hit me like a sledge hammer in the forehead, all at one time.  I had to make a decision, loose weight or loose limbs…  Health was no longer something that I could take or leave.  The surgery was an option now only because, having been overweight my entire adult life — I had tried every pill, powder, potion, plan, program, portent…ect.  I would not find out until later, that after all that ‘yo-yo’ dieting the only thing I succeded in doing was “KILL” my metabolism. 

“Kill my metabolism,” was the statement used by the physician I consulted at the Cleveland Clinic.  He is the Specialist in Abdominal Laproscopy and the head of the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at the clinic; and has been the past president of the American Bariatric Surgical Association.   I had no idea that the metabolism could be killed, but that is what he said had occured within me. 

As a part of the pre-surgical consideration, I had to speak to psychologist.  I had never considered myself - CRAZY but I tried it.   I had heard of underlying issues and things like that.  But my weight problem, I was certain  had something to do with that whole beneath my nose.  So went to the psychiatrist for two sessions, and ended up seeing a psychologist for 7 months, but I was not crazy… 

In speaking to the psychologist - I learned that there were subconscious triggers to my eating habits.  I also learned that fixing other people was not my top priority.  I was broken, tremendously and couldn’t see it, because I would focus on everybody - but myself.  Through the counselling I began to recognise that I should not think about fixing other people, until I started fixing myself.  When I told her that my doctor said I had killed my metabolism, she told me that this was a common problem.  How could something I had never heard of be so common?  Because it was not something I wanted to hear - I was happy with the old doctor I had who would say, “Mark - you are relatively healthy, overweight but everything else is good.”  I had heard that statement so many times that I choose only to hear ‘Mark - Healthy - Everything - Good.’ 

Nothing about what I was doing with the diets to my metabolism, nothing about the potential for health complications down the road.  I was in my mid-upper thirties… and everything was good. 

April 2006, I was 39 years old and fighting lower leg pain and a fever that was on and off  for about a month.  I was walking into work on May 6th, 2006, when the lymph gland on the outside of my right ankle physically exploded, spraying a shower of puss and blood in the parking lot in front of my boss — who promptly called 9-1-1.  I looked at my ankle and seeing that much blood and bone that was my own must have been a little upsetting to me, because I passed out.

I woke up in a hospital bed three days later, the doctor there whom I had never met; said rather tritely -”So, how long have you been a non-compliant diabetic?”  I answered - since about the twelfth of NEVER…  She then said you have multiple abcesses that need surgically drained, you have surgery tommorrow.  It is important to we control your sugar after surgery, so you can heal - you will be on insulin.   I spent the next 18 days flat on my back, with 14 holes in my right leg.  They would not let me walk.  They had me on high protein and protein supplements to heal my wounds, so I was putting on more weight. 

I got out of the hospital on May 25th - my doctor said that I would be clincally disabled until my wounds healed.  Under the impression that as long as I took the insulin I could continue to eat high protein — to heal — and everything would go back to normal.    I became sick again - and again - until January 2007, when my new doctor gave me some, good old —IN Your Face, Dr. House meets Dr. Frankenstein dose of reality.

It is not how he said it - it was what he said.  “Mark, I do not know why your kidneys and liver are still functioning — you and a maple tree have alot in common.  You are both pumping syrup; your average blood sugar is 550 and I am afraid the next time I see you I will be cutting off one or both of your legs - below the knee.  You need to get aggressive in the control of your blood sugar, now — not later.  I will send somebody to talk to you tomorrow, she is a diabetic educator.  She will explain things you can do.”    

It helped that she was young, hot and said I was too good looking to let this happen.  How can you argue with logic like that?

I attacked my health at every facet.  I started here in March of 2007 and had a complete Rouxen Y Gastric Bypass on August 28th, 2007. 

GBS has to start with a MENTAL MAKEOVER — FIRST.  If you have the smallest doubt in your ability to follow rules and regulations regarding a new diet than DO NOT HAVE A GBS… 

A friend of mine said…  Don’t take the “easy” way out!  Even if the surgery goes well, you still have to learn how to eat right and exercise or it just comes right back on.

MOVEMENT, exercise, if you do not move after the surgery and continue with limited exercise at first and as tolerated - your body will not properly adjust to the NEW PLUMBING job.  

I have had a complete Rouxen Y Gastric Bypass.  My stomach has been surgically reduced from the size of a regulation NFL football to the size of a babyfood jar.  My small intestine was 22 feet long, like the normal human — is now 26 inches long.  The roux limb has bypassed the duodenal arch and sphyncter, so my new stomach is now gravity feed, so I will frequently take a walk break if I am having a big meal with family.  

Anything with concentrated sugar, any chocolate or  anything with caffeine and do not block the bathroom door. 

The horror stories about GBS can all be tied to the same root problem –  After the surgery you must…  It is NOT a want it is a MUST DO…  START like a baby, with baby food and retrain your NEW PLUMBING… one step at a time. 

Leaks on the inside are caused by one of many things –  No chewing enough, Eating the wrong thing (acidic or spicy - too soon), eating anything with a high GLUTEN content, overeating, carbonated liquids or a LOUSY SURGEON. 

Now I know why baby’s make those faces… Cause their food tastes HORRIBLE! 

As for low blood sugar (anything below 60) two words - complex carbohydrates.  I drink a ‘Glucrena’ shake or eat a supplement bar before bed.     

PERSONALLY my GBS was the best thing that happened to me.  My before, during and aftercare have been second to none.   Vitamins, supplements, eating right and exercise ARE your life after gastric bypass.  MAKE SURE you know what you want then DON’T CHEAT — because you are only hurting yourself.