Guest Column: Gary Titus

Planning my gastric bypass – Wednesday, January 14, 2009

This is the second in a three-part series by Gary Titus chronicling his struggle with food addiction and obesity that subsequently led to his decision to undergo successful gastric bypass surgery a year ago.

By Gary Titus

I’ve been preparing for this since the end of last summer (2008). My wife and I agreed that I am a good candidate for gastric bypass (GB). After 51 years I know how to lose weight. It’s simple. Less input and more output. It’s keeping it off that’s been the hard part for me. At 5’9” and well over 300 pounds I qualify because I’m more than 100 pounds overweight and I have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 44. I’ve always carried my weight fairly well. The biggest comment I get from people when discussing this is, “Three hundred pounds — no way!”

I began by talking with friends and relatives who have had a GB. I asked them about the sudden and drastic change in their eating habits. I asked them how they felt during recovery, and I asked them about their new eating habits. If you think that a GB is the end-all to your weight problems, think again. GB only reduces the size of your stomach. It does not change your bad eating habits. That is something I will have to work on. My plan is to be a model patient. Go by the book, follow the diet, lose my weight, and get on with my life. How many times have I said that before? That’s where the GB gives me an advantage. Basically, what will happen is the doctors will reduce the size of my stomach from the size of a football to the size of my thumb. I’ve watched the procedure on the internet and I’ve chosen Tufts New England Medical Center and Dr. Julie Kim to do my surgery. They have been great. It all started with a phone call to the Obesity Consultation Center (OCC) at Tufts.

After months of thought and planning I had my first meeting at the OCC on December 15, 2008. I met with Dr. Sasha Stiles, the manager of the OCC. Dr. Stiles spoke with me about my choice of surgery. I chose the full gastric bypass over the lap band, hoping that it would be more permanent. She weighed me, took a measurement of my chest (56”) and my neck (20”). She took my blood pressure, felt my abdomen and immediately told me that I would have to lose some weight before the surgery to decrease the fat around my liver. That would make it easier for the surgeons to work laparascopically rather than making a large incision. She asked me a long list of questions about my medical history and went over the pre-qualifications list with me. I’d have to lose 5-10 percent of my body weight prior to my surgery date. I’d have to complete two medical visits with my surgeon, meet with my dietitian and psychologist two times each, and attend regular group support meetings. We discussed my post surgery diet, which, needless to say, is quite different from the diet I had been following. If you are reading this blog to decide if gastric bypass is for you, please remember that the diet is just one part of the program. Changing my relationship with food is the outcome that I am aiming for. GB is not a magic bullet; it’s one of many tools that I will be using for the rest of my life. At this moment I am very much focused. I have begun to give up MINDLESS eating and am beginning MINDFUL eating. I have gone from bags and boxes to single servings. I am going from un-healthy choices to healthy choices. I love not feeling full all the time. I love not feeling guilty and ashamed all the time. I absolutely know that even after the surgery I will still gain weight if I go back to my old habits. Shortly after our meeting I got a date for my surgery. Because of my work schedule it was going to happen very quickly on February 18, 2009. My wife, Sarah, my family, and my close friends have been just amazing through the whole planning phase. Sarah and I tend to take our marriage on as a series of projects, and this was a BIG one. Although I know Sarah is very concerned about the surgery, she knows that it will have many health benefits in the long run. Next week: my life after gastric bypass.

Share This Post

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=1630