Bariatric Bypass Surgery

[VascularRock]

After many years of trying my wife finally gave up and had bariatric bypass surgery at the WISH Center in Renton, WA.

Some of the ladies on the board have always had kind things to say to me about hanging in there when my wife was at her heaviest. I appreciate it. At the same time, I know the kind of effort my wife put in to losing the weight. It was just one of those things were I finally relized that no matter what I did, I could not fix it. I could set up all of the training, the diet, and the support, but could not fix the underlying emotional problems and genetics..I guess.

Surgery was last Thursday morning at 5:30 AM. The national average for mortality is 1 in 200 that go through the surgery do not make it. Pretty scary. The average for the WISH Center is 1 in 1650. Better, but again still scary. The odds that she would of died from weight related complications in the next ten years were greater than the odds of dying from the surgery.

When she weighed in on Thursday morning, she weighed 326 lbs. The average weight loss is 25-30 lbs. in the first two weeks. She made it through the surgery and was released from the hospital today. She is on some serious pain meds and I am giving her shots of Heparin three times daily to prevent blood clots. The nurses said I give shots like a pro (LOL). Three days in a hotel to be close to the doctor and then the long haul home.

For all of those in the past that have said I must be some fat MF myself to have stayed with her - you could not be more wrong. I have had my share of problems. When she was thin and I was drinking every day and doing drugs she hung in there for me then and my kids later on. Now that I have been sober for nine years, I was not going to leave her when she needed me the most.

The $37,000.00 plus bill from the hospital made me choke a bit. But then again, she is worth it. I wonder how much I have spent on my body?

I will try and post her progress.

 

[danielson]

hope she pulls through ....ask the doctors about being able to train with her and stuff after

 

[VascularRock]

hope she pulls through ....ask the doctors about being able to train with her and stuff after

Thanks...I have a feeling she will eventually opt to have the excess skin removed. Don't know though, just thankful she is improving her health.

 

[Joester]

You are both very lucky to have each other in the corner for support. You are showing the strongest muscle is still the heart, and you're flexing it well. Your wife's decision is a complex one, and while she is past the OR part [congrats], she still has quite a road ahead. Good for you to take the trip with her. There will be many adjustments to come.
You're more of a man than many others I know to see your wife for who she is, rather than what she looks like.

Good luck to both of you.

 

[VascularRock]

You are both very lucky to have each other in the corner for support. You are showing the strongest muscle is still the heart, and you're flexing it well. Your wife's decision is a complex one, and while she is past the OR part [congrats], she still has quite a road ahead. Good for you to take the trip with her. There will be many adjustments to come.
You're more of a man than many others I know to see your wife for who she is, rather than what she looks like.

Good luck to both of you.

Thanks Joester!! Appreciate the kind comments. I had to throw in a picture of the fine stapling job. If you can not see it here, I will include in my gallery.

 

[SoKlueles]

Good Luck with your wife, people can be mean and cruel to overweight people, and i hope she shows them all and it is so awesome that you are right there to support her no matter how big she is...........you rock and you are both lucky to have each other

 

[VascularRock]

Good Luck with your wife, people can be mean and cruel to overweight people, and i hope she shows them all and it is so awesome that you are right there to support her no matter how big she is...........you rock and you are both lucky to have each other

Appreciate the encouragement. Hope to have the before and after pictures one of these days.

 

[SoKlueles]

i have a friend that had the surgery, she is sooo much smaller and healthier........and she feels better about herself, but Medicaid paid for it and she cant afford to get the skin removed and I believe she told me she has like 30 or 40 lbs of skin just hanging there....She also has MS and is sick alot....so she cant really work
My aunt had the surgery a cpl months ago.....but shes only lost like 35 lbs and thats shocking to me............she should have easily dropped at least 60....she was 5'2 and weighed well over 300 lbs.
Let us know ok? I love stories like yours.......and in the end you are good and feel good about urself......keep us posted and tell ur wife CHIN UP......shell be hot soon enough but im sure u already know shes hot

 

[VascularRock]

she cant afford to get the skin removed and I believe she told me she has like 30 or 40 lbs of skin just hanging there
My aunt had the surgery a cpl months ago.....but shes only lost like 35 lbs and thats shocking to me............she should have easily dropped at least 60....she was 5'2 and weighed well over 300 lbs.

I know my wife will have a lot of excess skin as well. I was just wondering if anyone knew of something that can be applied while she is losing the weight. I have heard of creams that are supposed to help stretch marks, like onion extract for scars, cocoa butter, etc.

The doctors say she will lose 20-30lbs. in the first 2 weeks. But that takes in to consideration moderate excercise and a total liquid diet of only 32 oz. per day of milk, chicken broth, and protein supplement. They did turn me on to Nectar, a protein whey isolate, no carbs or fat and it tastes great.