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March Spotlight Patient

Patient Spotlight - March 2011 Jim Thompson

My story is like most obese people; I was heavy as a teenager and continued to get bigger as a young adult.  Married, raising a family, divorced, and then looking one day in the mirror and seeing a 49 year old 390 pound man.  Even though I was obese, I was very athletic in my younger years.  I can't count the number of times I have been told how graceful, smooth, etc., I was for a big man.  I had excelled at many sporting activities.  That had all changed.  Prior to surgery, I was to the point of not wanting to get off the couch.  All I wanted to do was watch TV, eat and sleep.  I did not want to play golf, hunt, or participate in any sporting activities any longer.  The final straw was a trip to Bristol Motor Speedway for a Nascar race. We were there for two days and had to walk about a mile to get to the track.  I struggled on the first day to keep up (actually didn't).  On the second day I left the race early so I could get back to the car the same time that everyone else did.  Upon returning from the trip I scheduled a time to attend an informational seminar.  My family was against it, but agreed to attend with me.  My daughter and girlfriend attend the informational seminar with me.  Having convinced them to attend the seminar with me, I was in the mindset of having the gastric band procedure done.  Dr. Tom did a wonderful job explaining all of the weight loss surgery options.  As we were leaving the meeting and walking to the parking lot, my daughter and girlfriend asked me what I thought.    My mind had been changed; I was ready to have the full bypass surgery.  I felt that there were too many benefits to the RNY versus the gastric band surgery.  Expecting to hear all the negative comments, I braced myself.  It didn't come.  They immediately responded that they thought I should have the full bypass also!  I give full credit to Dr. Tom and all the other staff (too many to mention) for their complete, through, explanation of all the processes and the pros and cons of each one.   My process was very fast.   I attended my informational seminar on March 11, 2010, and thanks to the wonderful staff at the Center, I had surgery on May 24, 2010.   My starting weight was 390 pounds.  Goal setting has been the key to keeping me motivated.  The WLS is a tool, but you have to work at it.  My first goal was to be less than 300 pounds by my daughter's wedding on August 7.  I was at 299.5.  My second goal was to lose 100 pounds by a Labor Day weekend vacation trip.  I had lost 100.5.  My third goal was to lose 150 pound by Jan 19 2011, my 50th birthday.  I didn't quite make it (143 lost)but that is what goals are for.  My last goal is to be at 230 pounds by my wedding date of June 3 2011.   I have 11 pounds to go.  Looks like I will be in the gym a lot this spring. My life has changed since surgery!  In the sports side of things, I had a hole in one the first round of golf after surgery.  I hiked to Natural Bridge on Oct 30, where I asked my girlfriend to marry me (she said YES!).  I was offered and accepted a new job in January.  On the medicinal side of life... Prior to surgery, I was on nine different medicines for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides.  Two weeks after surgery, NO medicines!!    Thanks to everyone at Georgetown Bariatric for not only saving my life but giving me a chance to enjoy it again!!