Just Cause I`m Known As Big Jim, How Do They Know I`m Fat?

I have been down that road. I had my surgery in Jan 2004 by a doctor named Dr Terrance Fullman in Washington DC.He is the most down to earth doctor I have ever met. You need to find a doctor that has a support group that will help you and answer any questions before you have the surgery. You need to ask yourself as I did myself and that is when is enough ,enough of gaining weight. I was before surgery 346 llbs and went down to in 12 months to a 225lbs. Us males will loose weigh quicker then females. The surgery is painless. The only problem I had was gas build up and that only lasted a day. They do a lot of test before hand for your own good and the doctors won good. It will be alife changing experince that is hard to explain. They dont want you rushing into it without really sitting down and thinking about it. They are also required to do the test from the insurance companies. They have to prove to the insurance companies that you need the surgery. They tell me it is a very expensive surgey around $20,000 plus. I didnt realize till after I lost my weight how much America discrimates against over weight people. I went from a mens 4x to a Xl shirt and 46/48 waist to a 36 waist. The doctors give you a low number of how much weight you will loose but they told me around 80lbs .Everyones body is different and I really dont exercise , I just do alot of walking. I have kept the weight off and wouldnt change a thing. You will feel so much better and have so much energy . They say it will add at least 10 years to your life. All of my health conditions such as High blood pressure, sleep apnea where I stopped breathing 128 times in 5 hours, ashma,joint problems, sugar starting, and acid reflux where gone within 6 months.Not on any medications. take care and check out Dr Terrance Fullmans web page it might answer some questions you might have, Take care

Big Jim, I enjoyed reading your thoughts about gastric bypass. A lot of things you said resonated with my angst. I think your mentality for having it is the correct one -- namely, we don't want to die early. You're younger than I am, but I have every stereotypical fat person health problem you can have --- knee replacement, GERD, sleep apnea, possibly Diabetes 2. I weigh 279, but I suspect my surgeon purposely gave me a low number of pounds that I'd lose. I think he was using some reverse psychology with me about my lifestyle (like the fact I never exercise.) It's working. I'm one of those people that if you tell me I can't do something, I will do it. I've started those god awful diet shakes, and I'm eating healthy at dinner. Next step is exercise. I know a lot of people try to lose weight before the surgery, and I think I'll try. I have six months thanks to my lovely insurance plan. But I'm going to try and drop a lot of weight. So I know why I want the surgery, as much of a pain in the rear as it is. It sounds like you are interested because of your health too. I really think that's the only good reason to get it. This is not a frivolous surgery, as I'm sure you know. Anyway, good luck. I don't know where you live, but I found an excellent surgeon right here in Washington, DC. I hope you've found a good doctor too. Take care. Killer

Neveah, would there be any chance of you or your husband sharing what happened to him. people will be interested. I for one am scared. Right from the saying goodbye stage to whats going to happen. Was there a lot of councelling, what are the drinks that you have to take beforehand, was your husband diabetic? whats it like after the operation, when did he have it done and did his body find its own weight. Sorry for the questions, Im just really nosey, but I would love to be free from this curse, whats it like being free?......Big Jim

My husband had that surgery, and it was the best thing he ever did. Not because of his looks because he looked great to me. He has a family and simply was going to die if he didnt have it. Its not bad. The hardest thing about it is training your brain to not want to eat much food. You have to follow certain restrictions, but its WELL WORTH IT.

Hello again, it`s nearly a year since I was here. In that year I have managed a few things. I seemed to have a determination that was keeping me going. The gastric by-pass that I was promised never came to anything and I was put on a list, a long list, so I decided that enough was enough. I weigh now 35st 4lbs, a 3st 3lb loss in a year. I know that it is only a drop in the ocean but it is staying off.....I have a target that I am aiming for and it is to be at 36st for Christmas, can I do it.....well I am going for it. No going to classes, been there and stretched the T shirt. No going to diaticians, can`t trust them, they get paid to go through the motions......the latest idea from them, only eat one egg a week, crazy! I have six for my breakfast alone. I bet that I am coming accross as a fool, it`s not intentional. I am winning my battle so far. My cholestrol is fine, blood pressure is within the limits and my diabettes is controlled. I know that I am blessed. I have lost a few friends who were not so lucky, and I miss them dearly. What do I do? am I to sit and watch tv all day and get bigger and bigger? No. I can`t do that anymore. Do I need help...yes, do I need support....yes, will I give support to others...yes. We need a community, one on this site where we can do our own battles and offer as well as take advice from others. The HONESTY word comes into play here. If we are honest with ourselves then we a half way there. I started at 46st 5lbs way back in my past. Doctors told me I would be dead by the time I was 30 years old...sorry doc, I`m still here. I have to accept the fact that they are not going to give me the by-pass so I have to deal with it...and will. Do I have any takers to go on the journey with me? The only reason that I am FAT is because I eat too much, no one to blame apart from myself. So until next time, take care and remember to come back, read the updates and tell me your story.................BIG JIM. Today the date is 20th August 2010. I stay in Scotland.