Success Stories - Alexandra Gorski
I have always been overweight, a yo-yo dieter, lose 50 lbs gain back 60, lose 60 gain back 70. Over the years it added up to the point where I was 353 lbs a BMI of 53 at 29 years old. It was to the point where I could hardly move. It was uncomfortable to be anywhere, always feeling like I was being stared at, and judged because of my size.
It was difficult to care for my young children. At the size I was if I had to get to them quickly in an emergency I wouldn’t have been able to. I really wanted to be healthy, and a good mom to them. I had no other health problems but by looking at my family history I knew that hypertension, diabetes and sleep apnea were all in the near future for me.
I did extensive research on weight loss surgery. I also have numerous friends who have had the Gastric Bypass and have been extremely successful with their weight loss. The Gastric Bypass however scared me. I didn’t want to re-work how my body was “wired.”
Then I came upon the Lap band, it was perfect for me, minimally invasive, adjustable, and removable if it didn’t work for me (although I never want it removed). I was ok with an implant. I viewed it like a pacemaker, if I needed a pacemaker to live a healthy life I would get one, so why wouldn’t I get the lap-band? It helps me to lead a normal healthy life.
I attended a seminar that Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons was holding. I was scared to go but once I was there I saw I wasn’t alone. There were many people there in the same “boat” as me. When it was all done I was convinced that these were the Dr’s that would be able to help me. I was very impressed with how direct they were they answered every question thoroughly, and just by meeting them it was evident that they truly cared about their patients and want to see them succeed, and help them succeed.
In order to “get the ball rolling” I had to see a nutritionist as well as a psychologist. Both of which were wonderful appointments. I learned a great deal about how I would be eating after the surgery, and still use what I learned from the nutritionist today.
I had my consultation with Dr. Abkin and was extremely impressed. He is a wonderful Dr. with a great bedside manner. He is easy to talk to and will answer any question no matter how trivial it may seem. We spoke about the pros and cons of each surgery and discussed why I wanted the lap-band. He really set my mind at ease regarding the surgery. After I had my appointment with him I only had to wait for my insurance to approve my surgery. Fortunately for me and thanks to the staff at the Dr’s office, it was approved with no problems at all.
The morning of April 18, 2005 I went into surgery; it was quick, less than an hour, and done as an outpatient procedure. When I woke up in recovery I was in pain, but a tolerable amount. They immediately took me to radiology to do a barium swallow to make sure that the band was placed properly and that there was an adequate flow of liquids from the top portion of my stomach to the bottom. All was good and I was sent to a second recovery area. After a little while there, getting cleaned up and dressed I was free to go.
Once home I began to take the prescribed pain medicines. I was on them for the first full day and the second night, after that Tylenol was sufficient. After the 5 th day or so I was able to manage without any pain medicine and actually sent my husband back to work and cared for our 1 ½ yr old and 3 yr old without a problem.
I followed the post op diet easily. I didn’t have any hunger at all. It was the first time in my life that food was the last thing on my mind. As I began to heal and lose weight I felt better and better.
I can now walk more, play with my kids, get the housework done and never get winded I feel great!
I have had 3 adjustments with my Lap-Band so far. They are done as outpatient procedures at the hospital. It takes under an hour to register, have my appointment and walk out with a restriction level that works for me and to help me to eat less and lose more. To have an adjustment, the Dr. (mine have all been done by Dr. Bertha) has you swallow the barium to see what’s going on with your band. He then gives you a local anesthetic in your side where the port is located. Once that is done, they simply insert a needle into the port and add saline. You take a few drinks of barium and mutually agree on what feels comfortable for you as far as restriction.
So far I have been “banded” for 11 months and have lost a total of 128 lbs. I now weigh 225 lbs and feel great. I have confidence, am no longer invisible to people, and I get lots of attention and compliments (and yes I love it). I enjoy speaking at the new patient seminars for the Dr’s and meeting people, who like me, are looking to make a difference in their life and health.
The band is not a miracle, but rather a tool that helps you live healthier. You have to be willing to work with it, and listen to it when it lets you know you’re full, and learn to stop when you first feel full. I now workout on a regular basis, and truly enjoy it. I make healthy food choices and because I feel full, it’s much easier to stick with these choices.
If I had to do it all over again, I easily would. The band has changed my life. I am no longer controlled by food. I used to always wonder what and when I would be eating next. I now eat to live, not, live to eat. I get full and stay full easily. I know I have more weight to lose, and I know I will get to where I want to be.
The Dr’s and their staff are so supportive I couldn’t have done it without them, and I thank them all from the bottom of my heart for giving me my life back.
